Contraceptive Pearl: Introducing Skyla, a New IUD
Skyla, a new progestin IUD, was released in the US in February, 2013. Skyla contains 13.5mg of levonorgestrel and provides up to three years of protection against pregnancy. For the first three to six months of use, your patient may experience spotting, irregular periods and an increase in the number of bleeding days. Spotting should lessen over time. Eventually, your patient may stop having periods altogether.
Skyla is T-shaped and smaller than both the Paragard and Mirena. Approval of Skyla is supported by data from a Phase 3 trial in which 1,432 women aged 18-35 received Skyla. Thirty-nine percent (556) of participants were nulliparous. Skyla is FDA approved for use in nulliparous women. Although nulliparous women and teens may use any IUD, Skyla can be directly marketed to women who haven’t had a child.
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The Reproductive Health Access Project does not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies. We do not promote specific brands of medication or contraception. The information in the Contraceptive Pearls is unbiased, based on science alone.
