LNG-IUS may relieve heavy menses in women with hemostatic disorders

The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) provides effective treatment for abnormal uterine bleeding and improves quality of life in women with von Willebrand's disease and/or who are receiving anticoagulation therapy for a thrombotic disorder, according to the findings of a small retrospective case series study conducted at a North Carolina tertiary medical center.

Seven women with heavy menstrual bleeding and a median age of 38 years used the LNG-IUS and completed a survey. Four had von Willebrand's disease, three were taking warfarin, two were taking aspirin, and one had both von Willebrand's and was heterozygous for factor V Leiden.

The hormone-releasing system reduced the number of bleeding days in 5 of the 7 women (71%) by a mean of 6 days (from 9 to 3). One woman stopped using the system because she wanted to become pregnant, and two (29%) saw no benefit.

Lukes AS, Reardon B, Arepally G. Use of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system in women with hemostatic disorders. Fertil Steril. 2008;90:673-677.