Nuvaring

• Once you place the ring in your vagina, it releases a continuous low dose of hormones that helps prevent pregnancy.
• The vaginal ring prevents pregnancy 96%-99% of the time when you use it correctly.
• The ring is used in a 4-week cycle. Keep the ring in your vagina for 3 weeks (21 days) and then remove it for a 1-week (7-day) break.
• Regularly check that the ring is still in your vagina (for example, before and after sex) to ensure you do not get pregnant.
• Because the ring is releasing hormones, it does not have to be in a specific position to work. 
• Most people don’t feel the ring when it is in place.

• The ring should be inserted and removed on the same day of the week and at the same time. (For example, if you insert your ring on a Monday at 8:00 AM, you should remove it on the Monday 3 weeks later at 8:00 AM.) Typically you’ll get your period during the 1-week break that you remove your ring.
• Insert a new NuvaRing after the 1-week break. The new ring should be inserted on the same day of the week and at the same time that you inserted it the last month, even if your period has not stopped.

• Wash and dry your hands.
• Hold the ring between your thumb and index finger and press the sides of the ring together.
• Insert the folded ring into your vagina and gently push it further up into your vagina using your index finger.
• When you insert the ring it may be in different positions in your vagina, but it doesn’t have to be in an exact position for it to work.
• If the ring feels uncomfortable, you may not have pushed it far enough into your vagina. Use your finger to gently push the ring as far as you can. Rest assured that once inserted into the vagina, there is no danger of the ring being pushed too far or getting lost.

• Wash and dry your hands.
• Make sure to remove the ring 3 weeks after insertion on the same day of the week and at the same time of day that it was inserted.
• Put your index finger into your vagina and hook it through the the ring. Gently pull downward and forward to remove the the ring and pull it out.
• Throw the ring away (do not flush it in the toilet)
• Insert a new ring 1 week (7 days) after, on the same day of the week and at the same time that the previous ring was removed, even if your period has not stopped.

You can also use a condom every time you have penis-in-vagina sex. That way you’ll be protected from STDs too.

• Have high blood pressure that is not well controlled
• Are over 35 and smoke
• Have a history of stroke, heart disease, circulation problems or breast cancer
• Have migraine headaches with aura
• Have diabetes-related complications like nephropathy, retinopathy, or neuropathy
• Recently had surgery
• Have liver disease
• Have unexplained uterine bleeding
• Take any Hepatitis C drug combination
• Are or may be pregnant
• Are prone to blood clots