A MORPHOMETRIC STUDY ON THE ENDOMETRIAL ACTIVITY OF WOMEN BEFORE AND AFTER ONE-YEAR WITH LNG-IUD IN-SITU

The endometrium was studied by morphometry in 34 healthy women before and after one year's use of an IUD releasing levonorgestrel at a rate of 20 mu g/24 hr (LNG-IUD-20), The effect was compared with that of an IUD releasing 2 mu g levonorgestrel/24hr (LNG-IUD-2). The appearance of suppressed endometrial proliferative activity and increased inflamm atory reaction was similar in the two experimental groups, suggesting that the morphological alterations were independent of the LNG dosage. The result of this study, combined with clinical data, suggests that LNG-IUD-20 could replace LNG-IUD-2 without any additional side effects . The efficacy of LNG-IUD-20 is also likely to last for a longer perio d than the LNG-IUD-2.