The influence of the levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine system position on bleeding patterns in reproductive age women

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether users of the non-fundal levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) present with unfavorable bleeding patterns more frequently than fundal LNG-IUS users. METHODS: A prospective cohort was conducted from June, 2016 to January, 2018 involving women aged 18-45 years who wished to use the LNG-IUS as contraception and had no contraindications, endometrial polyps, submucosal myomas, irregular menstrual cycle, or anticoagulant use. Two study groups comprised women using fundal insertion and non-fundal insertion LNG-IUS. Bleeding was evaluated using a diary and pictogram chart. RESULTS: Of the 92 women who participated in the study, those with non-fundal LNG-IUS insertion sustained bleeding at rates greater than 83% (31) in the first 3 months of use, and 58% (14) at 6 months, versus 51% (22) at 3 months and 33% (19) at 6 months in those with fundal insertion (P=0.002 at 3 months; P=0.037 at 6 months). Blood loss in the non-fundal LNG-IUS group was higher than in the fundal LNG-IUS group according to pictograms drawn by participants. CONCLUSION: Women with non-fundal LNG-IUS placement had a higher frequency of sustained bleeding and blood loss volume according to self-reported charts than those with fundal LNG-IUS placement.