Attitudes of Israeli gynecologists towards the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system: a questionnaire survey.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of the study was to examine the current attitudes and practices of gynecologists regarding the use of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS, Mirena, Schering AG, Germany) as a contraceptive device and for the treatment of menorrhagia in the premenopausal period. In addition, physician knowledge of patient satisfaction with the device was evaluated.

METHODS:

A written, self-administered questionnaire was given to 300 gynecologists actively employed in gynecological departments and outpatient clinics in urban centers in Israel. The items covered the indications for which the LNG-IUS was prescribed, the estimated rate of use of the LNG-IUS compared to copper intrauterine devices (IUDs), patient satisfaction with the LNG-IUS and previous knowledge about it, and demographic characteristics of the population using IUDs. All forms were completed on an anonymous basis.

RESULTS:

The questionnaire was returned, properly completed, by 298 physicians, yielding a response rate of 99.3%. Almost one-half of the physicians (n = 147, 49.3%) used the LNG-IUS only as a contraceptive device, 17.4% only as treatment for menorrhagia, and 33.2% for both indications. The vast majority of gynecologists (82.2%) reported a patient satisfaction rate of 70% or more. Among the gynecologists using the LNG-IUS as treatment for menorrhagia, the estimated overall patient satisfaction rate was more than 50%. Although most physicians expressed greater patient satisfaction with the LNG-IUS than with copper-releasing IUDs (p < 0.004), the majority of gynecologists still used the copper-releasing IUDs more frequently. Most considered the LNG-IUS as an appropriate method for endometrial protection in postmenopausal women using estrogen replacement therapy.

CONCLUSIONS:

Physicians should be made aware of the beneficial health effects of the LNG-IUS, particularly in premenopausal women with menorrhagia and for endometrial protection during hormone replacement.

• Authors: A Ben-Haroush, G Oron, Y Yogev, A Yeshaya, B Kaplan
• Journal: The European journal of contraception & reproductive health care : the official journal of the European Society of Contraception (Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care) Vol. 9 Issue 1 Pg. 29-33 (Mar 2004) ISSN: 1362-5187 [Print] England
• PMID: 15352692 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Contraceptive Agents, Female
• Levonorgestrel

Topics

• Adult
• Attitude of Health Personnel
• Contraceptive Agents, Female (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Gynecology
• Humans
• Intrauterine Devices, Copper (statistics & numerical data)
• Israel
• Levonorgestrel (therapeutic use)
• Menorrhagia (drug therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Practice Patterns, Physicians'
• Surveys and Questionnaires