The ring is a birth control option that you place vaginally and leave in place for 3 weeks. It is a non daily use option that allows you to be discreet and not think about it for about a month! The ring is 93% effective with typical use.
How to Use the Ring
To use the ring, you pinch and fold it, then insert it into the back of the vagina. You leave it in for 3 weeks and the 4th week, remove it to have a period. Then place a new ring.
You can choose to use the ring continuously which means you change your ring every 3 weeks to hopefully skip your period. Some patients have break through bleeding when they use the ring continuously but that typically improves with time.
You can leave the ring in during sex or remove it for sex. If you choose to remove it, you rinse it off and replace it as soon as you can to ensure effectiveness.
It takes 7 days for the ring to be effective to prevent pregnancy. You need to use another method to prevent pregnancy if you have sex before then.
Types of Rings
There are two types of rings available. The NuvaRing and its generic version which you leave in for 3 weeks and remove to have a period monthly. There is also Annovera which is a ring that can be used for an entire year! There can sometimes be issues with insurance coverage with Annovera.
Side Effects and Considerations
The ring is made to not be irritating to the vagina. Some patients still have issues with yeast or BV with the NuvaRing use.
It's normal to have some side effects in the first two weeks after starting the ring. Some people experience nausea, breast tenderness and an increase in acne. This usually stops after the first two weeks and does not return.
Not everyone is a candidate for estrogen containing birth control. If you have high blood pressure, a history of a blood clot in your legs or your lungs, migraines with aura or seeing flashy lights, use nicotine, or just had a baby, you are not a candidate for estrogen. Estrogen use puts anyone with these conditions at higher risk for blood clots or worsening heart disease.
Learn More About Birth Control Options
This article is part of Haven Health Education, where we explain birth control options so you can make informed decisions about your reproductive health.
Birth Control Ring Prescriptions in Greensboro and Across North Carolina
If you are considering the birth control ring, Haven Health provides birth control counseling and prescriptions in Greensboro, North Carolina and by telehealth across the state.
Many patients have questions about how the ring works, how to use it correctly, and whether an estrogen-containing method is right for their health history. Haven Health helps you understand how options like NuvaRing and Annovera fit into your overall reproductive health plan.
Patients from Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Oak Ridge, Summerfield, Kernersville, and surrounding Guilford County communities visit Haven Health for personalized contraceptive care.
If you live anywhere in Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Asheville, Wilmington, or other North Carolina communities, you can schedule a virtual visit to discuss your birth control options and receive a prescription without needing to come into the office.
Haven Health offers patient-centered, evidence-based reproductive care both in person and online across North Carolina.