Vaginal Hormonal Ring (NuvaRing®, Annovera™ )

Young men's version of this guide

vaginal ring

The vaginal ring is a method of nascence command that provides both estrogen and progestin hormones. You demand a prescription from your health intendance provider. The vaginal ring is also used to treat atmospheric condition such equally irregular periods, menstrual cramps, or endometriosis.

What is the vaginal hormonal "ring "?

The vaginal hormonal ring is a method of nascency control that contains estrogen and progestin, the same hormones that are in combination nativity command pills. It  Information technology is inserted into the vagina similar to a tampon.

How does the ring work?

In that location are two unlike hormones called estrogen and progestin in the vaginal band. When the band is inserted in a woman's vagina, the medicine is released into the vagina and absorbed through the vaginal wall. The medicine then enters the bloodstream to stop the ovaries from releasing eggs. This medicine as well makes the cervical mucus thicker, which helps to preclude sperm from traveling upwards towards the uterus and fallopian tubes.

Can teenagers use the ring?

Yes. The vaginal ring is like shooting fish in a barrel to utilize and safe for most teens. The benefits include shorter, lighter, and less painful periods. Weight gain is uncommon and unlikely to exist related to the ring. If y'all are thinking virtually using the "ring", make sure to tell your health care provider if you accept any medical problems such as blood clots, eye problems, high blood pressure level, or severe migraine headaches with aureola (such as flashing lights five to thirty minutes before the migraine).

Exercise I need a prescription for the ring?

Yes. Y'all do need a prescription from your health intendance provider (HCP) to buy the ring, merely you lot DON'T need to be fitted for information technology. One size fits all. It's sold nether the brand names NuvaRing® or Annovera™. Talk to your HCP to see if you can utilize hormone methods such as the ring. Cigarette smoking increases your risk for middle problems. If y'all fume, piece of work with your HCP to quit.

Is the ring as effective as the pill in preventing pregnancy?

Yeah, when used correctly. The ring is 98-99% effective in preventing pregnancy. Some herbal medicines and antibiotics may lower the effectiveness of the vaginal hormonal ring. Be sure to tell your wellness care provider if you are taking any over-the-counter herbs or dietary supplements.

Practice I demand to apply condoms when I'm using the ring?

Yes. The ring does NOT preclude sexually transmitted infections (STIs), then make sure you use condoms 100% of the time. The first cycle that you showtime using the ring, it may not be as effective in preventing pregnancy, and then information technology'south especially important for you to use condoms the first 7 days.

How should I use the ring?

When you've had your questions answered and you lot have learned how to insert the ring, you lot're fix to brainstorm. Make full the prescription at your pharmacy. Similar other hormonal methods, the ring can be used in a circadian way with a week off or continuously with no time off between taking out one ring and putting in the adjacent.

Nuvaring®

Annovera™

When should I begin using the ring for the beginning time?

You should begin using the band past inserting itbetween Day 1 and Twenty-four hour period five of your menstrual cycle. Day 1 of your cycle is the start day of your flow (bleeding). The ring should be inserted by cycle day five at the very latest, even if you still have your period. Your health care provider may too have you start using information technology right after your date ("quick start") and use condoms for the first bike.

How practise I insert the ring?

  1. Before you brainstorm, wash and dry your hands.
  2. With clean hands, gently open the foil pouch that the ring comes in. If using Nuvaring®, salve the pouch so you can throw the used vaginal ring abroad when it'south time to alter it.
  3. Brand certain you observe a individual place such as your room or the bath, so you'll feel relaxed.
  4. Y'all may desire to lie down in bed with knees bent or squat down with knees bent or stand with i leg on a chair or toilet seat. (It's similar to inserting a tampon.)
  5. Using one hand (right mitt if you are right-handed, left if you are left-handed), hold the vaginal ring between your thumb and index finger. Concord the sides together and so they are touching and the ring is folded.
  6. While property the ring, gently insert the ring into your vagina as far as information technology will become. (If you don't want to affect your vagina to put information technology in, you can use a cardboard tampon container with the tampon removed. Simply take out the tampon and place the ring within the empty container. Insert the container with the ring inside and push the applicator to insert the band.)

Will I feel the band?

The exact position of the ring is not important for information technology to be effective but it should exist comfortable. Most teens and women who use the vaginal ring do not feel it once it is in place. If y'all practice feel it, gently push button the ring a little further back into the vagina. The ring should non hurt or cause discomfort one time it is inserted and placed correctly. If it feels uncomfortable, remove information technology, read the "How practice I insert the ring?" directions again, and then try to insert it once again. If you withal can't insert the band without discomfort, stop and contact your wellness care provider.

If I button the ring too far up inside my vagina, will information technology get lost?

No. The ring can't get lost within of your vagina. Your neck, which is located at the end of your vagina, prevents the ring from traveling upward into your uterus.

How long practise I exit the ring inside my vagina?

Once in identify, the ring should stay within your vagina for 3 complete weeks unless you are having problems such every bit new migraine headaches orsevere nausea (feeling similar you desire to throw upwardly almost of the fourth dimension).

NuvaRing® Use:

If yous are using the NuvaRing®ring in a cyclic way , y'all will remove the ring later on iii complete weeks or 21 days and wait 1 total calendar week earlier you insert a new band. Yous will likely have a period during the ring-costless week.

If your health care provider tells you to employ the NuvaRing continuously you will remove the ring afterward 3 complete weeks and insert a new band correct away. You may merely have spotting or no bleeding at all.

Annovera™ Ring Use:

If you lot are using the Annovera™ ring,  you lot volition have the ring out after 3 complete weeks or 21 days. You will wash the ring with balmy lather and h2o, pat dry out, put it in the case for 7 days, and and so insert the same ring ane week later.

Is it possible for the ring to fall out?

It's possible just unlikely the ring volition come out of your vagina. If the vaginal ring is inserted properly, the muscles within your vagina concur the ring in place. The ring could possibly come out if information technology is not inserted high enough into your vagina, if you are very constipated, straining with a bowel movement, or information technology could sideslip out if you are removing a tampon. The ring is meant to exist worn during sex.

What practise I do if the band slips out?

If you lot are using the NuvaRing® and the ring slips out of your vagina, it's okay to gently rinse it nether cold water(not hot water!) then re-insert the ring in your vagina as soon as possible. Yous must exercise this within 2-3 hours. If yous wait longer than 3 hours or forget to put the band back in your vagina, there's a adventure that the band will not prevent pregnancy. If this happens, identify the ring back in your vagina and use a "back up" method of contraception, such as condoms for vii days.

If y'all are using the Annovera™ vaginal ring and it slips out of your vagina, launder it with balmy soap and h2o, pat dry and and so re-insert the ring in your vagina inside 2 hours. If you wait longer than 2 hours or forget to put the band back in your vagina, there's a adventure that the ring will not prevent pregnancy. If this happens, place the ring back in your vagina and utilize a "back up" method of contraception, such as condoms for seven days.

Can I apply tampons?

Yeah. All the same, the ring may come out when the tampon is removed. Generally, y'all volition not take your period during the 3 weeks while you have the ring in identify. You will probably accept your period during the "ring-free calendar week" and you won't have to worry about using a tampon at that time. If the ring slips out, follow the to a higher place directions.

How do I accept the vaginal hormonal ring out of my vagina?

Insert your index and middle finger of one of your hands into your vagina and gently feel for the ring. Once you lot feel the ring, hook your index finger effectually it and guide it out with your middle finger, pulling forward until the ring comes out. This should non injure at all because the band is thin and flexible. If you are using the NuvaRing®, you will change your ring every month. Once you take removed the ring, place it in the pouch that it came in, seal the pouch then throw information technology away in the trash-away from young children and pets. If you forget to save the pouch, either wrap the ring in a piece of aluminum foil or place it in a small-scale, sealed plastic pocketbook. NEVER flush the ring down the toilet!

