Intrauterine systems (IUS) after cancer

Intrauterine systems (IUS) are a type of contraception. Some women should not use an IUS after cancer treatment. There are different types or brands of IUS. These include Mirena, Benilexa, Levosert, Jaydess and Kyleena.

This information is for people who have cancer or have had cancer. For more general information about the IUS, go to the NHS website.

Visit the NHS website

Who shouldn’t use an IUS?

The manufacturers say that women shouldn’t use an IUS if they have had:

• cervical cancer or womb cancer 

• liver cancer 

• ​hormone dependent​ cancers, including breast cancer 

• blood cancers, including leukaemia 

• gestational trophoblastic tumours, such as molar pregnancy

Cancer of the womb or cervix

If you have cancer of the womb or cervix your doctor would usually advise against the use of an IUS. This is to avoid complications that an IUS might cause with the cancer or any treatment such as radiotherapy. 

The main treatment for these cancers is surgery to remove the womb (hysterectomy). So in this situation, you wouldn’t physically be able to have the IUS in place.

The exception is some women with early stage womb cancer who still want to have children. They may have treatment with a progesterone tablet, or an IUS, or both. This is called fertility preserving treatment. The aim of the hormone treatment is to shrink the cancer and avoid or delay a hysterectomy. Anyone wanting to have fertility preserving treatment is usually seen at a specialist centre.