A hormone-releasing intra-uterine device (US) has been shown to be more effective in treating excessive menstrual bleeding than hysterectomy.
A new study from Finland indicates the potential to reduce the number of hysterectomies, which are major and invasive operations.
The randomised study of 239 women aged 35–49, who had all suffered from dysmenorrhoea, showed that over five years, those who had the inserted hormone-releasing IUD Mirena did better than those who had a hysterectomy.
While the hysterectomy group showed the same incidence of lower back pain and less abdominal pain after 12 months, when follow-up was extended to 5 years the IUD group showed less abdominal pain and was the only group to experience a significant reduction in lower back pain.
“Heavy menstrual bleeding is a common problem among women of this age and it is often connected to pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis and back. These problems seem to be more significantly reduced with the use of a hormone-releasing intrauterine device than by a hysterectomy operation,” said Dr Margit Dueholm, Co-Editor of Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
“It now seems that the hormone-releasing intrauterine device should be a first option for many women with heavy menstrual bleeding, rather than the more drastic decision to take out their uterus.”
The research group consisted of a collaborative team from university departments and two specialist clinics in Finland.