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NuvaRing—also known as the birth control ring or the vaginal ring—is a squishy, donut-shaped device made of latex-free plastic, about 2 inches in diameter. Once inserted into the vagina, this prescription-only birth control steadily releases a low dose of estrogen ethinyl estradiol and progestin etonogestrel. Food and Drug Administration FDA , NuvaRing is as effective as birth control pills or the patch, and you only have to worry about putting in a new ring once a month.

NuvaRing stops ovulation, thins the uterine lining, and thickens cervical mucus to head contraception off at the pass. With the option of telehealth , you might be able to skip the office visit entirely. If you wear your birth control ring for three weeks at a time, you will menstruate for approximately seven days as per usual.

Or if you wear it all month long, you will skip your periods altogether. Ask your healthcare provider how you should use NuvaRing. NuvaRing is stored in the refrigerator at your pharmacy. Once it leaves the pharmacy, NuvaRing can be stored at room temperature and away from direct sunlight or heat.

It expires after four months, so check the package before inserting. When ready to use, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water. Once your hands are dry, remove the ring from its package and squeeze the sides together before gently inserting it like a tampon. You can use pads, tampons, or a menstrual cup at the same time.

Inserting it can feel pretty odd at first, but Minkin says you get the hang of it pretty quickly. Make sure you always wash your hands before insertion, removal, or any other time your fingers come into contact with your vagina.

If this is all too much vagina-touching for you, you may be better off with another birth control option. If you don't want a period at all, NuvaRing may help. After all, it's safe to skip your period when you're on the Pill , and it's the same for NuvaRing.

Since NuvaRing and the Pill function in basically the same way, you can expect the same side effects from them, says Minkin. There are great ones like less cramps, potentially lighter periods that's the other part of the period control bit Pizarro mentioned , and clearer skin. But there are also issues like vaginal dryness and lower libido, or slightly increased risks of blood clots and stroke. The one major caveat is that if you're over 35 and smoke cigarettes, you should not use NuvaRing, or any other method that relies on a combination of hormones including the Pill.

This risk increases with age and the number of cigarettes smoked," says NuvaRing's website. But let's say you can't remove it. First, don't panic. If you try these tips for getting a stuck object out of your vagina to no avail, he recommends seeing a healthcare provider to get it removed. And if you realize you had unprotected sex after the ring fell out, Pizarro recommends getting your hands on some emergency contraception. For more information, ask your health care provider or pharmacist.

Call your health care provider for medical advice about side effects. Your chance of getting pregnant depends on how well you follow the directions for using NuvaRing. The better you follow the directions, the less chance you have of getting pregnant. NuvaRing is non-biodegradable so it will not dissolve. It releases a low dose of hormones into your body over the course of 3 weeks. After that time, you need to remove it, take a week off from NuvaRing, and insert a new one 7 days after removal.

It is important to consult with your health care provider to make sure you are not pregnant before starting NuvaRing. When you start using NuvaRing depends on your current birth control situation. Talk to your health care provider and read the Prescribing Information for more details. Also read some basic directions on how to start NuvaRing. NuvaRing may move around slightly within your vagina. This is normal. If you do feel discomfort, NuvaRing is probably not fully inserted.

In that case, just use your finger to gently push the NuvaRing as far as you can into your vagina. Rest assured, there is no danger of NuvaRing being pushed too far up in the vagina or getting lost.

The cervix the narrow, lower end of the uterus will block NuvaRing from going any farther. NuvaRing can accidentally slip out of the vagina while removing a tampon, during intercourse, or straining during a bowel movement. Some women have accidentally inserted NuvaRing into their bladder. If you have pain during or after insertion and you cannot find NuvaRing in your vagina, call your health care provider right away.

During intercourse, some sexual partners may feel NuvaRing in the vagina. Hormonal birth control methods do not seem to cause breast cancer. However, if you have breast cancer now or have had it in the past, do not use hormonal birth control, including NuvaRing, because some breast cancers are sensitive to hormones. Women who use hormonal birth control methods may have a slightly higher chance of getting cervical cancer. However, this may be due to other reasons such as having more sexual partners.

NuvaRing can slip or accidentally come out of be expelled from your vagina during sexual intercourse, bowel movements, use of tampons, or if it breaks.

During Weeks 1 and 2, you may not be protected from pregnancy. Reinsert the ring as soon as you remember. Use another birth control method, such as male condoms with spermicide, until the ring has been in place for 7 days in a row.

During Week 3, do not reinsert the NuvaRing that has been out of your vagina; but throw it away in your household trash away from children and pets.

Use another birth control method, such as male condoms with spermicide, until the new NuvaRing has been used for 7 days in a row, following one of the two options below:. Option 1. Insert a new ring right away to start your next 21 day NuvaRing use cycle. You may not have your regular period but you may have spotting or vaginal bleeding. Option 2. Insert a new ring no later than 7 days from the time the previous ring was removed or expelled.

During this time, you may have your period. Note: You should only choose to do option 2 if you used NuvaRing for 7 days in a row, prior to the day that your previous NuvaRing was accidently removed or expelled. Rest assured that once inserted in the vagina, there is no risk of NuvaRing being pushed too far up or getting lost. There have been some reports of women accidentally inserting NuvaRing into their bladder.

If you are experiencing pain during or after insertion and you cannot find your NuvaRing in your vagina, call your health care provider right away. You must use another birth control method, such as male condoms with spermicide, until the new NuvaRing has been used for 7 days in a row. NuvaRing may break, causing the ring to lose its shape. If the ring stays in your vagina, this should not lower the effectiveness of NuvaRing at preventing pregnancy.

If NuvaRing breaks and slips out of your vagina, throw the broken ring in your household trash out of the reach of children and pets and immediately insert a new ring. Use of tampons will not reduce the contraceptive efficacy of NuvaRing. Insert NuvaRing before inserting a tampon. You should pay particular attention when removing a tampon to be sure that the ring is not accidentally pulled out. If this should occur, simply rinse the ring in cool to lukewarm not hot water and immediately reinsert it.

Use of spermicides or vaginal yeast products will not reduce the contraceptive efficacy of NuvaRing. Some women miss periods on hormonal birth control, even when they are not pregnant. Consider the possibility that you may be pregnant if:. If you know or suspect you are pregnant, do not use NuvaRing. See your health care provider as soon as possible. When you use NuvaRing you may have bleeding and spotting between periods, called unplanned bleeding.

Unplanned bleeding may vary from slight staining between menstrual periods to breakthrough bleeding, which is a flow much like a regular period. Unplanned bleeding occurs most often during the first few months of NuvaRing use, but may also occur after you have been using NuvaRing for some time. Such bleeding may be temporary and usually does not indicate any serious problems. It is important to continue using the ring on schedule. If the unplanned bleeding or spotting is heavy or lasts for more than a few days, you should discuss this with your health care provider.

Do not use more than one NuvaRing at a time.