Non-contraceptive therapeutic uses of Levonorgestrel releasing-intrauterine systems

Levonorgestrel releasing-intrauterine systems(LNG-IUS,the Mirena)were originally developed as a method of contraception in the mid 1990s which released 20 ug of levonorgestrel per day directly into the uterine cavity.Research into the non-contraceptive uses of LNG-IUS was rapidly expanding.LNG-IUS was licensed for use in menorrhagia and to provide endometrial protection to perimenopausal and postmenopausal women on estrogen replacement therapy.There was limited evidence to suggest that LNG-IUS may also be beneficial for women with endometriosis,adenomyomatosis,hysteromyoma,endometrial hyperplasia and early stage endometrial cancer.This review evaluated the quality of evidence relating to the non-contraceptive therapeutic uses of LNG-IUS in gynaecology.