Do I need to take the ring out on the same day of the week that I put it in?

Yes, y'all should remove the ring on the same day of the week that y'all started. For example, if yous inserted the ring on Sunday at nine:00 pm, you will need to remove the band 3 total weeks afterward a Sunday at about the same time, at ix:00 pm.

What if I forget to take the ring out?

NuvaRing® Utilise: If you are using the band in a cyclic way  (3 weeks on, ane week off) and y'allexit the ring in for upwardly to 4 weeks, remove the ring, throw information technology away, and expect 1 calendar week before y'all insert a new ring.

If you are using the ring in a continuous way , and yous get out the ring in for upwardly to 4 weeks, remove the ring, throw it away, and insert a new ring.

If you lot areLESS than 48 hrs. late with inserting a new ring and you are sexually active:

  • Insert the ring as soon as possible
  • Keep the band in until the scheduled ring removal day.
  • Emergency contraception (EC) is not normally needed simply tin be considered depending on mean solar day of your bike. Talk to your wellness care provider HCP to find out if you should take a pregnancy test or if EC is needed.

If you areMORE than 48 hrs. late with inserting a new ring and you are sexually active:

  • Insert the new ring every bit soon as possible
  • Keep the ring in until the scheduled ring removal twenty-four hours.
  • Utilize dorsum-upwardly contraception (condoms) or avoid sexual intercourse until a ring has been worn for 7 straight days.
  • Talk to your health care provider most whether you should take Emergency Contraception (EC). Allow your HCP know the week of your menstrual wheel.

Annovera™Use: If you are using the Annovera band in a cyclic manner and you forget to take it out after 3 weeks:

  • Remove the band, wash information technology, dry information technology, put it in the case, and reinsert it in 1 calendar week

Tin I accept sex while I am wearing the ring and will my partner be able to tell?

Having intercourse is a personal decision. The ring is rubber and should stay in the vagina during intercourse. Your partner won't usually be able to feel the ring. If the ring is a problem during intercourse, then the ring can be removed for upward to 2 hours. A diaphragm (another form of birth control) is not meant to be used with the vaginal hormonal ring. Always use condoms when having sexual intercourse to lower your take a chance of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Are there any side effects with the band?

Side furnishings are uncommon; only are similar to the side effects of oral contraceptive pill as it contains the same hormones (progestin and estrogen). Occasionally women report headaches, nausea, and breast tenderness. Other, less common side effects may include vaginal irritation, yeast infection, and/or urinary tract infection.

Are at that place whatever reasons why I shouldn't employ the ring?

The ring contains the same medicine that is in birth command pills, the hormones estrogen and progestin, so it may not be safe for you to utilize if you lot have a history of certain medical problems such every bit claret clots, high blood pressure, or serious migraine headaches. It'south very of import to tell your health care provider if you or other close family members accept a history of whatever of these weather condition. Cigarette smoking greatly increases your take chances for serious cardiovascular weather, while quitting smoking will make you lot healthier and using the ring safer.

Is in that location anything else I should know virtually the vaginal hormonal ring?

Progering®is  a progesterone-only releasing hormonal ring that has been approved for breastfeeding mothers. At this time the new Progering® is just available in certain areas of Latin America.

You and your health care provider should decide if the vaginal hormonal ring (and which type) is the all-time choice for you., If you lot have more than questions or you are having problems using the ring for the first time, call your health care provider. Routine physical exams, and getting your blood pressure checked are important. Remember that the vaginal hormonal ring does not forbid the spread of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. If you are sexually active, be sure to use condoms every time you lot have sex activity!

For more than data, visit nuvaring.com.

Parts of this guide were adapted from the patient handout, The Get-go Contraceptive Vaginal Band-NuvaRing. (Organon)