This section of the IUD Toolkit presents the latest information on client attitudes and behaviors for the LNG-IUS IUD as of January 2009.

See also: Method Characteristics of the LNG-IUS | Service Delivery and the LNG-IUS | How Organizations and Providers Can Obtain the LNG-IUS | Bibliography

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Satisfaction with the LNG-IUS

• LNG-IUS users are highly satisfied with the method; continuation rates are 75 percent to 82 percent at 3 years (Mansour, 2007). Continuation rates are similar among users of the LNG-IUS, copper IUDs, and two-rod implants (Grimes et al., 2007). One study in the United States found that a vast majority of users rated their experience with the LNG-IUS as very positive and indicated that they liked the method much better than their previous form of contraception (Jensen, 2008).

Reasons for Discontinuation

• Comparative studies have shown that LNG-IUS users are more likely to discontinue use because of amenorrhea, while users of the TCu-380A are more likely to discontinue use because of heavy bleeding and pain. The likelihood of discontinuing use because of amenorrhea increases over time with the LNG-IUS because women are more likely to develop amenorrhea the longer they use the method (French et al., 2001; French et al., 2000). Only 1 percent to 2 percent of women discontinue use because of systemic side effects (Mansour, 2007).  Pre-insertion counseling about possible menstrual disturbance may decrease discontinuation rates of the LNG-IUS (Backman et al., 2002; Davie et al. 1996).