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