IUD best treatment for heavy periods, major trial shows

The hormone-releasing Mirena coil intrauterine device (IUD) is a better treatment for heavy menstrual periods than other conventional medical approaches, according to results of a major clinical trial led by scientists from the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham.
 
The findings of the ECLIPSE study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) are widely expected to change standard clinical practice.

Heavy periods, or menorrhagia, affect the lives of large numbers of women aged 25-50 years, accounting for many GP consultations and 20 per cent of gynaecological referrals in the UK. Yet to date there has been limited evidence to help women and doctors make informed choices about treatments.

The ECLIPSE trial compared the clinical effectiveness of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (also known as LNG-IUS or the Mirena contraceptive coil) with other medical treatments on offer in primary care.
 
A total of 571 women, consulting their GPs for heavy menstrual bleeding, agreed to be randomly assigned to LNG-IUS or to another standard medical treatment, such as tranexamic acid, mefanamic acid, combined estrogen and progestogen or progestogen only.
 
Over two years, patient reported outcomes improved more with LNG-IUS than with other treatments, including women