 Search the Questions & Answers |
 Browse by Category |
|
|
|
<< Return to questions
|
| With a slightly lower dose hormone and smaller size of Mirena, what are the chances of pregnancy? #1025/9 |
I am in a clinical trial for a Mirena IUD with a slightly lower dose and smaller size. I have had the IUD for a little over a year, and continued to get periods. Lately the periods have been getting lighter, but this month I didn't have one at all.
I wanted to know the chance that I'm pregnant considering a side effect of the IUD is decreased or halted periods.
|
You are experiencing one of the remarkable benefits of Mirena, a 95% decrease in the amount of blood lost. About 20% of women are having no bleeding at all after one year on Mirena.
Pregnancy is extremely unlikely when the currently available Mirena IUD is properly in place. I feel quite ertain that the new Mirena IUD is effective. Just how effecitve is one of the questions the clinical trial will be answering. |
Medical Benefits of the Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System
Topical delivery of progestin to the uterine cavity has exciting therapeutic uses aside from contraception. Some are well-established and approved indications overseas, while others are still being explored. Although average menstrual blood loss increases among users of the TCu 380A, the opposite occurs among users of the levonorgestrel system. Overall blood loss drops about 90%, and 20% or more women stop bleeding altogether. This translates into clinically important increases in hemoglobin and iron stores. Some evidence supports a benefit in treating heavy bleeding associated with adenomyosis and leiomyomas.
Indeed, the levonorgestrel system can be used to treat heavy menses, not just prevent them. Trials have compared this approach to medical treatments with an oral progestin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or tranexamic acid (not available in the United States). The levonorgestrel system proved superior to the other alternatives. In addition, this system has been found an acceptable (and inexpensive) alternative to endometrial ablation or hysterectomy.
Another logical use of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system is as part of hormone replacement therapy in menopause. Many women suffer from unpleasant side effects of oral progestins given along with estrogen. In addition, nuisance bleeding is the primary reason women abandon hormone replacement therapy. Use of the levonorgestrel system leads to profound suppression of the endometrium, which then ceases to bleed. Lack of uterine bleeding during hormone replacement therapy is desirable for the woman and her clinician.
Her reply on 10-22: “I have one follow-up question: the dose of the IUD I have is either 12 or 16 instead of the 20ug with the normal Mirena, does this have a significant impact on the IUD’s efficacy?”
|
That, of course is one of the questions the current research is going to answer, but I am sure the assumption is that it is effective.
|
Key Words: clinical trial, Mirena IUD, lower dose, smaller size, periods, lighter, pregnant, benefits, blood loss, levonorgestrel intrauterine system, efficacy
Reference:
Grimes DA. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) IN Hatcher RA, Trussell J, Nelson AL. et al Contraceptive Technology 19th edition, page 122: Ardent Media Inc. 2008
Posted 11-17-09, Updated 2-1-2010
|
Robert A. Hatcher MD, MPH
Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, GA
---2010-02-2
|
|
|
| |
The directors and owners of this website and any publications and information concerning health matters offered here advise a person with a particular problem to consult a primary-care clinician or a specialist in obstetrics, gynecology, or urology (depending on the problem or the contraceptive) as well as the product package insert and other references before diagnosing, managing, or treating the problem. |
| Visitor Comments |
No visitor comments posted.
Post a comment
|
| Related Questions |
|
No related questions were found.
|
| Attachments |
|
No attachments were found.
|
Suggestions, recommendations, questions, comments, data from the literature, interpretation of laboratory tests and other information provided on this site are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be relied upon as advice from or implied to be a substitute for the professional advice of a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, counselor or other healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your clinician or other professional for any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, method of birth control and other family planning or personal/social issues. Periodic references to costs of birth control methods on this website are estimates only and your actual cost for any specific method of birth control may be more or less than the stated amount. Emory University School of Medicine, Bridging the Gap Foundation, and Bridging the Gap Communications Inc are not responsible for any damage or loss you may incur as a result of your use of or reliance on any material or information provided through this website.
|
|
Print this page
Email this page
Post a comment
Subscribe me
Add to favorites
Remove Highlighting
Edit this Question
