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| Vaginal Ring | The Vaginal Contraceptive Ring is truly one of the latest developments in hormonal contraception methods. This ring is sold under the NUVA RING brand name. The Vaginal Ring protects women against getting pregnant during one month. It is available in almost every drugstore, and a prescription from your doctor is necessary to obtain it.
 What is the Vaginal Ring?
The Vaginal Ring looks like a thin, flexible, transparent ring, made out of plastic, that you have to insert into the vagina near the cervix. The Vaginal Ring has synthetic hormones (the combination of estrogen and progestin hormones), which become absorbed from it inside woman’s vagina.
How Does the Vaginal Ring Work?
Every woman inserts the Vaginal Ring for three weeks, and then she takes it out, for the menstruation period to occur. During these three weeks, it releases progestin and estrogen hormones continuously into her body. These hormones’ work is similar to the combination birth control pill’s activity: it stops the ovulation and makes the muscles of the cervical mucus thicker, thus, the barrier for the sperm penetration into woman’s egg and fertilizing it is produced. A woman has to use a new Vaginal Ring every month.
Actually, the Vaginal Ring prevents an unplanned pregnancy in one of the following ways:
I. The Vaginal Ring keeps the egg from being released from the ovaries (in other words, it prevents ovulation from occurring);
II. The Vaginal Ring makes the cervical mucus thicker, and this prevents man’s sperm from reaching the egg;
III. The Vaginal Ring changes the lining of the uterus, thus, it prevents implantation.
Does the Vaginal Ring Provide Protection Against Sexually Transmitted Diseases?
The Vaginal Ring does not protect against any sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS and HIV.
How to Use the Vaginal Ring?
If you decided to use this method of contraception, and are going to insert the Vaginal Ring for the first time, you are to do it during the first five days of your menstrual period., or within five days of an abortion, in case if it was made in the first trimester. If you had an abortion made in the second trimester, or if you delivered a baby, you will have to wait one month and then you may have the Ring inserted. In case if you are breastfeeding your baby, then ask your doctor’s advice about possibility of the Vaginal Ring’s usage.
The Vaginal Ring begins to act after several days of its insertion. You should better use some other method of contraception, like condoms, cervical caps, etc, in order to reduce the chance of getting pregnant and sexually transmitted diseases, during the first week of use of the Vaginal Ring.
How to Switch to the Vaginal Ring from Some Other Hormonal Method of Contraception?
If you are applying some other hormonal method of contraception, but you would like to try to use the Vaginal Ring: you will have no problems with switching to the Vaginal Ring directly, and there will be no gap in effectiveness, if you are using:
- Combination Pill, then you may insert the Vaginal Ring during 7 days after you have taken the last pill from the pack;
- Mini Pill, you may insert the Vaginal Ring on any day, and you will be able to stop taking Mini Pills at that very day;
- Injectable contraceptives, you may insert the Vaginal Ring on the very day, when you have the next injection scheduled;
- Intrauterine Device or implant, insert the Vaginal Ring on the day of the Intrauterine Device or implant’s removal.
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