Levonorgestrel IUD to raise blood iron in anemic women in Kenya
Official title: Clinical trial with the levonorgestrel intrauterine system to measure changes in hemoglobin and serum ferritin among anemic women in Kenya
Funded at Family Health International · NIH-10895565 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This offers the levonorgestrel intrauterine device to anemic women in Kenya to see whether reducing menstrual bleeding can raise hemoglobin and iron levels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Family Health International NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $495,057 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD100497-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10895565 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are reproductive-age women in Kenya with anemia who seek contraception and are willing to have a levonorgestrel IUD inserted and attend follow-up visits.
✕Less likely to help
Women who are not anemic, are pregnant, postmenopausal, or have medical reasons that prevent IUD use are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
If you join, you would be screened for anemia and have the levonorgestrel intrauterine device placed at a participating clinic in Kenya. Staff will take blood tests for hemoglobin and serum ferritin at the start and at scheduled follow-up visits to track changes in iron status. The project focuses on women of reproductive age who are anemic and may also record menstrual bleeding and contraceptive outcomes. Follow-up visits and blood draws are required so researchers can compare iron levels over time after IUD placement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could raise hemoglobin and iron stores and help reduce anemia-related health risks for women who lose blood during menstruation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research over decades has shown levonorgestrel IUDs can increase hemoglobin and iron stores—especially for heavy menstrual bleeding—but this has not been adequately tested in anemic women in resource-limited settings.
Where this research is happening
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Family Health International
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hubacher, David — Family Health International
- Study coordinator: Hubacher, David
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.