The effect of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device on female sexual function

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) on the sexual function of women. Participants who had abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) complaints with LNG-IUSs were included (study registration: Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, 2018/10/34). The demographic data of all participants were recorded. The female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire was used to participants before the insertion of LNG-IUSs and 6 months after its insertion. FSFI scores were calculated at both timepoints and were compared. The total FSFI score after LNG-IUS insertion was significantly higher than the total FSFI score application (p < .001). The scores of the desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain categories significantly increased after LNG-IUS compared to those before LNG-IUS. As a result, the present study demonstrated that after LNG-IUS insertion, these women had higher FSFI scores.

Impact Statement

• What is already known on this subject? There are many publications in the literature comparing the effects of LNG-IUSs, IUSs, OCs and other contraceptive methods on female sexuality. However, there are markedly few studies that compare sexual function before and after LNG-IUS insertion.

• What do the results of this study add? The total FSFI score after LNG-IUS insertion was significantly higher than the total FSFI score before the insertion (p < .001). The scores of the desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain categories significantly increased after LNG-IUS insertion compared to those before the application. The number of participants with FSFI scores ≥26.5 before LNG-IUS insertion was 17 (12.5%), and this number increased to 71 (52.5%) after the application

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study contributes to the literature because there are few researches that compare sexual function before and after LNG-IUS insertion. As a result of our study, sexual dysfunction decreased after LNG-IUS, and the scores increased in all sub-groups together with the total FSFI scores.

Keywords:

• Arousal
• orgasm
• sexual dysfunction
• female sexual dysfunction
• FSFI
• LNG-IUS

Acknowledgements

We have no acknowledgements to be mentioned. All authors declare that they received no funding for this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).