Research

Hormonal

Intra-uterine levonorgestrel administration provides long-term symptom relief for symptomatic endometriosis, with pain and blood loss decreasing significantly over 3 years, though device retention rates drop over time due to irregular bleeding.

For symptomatic endometriosis, a Levonorgestrel IUD can significantly reduce pain and blood loss over 3 years. Be prepared for irregular bleeding in the first 6 months, which is the main reason women remove the device, but the long-term symptom relief is substantial.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Symptom scores, assessed by a visual analog scale, showed a continuous decline up to 30 months and then a slight increase. ... Days of pain during a 28-day interval decreased significantly after 12 months and continued to decline, although at a slower rate. Total blood loss was significantly less after 12 months.
S. Jay Olshansky et al. · Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey · 2005

Why this rating

Prospective study, but small sample size (n=34) and high dropout rate (44% by 3 years).

Source

A Potential Decline in Life Expectancy in the United States in the 21st Century

S. Jay Olshansky et al. · Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey · 2005

DOI 10.1097/01.ogx.0000167407.83915.e7

narrative_reviewCited 1,949×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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