Combined Endometrial Ablation and Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System Use in Women With Dysmenorrhea and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Novel Approach for Challenging Cases

Abstract

Study objective: To evaluate the feasibility and impact of levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) on treatment failure after endometrial ablation (EA) in women with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and dysmenorrhea at 4 years.

Design: Cohort study (Canadian Task Force II-2).

Setting: An academic institution in the upper Midwest.

Patients: All women with HMB and dysmenorrhea who underwent EA with combined placement of LNG-IUS (EA/LNG-IUS cohort, 23 women) after 2005 and an historic reference group from women who had EA alone (EA cohort, 65 women) from 1998 through the end of 2005.

Intervention: Radiofrequency EA, thermal balloon ablation, and LNG-IUS.

Measurements and main results: The primary outcome was treatment failure defined as persistent pain, bleeding, and hysterectomy after EA at 4 years. The combined treatment failure outcome was documented in 2 patients (8.7%) in the EA/LNG-IUS group and 19 patients (29.2%) in the EA group with an unadjusted OR of .23 (95% CI, .05-1.08). After adjusting for known risk factors of failure, the adjusted OR was .19 (95% CI, .26-.88). None of the women who underwent EA/LNG-IUS had hysterectomy for treatment failure compared with 16 (24%) in the EA group (p = .009); postablation pelvic pain was documented in 1 woman (4.3%) in the EA/LNG-IUS group compared with 8 women (12.3%) in the EA group (p = .24). One woman in the EA/LNG-IUS group (4.3%) presented with persistent bleeding compared with 15 (23.1%) in the EA group (p = .059). Office removal of the intrauterine device was performed in 4 women with no complications.

Conclusion: LNG-IUS insertion at the time of EA is feasible and can provide added benefit after EA in women with dysmenorrhea and HMB.

Keywords: Dysmenorrhea; Endometrial ablation (EA); Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB); Levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS).