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Mirena

Generic name: levonorgestrel intrauterine systemLEE-voe-nor-JES-trel-IN-tra-UE-ter-ine-SIS-tem ]
Drug classes: Contraceptives, Progestins

Medically reviewed by Sophia Entringer, PharmD. Last updated on Aug 23, 2023.

What is Mirena?

The Mirena intrauterine device (IUD) contains levonorgestrel, a female hormone that can cause changes in your cervix and uterus. Mirena is a T-shaped plastic intrauterine device that is placed in the uterus where it slowly releases the hormone.

Mirena IUD is used to prevent pregnancy for up to 8 years. You may use this IUD whether you have children or not. Mirena is also used for up to 5 years to treat heavy menstrual bleeding in women who choose to use an intrauterine form of birth control.

Levonorgestrel is a progestin hormone and does not contain estrogen. The Mirena IUD releases levonorgestrel in the uterus, but only small amounts of the hormone reach the bloodstream.

Mirena should not be used as emergency birth control.

Warnings

Do not use Mirena during pregnancy. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

You should not use Mirena if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding, a pelvic infection, certain other problems with your uterus or cervix, or if you have breast or uterine cancer, liver disease or liver tumor, or a weak immune system.

Before taking this medicine

The Mirena IUD can increase your risk of developing a serious pelvic infection, which may threaten your life or your future ability to have children. Ask your doctor about this risk.

Do not use Mirena during pregnancy. If left in place during pregnancy, this IUD could cause severe infection, miscarriage, premature birth, or death of the mother. The hormone in the Mirena IUD may also cause unwanted effects in a female newborn.

Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. If you continue the pregnancy, watch for signs such as fever, chills, cramps, vaginal bleeding or discharge.

You should not use Mirena if you are allergic to levonorgestrel, silicone, silica, silver, barium, iron oxide, or polyethylene, or if you have:

To make sure Mirena is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

You may use Mirena when you are breastfeeding. Levonorgestrel is not likely to affect the quality or amount of your breast milk or the health of your nursing baby. However, isolated cases of decreased milk production have been reported. The risk of uterine complications from IUD insertion is greater while you are breastfeeding.

How is Mirena used?

The Mirena IUD is inserted through the vagina and placed into the uterus by a doctor.

You may feel pain or dizziness during insertion of the IUD, and you may have minor vaginal bleeding. Tell your doctor if these symptoms last longer than 30 minutes.

The Mirena IUD should not interfere with sexual intercourse, wearing a tampon or menstrual cup, or using other vaginal medications.

Your doctor should check the IUD after a few weeks to make sure it is still in place. You will also need annual pelvic exams and Pap smears.

You may have irregular periods for 3 to 6 months. Your flow may be lighter or heavier, and your periods may stop after several months. Tell your doctor if you do not have a period for 6 weeks or if you think you might be pregnant.

The Mirena IUD may come out by itself. After each menstrual period, make sure you can still feel the removal strings at the opening of your cervix.

Call your doctor at once if you cannot feel the strings, or if you think the IUD has slipped lower or has come out of your uterus, especially if you also have pain or bleeding. Use a non-hormone method of birth control (condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or contraceptive sponge) to prevent pregnancy until your doctor is able to replace the IUD.

If you need to have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), tell your caregivers ahead of time that you have a Mirena IUD in place.

Your IUD may be removed at any time you decide to stop using birth control. The Mirena IUD must be removed at the end of the 6-year wearing time. Your doctor can insert a new device if you wish to continue using this form of birth control. Only your doctor should remove the IUD. Do not attempt to remove the device yourself.

If you decide to use a different method of birth control, you may need to start using it a week before your IUD is removed.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Contraception:

Intrauterine Device (IUD) insertion should be performed by a trained healthcare provider thoroughly familiar with product; product manufacturer labeling should be consulted:

Insert 1 Mirena IUD (52 mg) into uterus

Timing of insertion:
-For women who are not currently using hormonal or intrauterine contraception: Insertion may occur at any time the woman is not pregnant; if inserted after the first 7 days of menstrual cycle, an additional method of contraception should be used for 7 days after insertion
-Switching from an oral, transdermal, or vaginal hormonal contraceptive: Insertion may occur at any time; if inserted during the hormone phase, continue use for 7 days after insertion or until the end of the current treatment cycle
-Switching from an injectable progestin contraceptive: Insertion may occur at any time; if inserted more than 3 months after the last injection, an additional method of contraception should be used for 7 days after insertion
-Switching from a contraceptive implant or another IUD: Insertion should occur on the same day the implant or IUD is removed
-Inserting after abortion or miscarriage:
--First trimester: May insert IUD immediately after a first trimester abortion or miscarriage
--Second trimester: Insertion of IUD should be delayed a minimum of 4 weeks or until the uterus is fully involuted; if involution is delayed, insertion should be delayed until involution is complete; consider the possibility of ovulation and conception occurring prior to insertion and advise patient on need for an additional method of contraception for 7 days after insertion
-After childbirth: Insertion of IUD should be delayed a minimum of 4 weeks after delivery, or until the uterus is fully involuted; if involution is delayed, insertion should be delayed until involution is complete; consider the possibility of ovulation and conception occurring prior to insertion and advise patient on need for an additional method of contraception for 7 days after insertion

