Prognostic factors of progesterone resistance in symptomatic adenomyosis: impact of lesion localization on treatment outcome of levonorgestrel intrauterine system

Abstract Adenomyosis often causes dysmenorrhea in women of reproductive age. Progestins such as levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) are often used for treatment, but some patients experience progesterone resistance, showing poor treatment response. However, the clinical characteristics of p...

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Main Authors: Daiki Hiratsuka, Mitsunori Matsuo, Chihiro Ishizawa, Yamato Fukui, Takehiro Hiraoka, Shizu Aikawa, Gentaro Izumi, Miyuki Harada, Osamu Wada-Hiraike, Yutaka Osuga, Yasushi Hirota
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:BMC Women's Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03817-w
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author Daiki Hiratsuka
Mitsunori Matsuo
Chihiro Ishizawa
Yamato Fukui
Takehiro Hiraoka
Shizu Aikawa
Gentaro Izumi
Miyuki Harada
Osamu Wada-Hiraike
Yutaka Osuga
Yasushi Hirota
author_facet Daiki Hiratsuka
Mitsunori Matsuo
Chihiro Ishizawa
Yamato Fukui
Takehiro Hiraoka
Shizu Aikawa
Gentaro Izumi
Miyuki Harada
Osamu Wada-Hiraike
Yutaka Osuga
Yasushi Hirota
author_sort Daiki Hiratsuka
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Adenomyosis often causes dysmenorrhea in women of reproductive age. Progestins such as levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) are often used for treatment, but some patients experience progesterone resistance, showing poor treatment response. However, the clinical characteristics of progesterone-resistant and progesterone-sensitive patients with symptomatic adenomyosis remain unclear. We analyzed data of 69 patients with adenomyosis treated with LNG-IUS. Dysmenorrhea was quantified using linear visual analog scale (VAS) scoring, and progesterone resistance was interpreted as continued dysmenorrhea during LNG-IUS treatment. The rate of change in VAS scores of dysmenorrhea was calculated: patients with the bottom 25% improvement were defined as progesterone-resistant group, and those with the top 25% improvement as progesterone-sensitive group. The localization of adenomyosis lesions was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and classified as advanced (localized in all layers of the myometrium), extrinsic (localized on the uterine serosa side), and intrinsic (localized on the endometrial side) subtypes. Progesterone-resistant group had a significantly lower incidence of intrinsic adenomyosis (7.7% vs. 69.2%, p = 0.004) and a tendency toward a higher incidence of advanced adenomyosis (61.5% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.111) compared with progesterone-sensitive group. Progesterone-sensitive group showed significant improvement of dysmenorrhea 1 month after starting LNG-IUS treatment (p < 0.001). These findings indicate that the responsiveness to LNG-IUS treatment can be determined 1 month after starting the treatment and that intrinsic adenomyosis is a favorable prognostic factor for progestin treatment with LNG-IUS, while advanced and extrinsic adenomyosis are predictors for progesterone resistance.
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spelling doaj-art-7108901cf73d41068c8e06827b5fa9d12025-08-20T02:39:24ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742025-06-012511910.1186/s12905-025-03817-wPrognostic factors of progesterone resistance in symptomatic adenomyosis: impact of lesion localization on treatment outcome of levonorgestrel intrauterine systemDaiki Hiratsuka0Mitsunori Matsuo1Chihiro Ishizawa2Yamato Fukui3Takehiro Hiraoka4Shizu Aikawa5Gentaro Izumi6Miyuki Harada7Osamu Wada-Hiraike8Yutaka Osuga9Yasushi Hirota10Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoAbstract Adenomyosis often causes dysmenorrhea in women of reproductive age. Progestins such as levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) are often used for treatment, but some patients experience progesterone resistance, showing poor treatment response. However, the clinical characteristics of progesterone-resistant and progesterone-sensitive patients with symptomatic adenomyosis remain unclear. We analyzed data of 69 patients with adenomyosis treated with LNG-IUS. Dysmenorrhea was quantified using linear visual analog scale (VAS) scoring, and progesterone resistance was interpreted as continued dysmenorrhea during LNG-IUS treatment. The rate of change in VAS scores of dysmenorrhea was calculated: patients with the bottom 25% improvement were defined as progesterone-resistant group, and those with the top 25% improvement as progesterone-sensitive group. The localization of adenomyosis lesions was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and classified as advanced (localized in all layers of the myometrium), extrinsic (localized on the uterine serosa side), and intrinsic (localized on the endometrial side) subtypes. Progesterone-resistant group had a significantly lower incidence of intrinsic adenomyosis (7.7% vs. 69.2%, p = 0.004) and a tendency toward a higher incidence of advanced adenomyosis (61.5% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.111) compared with progesterone-sensitive group. Progesterone-sensitive group showed significant improvement of dysmenorrhea 1 month after starting LNG-IUS treatment (p < 0.001). These findings indicate that the responsiveness to LNG-IUS treatment can be determined 1 month after starting the treatment and that intrinsic adenomyosis is a favorable prognostic factor for progestin treatment with LNG-IUS, while advanced and extrinsic adenomyosis are predictors for progesterone resistance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03817-wAdenomyosisDysmenorrheaLevonorgestrel intrauterine systemProgesterone resistanceProgestin
spellingShingle Daiki Hiratsuka
Mitsunori Matsuo
Chihiro Ishizawa
Yamato Fukui
Takehiro Hiraoka
Shizu Aikawa
Gentaro Izumi
Miyuki Harada
Osamu Wada-Hiraike
Yutaka Osuga
Yasushi Hirota
Prognostic factors of progesterone resistance in symptomatic adenomyosis: impact of lesion localization on treatment outcome of levonorgestrel intrauterine system
BMC Women's Health
Adenomyosis
Dysmenorrhea
Levonorgestrel intrauterine system
Progesterone resistance
Progestin
title Prognostic factors of progesterone resistance in symptomatic adenomyosis: impact of lesion localization on treatment outcome of levonorgestrel intrauterine system
title_full Prognostic factors of progesterone resistance in symptomatic adenomyosis: impact of lesion localization on treatment outcome of levonorgestrel intrauterine system
title_fullStr Prognostic factors of progesterone resistance in symptomatic adenomyosis: impact of lesion localization on treatment outcome of levonorgestrel intrauterine system
title_full_unstemmed Prognostic factors of progesterone resistance in symptomatic adenomyosis: impact of lesion localization on treatment outcome of levonorgestrel intrauterine system
title_short Prognostic factors of progesterone resistance in symptomatic adenomyosis: impact of lesion localization on treatment outcome of levonorgestrel intrauterine system
title_sort prognostic factors of progesterone resistance in symptomatic adenomyosis impact of lesion localization on treatment outcome of levonorgestrel intrauterine system
topic Adenomyosis
Dysmenorrhea
Levonorgestrel intrauterine system
Progesterone resistance
Progestin
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03817-w
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