Incidence of Androgenic Dermatologic Side Effects Following Placement of a Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device for Menorrhagia: A Survey-Based Study

    December 2017 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”
    Jenna J. Lullo, Elizabeth Ethington, Ashish Arshanapalli, Jeave Reserva, Angela Jiang, William Adams, Scott Graziano, Rebecca Tung
    TLDR The levonorgestrel intrauterine device for heavy periods may cause acne, hair loss, and excess hair growth.
    The study investigated the incidence of dermatologic side effects, such as acne, alopecia, and hirsutism, in women using a levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) for menorrhagia. A survey was sent to 206 patients, with 51 (25%) responding. Results showed a significant increase in acne severity, with 35% reporting worsened acne, 4% improved, and 61% no change. There was no significant association between LNG-IUD use and alopecia or hirsutism, although 20% reported worsened hair loss and 41% noted excess facial hair. The study highlighted a higher rate of acne exacerbation compared to initial studies, suggesting that this adverse effect should be discussed with patients considering LNG-IUD. Limitations included nonresponse and recall bias, as well as a small sample size.
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