Contraceptive Ring
What is a contraceptive ring?
The contraceptive ring or vaginal ring is a form of hormonal contraception which is clinically proven to prevent pregnancy over 99% of the time. The vaginal ring is made of pliable, transparent plastic and will fit inside your vagina comfortably. To be effective, the contraceptive ring needs to be kept inside your vagina for three weeks (21 days), after which time you will remove the ring and dispose of it, and will likely experience a withdrawal bleed. After a break of a week, you will need to put in a new ring.
The contraceptive ring is a convenient form of birth control for many women who may find it difficult to remember to take a contraceptive pill at the same time every day. As you will be continuously protected against pregnancy, you will not need to stop sex in order to use a barrier form of contraception such as a condom.
There is currently only one brand of contraceptive ring available online, and that is called the NuvaRing.
Nuvaring
Does the contraceptive ring have any particular benefits?
The main benefit of the contraceptive ring is that it has an efficacy rate of almost 100% if it is used correctly. Women who use this method also appreciate the convenience of being able to insert the vaginal ring and then not having to worry about it for a month, especially those who do not enjoy having to take a pill every day.
As the hormones from the vaginal ring are not digested into the stomach, the risk of experiencing nausea or stomach aches is reduced. This also means that you will still be protected against pregnancy if you experience vomiting or diarrhoea, which is not the case with the contraceptive pill.
You may also notice that pre-menstrual symptoms are reduced, and your periods could become lighter and less painful.
How does the contraceptive ring work?
As a hormonal contraceptive, the contraceptive ring works in a similar way to the combined contraceptive pill. It releases synthetic forms of oestrogen and progestogen into your body in order to adjust the levels of these naturally occurring hormones. This effects your hormonal cycle and the reproductive environment in the following ways.
Firstly, the changed hormone levels trick the body into thinking that ovulation has already taken place. This means that the egg is actually not released at all. Secondly, the cervical mucus is thickened so the sperm is not able to travel to the womb as easily. Finally, the uterine lining is made thinner. The combination of the thicker mucus and the thinner womb lining means that, even if an egg were to be released, the sperm would not be there to fertilise it and it would not be able to imbed itself to the lining to grow.
Are there any side effects with the birth control ring?
Though the chance of experiencing side effects is lower with the contraceptive ring is lower than other forms of contraception, there is still a slight possibility of an adverse reaction with this method. Such effects of the contraceptive ring can include mood changes, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vaginal irritation and an increase in the risk of experiencing blood clots.
If any of these effects persist or you feel they are getting worse, you should contact your doctor for advice. If you experience any severe form of reaction to this treatment, you should stop using the contraceptive ring and seek medical treatment immediately.
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