Birth Control Ring

The ring does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STD's). It should not be used during breastfeeding, because the hormones enter breast milk and can affect the baby.

How the Ring Works

The birth control ring contains two synthetic hormones: progestin and estrogen. The ring slowly releases these hormones and they are absorbed into the bloodstream through the vaginal tissue.

Progestin is similar to progesterone, which is made by a woman's ovaries during the menstrual cycle. The ovaries also make estrogen. The combination of estrogen and progestin prevents a woman's ovaries from releasing an egg. The release of an egg, which is called ovulation, normally happens once during each menstrual cycle. If no egg is released, the woman can not become pregnant.

The ring also causes a woman's cervical mucus to become thicker. The cervix is the entrance to the uterus. Sperm must swim through mucus made by the cervix in order to reach the uterus and fertilize an egg. Thicker mucus makes it harder for sperm to get through.

Who Can Use the Ring?

Most women can use the birth control ring. However, women who are not comfortable inserting the ring into the vagina may want to choose another method of birth control. Women who have had problems with hormonal methods of birth control in the past may not have a good experience with the ring.

The ring should not be used by women who:

• Are pregnant or think they might be
• Have ever had blood clots in the legs, lungs, or eyes
• Have ever had a heart attack or stroke, suffer from angina pectoris (a kind of chest pain related to heart disease), or have complications from heart valve disease
• Have very high blood pressure
• Have complications from diabetes
• Have headaches which cause neurological symptoms
• Have ever had breast, uterine, cervical, or vaginal cancer
• Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• Have liver disease
• Are on prolonged bed rest
• Have any allergies to the ingredients in the ring

Side Effects

Some women find that they have fewer side effects with the birth control ring than with other hormonal methods. This may be because the levels of hormones in the ring are low.

The most common side effects are:

• Infection or irritation of the vagina
• Increased discharge from the vagina
• Headache
• Weight gain
• Nausea

According to the manufacturer, women also reported increased upper respiratory tract infections (like colds and sinusitis).

Women using hormonal methods of birth control also sometimes have:

• Bleeding or spotting between periods
• Breast tenderness
• Mood changes

You can find more information about side effects at the manufacturer's website.

Blood Clots and the Ring

Hormonal birth control that contains estrogen, including the birth control ring, increases the risk of developing a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is the formation of blood clots in the legs, which can move to the lungs or other parts of the body and cause serious problems. Women who are over thirty-five and smoke are at especially high risk.

Effectiveness

The birth control ring works about as well as the pill to prevent pregnancy. It is 99% effective if used consistently and correctly. The ring is still fairly new, so no one knows for sure how well it works with what's called "typical use"—including common errors like starting at the wrong time or removing it too early or too late.

Getting Pregnant After Using the Ring

According to the manufacturer, a woman's regular menstrual cycle, including ovulation, should resume within about a month of stopping the birth control ring. That means that using the ring should not hurt your ability to become pregnant after you stop using it.