The vaginal ring is a small, flexible ring a woman inserts into her vagina once a month to prevent pregnancy. It is left in place for three weeks and taken out for the remaining week each month. The vaginal ring is commonly called NuvaRing, its brand name.
How Does the Vaginal Ring Work?
Like other methods of birth control, NuvaRing releases hormones. Hormones are chemicals made in our bodies. They control how different parts of our bodies work.
The hormones in NuvaRing are the same hormones as in the birth control pill — estrogen and progestin.
The hormones in the ring work by
• Keeping eggs from leaving the ovaries. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join with the sperm.
• Making cervical mucus thicker. This keeps sperm from getting to the eggs.
How Effective Is the Vaginal Ring?
Effectiveness is an important and common concern when choosing a birth control method. The vaginal ring is very effective. It works best when a woman inserts it, keeps it in place for three weeks, takes it out for one week, and then inserts a new ring. That keeps the correct level of hormone in a woman’s body.
• Less than 1 out of 100 women will get pregnant each year if they always use NuvaRing as directed.
• About 9 out of 100 women will get pregnant each year if they don’t always use NuvaRing as directed.
Certain medicines and supplements may make NuvaRing less effective. These include
• the antibiotic rifampin — other antibiotics do not make the ring less effective
• certain medicines that are taken by mouth for yeast infections
• certain HIV medicines
• certain anti-seizure medicines
• St. John’s wort
Keep in mind the ring doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections. Use a latex or female condom to reduce the risk of infection.
Do not wait any longer and make an appointment with Dr. Mariz by either calling our Union Square office at (212) 378-9985 or our Upper East Side NYC office at (212) 389-1904.
