How can Mirena help?
Please select below what you have been prescribed Mirena for:
What is HMB?
Menstrual bleeding is considered heavy when it interferes with your physical, social and/or emotional quality of life. Changing sanitary wear more than once every 2 hours, or the need for double protection, are also signs of HMB.
Mirena for HMB
Mirena prevents thickening of the lining of the womb, which reduces blood loss during menstruation when the lining of the womb is shed. Mirena is an effective treatment for HMB and should result in lighter bleeding after 3-6 months of use. Mirena treats HMB for 5 years, but if symptoms do not return after 5 years of use, Mirena can be considered for continued use for up to 8 years. You can also have it removed sooner if you wish.
Mirena as part of Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Menopause often causes distressing symptoms, due to the gradual loss of the female sex hormones - oestrogen and progesterone - produced by the ovaries. HRT is designed to reduce those symptoms by raising levels of these hormones.
Oestrogen can be used to relieve menopausal symptoms, however, taking oestrogens alone increase the risk of abnormal growth or cancer of the lining of the womb. Therefore, most women who still have a uterus will need to take a progestogen along with oestrogen to reduce the risk of cancer of the womb.
Mirena for endometrial protection
Taking progestogen, such as the hormone in Mirena, as part of a HRT regimen lowers the risk of abnormal growth by protecting the lining of the womb. It does this by thinning the lining of your womb. Mirena can be used for 4 years when used for HRT but you can have it removed sooner if you wish.
How does Mirena prevent pregnancy?
Mirena works in the following ways to prevent pregnancy:
- Mirena thickens the mucus of your cervix, preventing the sperm from getting through to fertilise an egg.
- It works by thining the lining of your womb, making it difficult for an egg to attach.
- Mirena prevents the release of eggs (ovulation) in some women.
How effective is Mirena as a contraceptive?
Mirena is over 99% effective, the possibility of becoming pregnant is approximately 2 in 1,000 in the first year. The
failure rate may increase in case of Mirena coming out by itself.
Mirena provides effective, reversible contraception for 8 years, but you can have it removed sooner if you wish.
Will I be protected immediately?
If Mirena is fitted within 7 days from the start of your period, you will be protected straight away.
- If you cannot have Mirena inserted 7 days from the start of your period or if your period comes at unpredictable times, then Mirena can be inserted on any other day. In this case, you must not have had sexual intercourse without contraception since your last period, and you should have a negative pregnancy test. Also, Mirena may not work right away. If you have sexual intercourse during the first 7 days after Mirena is inserted, use a barrier contraceptive (such as condoms). Mirena provides effective, reversible contraception for 8 years, but you can have it removed sooner if you wish.
- Mirena is not suitable for use as an emergency contraceptive (postcoital contraceptive).
- Mirena can be inserted after giving birth once the uterus has returned to normal size. This means not earlier than 6 weeks after delivery.
- Mirena can be fitted immediately after an abortion if the pregnancy was less than 3 months along, provided that you have no genital infections. Mirena will then work right away.
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PP-MIR-GB-0187 January 2024
INDICATION FOR MIRENA
Mirena® (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) is a hormone-releasing IUS that helps prevent pregnancy for up to 8 years. Mirena also treats heavy periods for up to 5 years in women. If symptoms do not return after five years of use, Mirena can be considered for continued use for up to eight years. Mirena provides endometrial protection for up to 4 years.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
- If you have a pelvic or genital infection, get infections easily, or have certain cancers, don't use Mirena. Less than 1% of users get a serious pelvic infection called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
- If you have persistent pelvic or stomach pain, or excessive bleeding after placement, tell your healthcare provider (HCP). If Mirena comes out, call your HCP and avoid intercourse or use non-hormonal back-up birth control (such as condoms or spermicide). Mirena may go into or through the wall of the uterus and cause other problems.
- Pregnancy while using Mirena is uncommon but can be life threatening and may result in loss of pregnancy or fertility.
- Ovarian cysts may occur but usually disappear.
- Bleeding and spotting may increase in the first 3 to 6 months and remain irregular. Periods over time usually become shorter, lighter, or may stop.
Mirena does not protect against HIV or STIs.
Only you and your HCP can decide if Mirena is right for you. Mirena is available by prescription only.
For important risk and usage information about Mirena, please see Full Patient Information Leaflet
Reporting adverse events and quality complaints
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the yellow card scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
