The vaginal ring is a thin, colorless, flexible ring that is inserted into the vagina for three weeks and is then removed for one week while the woman has her period. Low doses of estrogen and progestin are continuously released from the ring, which is replaced monthly. Like birth control pills, the vaginal ring is 98% effective at preventing pregnancy, though its effectiveness decreases if used improperly.
Advantages of the ring include:
Disadvantages of the ring include:
Certain drugs, such as antibiotics, antiseizure drugs, tuberculosis (TB) medicines, and migraine medicines can affect the effectiveness of the vaginal ring. The herb St. John's Wort can also interfere with effectiveness of this ring. Talk to your doctor about all of the medicines and supplements you are taking.
If any of the following symptoms occur while you are wearing the vaginal ring, contact your doctor immediately:
Do not use the vaginal ring if you might be pregnant or are breastfeeding. It is also not recommended for women with the following health concerns:
RESOURCES:
National Women's Health Information Center
http://www.4woman.gov/
US Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The Canadian Women's Health Network
http://www.cwhn.ca/indexeng.html/
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org/index_e.asp/
References:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at: http://www.acog.org
How does it work? Nuvaring website. Available at: http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/aboutNuvaRing/howDoesItWork/index.asp. Accessed May 4, 2010.
Planned Parenthood website. Available at: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/
Vaginal ring. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/preventingpregnancy/vaginalring.html. Updated June 2006. Accessed May 4, 2010.
Last reviewed May 2010 by Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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