Advance information improves user satisfaction with the levonorgestrel intrauterine system.

Objective: To evaluate parameters associated with and the impact of advance information given in a regular outpatient setting on user satisfaction with the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 23,885 women in Finland who had had a levonorgestrel intrauterine system inserted between 1990 and 1993. The number of returned questionnaires was 17,914 (response rate 75%). Cumulative logistic regression analysis was based on the five-grade scale of satisfaction as a dependent variable.

Results: Most users of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (74%) were very or fairly satisfied with it, although over 70% of them had chosen it because of dissatisfaction with their previous method of contraception. User satisfaction increased with age and was associated with the amount of information about different symptoms (menstrual, greasiness of hair/skin, pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, and missed periods) regardless of whether the symptom in question was actually experienced. The women who received information about the possibility of absence of menstruation were more satisfied than the less informed women (odds ratio 5.0, 95% confidence interval 4.1, 5.9).

Conclusion: Information received at the insertion visit is strongly associated with increased user satisfaction among the users of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system. The association between high user satisfaction and advance information was strongest regarding the possibility of missing periods.