Menstrual blood loss and body iron stores in wearers of the Femilis® LNG-IUS – interim results.

Amaury Andrade¹, Jose P Souza¹, Dirk Wildemeersch²

¹ Hospital  Maternidade Therezinha  Jesus (HMTJ), Faculdade Ciências Médicas e Saúde, Centro de Biologia da Reprodução, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Brazil
² Outpatient Gynaecological Clinic and Training Centre, Ghent, Belgium

Objectives: To measure menstrual blood loss (MBL) and serum ferritin of women with complaints of heavy menstrual bleeding who desire contraception using intrauterine device delivering levonorgestrel.

Methods: Open, non-comparative, prospective study of thirty users of the Femilis® LNG-IUS delivering 20 µg of levonorgestrel/ day. MBL is measured by quantitative alkaline hematin technique before insertion of the IUS and after 3, 6 and 12 months. Ferritin is measured at the same intervals. Data: p<0.05 denoting significance. Project approved by the Ethical Committee of HMTJ.

Results: Preliminary results in 10 users are reported. MBL was reduced from a mean baseline volume of 44.1±1.4 ml to 1.3±1.9ml at 3 months after insertion. Four users were amenorrheic after 12 months of use. Ferritin values increased from 67.7±1.7ng/ml to114.4±1.4 ng/ml after 12 months of use. Differences in MBL and ferritin levels are highly significant (p<0.005). No side effects, no expulsions and no pregnancies were recorded.

Conclusion: Initial results suggest that the Femilis® LNG-IUS is very effective in reducing MBL volume in users complaining of heavy menstrual bleeding.