Characteristics and hormonal contraception use patterns of levonorgestrel 13.5 mg intrauterine device users in Sweden 2014-2016.

OBJECTIVE: The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device containing 13.5 mg of levonorgestrel (LNG 13.5 mg IUD), Jaydess®, was approved for contraception by the European Medicines Agency in 2013. We aimed to describe the characteristics of new users of LNG 13.5 mg IUD in Sweden within the first 3 years after approval (2014-2016).

STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an observational, population-based study using data from the Swedish national registers. Women with a first pharmacy dispensation of LNG 13.5 mg IUD between 2014-2016 were followed until 31 December 2020. Descriptive analyses included demographic characteristics, duration of use of first-time LNG 13.5 mg IUD, and contraceptive switching patterns.

RESULTS: We included 38,327 women, with mean age at first-time LNG 13.5 mg IUD use of 26 (standard deviation: 7) years. Over 80% were prescribed LNG 13.5 mg IUD by a midwife. The most common comorbidities in the year prior to LNG 13.5 mg IUD use (2-3% prevalence) were depression, anxiety, premenstrual syndrome, and menorrhagia. The median duration of first-time LNG 13.5 mg IUD use was 2.6 years, and after use, more than 50% of women opted to continue using a hormonal intrauterine device.

CONCLUSIONS: In this post-marketing drug utilization study, there were over 38,000 first-time LNG 13.5 mg IUD users in Sweden between 2014-2016, with an estimated median duration of use of 2.6 years. First-time LNG 13.5 mg IUD users consisted mostly of young, healthy individuals with a history of hormonal contraceptive use. Over half of the women continued using a hormonal IUD after the first LNG 13.5 mg IUD.

IMPLICATIONS: The median duration of LNG 13.5 mg IUD use was 2.6 years, approaching the 3-year indicated use limit. The majority of users continued with another hormonal intrauterine device after LNG 13.5 mg IUD use.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Drug utilization @karolinskainst study of >38,000 #women shows that most first-time users of #LNG 13.5 mg IUD are young, healthy women seeking contraception. Estimated median duration in line with approved labeling #womenshealth #contraception.