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Clinical Trial
. 1998 Apr 11;316(7138):1122-6.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.316.7138.1122.

Open randomised study of use of levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system as alternative to hysterectomy

P Lähteenmäki, M Haukkamaa, J Puolakka, U Riikonen, S Sainio, J Suvisaari, C G Nilsson
Clinical Trial

Open randomised study of use of levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system as alternative to hysterectomy

P Lähteenmäki et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

Objectives: To assess whether the levonorgestrel intrauterine system could provide a conservative alternative to hysterectomy in the treatment of excessive uterine bleeding.

Design: Open randomised multicentre study with two parallel groups: a levonorgestrel intrauterine system group and a control group.

Setting: Gynaecology departments of three hospitals in Finland.

Subjects: Fifty six women aged 33-49 years scheduled to undergo hysterectomy for treatment of excessive uterine bleeding.

Interventions: Women were randomised either to continue with their current medical treatment or to have a levonorgestrel intrauterine system inserted.

Main outcome measure: Proportion of women cancelling their decision to undergo hysterectomy.

Results: At 6 months, 64.3% (95% confidence interval 44.1 to 81.4%) of the women in the levonorgestrel intrauterine system group and 14.3% (4.0 to 32.7%) in the control group had cancelled their decision to undergo hysterectomy (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The use of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system is a good conservative alternative to hysterectomy in the treatment of menorrhagia and should be considered before hysterectomy or other invasive treatments.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of days of bleeding per month in control group and in levonorgestrel intrauterine system group. Points are medians with 25th and 75th centiles and 5th and 95th centiles
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of days of spotting per month in control group and in levonorgestrel intrauterine system group. Points are medians with 25th and 75th centiles and 5th and 95th centiles
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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