[Weight variation in users of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, of the copper IUD and of medroxyprogesterone acetate in Brazil].
BACKGROUND
Assess weight variations in Brazilian users of the 20 microg/day levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS, Mirena) for comparison with a cohort of users of the TCu 380A intrauterine device (IUD) and a cohort of users of the injectable contraceptive, depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) over a period of five years.


METHODS
A total of 163 users of the LNG-IUS, who had the device inserted in 1998, were admitted to the study. At the time of enrollment, each woman was matched by weight (+/- 1 kg) and age (+/- 1 year) to a woman using a TCu 380A IUD and to another woman using DMPA. All women were followed up for a period of five years. Each year weight was measured and the body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) was calculated.


RESULTS
Age of the LNG-IUS users was 27.0 +/- 6.7 years (mean +/- SD), while age of the copper IUD users was 28.0 +/- 6.6 years and that of DMPA users was 26.9 +/- 6.5 years. Weight recorded at the onset of the study was 62.9 +/- 0.8 kg, 62.8 +/- 0.8 kg, and 62.5 +/- 0.9 kg (Mean +/- SD) for users of the LNG-IUS, the copper IUD, and DMPA, respectively. The BMI of women was initially 25.0 (+/- 0.3), 26.4 (+/- 0.3), and 25.5 (+/- 0.4), (Mean +/- SD), for users of the LNG-IUS, copper IUD, and DMPA, respectively. Weight increases of 3.1 kg, 4.9 kg and 8.2 kg were observed at the end of the fifth year among users of the LNG-IUS, copper IUD, and DMPA, respectively (p = 0.009). Increase of the BMI was also observed among all groups (final BMI was 26.3 +/- 0.7, 28.5 +/- 0.8 and 28.7 +/- 1.3 for users of the LNG-IUS, copper IUD and DMPA, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that there was a significant association between weight increase and length of use of the contraceptive method and of the DMPA.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a LNG-IUS during five years caused no significant weight increase and the difference in weight was of the same magnitude as that of copper IUD users.
Yela
Daniela Angerame
DA
Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil. yeladaniela@hotmail.com
Monteiro
Ilza Maria Urbano
IM
Bahamondes
Luis Guillermo
LG
Del Castillo
Soledad
S
Bahamondes
Maria Valeria
MV
Fernandes
Arlete
A
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate