Angela discusses contraception and estrogen therapy. (Portrayed by an actress)
On estrogen replacement therapy Angela discusses contraception and estrogen therapy. (Portrayed by an actress) Read video transcript
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ANGELA
As I started showing menopausal symptoms recently – like hot flushes and night sweats and so on – my doctor recommended that I should start estrogen replacement therapy. There’s a few options out there; there are pills, patches, some gels. I found out that I should take some Progestin as well, because Oestrogen on its own could cause a problem with the womb.
When I asked my doctor about that he actually told me that there is a long term contraceptive that could supply me with the Progestin that I need, with the other benefit of course of the guard from getting pregnant, which is still a possibility in early stages of the menopause.

On estrogen therapy

When you arrive at an age that signals the beginning of the end of your reproductive capability, you may start to experience hot flushes or other symptoms of the menopause. It does not necessarily mean that contraception is no longer needed. Your doctor may recommend using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to compensate for the loss of estrogen production by your body1.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal women consists of either estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) or a combination of an estrogen and a progestogen. If you have had a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the womb) you can take ERT alone to treat menopausal symptoms. If you opt for HRT and have not had a hysterectomy, you need to take a progestogen in addition to the estrogen to prevent a potentially serious condition known as endometrial hyperplasia (an excessive thickening of the lining of the womb) that can be caused by ERT alone1. The intrauterine system provides the progestogen component of HRT for up to five years, and the estrogen component can be chosen from the available options that include pills, patches, creams and gels.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal symptoms does not provide contraceptive protection. If you use the intrauterine system together with estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), this combination simultaneously provides contraception and HRT.

If you use the intrauterine system in conjunction with ERT, there may be some spotting and irregular bleeding during the first few months after placement. Eventually, this bleeding will reduce and you may have no periods at all1.

Ask your healthcare professional for more advice.

Note: The intrauterine system (IUS) is also known as the ‘hormonal coil’.

Click on the links below to find out more about how the intrauterine system is not only an effective contraceptive but also can protect your womb when used in conjunction with estrogen replacement therapy.

Your contraceptive choices and key questions