Good news ladies, if you currently have a Mirena® hormonal coil in you can now safely rely on it as effective contraception method for up to 8 years.

If you currently have a Benilexa® or Levosert® hormonal coil in you can now safely rely on it as your effective contraception method up to 6 years.

New contraception guidance from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare released in Spring 2023, extended the effective use of a Benilexa® or Levosert® hormonal coil to up to  6 years use, and new product licencing, which came in to effect December 2023, extended use of a Mirena® coil to up to 8 years use in women aged 45 years of age or younger at the time of having their coil fitted.

For women aged 45 years of age or over at time of coil fitting, any Mirena®, Benilexa® or Levosert® hormonal coil can safely be retained up to 55 years of age after which, use of any type of contraception should no longer be required.

Please Note:

• If any of these hormonal coils are being used for contraception and HRT together, or solely for HRT support, the coil will still need to be replaced after 5-years use
• If any of these hormonal coils are being used for bleeding management it is recommended an exchange of coil may be considered after 4-years use should bleeding have returned

Essex Sexual Health Services do not offer an exchange of a coil for HRT-use or for bleeding management only.

Please see your GP for this or ask for a referral to gynaecology.

This new guidance does not apply to other types of hormonal coil (Kyleena® or Jaydess®) or to any copper coil.

If you are unsure which coil you had fitted please contact the original service who fitted your coil and they will be able to give you the type of coil and what date it was fitted.