Sexual function and quality of life of women adopting the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS 13.5 mg) after abortion for unintended pregnancy

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS 13.5 mg) on sexual function and quality of life (QoL) in women after having undergone abortion for unintended pregnancy.

Methods: In a prospective controlled study, 128 women aged 16–35 years received counseling to adopt LNG-IUS contraception after termination of pregnancy. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS) were used to investigate, respectively, pelvic pain levels, QoL, sexual function and sexual distress of these women at baseline (T0) and at 6 (T1) and 12 (T2) months after LNG-IUS placement.

Results: Sixty-six (51.6%) women adopted a SARC method, mainly because of the cost of the LNG-IUS. They constituted the control group. The study group consisted of 62 (48.4%) women. Improvement of QoL was observed at T1 (p < .05) and T2 (p < .01). Moreover, sexual function improved and dyspareunia decreased over the study period compared to baseline (p < .001). Dysmenorrhea measured by VAS improved at T1 and at T2 (p < .001). The women of the control group did not experience statistically significant changes at T1 and T2 compared to T0 (p = NS).

Conclusions: Women who underwent termination of pregnancy experienced positive changes in QoL and sexual function during LNG-IUS use. These results have to be confirmed in larger studies. However, not all women could adopt the LNG-IUS because of the cost of the contraceptive.

摘要：

目的:这项研究的目的是调查长效可逆避孕方法(LARC)左炔诺孕酮宫内缓释系统(LNG-IUS 13.5 mg)对非计划妊娠流产后的妇女性功能和生活质量(QoL)的影响。

方法:在一项前瞻性对照研究中, 128名16-35岁的女性接受了终止妊娠后采用LNG-IUS避孕的咨询。视觉模拟量表(VAS), 简式36问卷(SF-36), 女性性功能指数(FSFI)和女性性窘迫量表(FSDS)分别用于研究盆腔疼痛水平、生活质量以及这些女性在LNG-IUS放置后的基线(T0)和第6个月(T1)和第12个月(T2)时的性功能和性窘迫。

结果:66 (51.6%)名妇女采用了SARC方法, 主要是因为LNG-IUS的成本。他们组成了对照组。研究组由62名(48.4%)女性组成。在T1 (p <0.05)和T2 (p < 0.01)时观察到生活质量的改善。此外, 在研究期间与基线相比, 性功能改善, 性交困难减少(p <0 .001)。VAS测定痛经在T1和T2时均有改善(p < 0.001)。对照组的女性T1、T2与T0比较, 差异无统计学意义(p = NS)。

结论:终止妊娠的妇女, 在使用LNG-IUS期间, 生活质量和性功能经历了积极的变化。这些结果必须在更大规模的研究中得到证实。然而, 由于LNG-IUS的费用太高, 并不是所有的妇女都能接受的。

Keywords:

• LARC
• LNG-IUS
• quality of life
• SARC
• sexual function
• unplanned pregnancy

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the Scientific Bureau of the University of Catania for language support.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and the writing of this article.