THE LEVONORGESTREL-RELEASING INTRAUTERINE-DEVICE - A WIDER ROLE THAN CONTRACEPTION

The Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG IUD) provides ex cellent contraception; it may reduce the rate of pelvic inflammatory d isease (PID) and ectopic pregnancy compared to other 'modern' copper r eleasing IUDs; it can safely be used in the puerperium for breast-feed ing mothers, and it significantly reduces menstrual blood loss and pai n. While it was developed primarily as a contraceptive, its potential role in managing heavy and painful menstruation and the symptoms of th e climacteric may eventually be just as important. Amongst developed c ountries New Zealand and Australia have some of the highest hysterecto my rates. By the age of 50 years 1 in 4 women in New Zealand and 1 in 5 women in Australia will have had a hysterectomy (A,B). In New Zealan d 90% of these are performed for heavy menstrual breeding and fibroids (A). The LNG IUD has been shown to be effective treatment for both th ese conditions and its introduction to New Zealand and Australia would offer women an additional choice beyond surgery.