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Does Timing of Levonorgestrel Insertion in Women with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Affect its Expulsion and Bleeding Pattern? A Follow-Up Study

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Abstract

Background

Levonorgestrel Intra Uterine System insertion for contraception is preferred in the follicular phase. However, the ideal time of insertion for Abnormal Uterine Bleeding is not stated clearly. The aim of our study is to find out the effect of timing of insertion on expulsion and irregular bleeding pattern post insertion.

Methods

A follow-up study of patients with LNG-IUS for AUB was conducted. They were grouped into four based on the day of insertion from Last Menstrual Period (LMP). The pattern of irregular bleeding post insertion was compared with odds ratio and the expulsion rate was compared with log rank test.

Results

The most common indication for the 76 patients was ovulatory dysfunction (39.4%) followed by Adenomyosis (36.84%). Those who had LNG-IUS insertion from day 22–30 had quicker expulsions of 25% of patients by 3 months. By 6 months and later expulsion rate was much higher in the luteal phase than the follicular phase (p < 0.03). The least risk of moderate or heavy bleeding was for the 8–15 day group when compared to the 22–30 day group, the odds ratio being 0.03 [95% CI: (0.01–0.2)].

Conclusion

Based on expulsion rate alone, insertion of LNG-IUS at any time in the follicular phase is ideal. Considering both expulsion rate and pattern of bleeding the ideal time would be late follicular phase, that is 8–15th day.

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Correspondence to Sunitha Mary Mathew.

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Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of Believers Church Medical College, Thiruvalla, Kerala.

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The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of our Institutional Ethics and Research Committee and with 1964 declaration of Helsinki and its amendments.

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Informed consent was taken from all participants at the beginning of study.

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Dr. Sunitha Mary Mathew MS(OBG), DGO, DNB(OBG), is an Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla, India; Dr. Alice David MSc., PhD (USA) is a Head of Medical Research (Epidemiology & Biostatistics), Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla, India.

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Mathew, S.M., David, A. Does Timing of Levonorgestrel Insertion in Women with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Affect its Expulsion and Bleeding Pattern? A Follow-Up Study. J Obstet Gynecol India 73, 160–165 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-022-01714-y

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