Vaginal Ring Contraception
One of the most recent developments in birth control is the vaginal ring. The brand name is NuvaRing.
NuvaRing has been proven to be 99% clinically effective. There is less margin for error with this method of birth control than with a pill, because you only have to remember it once a month instead of once a day.
NuvaRing is a small ring inserted in the vagina for 21 days, and then removed for seven days so the woman has a period. This cycle is the same as birth control pills or the Patch.
NuvaRing has lower doses than many other methods of birth control. It, like the Patch, and like combination pills, has ethinyl estradiol, or estrogen, and etonogestril, a progestin.
Like with the Patch or with the pills, you can use NuvaRing in a row to prevent getting your period. This can happen indefinitely.
Advantages
A vaginal ring is easier to remember, because you only have to remember it once a month.
This is a lower-dose estrogen, and so can help lessen side effects that some women have with their birth control.
Disadvantages
One of the drawbacks to having a vaginal ring contraceptive is that it can be more expensive than other methods of birth control, depending on your health care plan and insurance provider.
Like all hormonal methods of birth control, NuvaRing does not prevent against sexually transmitted infections, and so should be used with a condom.
