ACOG: Intrauterine device insertion linked to weight loss

(HealthDay) -- Women who undergo postpartum or interval insertion of Levonorgestrel-releasing Intrauterine System (LNG-IUS) or Copper T 380A (CU-T) intrauterine devices experience weight loss in the two years following insertion, according to a study presented at the annual clinical meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, held from May 5 to 9 in San Diego.

Erika M. Kwock, M.D., M.P.H., from Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Santa Clara, and colleagues compared weight changes over two years following insertion of LNG-IUS and CU-T in women aged 15 to 44 years. One hundred eleven CU-T and 112 LNG-IUS users were included in the study. Demographic data and clinical predictors of weight gain were collected.

The researchers found that there were no significant differences in demographics or clinical indicators of weight gain between the groups. In both postpartum and interval insertion CU-T users, the percent mean weight change was −1.00 in year one and −0.84 in year two. For LNG-IUS users, the changes were −1.07 and −0.86 in years one and two, respectively.

"Weight loss rather than weight gain was an unexpected finding in postpartum and interval insertion CU-T and LNG-IUS users," the authors write. "These results may help women make informed decisions about their contraception."

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