The contraceptive ring is a thin, flexible ring about two inches in diameter that a woman inserts herself into her vagina. The contraceptive ring is prescribed by a doctor after the woman has undergone a medical examination that includes her blood pressure.
The contraceptive contraceptive ring contains a combination of two hormones, estrogen and progesterone, just like the oral contraceptive pill. The ring slowly releases hormones along the vaginal wall into the bloodstream to prevent ovulation. Hormones from the vaginal ring can also cause thickening of the cervical mucus and thinning of the uterine wall.
The woman inserts the contraceptive ring into the vagina on the first day of her menstrual cycle or before the fifth day, and the ring remains in place for three weeks in a row. In this way, the ring is again comparable to the combined contraceptive pill, with one week without a ring after three weeks of using the ring.
At the end of the third week, around the same time on the same day it was first inserted, the woman should remove and discard the vaginal ring, and withdrawal bleeding should begin within a few days.
At the end of the fourth week, the woman inserts a new contraceptive ring on the same day the last one was inserted, even if she is still bleeding, and the process begins again.
Another form of contraception, such as condoms, should be used for the first seven days when a woman first starts using the contraceptive ring if she has not used any contraception before, because the hormones do not work right away.
The contraceptive ring is held in place by your vaginal muscles, so it is unlikely to fall off. However, if this occurs, the vaginal ring must be rinsed with cold water and reinserted within three hours. The ring can be left in place while swimming or exercising and during sex. When in place, the ring usually cannot be felt.
Possible side effects include irregular menstrual bleeding, nausea, dizziness, headaches, breast tenderness, mood swings, and vaginal irritation or discharge.
The contraceptive ring does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
The decision to use the contraceptive ring for birth control is often the decision of the couple. The woman should be comfortable inserting the contraceptive ring into her vagina, and her partner should be comfortable with the device there.
As the woman does not have to remember a daily commitment to contraception, the contraceptive ring can be adapted to shift workers or women who travel and cross multiple time zones. However, you must remember to remove the contraceptive ring after three weeks and replace it a week later, or it will lose its effectiveness.
Regarding the return to fertility, the return of ovulation is likely to occur 12 days after the removal of the ring. The contraceptive ring is a very effective method if used correctly.