Efficacy of mifepristone in reducing intermenstrual vaginal bleeding in users of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of mifepristone to reduce intermenstrual bleeding in levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) users.


METHODS
In this prospective, open-label, comparative study, 36 women using the LNG-IUS for menorrhagia received 100mg of mifepristone every 30 days for 3 months (group 1). Fifty age-matched LNG-IUS users who did not receive any drugs were used as the comparison group (group 2). Menstrual bleeding days, pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBAC) score, and intermenstrual bleeding/spotting days were compared between the 2 groups at 3 months (during treatment) and at 6 months (3 months post treatment).


RESULTS
Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. At 3 months, median duration and episodes of intermenstrual bleeding/spotting were significantly lower in group 1 compared with group 2 (6 vs 12.5 days, P=0.01; 2.5 vs 3, P=0.05, respectively). More women were satisfied with the LNG-IUS in the mifepristone group compared with the control group (75% vs 44%; P=0.004). At 6 months, the median duration of intermenstrual bleeding/spotting was significantly lower in group 1 compared with group 2 (6 vs 15 days; P=0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Mifepristone was effective in reducing the number of episodes and duration of intermenstrual bleeding/spotting in LNG-IUS users.
Lal
Suman
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
Kriplani
Alka
A
Kulshrestha
Vidushi
V
Sharma
Meenakshi
M
Agarwal
Nutan
N
D000328:Adult; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008796:Metrorrhagia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D015735:Mifepristone; D016912:Levonorgestrel