Comparison of the clinical performance, contraceptive efficacy and acceptability of levonorgestrel-releasing IUD and Norplant-2 implants in China.

The levonorgestrel-releasing IUD (LNG-IUD, 20 micrograms/d) and the Norplant-2 implants were studied in a randomized comparative clinical trial with 200 women for one year. No pregnancy or expulsion occurred with the Norplant-2. In the LNG-IUD group, there was one pregnancy at the 12th month of use after an unnoticed expulsion. The net cumulative pregnancy and expulsion rates of LNG-IUD were 1.0 and 3.0. The removal rate due to menstrual disturbances in both LNG-IUD and Norplant-2 groups was 3.0. The use-related discontinuation rates were 9.0 and 3.0, and the continuation rates were 90.0 and 96.0, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant. Menstrual disturbance was the main side effect. It was improved after long time use, especially in the LNG-IUD group. After one year, the percentages of women with amenorrhea were 18.9 for the LNG-IUD and 8.3 for the Norplant-2. The menstrual blood loss was statistically significantly reduced in the LNG-IUD group, and blood haemoglobin concentration increased in both groups. The LNG-IUD and Norplant-2 are highly effective, safe, long-acting, and well accepted by the Chinese women.