Effect of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system in the treatment of adenomyosis

Objective To observe the effect of LNG-IUS on adenomyosis. Methods Forty-eight patients with adenomyosis, aged from 28 to 43 years, were selected as observing subjects from September, 2004 to November, 2005.The menstrual blood loss, severity of dysmenorrheal, size of uteri and ovaries, as well as endometrial thickness were followed up in 0, 3, 6 and 12 months respectively following LNG-IUS insertion. The serum levels of E2,P,LH and FSH were analyzed in 6,12 months after the insertion. Results The dysmenorrheal scores and menstrual blood loss by PBAC, before and in 3,12 months following the insertion, were 12.20±2.85 versus 6.21±3.77,1.23±0.74 and 194.47±52.20 versus 68.64±29.51,23.68±12.74 respectively(P0.01). The sizes of uteri and ovaries were not different from those before treatment (P0.05). Endometrial thickness measured by ultrasonography reduced significantly from (9.3±1.4)mm to (9.0±1.1)mm in 3 months (P0.05),to (6.5±1.1)mm in 12 months(P0.01). The serum levels of four sex hormones were in the level of early to mid-follicular phase in 6 months after the insertion, while in one year 70% menstrual cycles formed corepus luteum. Conclusion LNG-IUS is an effective and safe method for controlling the symptoms of adenomyosis in one year’s observation.