How to insert a Nuvaring

A Nuvaring is a brand of vaginal birth control ring. These are small plastic rings that release a continuous dose of hormones into your bloodstream.

The hormones in the ring are estrogen and progesterone, which work to prevent pregnancy by stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg. This helps stop fertilization.

These hormones also thicken the mucus that lines your cervix, preventing sperm from entering your uterus.

The Nuvaring should be straightforward and painless to insert, and you shouldn’t be able to feel it in your day-to-day life.

How to insert Nuvaring

A Nuvaring is a flexible option for a vaginal birth control ring. Nuvaring allows you to choose whether to have a period or not; it’s entirely up to you. If you do wish to have a monthly bleed, you must remove your Nuvaring after 3 weeks and not replace it with a new one until 7 days after you removed it.

Inserting your new Nuvaring should be straightforward if you follow these steps:

1. Check the packaging to ensure the product is not expired.
2. Clean your hands to sterilize them using soap and water.
3. Unwrap the Nuvaring.
4. Pinch the sides of the ring with your thumb and index finger so that it makes a long, oval shape.
5. Gently push the pinched Nuvaring far into your vagina.

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Troubleshooting tips

Try not to overthink where you position your Nuvaring. But if you can feel it when you stand and walk about, you need to push it further into your vagina. It is safe to move the Nuvaring around until you feel most comfortable.

Do not worry about the ring getting lost or positioning it too deep in your vagina.

What to do if it comes out

The Nuvaring is safe to leave in during sexual activity or any other type of physical activity. However, it is important to check it is still in place afterward. It is also important to check the ring is still in place while removing tampons or menstrual cups.

If the ring comes out, the steps you need to take depend on how long the ring is out and how long it has been in use for.

If your Nuvaring is out for less than 48 hours and has been in use for 3 weeks or less, you simply need to insert a new ring, regardless of where you are in your cycle. You will not need any additional contraception to protect against pregnancy.

If your new ring has been in place for only 1 or 2 weeks, you may not be protected from pregnancy if the ring is out for more than 3 hours. You may wish to use additional birth control methods like condoms for 7 days afterward to avoid pregnancy.

If your Nuvaring comes out for more than 48 hours and has been in use for only 1 week, you will need to reinsert it. You will also need to use additional barrier contraception for 7 days after the ring comes out.

Benefits of Nuvaring

Birth control rings are safe and effective in protecting against pregnancy. Using a vaginal ring also has plenty of other benefits, including:

• making your periods lighter
• reducing acne
• reducing pain from menstrual cramps
• providing convenience, as you do not need to remember to take a pill every day
• helping prevent bone thinning
• helping prevent ectopic pregnancies
• lessening your risk of anemia
• reducing your risk of ovarian or breast cysts

Some research into vaginal rings concludes that users find them very acceptable and effective, which means that people are more likely to continue using them.

Side effects

Nuvaring may increase your risk of certain side effects. One of the most serious side effects is blood clots.

This is because, as happens during pregnancy, the combination of hormones in a Nuvaring can increase the chance a person will experience a blood clot.

Other more common side effects include:

• vaginal discharge
• nausea
• weight gain
• vaginal discomfort
• tissue irritation within the vagina
• headaches
• mood changes
• breast pain
• abdominal pain
• low libido

Alternatives

Some people simply do not prefer Nuvaring and want something that they do not have to consider changing. Many different types of birth control are available in these cases.

Annovera is a hormonal birth control ring that you do not need to replace. Annovera lasts up to 1 year, and it is safe to leave it in for that whole time without breaks.

Another option for birth control that you do not need to worry about changing is an IUD. Both hormonal and nonhormonal types of IUDs exist, so you can choose which kind you would prefer. IUDs require insertion by a doctor or nurse but can last as long as 10 years, depending on the type.

Summary

Nuvaring is a type of birth control ring that you need to change once every 3 weeks. Doing so is usually straightforward and only requires a few simple steps to get the ring in place. If you feel discomfort after insertion, try to move the ring further into your vagina.

If you do not prefer Nuvaring, there are plenty of alternative birth control methods out there for you to try.

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