Can I use the Mirena coil contraceptive if I have had cancer? | Cancer Research UK


This depends on which type of cancer you have had. This page tells you


What the Mirena coil is

The Mirena coil is a method of contraception for women. It is an intrauterine system (IUS). And although it is similar to a contraceptive coil (IUD) it works in a different way.


  • By thickening the mucus at the neck of the womb making it difficult for sperm to enter the womb
  • By stopping the womb lining from thickening making it difficult for fertilised eggs to settle in the womb



Who shouldn’t use the Mirena coil


Cervical and womb cancer

A side effect of the Mirena coil is spotting. This is light bleeding that happens at any time of the month, not just during your period. Spotting can mask the symptoms of cancer, which is why the manufacturers recommend that you shouldn’t use Mirena if you have or have had womb or cervical cancer. The manufacturers also recommend that you do not use the Mirena coil if you have abnormal cervical cells (cervical dysplasia).

There is no evidence that the Mirena coil causes these cancers. In fact, some women have the Mirena coil if they are taking oestrogen only hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This is because your womb will thicken if you take oestrogen alone, which can increase your chance of developing womb cancer.

The Mirena coil has been used to treat womb cancer in certain cases where women are too unwell to have normal recommended treatments. Doctors are also looking at using it to treat some very early womb cancers in young women. And the PROTEC1 study is looking at using the Mirena coil in obese women to see whether it reduces their risk of developing womb cancer.

Liver cancer


Hormone dependent cancers, including breast cancer 

Although the Mirena coil only releases a small amount of levonorgestrel, we are not sure how much of it, if any, goes to other parts of the body. Currently, there is no strong evidence to show whether or not the Mirena coil could cause cancers that depend on hormones to grow.


Blood cancers, including leukaemia



Gestational trophoblastic tumours, such as molar pregnancy


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Updated: 24 March 2015