Emerging indications for the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS). 2012

Oskari Heikinheimo, and Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

The levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), originally designed for long-term contraceptive use, has been on the Scandinavian market for approximately 20 years. Novel clinical indications for the LNG-IUS, derived mainly from investigator-initiated studies, are emerging. These include heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, as well as endometrial hyperplasia. In both cohort and randomized studies, the LNG-IUS is effective in decreasing heavy menstrual bleeding, also in women diagnosed with uterine fibroids. In randomized studies the LNG-IUS has shown comparable clinical efficacy to GnRH analogues or progestins for the symptomatic treatment of endometriosis. Experience with LNG-IUS in adenomyosis is based on prospective cohort studies. Dysmenorrhea has been reported to decrease in all women, and uterine volume was seen to diminish in some of these studies. In the treatment of endometrial hyperplasias, including atypical hyperplasia, the LNG-IUS is equal or superior to treatment with systemic progestins. Further studies are needed to examine the full potential of the LNG-IUS in such common clinical situations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007436 Intrauterine Devices, Medicated Intrauterine devices that release contraceptive agents. Hormone-Releasing IUDs,IUD, Hormone Releasing,Intrauterine Devices, Hormone-Releasing,Intrauterine Devices, Progesterone-Releasing,Medicated Intrauterine Devices,Device, Hormone-Releasing Intrauterine,Device, Medicated Intrauterine,Device, Progesterone-Releasing Intrauterine,Devices, Hormone-Releasing Intrauterine,Devices, Medicated Intrauterine,Devices, Progesterone-Releasing Intrauterine,Hormone Releasing IUD,Hormone-Releasing IUD,Hormone-Releasing Intrauterine Device,Hormone-Releasing Intrauterine Devices,IUD, Hormone-Releasing,IUDs, Hormone-Releasing,Intrauterine Device, Hormone-Releasing,Intrauterine Device, Medicated,Intrauterine Device, Progesterone-Releasing,Intrauterine Devices, Hormone Releasing,Intrauterine Devices, Progesterone Releasing,Medicated Intrauterine Device,Progesterone-Releasing Intrauterine Device,Progesterone-Releasing Intrauterine Devices
D007889 Leiomyoma A benign tumor derived from smooth muscle tissue, also known as a fibroid tumor. They rarely occur outside of the UTERUS and the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT but can occur in the SKIN and SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE, probably arising from the smooth muscle of small blood vessels in these tissues. Fibroid,Fibroid Tumor,Fibroid Uterus,Fibroids, Uterine,Fibroma, Uterine,Fibromyoma,Leiomyoma, Uterine,Fibroid Tumors,Fibroid, Uterine,Fibroids,Fibromas, Uterine,Fibromyomas,Leiomyomas,Tumor, Fibroid,Tumors, Fibroid,Uterine Fibroid,Uterine Fibroids,Uterine Fibroma,Uterine Fibromas,Uterus, Fibroid
D008595 Menorrhagia Excessive uterine bleeding during MENSTRUATION. Hypermenorrhea,Heavy Menstrual Bleeding,Heavy Periods,Heavy Period,Menstrual Bleeding, Heavy
D003271 Contraceptive Agents, Female Chemical substances or agents with contraceptive activity in females. Use for female contraceptive agents in general or for which there is no specific heading. Contraceptives, Female,Agents, Female Contraceptive,Female Contraceptive Agents,Female Contraceptives
D004714 Endometrial Hyperplasia Benign proliferation of the ENDOMETRIUM in the UTERUS. Endometrial hyperplasia is classified by its cytology and glandular tissue. There are simple, complex (adenomatous without atypia), and atypical hyperplasia representing also the ascending risk of becoming malignant. Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia,Complex Endometrial Hyperplasia,Simple Endometrial Hyperplasia,Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasias,Complex Endometrial Hyperplasias,Endometrial Hyperplasia, Atypical,Endometrial Hyperplasia, Complex,Endometrial Hyperplasia, Simple,Endometrial Hyperplasias,Endometrial Hyperplasias, Atypical,Endometrial Hyperplasias, Complex,Endometrial Hyperplasias, Simple,Hyperplasia, Atypical Endometrial,Hyperplasia, Complex Endometrial,Hyperplasia, Endometrial,Hyperplasia, Simple Endometrial,Hyperplasias, Atypical Endometrial,Hyperplasias, Complex Endometrial,Hyperplasias, Endometrial,Hyperplasias, Simple Endometrial,Simple Endometrial Hyperplasias
D004715 Endometriosis A condition in which functional endometrial tissue is present outside the UTERUS. It is often confined to the PELVIS involving the OVARY, the ligaments, cul-de-sac, and the uterovesical peritoneum. Endometrioma,Endometriomas,Endometrioses
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014594 Uterine Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the UTERUS. Cancer of Uterus,Uterine Cancer,Cancer of the Uterus,Neoplasms, Uterine,Neoplasms, Uterus,Uterus Cancer,Uterus Neoplasms,Cancer, Uterine,Cancer, Uterus,Cancers, Uterine,Cancers, Uterus,Neoplasm, Uterine,Neoplasm, Uterus,Uterine Cancers,Uterine Neoplasm,Uterus Cancers,Uterus Neoplasm
D016912 Levonorgestrel A synthetic progestational hormone with actions similar to those of PROGESTERONE and about twice as potent as its racemic or (+-)-isomer (NORGESTREL). It is used for contraception, control of menstrual disorders, and treatment of endometriosis. 18,19-dinorpregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one, 13-ethyl-17-hydroxy-, (17alpha)-(-)-,l-Norgestrel,Capronor,Cerazet,D-Norgestrel,Microlut,Microval,Mirena,NorLevo,Norgeston,Norplant,Norplant-2,Plan B,Vikela,duofem,D Norgestrel,Norplant 2,Norplant2,l Norgestrel

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