Abstract
Abstract
Objective:
The aim of this research was to determine changes in endometrial ablation utilization following Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the levonorgestrel–intrauterine device (IUD) for treatment of menorrhagia.
Materials and Methods:
This was a cohort study. All women who had undergone second-generation endometrial ablation or levonorgestrel-IUD placement for treatment of menorrhagia between January of 2009 and December of 2013 were considered for inclusion. Women's cases were excluded if the primary indication for treatment was not menorrhagia or if outpatient evaluation and treatment records were not available for review.
Results:
A total of 333 cases met study inclusion criteria, including the women who had undergone endometrial ablation (n = 204) or levonorgestrel-IUD placement (n = 129). The primary outcome measured was the number of patients who underwent endometrial ablation or levonorgestrel-IUD placement prior to and following FDA approval of the levonorgestrel-IUD for treatment of menorrhagia on October 1, 2009. Prior to FDA approval, 50 patients with menorrhagia were treated with endometrial ablation (58.14%) and 36 patients were treated with the levonorgestrel-IUD (41.86%). Following FDA approval, 154 patients were treated with endometrial ablation (62.35%) and 93 patients were treated with the levonorgestrel-IUD (37.65%; p = 0.490). Secondary outcomes measured included patient age, body mass index, ethnicity, uterine size, and need for definitive treatment via hysterectomy. Each secondary outcome was not noted to have a statistically significant difference in patients treated prior to or following FDA approval of the levonorgestrel-IUD for treatment of menorrhagia.
Conclusions:
Following FDA approval of the levonorgestrel-IUD for treatment of menorrhagia, there has been little alteration in clinical practice. (J GYNECOL SURG 33:57)
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