A levonorgestrel-containing IUD for the treatment of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that can cause severe pain and have a significant effect on the quality of life. The currently available hormonal treatments with analogues of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) and oral progestational agents are effective in the short term, but the systemic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde Vol. 151; no. 43; p. 2372
Main Authors Stekkinger, E, van der Linden, P J Q
Format Journal Article
LanguageDutch
English
Published Netherlands 27.10.2007
Subjects
Contraceptive Agents, Female - administration & dosage
Endometriosis - therapy
Evidence-Based Medicine
Female
Humans
Intrauterine Devices, Medicated
Levonorgestrel - administration & dosage
Pain Management
Patient Compliance
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Endometriosis is a chronic condition that can cause severe pain and have a significant effect on the quality of life. The currently available hormonal treatments with analogues of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) and oral progestational agents are effective in the short term, but the systemic side effects affect treatment compliance. Recurrence of the symptoms is therefore not uncommon. Recently, a few studies have assessed the effect of a levonorgestrel-releasing IUD on the pain associated with endometriosis. This treatment may have a positive effect on endometriosis, both on the symptoms, the measured extent of the lesions, and the serum levels of CA-125. However, the level of evidence of these studies is lower than that of the standard hormonal treatment options, since large randomised controlled trials are still lacking.
ISSN:0028-2162