Replacement: Mirena should be replaced after 8 years; a new IUD may be inserted for continued use.

Comments:
-IUD may be removed at any time but must be removed by the end of the prescribed time; if continued use is desired, replace with a new IUD.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since the Mirena IUD continuously releases a low dose of levonorgestrel, missing a dose does not occur when using this form of levonorgestrel.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of levonorgestrel released from the intrauterine system is very unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while using Mirena?

Avoid having more than one sex partner. The IUD can increase your risk of developing a serious pelvic infection, which is often caused by sexually transmitted disease. Mirena will not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS. Using a condom may help protect yourself from these diseases.

Call your doctor if your sex partner develops HIV or a sexually transmitted disease, or if you have any change in sexual relationships.

Mirena side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Mirena: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Get emergency medical help if you have severe pain in your lower stomach or side. This could be a sign of a tubal pregnancy.

The IUD may become embedded into the wall of the uterus, or may perforate (form a hole) in the uterus. If this occurs, the device may no longer prevent pregnancy, or it may move outside the uterus and cause scarring, infection, or damage to other organs. Your doctor may need to surgically remove the device.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

Common Mirena side effects may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Mirena?

Some drugs can affect your blood levels of levonorgestrel, which could make this form of birth control less effective. Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Popular FAQ

It is typically less painful to get your Mirena IUD removed than it is to get it inserted but for a few hours or days after the removal you may experience some light pain and bleeding, cramping, or feel dizzy. An IUD removal typically takes about 5 minutes, but you should allow 20 minutes for the whole appointment. Consider eating something before your appointment so you are less likely to feel dizzy, and take some painkillers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen one hour before to help with any pain. Most women can go straight back to work or study or usual activities after the IUD is taken out. Continue reading

In the U.S there are two types of intrauterine device (IUD) available: copper IUDs (such as ParaGard) and hormonal IUDs (such as: Mirena, Liletta, Skyla, and Kyleena). The most common side effects reported with IUDs are pain on IUD insertion, cramps, bleeding, and unwanted pregnancy. Continue reading

No, antibiotics do not affect IUDs such as Kyleena, Mirena, or Skyla. In fact, there are not many contraceptive devices or even contraceptives that are affected by antibiotics, despite popular belief that this is the case. IUDs work directly in the uterine cavity and do not rely on absorption through the stomach, nor metabolism through the liver for their effect and have few interactions. Continue reading

Yes, Plan B (levonorgestrel) may lead to a delayed period or induce bleeding outside the typical menstrual cycle, as it contains a synthetic hormone. In order to prevent pregnancy, Plan B, similar to other contraceptive pills, needs to modify your hormonal levels, which can result in these menstrual alterations. It's worth noting that Plan B is linked to a higher likelihood of menstrual changes compared to regular birth control pills, due to its increased dosage. Continue reading

Yes, it is possible to become pregnant with an IUD; however, this is extremely rare, occurring in less than 1% (one out of every 100 women) who use an IUD. If you do become pregnant, there is a higher chance that your pregnancy will be ectopic (occurring outside of the uterus) or you will develop complications with your pregnancy, if it continues. Continue reading

Yes. After taking the emergency contraceptive Plan B (levonorgestrel), it is considered safe to drink alcohol, and alcohol is not known to alter the efficacy of Plan B. While consuming alcohol after Plan B is not considered dangerous, some of the potential side effects of Plan B may be worsened by alcohol. Continue reading

Plan B (levonorgestrel) is estimated to be 60% to 94% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken within 3 days (72 hours) after unprotected sex. Somewhere between 0.6% to 2.6% of women who take Plan B within this time frame will still become pregnant. Continue reading

Despite what many people believe, there is no official weight limit for Plan B and there is no weight recommendation on the FDA label for Plan B. There is currently no reason or good evidence that women of a higher body weight or BMI cannot use Plan B or other forms of emergency contraception. Continue reading

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Mirena only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.