Birth control ring: Frequency Asked Questions
If I'm using another method of birth control, do I still have to use condoms?
Unless you’re in a totally exclusive relationship and you and your partner have both been tested recently for every single STI, you should definitely use condoms with whatever other birth control method you choose. Using a condom with another form of birth control is called dual protection. It means you’re being super-safe and protecting yourself against both pregnancy and STIs.
I’m a smoker. What birth control options are best for me?
For most people, the risk of blood clots when using the ring, the patch, or the combined birth control pill (which is the most common type of pill) is low. But smoking increases this risk. If you are over 35 and smoke 15 or more cigarettes a day, the combination pill, patch, and ring are not safe options for you. If you’re over 35 and you smoke less than 15 cigarettes a day, talk to your provider about whether these birth control methods are safe options for you. People who smoke can always use the IUD, the implant, the shot, the mini-pill (progestin-only pill), and any method that is hormone free (like condoms, for example).
How can birth control help an ovarian cyst?
One of the main ways hormonal birth control prevents pregnancy is by stopping ovulation—so the egg never leaves the carton, so to speak. The pill, the patch, the ring, and the shot are most reliable at blocking ovulation, so people using these methods may have fewer ovarian cysts. If you tend to get ovarian cysts, your provider may recommend one of these methods to prevent future cysts. /The progestin-only or mini-pill has an unpredictable effect on ovulation and may lead to more cysts. These almost always disappear on their own, but if you’ve had problems with cysts in the past, the mini-pill may not be the best contraception for you.
How do I know the ring is in the right way?
It's funny to say, but the ring almost has a sixth sense for getting itself into the right place. If you insert the ring and can't feel it, you've got it in correctly.
What are good methods for women with high blood pressure?
For women with high blood pressure, methods with estrogen–the pill (except for the mini-pill), the ring, and the patch–may make their blood pressure even higher, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Fortunately there are lots of highly effective birth control options that are safe and estrogen-free like the IUD, the implant, or the shot. Talk to your doctor about your condition and what birth control is best for you.
Anything I can do so that my partner doesn't feel the ring during sex?
Both the Annovera and the NuvaRing are designed to keep in during sex. During the three weeks (21 days) that you have the Annovera in, it's important not to take it out. But if it ever comes out, make sure to put it back in right away. If Annovera is out of your vagina for more than two hours total during those 21 days, you will need to use a backup method of birth control for seven days after putting it back in.
If you are using the NuvaRing and decide to take it out during sex during the three weeks (21 days) that you have the ring in, make sure to put it back in as soon as possible. If it's out for more than 48 hours, you're at risk for getting pregnant, and you'll need to use a backup form of birth control for 7 days after putting the ring back in. If you leave the NuvaRing out for more than 48 hours during the third week of a cycle, put it back in right away. On the day when you would normally have taken the ring out (day 22 of the cycle, where day 1 is the day you put it in), take it out and put a new one in, skipping your ring-free week. If you don't put a new one in on that day, you'll need to use a backup form of birth control until you've had a ring in for seven days in a row.
Can I use tampons or a menstrual cup with the ring?
Tampons and menstrual cups do not interfere with the ring's effectiveness. If your ring is in when you remove your tampon or cup, you might pull it out a bit, which might be annoying if it happens a lot.
When inserting your tampon or cup, make sure that your ring is all the way in first, and then position the tampon or cup afterwards. If you do end up pulling the ring out, you can rinse it in cool water and re-insert it right away.
How much does the ring cost?
The ring costs between $15 and $50 per month, depending on your insurance situation, where you live, and where you get it.
If you’re on Medicaid, the ring might be free for you. If you have private insurance, it’s probably covered for no more than your copay.
What do I do if my ring is always slipping out?
There's a chance you're not inserting the ring correctly.
Try this: Use an empty tampon inserter to push it in all the way.
Can the ring get lost in my vagina?
No. The vagina is a closed pouch and doesn’t connect to the rest of the belly, so things (other than semen, bacteria, and other really, really, really small things) put in the vagina can't travel to some other part of the body. There is no place for a tampon or a ring to go—they just sit right where you put them.
