IUDs with the most hormones would present a greater risk of depressive disorders, warns the National Medicines Agency

The IUDs containing the most hormones would present a greater risk of depressive disorders, even if this remains “weak”warned Tuesday, February 14 the National Medicines Agency (ANSM), after the publication of a study to this effect.

An intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine device with hormones is a contraceptive method whose duration of action is five years in the majority of cases. It locally diffuses levonorgestrel, a synthetic progestin hormone that thickens the cervical mucus between the vagina and the uterus. This thickening blocks the passage of sperm and provides contraception.

As with all hormonal contraception, the use of such a contraceptive may be associated with a risk of depression or mood disorders, recalls the ANSM. The scientific interest group GIS EPI-PHARE, formed by the ANSM and the National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam), has thus studied the consumption of psychotropic drugs in the two years following the insertion of the IUD, dosed at either 52 mg , i.e. 19.5 mg of levonorgestrel. The study, the results of which were published in the journal jama-network, shows that women carrying an IUD with a higher dosage of levonorgestrel (52 mg) have a slightly increased risk of using antidepressants (+13%). On the other hand, the study did not show an increase in the use of anxiolytics or hypnotics.

“Additional information”

“The risks are low, even very low”told AFP Isabelle Yoldjian, the medical director of the ASNM. “This information does not make it possible to determine a course of action, but to provide additional information and improve the exchange between the practitioner and the patient”she added.

The two hormonal IUDs dosed at 52 mg of levonorgestrel are Mirena and Donasert. The others, Kyleena and Jaydess, are less dosed (19.5 mg and 13.5 mg). In 2020, around 300,000 women in France were on hormonal IUDs.