NuvaRing
The NuvaRing, otherwise known as the vaginal ring, is a small soft plastic ring that you place inside your vagina. This is primarily used as a contraceptive to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
The NuvaRing steadily releases the hormones oestrogen and progestogen into your bloodstream, which prevents the release of an egg each month.
It also thickens the cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for sperm to move through the cervix, and thins the lining of the womb so a fertilised egg is less likely to implant itself.
If used correctly, the vaginal ring is more than 99% effective.
It also thickens the cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for sperm to move through the cervix, and thins the lining of the womb so a fertilised egg is less likely to implant itself.
If used correctly, the vaginal ring is more than 99% effective.
You can start using the vaginal ring at any time during your menstrual cycle if you're not pregnant.
You'll be protected against pregnancy straight away if you insert it on the first day of your period (the first day of your menstrual cycle). If you start using the ring at any other time in your menstrual cycle, you will be protected against pregnancy as long as you use additional contraception (such as condoms) for the first 7 days of using it.
You'll be protected against pregnancy straight away if you insert it on the first day of your period (the first day of your menstrual cycle). If you start using the ring at any other time in your menstrual cycle, you will be protected against pregnancy as long as you use additional contraception (such as condoms) for the first 7 days of using it.
Insertion:
(1) With clean hands, squeeze the ring between your thumb and finger, and gently insert the tip into your vagina
(2) Gently push the ring up into your vagina until it feels comfortable
Unlike a diaphragm or cap, the ring doesn't need to cover the entrance to your womb (the cervix) to work. You should be able to check that the ring is still there using your fingers. If you can't feel it but you're sure it's there, see a GP or nurse. The ring can not get "lost" inside you.
After the ring has been in your vagina for 21 days (3 weeks), you remove it. This should be on the same day of the week that you put it in.
Removal:
(1) With clean hands, put a finger into your vagina and hook it around the edge of the ring
gently pull the ring out.
(2) Put it in the special bag provided and throw it in the bin – don't flush it down the toilet
Removing the ring should be painless. If you have any bleeding or pain or you can't pull it out, see your GP or nurse immediately.
(1) With clean hands, squeeze the ring between your thumb and finger, and gently insert the tip into your vagina
(2) Gently push the ring up into your vagina until it feels comfortable
Unlike a diaphragm or cap, the ring doesn't need to cover the entrance to your womb (the cervix) to work. You should be able to check that the ring is still there using your fingers. If you can't feel it but you're sure it's there, see a GP or nurse. The ring can not get "lost" inside you.
After the ring has been in your vagina for 21 days (3 weeks), you remove it. This should be on the same day of the week that you put it in.
Removal:
(1) With clean hands, put a finger into your vagina and hook it around the edge of the ring
gently pull the ring out.
(2) Put it in the special bag provided and throw it in the bin – don't flush it down the toilet
Removing the ring should be painless. If you have any bleeding or pain or you can't pull it out, see your GP or nurse immediately.
- (1) Forgetting to take the ring out after 21 days
If the ring has been in for up to 7 days after the end of week 3 (up to 4 weeks in total):
(a) take the ring out as soon as you remember
(b) don't put a new ring in – start your 7-day interval as normal
(c) begin your new ring after your 7-day interval
(d) you're still protected against pregnancy, and you don't need to use additional contraception
If the ring has been in for more than 7 days after the end of week 3 (more than 4 weeks in total):
(a) take the ring out as soon as you remember
(b) put a new ring in straight away
(c) use additional contraception, such as condoms, for 7 days
You may need emergency contraception if you've had sex in the days before changing the rings over – see a GP or nurse for advice
(2) Forgetting to put a new ring in
Put in a new ring as soon as you remember, and use additional contraception (such as condoms) for 7 days.
You may need emergency contraception if you had sex before you remembered to put the new ring in, and the ring-free interval was 48 hours longer than it should have been or more (9 days or more in total).
(3) The ring comes out by itself
Sometimes the ring may come out on its own (expulsion). It may happen after or during sex, or if it wasn't put in properly. What you should do depends on how long the ring is out for and which week in your cycle you're on.
(a) If the ring is out for less than 3 hours (regardless of where you are in your cycle), rinse it with cool or lukewarm water
reinsert the same ring as soon as possible within 3 hours. You don't need additional contraception and you're protected from pregnancy
(b) If the ring is out for more than 3 hours in the first or second week, rinse it with cool or lukewarm water and reinsert the same ring as soon as possible. You must use additional contraception for 7 days and may need emergency contraception if you've had sex in the last few days
(c) If the ring is out for more than 3 hours in the third week, throw it away and choose either to put a new ring in straight away or
don't put a ring in and start your 7-day interval. Please note if you choose not to put a ring in, you should put a new ring in 7 days after the previous one came out. You can only choose this option if the ring was in continuously for the previous 7 days. Whichever option you choose, use additional contraception for 7 days and contact our Click Doctor team or consult your GP if you've had sex in the last few days, as you may need emergency contraception.
Like all medicines, NuvaRing can potentially cause side effects. These include increased vaginal discharge, headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood changes. This is typically temporary and improves with time.
Other more serious but rare side effects include blood clots and very small increased risk of breast and cervical cancers.
Other more serious but rare side effects include blood clots and very small increased risk of breast and cervical cancers.
Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions or on particular medicines. It is very important you declare your full medical history to our Click Doctors via our online consultations so that a proper judgement can be made on its safety.
NuvaRing is not suitable:
NuvaRing is not suitable:
- If you are allergic to its active ingredients or any other of its ingredients.
- If have been diagnosed with acute porphyrias, atrial fibrillation, benign hepatocellular adenoma, Budd-Chiari syndrome, cardiomyopathy with impaired cardiac function, complicated congenital heart diease, complicated valvular heart disease, current breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, hypertension, hypertensive retinopathy, ischaemic heart disease, known thrombogenic mutations (e.g. factor V Leiden, prothrombin mutation, protein S, protein C and antithrombin deficiencies), positive antiphospholipid antibodies, systemic lupus erythematosus with antiphospholipid antibodies or migraine with aura
- History of stroke, transient ischaemic attack, peripheral vascular disease and/ or venous thrombosis
- Less than 3 weeks postpartum in non-breastfeeding women with other risk factors for venous thromboembolism
- Less than 6 weeks postpartum in breastfeeding women
- Major surgery with prolonged immobilisation
- Smoking in patients aged 35 years and over (15 or more cigarettes daily)
