Dr. Kate is an OB/GYN at one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City who’ll be answering your medical questions here regularly. After her recent post on the NuvaRing, a lot of you asked for more information on this birth control device, so here goes:
The NuvaRing is one of my favorite forms of hormonal contraception — all of the benefits of the Pill, without the daily hassle of remembering to use it. But since the Ring hasn’t been around as long as the Pill, many women have a lot of questions about using it. So I thought I’d address the most common Ring issues that come up in my office. When using the Ring….
What’s okay to put in your vagina:
- A penis. Intercourse will not push the ring up into your pelvis, or to any place where you can’t retrieve it. And semen/sperm will not diminish the ring’s effectiveness.
- A vibrator or other toys. Same as above.
- Tampons. Ditto.
- Medication. It’s fine to treat a yeast infection with over-the-counter creams like Monistat, or to treat vaginosis with prescription MetroGel. You don’t need to rinse the ring off afterward, either — the medication will all absorb eventually.
What’s okay to come out of your vagina:
- The ring before sex. If sex is uncomfortable with the ring in place, just take it out. It sounds counter-intuitive, to take out your birth control before having sex. But the ring works its magic by turning off your ovaries — and the hormones will remain in your system after the ring comes out. You can remove the ring for up to three hours without losing effectiveness (and if anyone is having sex longer than three hours, please share your good fortune with the rest of us!). Just be sure to put it back in before you roll over and go to sleep.
- Increased discharge. It doesn’t mean you have an infection — it’s just your vagina’s way of reducing friction with the ring in place. Think of it as more lubrication for sex.
Still have more questions about the NuvaRing? Then check out Dr. Kate’s follow-up post, “Everything You Need to Know About the Nuva Ring“
Dr. Kate of Gynotalk.com is an OB/GYN at one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City. She also lectures nationally on women’s health issues and conducts research on reproductive health.
Dear Kate,
I have been using the Nuvaring for over 3 years and haven’t had a problem with it. I was just married 3 weeks ago, and the week before the wedding, I forgot to put the ring in at the end of my last cycle. My husband and I have been pretty safe but my period is now 6 days late (which is extremely abnormal for me). I have been having cramping, back aches, moodiness for the last week which is exactly what I go through before my period but not for this long. I know if I take a test, there would be a high chance of it being negative since I am only 6 days late. Do you thing there is a chance I could be pregnant? Are the symptons I am feeling the beginning of pregnancy?
This is my first month using nuvaring, and my doctor had told me to put it in sunday, which was the sunday my regular period was supposed to start, but I never started. Does it matter if I start or not? Was I supposed to put it in?
My girlfriend and I got drunk one night had intercourse and she forgot to put it back in and I believe it was out for 6 hours, we woke up and had intercourse again not thinking about it until after words. it’s been four weeks and her nipples are burning and boobs are hurting, I know this sounds like a dumb question but bare with me and just act like I am a 6 year old asking this. Can the NuvaRing cause those kind of side effects or do you think it might be because she is prego?
I STARTED MY PERIOD ON SUNDAY (THIRD WEEK) I HAVE PUT A NEW ONE IN BECA– USE ITS A SUNDAY AND YOUR SUPPOSE TO START IT THE FIRST SUNDAY OF YOUR PERIOD. EVEN THOUGH ITS THE THIRD WEEK. SHOULD I LEAVE IT IN OR TAKE IT OUT. I BEEN ON THE RING NOW FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS.
also…… will this take my sex drive away like the mirana did? im 22 and my husband 32 but has the mind of a fresh 21 year old jack rabbit??? i dont want to go through that again!!!
i was on the mirana and weighed 138 within 1 month being off i lost 10lbs. will i gain that all back by being on the nuvaring???? i have a mind problem with my weight. “always try to be smaller.” what is the whole deal with weight gain on bc?
IM 19 AND I DONT HAVE NO KIDS AND NOT WANTING ONE YET FUNNY. WELL I FORGOT TO PUT MY NUVARING IN SHOULD I JUST WAIT TILL NEXT MONTH AND I JUST US A CONDOM OR SHOULD I PUT IT IN WEN I GET A NEW ONE
Hi Dr. Kate,
I am currently on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo, however was told by my Dr. that I should switch to the NuvaRing to help my moodiness. I’m currently in my second week of Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo pills for this month and would like to switch to the NuvaRing before the next pack. Is it okay to start using the ring in place of my last week of pills in order to skip my period for this month (I have a wedding)? And if so, will the effectiveness of the birth control be affected? Will a back up method be needed?
Thanks for your help!
– Melanie
Dr Kate-
I inserted a new ring on August 31. I took it out Oct 1 and then had unprotected sex with my boyfriend on Oct 2. Am I protected from pregnancy? Also, when should I insert my new ring?
Hello! I use Nuvaring for 1 year. last month i removed it after 2 weeks, so 1 week early. then i had 1 week out with condom protected sex and then put it in again. the question is, is it ok that i removed it at the end of the 2 week(i just forgot, i thought it was 3 week) or i should see the doctor?
i just started the ring.. on day 6 i had sex, condom broke and “it” all went inside me of course. could i be pregnant and could the ring harm my baby if i am?
Dr. Kate,
Ive been on the ring since May 09. I had my period 9/8/09 and put my ring in on 9/13/09. the ring fell out one night (about a week later after inserting it)and wasnt put back in until the next morning. THEN the next night it fell out after sex again and this time was out longer than 24 hours. Needless to say this obviously happened at a bad time (right around when i was ovulating). Is there is a good chance i might be pregnant? i have heard that the ring is pretty effective and that some women actually take a few months to get pregnant after using the ring. Thanks!
I just got on nuvaring I haven’t been on any bc in two years. I started spotting on Sept 15, I put the ring in on Sept 17. I have been on my period for two weeks now. It has been heavy to med flow the whole time. I was put on bc cause of a 4cm cyst on my left ovary. Why am I still bleeding and what should I do?
Hello Dr. Kate,
I have been using the nuvaring now for 6 days. I inserted it on day 5 of my period. So far I’m very unsure about it….I am really moody and have NO libido. I called my doctor and he said give it 3 months!!! Does it reallly take this long for your body to adjust to the hormones or is it just no agreeing with me? Will it really take 3 months?????????????
i put in nuvaring for one day and took it out the next day and then 3 or 4 days later i stared spotting snot like discharge but it was bloodly!
what does this mean someone plz help me!!