Menstrual Blood Loss, Iron Nutriture, and the Effects of Alza-T IPCS 52, T-Cu 220C and Lippes Loop D in Korean Women

Abstract

The upper normal limit of menstrual blood loss associated with iron deficiency, and the change in MBL and length of time necessary for development of iron depletion after IUDs insertion in healthy 193 Korean women were studied. The mean of MBL was 33.4 ± 23.4(SD) ml and the variation of MBL in different marital, age, and parity groups showed no statistical significance except for the higher values in young married women. Serum ferritin concentration was markedly decreased in women showing MBL above 40 ml and the frequency of subjects with serum ferritin below anemia criteria were increased in women showing MBL above 50 ml. Other parameters for assessing the iron nutriture showed no significant difference in different range of MBL. The mean MBL in women fitted with Alza-T IPCS 52 was significantly decreased after 3 months of insertion, but the increases in hemoglobin a1d serum ferritin levels were statistically significant at 12 month after insertion. The mean MBL in other IUD groups was remarkably increased at 1 month in T-Cu 220C group and during 1 to 12 month in Lippes Loop D group. Significant decrease in serum ferritin level was observed at 6 and 12 month in both groups.