title: Use of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system in adolescents with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate our adolescent patient population who had received a levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) at or after the time of endometriosis diagnosis, and determine efficacy of the LNG-IUS in regards to pain and bleeding on follow-up exam.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology Clinic and Children's Hospital in a metropolitan area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescent patients age 14-22 with pathology-proven endometriosis who had the LNG-IUS placed during the course of their treatment for this disease. Patients were divided into LNG-IUS placement at the time of surgical diagnosis versus placement some time after diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain and bleeding were assessed by follow-up exam. Pain was classified at each follow-up visit as either none, minimal, moderate, or severe. Bleeding was classified as none, irregular spotting, irregular bleeding, or daily bleeding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients (67%) required additional hormonal therapy for pain and bleeding suppression. Time to bleeding suppression and pain suppression was sooner in the group with interval time between surgical diagnosis and LNG-IUS placement, compared to LNG-IUS placement at the time of surgery (2.4 months vs 5.3 months until bleeding suppression, and 3.8 months vs 4.8 months until pain suppression), although statistical significance was not achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LNG-IUS is an option for treatment of endometriosis in adolescents. As pain is the main problem associated with endometriosis, LNG-IUS placement is beneficial at the time of surgery when it is diagnosed. A prospective study is needed for further assessment of outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. jlyoost@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jennie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoost
authors.forename: A Scott
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: LaJoie
authors.forename: Paige
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hertweck
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loveless
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D016912:Levonorgestrel