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IN FOCUS: ARTICLE |
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Thinking About the Ring?
by Susan Yudt, 05.29.07
Like the pill and the patch, when used correctly, the ring is 99.7 percent effective against pregnancy. |
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Having sex is all about making choices — including finding a birth control method that's right for you. One of the newer birth control choices available is the ring — brand name NuvaRing.
Here are the answers to some common questions about the ring.
What does the ring look like?
Here is a picture of the ring. Its actual size is about two inches across, and it is made out of soft, flexible plastic. It comes in a sealed foil package.
How does it work?
The ring prevents pregnancy the same way that combined-hormone birth control pills and the birth control patch do. It releases the synthetic hormones progestin and estrogen, which work to prevent a woman's ovaries from releasing an egg each month (ovulation). These hormones also thicken the mucus of the cervix, which prevents sperm from joining with an egg.
How effective is it?
Like the pill and the patch, when used correctly, the ring is 99.7 percent effective against pregnancy. (Remember, these methods don't provide any protection against sexually transmitted infections.)
The ring can be less effective if
- the package is exposed to high temperatures or direct sunlight
- the ring is out of the vagina for more than three hours
- the ring does not stay in the vagina for three weeks in a row or it is left in for more than three weeks
If any of these things happen, follow the directions in the package insert and call your health care provider.
How do I get the ring?
If you want to use the ring, you'll need to get a prescription from your health care provider. Some health care providers require that you have an exam before they prescribe birth control, and others don't.
If you haven't been on a prescription birth control method in the last month, start using the ring on or before Day Five of your menstrual cycle. (Day One is the first day of bleeding.) You should use a backup method of birth control for the first seven days that you're on the ring. Condoms are good backup methods. (Plus, they reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.) After seven days, you are protected against pregnancy.
If you are switching to the ring from another prescription birth control method, of if you have recently given birth or had an abortion, talk to your health care provider about when to start the ring — the schedule may be different for these users.
How do I insert the ring?
Press the sides of the ring together so it folds up, and insert it deep into your vagina. If you've put it in correctly, you shouldn't be able to feel it at all. If you can feel it, you may need to push it further into your vagina. Some women worry that their partners will feel the ring during intercourse, but most partners say they can't feel it.
How long do I leave it in?
One ring protects against pregnancy for one month. A ring stays in the vagina for three weeks. At the beginning of the fourth week, a woman removes it and throws it away. Usually a woman's period will start within two or three days of taking out the ring. After the ring has been out for a week, a woman will insert a new ring (even if she still has her period).
Confusing? Here's an example. If you started the ring on Thursday, March 1, you would take it out three weeks later — on Thursday, March 22. Then, one week later — on Thursday, March 29 — you would insert a new ring. It's a four-week cycle. Some women find it helpful to keep track of when they inserted and removed their rings by marking it on a calendar.
What are the advantages of the ring?
Many women find the ring more convenient than the pill because they don't have to remember to take a pill every day — the ring only needs to be inserted once every four weeks.
Although the ring is too new for certain studies to be completed, it probably offers the same non-contraceptive benefits that come with using the pill. These benefits include relief from PMS and irregular menstrual cycles; a reduction in acne and excess body hair; and protection against iron deficiency anemia, ovarian and endometrial cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, osteoporosis, and ovarian cysts.
Does the ring have any side effects?
As with any medication, some women experience side effects and others do not. Some common side effects of the ring are
- bleeding between periods
- weight gain or loss
- breast tenderness
- nausea — rarely, vomiting
- changes in mood
These side effects usually clear up after two to three months. Other common side effects include
- increased vaginal discharge
- vaginal irritation or infection
How much does the ring cost?
The ring usually costs about $30 to $35 a month. The cost is covered by Medicaid. An exam, if needed, usually costs about $35 to $125. Many Planned Parenthood health centers — and other health centers across the country — offer health services on a sliding scale, according to how much income (if any) a teen makes or how much she is able to pay. Contact your nearest Planned Parenthood health center at 1-800-230-PLAN for information about costs in your area.
For more information on the ring, including information on who can use it, check out Planned Parenthood: The Ring. |
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