A tiny device that is placed inside the uterus and releases the hormone levonorgestrel is an effective treatment for excessive menstrual bleeding, a problem called menorrhagia, new research shows.

The device, which goes by the trade name Mirena, is already approved for use as a contraceptive. After being inserted by a physician, Mirena can provide birth control for months or years as needed.

The new findings, which appear in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, are based on a study of 59 women with menorrhagia who were treated with Mirena or underwent surgery to remove the lining of the uterus-the part that bleeds.

Blood loss, based on the number of tampons or pads used and their degree of soiling, was determined by the patients using pictorial charts.

Nineteen of 30 women in the Mirena group and 22 of 29 in the surgery group completed the 3-year follow-up period.

Patients in both groups experienced a dramatic and comparable drop in blood loss, lead author Dr. Ilkka Rauramo, from The Finnish Medical Society Duodecim in Helsinki, and colleagues note.

“On the basis of our data and the literature, strong evidence exists to suggest that (Mirena) should be considered the first-line treatment for…menorrhagia because it is easy to insert, has a sustained effect, provides contraception, may reduce the need for surgery, and is cost-effective and well tolerated,” the authors conclude.

Mirena is marketed by Berlin-based Schering AG, which sponsored the current study.

SOURCE: Obstetrics and Gynecology, December 2004.