An evaluation of the simultaneous use of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUS, Mirena®) combined with endometrial ablation in the management of menorrhagia.

The objective of our study was to document the efficacy and possible complications in women who were treated for menorrhagia with the simultaneous use of endometrial ablation and the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device. Women were offered this combined treatment if they complained of menorrhagia and needed contraception. A structured questionnaire was mailed to 150 women who had undergone this combined treatment; 105 (70%) returned a completed questionnaire. The mean duration of follow-up was 25 months (range 6-54 months). Following treatment, 53 women (50.5%) described their periods as being lighter than normal and 49 (46%) had become amenorrhoeic. Overall, 101 (96%) stated that they were satisfied with the treatment. Of the women, 95 (90.5%) said that the treatment had been a 'complete success'; eight (7.6%) 'partly successful' and two women (1.9%) said the treatment had been a 'failure'. One woman subsequently required a hysterectomy. This observational study supports the hypothesis that combined endometrial ablation and insertion of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device is an effective treatment for menorrhagia and has some advantages when compared with the individual use of these treatments.