Body weight and composition in users of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system

A perspective on current research investigating the effects of hormonal contraceptives on determinants of female athlete performance

“…B et al 20 reported that women who received the DMPA injection lost 3.6% lean mass over 2 years compared to a DMPA and oestradiol group (-1.2%), OC group (+0.6%) or control group with no hormones (+0.6%). Women using a Levonorgestrel IUD lost 1.4% of their lean mass after 1 year compared to a 1.0% increase in lean mass in women using a copper-based (Tcu380A) IUD 22 and combined OCs have also been observed to have a negative e ect on lean mass compared to control populations 19 .…”

“…In the general population, several studies have shown that the Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) injection increases fat mass when compared to combined OC use [19][20] and nonhormone controls 19,21 . Levonorgestrel IUD use resulted in a 2.5% increase in fat mass after 12 months usage, compared to a non-hormonal copper based (TCu380A) IUD group who lost 1.3% fat mass 22 and Levonorgestrel implant (Norplant) use resulted in signi cant increases in body mass when compared to non-hormone groups after 6 23 and 12 months 24 .…”

“…Insu cient evidence, although the type of progestin-used may in uence the anabolic response of muscle to resistance exercise 20,22 .…”

“…Several reports of negatives e ects in the general population although no studies have been conducted in athletes [19][20][21][22][23][24][25] .…”

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception has No influence on Weight or Body Mass Composition

“…Despite this, few women (<5%) discontinue these contraceptives due to a weight gain complaint [7]. Dal' Ava et al [8] observed a weight gain of 2.9 kg between users of LNG-IUS (p = 0.0012), while IUD-Cu users gained 1.4 kg (p=0.067) in 12 months. However, there was no difference between groups.…”