Clinical Assessment of 3 Intrauterine Devices in Adolescent Girls: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Study Objective: To assess clinical performance, bleeding pattern, dysmenorrhea, and satisfaction up to 1 year after placement of 3 types of intrauterine devices (IUDs) (TCu380A, levonorgestrel 52 mg, and levonorgestrel 19.5 mg) in adolescents Methods: The study was a randomized trial with 318 adolescents allocated to the 3 IUDs. We assessed reasons for removal, continuation, menstrual patterns, dysmenorrhea, and satisfaction. Results: Participants aged (mean +/- SD) 17.9 +/- 1.4 years, with 80.8% being nulligravidae. After 1 year, 265 (83.3%) continued using the IUD; however, the continuation rate of TCu380A (75.4 +/- 4.2) was lower than that of both the levonorgestrel 52-mg (88.6 +/- 3.1) and 19.5-mg IUDs (86.8 +/- 3.3), and bleeding/pain and expulsion were the main reasons for removal of the TCu380A IUD. The duration of menstruation was longer among the TCu380A IUD users (6.0 +/- 2.0 days) than those using the levonorgestrel 52 mg (2.5 +/- 3.9) and 19.5 mg (3.2 +/- 3.2) devices, P < .001. Amenorrhea was reported by 49.5% and 37.8% users of the levonorgestrel 52-mg and 19.5-mg devices, respectively, P < .001. Dysmenorrhea was reported in 68.5% of all participants at the baseline; this was 67.9% of the TCu380A group and 33.3% and 36.0% of the levonorgestrel 52-mg and 19.5-mg IUD groups, respectively, P < .001. Satisfaction ranged from 80.7% in the TCu380A group to 97.8% in the levonorgestrel 52-mg group ( P = .03). Conclusion: The 3 IUDs are suitable for adolescents, with high contraceptive efficacies and rates of continuation within 1 year of use and high degrees of satisfaction. Users of the hormonal IUDs reported lower expulsion rates, more favorable menstrual patterns, and less dysmenorrhea compared with the TCu380A IUD.