1 3 Arch Gynecol Obstet DOI 10.1007/s00404-014-3237-1 GENERAL GYNECOLOGY Depressive symptomatology and quality of life assessment among women using the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system: an observational study Aybike Tazegül Pekin · Özlem Seçilmis ¸ Kerimog ˘ lu · Ays ¸e Gül Kebapcılar · Setenay Arzu Yılmaz · Nilgün Benzer · Çetin Çelik Received: 23 November 2013 / Accepted: 28 March 2014 © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014 (SF-36) for QoL and Beck’s Depression Inventory for depressive symptoms. Results At the 6-month follow-up visit, the picto- rial blood assessment chart score (PBAC) considerably decreased (p < 0.001). For SF-36 scores, physical function- ing, physical role limitations, emotional role limitations, bodily pain, vitality, and mental health scores improved significantly after treatment (p < 0.001). Depression scores showed no significant difference from baseline to 6 months (p = 0.375). Conclusion The LNG-IUS for the treatment of menor- rhagia increases the QoL, and depression scores did not increase significantly in 6 months. Keywords Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) · Menorrhagia · Quality of life Introduction Nearly one-third of women suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding at some point during their reproductive years [1]. Menorrhagia markedly interferes with daily activities, impairs the quality of life (QoL), and causes psychological problems, such as depressive mood [2–4]. Although men- orrhagia is usually benign, it can lead to iron deficiency anemia, substantial workloss, and significant health care costs. In addition, menorrhagia can cause women con- siderable embarrassment and inconvenience to the extent that their physical, emotional, and social functioning are similar to that of chronically ill individuals [5–8]. To treat menorrhagia, several pharmacologic methods have been used, including oral progestins, oral contraceptives, dana- zol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antifibrinolytic drugs, and the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system Abstract Objective The aim of our study was to examine the effect of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG- IUS) treatment on depressive symptoms, changes in bleed- ing patterns, and quality of life (QoL) among premenopau- sal women in our clinic. Materials and methods We recruited 120 premenopau- sal women, aged 18–50 years, who had sought care in the previous year for menorrhagia. LNG-IUS was inserted into eligible patients after the relevant evaluations. Both ques- tionnaires were administered at time of the initial screening before and 6 months after insertion of the LNG-IUS. All patients completed the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey Implications: The LNG-IUS not only corrects some of the physical problems experienced by patients who have unwanted irregular menstrual periods, namely menorrhagia, but also is effective in improving many psychological parameters, either directly or indirectly. A. Tazegül Pekin (*) · Ö. Seçilmis ¸ Kerimog ˘ lu · A. G. Kebapcılar · S. A. Yılmaz · N. Benzer · Ç. Çelik Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey e-mail: aybiketzgl@hotmail.com Ö. Seçilmis ¸ Kerimog ˘lu e-mail: ozlemsecilmis@hotmail.com A. G. Kebapcılar e-mail: aysegulkebapcilar@yahoo.com S. A. Yılmaz e-mail: setenayarzu@hotmail.com N. Benzer e-mail: nilem-24@hotmail.com Ç. Çelik e-mail: celikcet@hotmail.com