A Look At The Vaginal Contraceptive Ring

A vaginal ring is a flexible plastic ring that is inserted into the woman’s vagina and releases a low dose progesterone and estrogen hormones. A contraceptive ring works like a birth control pill and patch. It prevents ovulation and thickens the cervical mucus therefore making it hard for the sperm to swim and reach the mature egg. It also has an effect on the endometrium making it difficult for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterine wall.

The ring is used based on a woman’s menstrual cycle. It is inserted on the first day or before the 5th day of her cycle. The ring should remain in place within a three-week period. At the end of the third week, the ring is removed. During this time the user will experience her menstrual period. Right at the end of the fourth week, a new ring is inserted and the process starts again.

The location of the ring inside the vagina is not important as long as the woman feels comfortable wearing it. It can remain in place during swimming, exercise or even during sexual intercourse. The muscles of the vagina keep the ring in place so the possibility of falling off is unlikely. In rare cases, it may fall off during a tampon removal or bowel movement. If this happens, the woman can rinse the ring in cold water and reinsert it. The contraceptive efficacy is not reduced if the ring is reinserted in less than three hours from expulsion. If the ring is out of the vagina for more than three hours, it is recommended that a back up birth control method be used to prevent pregnancy.

The ring should not be used by breastfeeding mothers as the hormones may pass to babies through breast milk. Common side effects are nausea and dizziness, irregular menses, vaginal infections or irritation, blood clot and headache.