Review of the safety, efficacy and patient acceptability of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system

Chandra Kailasam, C. Kailasam, David Cahill
Patient preference and adherence · 2008 · vol. 2 , pp. 293 · doi:10.2147/ppa.s3464 · PMID:19920976 · W2075596045
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system is an effective, safe, and reversible contraceptive with potential therapeutic benefits for gynecological conditions, though menstrual disturbances may require counseling.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09 · read from full text ⓘ

This narrative review evaluates the safety, efficacy, and patient acceptability of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, summarizing its role as an extremely effective, reversible long-term contraceptive, including its comparative position as a safer alternative to permanent methods like sterilization. It notes that menstrual disturbances are a common side effect and that appropriate counseling can improve compliance. The authors also describe potential non-contraceptive therapeutic benefits in other clinical contexts, including menorrhagia, symptomatic fibroids, and endometriosis, alongside endometrial protection, while presenting the material as a review rather than a new study. This paper is not centrally about endometriosis or adenomyosis—it's a review of the levonorgestrel IUS for contraception, but it explicitly cites potential therapeutic benefits for endometriosis.

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Abstract

The levonorgestrel-containing intrauterine system is an extremely effective, reversible and safe form of long-term yet reversible birth control. In view of its efficacy, it is a safer alternative to permanent contraceptive methods such as sterilization. It is especially useful in situations where use of estrogen-containing contraceptives is contraindicated. While menstrual disturbances are a common side effect, proper counseling improves compliance. In addition to its contraceptive effect, the levonorgestrel intrauterine system offers potential therapeutic benefits in other clinical contexts, including menorrhagia, symptomatic fibroids, endometriosis, and endometrial protection.
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Abstract

The levonorgestrel-containing intrauterine system is an extremely effective, reversible and safe form of long-term yet reversible birth control. In view of its efficacy, it is a safer alternative to permanent contraceptive methods such as sterilization. It is especially useful in situations where use of estrogen-containing contraceptives is contraindicated. While menstrual disturbances are a common side effect, proper counseling improves compliance. In addition to its contraceptive effect, the levonorgestrel intrauterine system offers potential therapeutic benefits in other clinical contexts, including menorrhagia, symptomatic fibroids, endometriosis, and endometrial protection.

Keywords

intrauterine device, levonorgestrel intrauterine device, contraception © 2008 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, 3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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endometriosis

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