Levonorgestrel IUD: Uses & Side Effects (2024)

FAQs

Levonorgestrel IUD: Uses & Side Effects? ›

Pain, bleeding, or dizziness during and after placement of the device may occur. Cramps, irregular menstrual periods, and vagin*l bleeding between periods (spotting) may occur, especially during the first few weeks of use. Headache, nausea, breast tenderness, or weight gain may also occur.

It is placed in the uterus (womb) where it slowly releases the hormone to prevent pregnancy for up to 3 years for Skyla®, up to 5 years for Kyleena®, or up to 8 years for Liletta® and Mirena®. It works by stopping a woman's egg from fully developing each month.

Other health problems reported more frequently by levonogestrel implant users than by women not using hormonal contraception in a study of 16000 women included skin conditions, headache, upper limb neuropathies, dizziness, nervousness, malaise, minor visual disturbances, respiratory conditions, arthropathies, weight ...

Levonorgestrel intrauterine system works by thinning the lining of the uterus (womb) to prevent pregnancy from developing, thickening the mucus at the cervix (entrance to the uterus) to prevent sperm from entering, and preventing sperm from moving and surviving in the uterus.

The most commonly reported adverse effects are alterations of menstrual bleeding patterns, nausea, abdominal/pelvic pain, headache/migraine, dizziness, fatigue, amenorrhea, ovarian cysts, genital discharge, acne/seborrhea, breast tenderness, and vulvovaginitis.

Cytolytic hepatitis related to levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol oral contraceptive use was suggested in two case reports [4, 5]. Other side effects reported with oral contraceptives include follicular nodular hyperplasia of the liver, peliosis hepatitis, cirrhosis, and malignant tumors of the liver [6, 7, 8, 9].

As a form of progesterone, levonorgestrel exerts its actions on the hypothalamus through a negative feedback mechanism, which causes a decrease in the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Both LH and FSH normally stimulate ovulation.

This medication must not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor right away. This medication passes into breast milk but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The first-marketed LNG-IUS containing 52 mg levonorgestrel has been associated with an increased risk of depression compared with non-use and compared with use of combined oral contraceptives also containing levonorgestrel.

Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system use is associated with a decreased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer without increased risk of breast cancer.

Can levonorgestrel cause weight gain? ›

With continued use of levonorgestrel implants, occurrences of menstrual bleeding decrease (101). Other side effects that have been associated with the levonorgestrel system include weight gain, depression, acne, and loss of scalp hair (101,108–110).

This medicine may also increase your risk of having high blood pressure (hypertension), clotting problems, or serious heart and blood vessel problems including heart attack or stroke.

Do not take levonorgestrel if you are already pregnant. Levonorgestrel will not end a pregnancy that has already begun. you should know that after you take levonorgestrel, it is normal for your next menstrual period to begin up to a week earlier or later than expected.

Plan B may stay in your system for 5–6 days, but it won't be effective at preventing pregnancy for all that time. The drug's half-life is around 27.5 hours, which is likely its most effective time period. Even if you take Plan B within 72 hours, you may still get pregnant.

LEVONORGESTREL (LEE voe nor jes trel) prevents ovulation and pregnancy. It may also be used to treat heavy periods.

One large Finnish study of women using an IUD containing levonorgestrel, like Mirena, noted hair loss rates of nearly 16 percent of participants. This study surveyed women who had a Mirena IUD inserted between April 1990 and December 1993. However, the study didn't rule out other possible reasons for their hair loss.

“The studies basically show that there's less than 5% [of IUD users] who show any weight gain, and it's generally a little water weight.” Even with hormonal IUDs like Mirena, which emit progestin, so little of the hormone gets into your system that any effects on weight are minor, he says.

Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Blood clot—pain, swelling, or warmth in the leg, shortness of breath, chest pain. Gallbladder problems—severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever. Increase in blood pressure.

If you are using levonorgestrel-releasing IUD to prevent pregnancy, you will need to have your device replaced every 3 years for Skyla®, 5 years for Kyleena®, or 8 years for Liletta® and Mirena®, or sooner if it comes out of your uterus unexpectedly.

The elimination half-life of levonorgestrel is 24 to 32 hours, although values as short as 8 hours and as great as 45 hours have been reported. About 20 to 67% of a single oral dose of levonorgestrel is eliminated in urine and 21 to 34% in feces.