-Original-

Changes in Bone Mineral Density of Users of the Levonorgestrel-releasing Intrauterine System

Ki Yeol Yang^1,*, Young Sun Kim^1,*, Young Il Ji² and Min Hyung Jung¹

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung Hee Medical Center, Kyung Hee University, Republic of Korea
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University, Republic of Korea
*These authors have contributed equally to this work

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in patients using a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) or a TCu380A intrauterine device (IUD) after 2 years.
Patients and Methods: The medical records of all patients who underwent LNG-IUS (n=38) or TCu380A IUD (n=26) insertion from May 2006 through December 2010 were reviewed. The patients were 40 to 45 years old at the time of insertion, had undergone a BMD examination of the femur and lumbar spine before the loop insertion, and had also received a follow-up BMD examination 2 years later. Patients were excluded if risk factors known to affect BMD were noted in their medical records. The 2 groups of patients were compared with regard to age, parity, body-mass index (BMI), and levels of osteocalcin and pyridinoline. Changes in BMI, osteocalcin, and pyridinoline after 2 years were also compared.
Results: The LNG-IUS and TCu380A IUD groups showed no differences in mean age, mean parity, mean BMI, preinsertion or postinsertion BMD values of the femur or lumbar spine, changes after 2 years in the BMD of the femur or lumbar spine, or changes after 2 years in osteocalcin or pyridinoline level (P>0.05).
Conclusions: Women using the LNG-IUS for 2 years have changes in BMD and osteocalcin and pyridinoline levels similar to those of TCu380A IUD users. The use of the LNG-IUS for 2 years may have no adverse effect on BMD.

J Nippon Med Sch 2012; 79: 190-194

Keywords
bone mineral density, levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, TCu380A intrauterine device

Correspondence to
Min Hyung Jung, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung Hee Medical Center, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea
webhospital@naver.com

Received, October 26, 2011
Accepted, December 19, 2011