Therapy Areas

Contraception

Helping your patients make the right choice

With recent research showing that almost a third of Irish women aged 17-45 have had sex in the past where contraception has failed, there is a clear need to offer the most effective contraceptive methods. In an on-line survey of 1,014 Irish females aged 17 to 45 years of age where they were asked about contraception, almost three quarters (73%) of those who have experienced a contraceptive failure in the past claim that they were using a condom / male sheath when the contraception failed. Whilst just over a third of women aged 17-45 have had sex in the past where the contraception failed, and this resulted in a pregnancy. Long-acting methods can be the most effective form of contraception because they do not rely on user compliance.

Here you will find resources to guide conversations with your patients, helping to identify which is the most suitable contraception for them.

Range of contraception

Use the Range of contraception leaflet with your patients to discuss the different options available and to help them make an informed decision on which contraception is best for them.

DOWNLOAD

Pill compliance is a common struggle for women

For every 100 women that choose to take the pill this year, nine could become pregnant due to missed-pill moments. Long-acting methods such as intrauterine systems (IUS) offer birth control with the highest available efficacy and are one of the most effective contraceptive methods because their effectiveness is independent of user compliance.

Choose an IUS that best meets her needs

	Jaydess®▼ 13.5 mg intrauterine delivery system (levonorgestrel)	Kyleena® 19.5 mg intrauterine delivery system (levonorgestrel)	Mirena® 52 mg intrauterine delivery system (levonorgestrel)
Indication	Contraception for up to 3 years	Contraception for up to 5 years	Contraception for up to 8 years. Treatment of idiopathic menorrhagia for up to 5 years. If symptoms have not returned after 5 years of use, continued use of the system may be considered. Mirena should be removed or replaced after 8 years at the latest. Protection from endometrial hyperplasia during estrogen replacement therapy for up to 5 years
Pearl Index (efficacy)	Year 1:0.41 3-years: 0:33	Year 1: 0.16 5-years: 0.29	Year 1: 0.2 Years 5: 0.14 Years 6-8: 0.28
Contraceptive failure rate	0.4% at 1 year 0.9% over 3 years	0.2% at 1 year 1.4% over 5 years	Year 1: 0.2% Years 1 to 5: 0.7% Years 6 to 8: 0.68
Total levonorgestrel (LNG) content (mg)	13.5	19.5	52
Average in vivo LNG release rate over the first year of use	8 μg/24 hours	12.6 μg/24 hours	20 μg/24 hours
% of women experiencing amenorrhoea and infrequent bleeding at 1 year post insertion	Amenorrhoea: 6% infrequent bleeding: 20%	Amenorrhoea: 12% infrequent bleeding: 26%	Amenorrhoea: 16% infrequent bleeding: 57%
T-frame size (mm)	28 × 30	28 × 30	32 × 32
Placement tube diameter size (mm)	3.8	3.8	4.4
Colour of monofilament threads	Brown	Blue	Brown
Differentiator in imaging techniques:silver ring	Improved visibility on ultrasound	Improved visibility on ultrasound

If you are an inserter of IUS, visit Inserter resources which covers all the practical aspects of the IUS insertion process, including preparation and loading advice.

Inserter Resources

Prescribing Information: Kyleena® (19.5 mg intrauterine delivery system (levonorgestrel), Mirena® (52 mg intrauterine delivery system (levonorgestrel), Jaydess®▼(13.5 mg intrauterine delivery system (levonorgestrel).

Patient Materials

Useful, downloadable resources.

PP-PF-WHC-IE-0944-1, February 2026

Menorrhagia (HMB - Heavy Menstural Bleeding)

Assessing and managing women with heavy menstrual bleeding.

PP-MIR-IE-0074-1, January 2026

Endometrial Hyperplasia

Explore more about assessing and managing Endometrial Hyperplasia.

PP-MIR-IE-0075-1, February 2026

PP-MIR-IE-0073-1 | January 2026

References

1
The Contraception Conversation, Dublin Well Woman & Empathy Research, supported by an educational grant from Bayer. On-line survey conducted on the 10th-23rd March 2020 with 1,014 females aged 17-45 years. Available online from: https://wellwomancentre.ie/research-publications/
2
Cristobal I, et al. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2015;190:58–64.
3
Merki-Feld GS, et al. Eur J Contracep Reprod Health Care 2018:183–193.
4
NHS. How effective is contraception at preventing pregnancy? - Your contraception guide [online]. Updated 30 June 2017. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/how-effective-contraception/.
5
Jaydess®▼13.5 mg intrauterine delivery system (levonorgestrel): Summary of Product Characteristics.
6
Kyleena® 19.5 mg intrauterine delivery system (levonorgestrel): Summary of Product Characteristics.
7
Mirena® (52 mg intrauterine delivery system levonorgestrel): Summary of Product Characteristics.
8
Bayer Plc. Mirena® 52 mg intrauterine delivery system (levonorgestrel): Product Information. Bayer Australia