If you are under 18, please make sure you have your parents’ permission before providing us with any personal details.
The contraceptive vaginal ring is a soft, flexible, plastic ring that goes into the vagina. It releases the hormones oestrogen and progestogen into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy by controlling your fertility.
The contraceptive vaginal ring is a soft, flexible, plastic ring that goes into the vagina. It releases the hormones oestrogen and progestogen through the vaginal wall into the bloodstream, which works in three ways to interrupt pregnancy from occurring. Read more
It can help makes periods lighter and more regular You don’t have to think about it every day – each ring stays in place for 21 days You may not feel comfortable inserting or removing it It doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections
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The vaginal ring is available free of charge from a range of services including contraceptive clinics, GUM clinics, your GP and Brook. Find your nearest one using our find a service tool. Read more
The contraceptive vaginal ring is a soft, flexible, plastic ring that goes into the vagina. It is about 4mm thick and 5.5cm diameter. The brand name of the contraceptive vaginal ring is Nuvaring.
Pregnancy happens when sperm reaches an egg and fertilises it. The contraceptive vaginal ring releases the hormones oestrogen and progestogen through the vaginal wall into the bloodstream, which works in three ways to interrupt fertilisation:
Pros
Cons
The vaginal ring is available free of charge from a range of services including contraceptive clinics, GUM clinics, your GP and Brook. Find your nearest one using our find a service tool.
Contraception and sexual health services such as Brook are free and confidential, including for people under the age of 16. Health professionals work to strict guidelines and won’t tell anyone else about your visit unless they believe you’re at serious risk of immediate harm. Find out more about Brook’s confidentiality policy.
When you go to get the vaginal ring, an appointment will typically include:
You will usually be given a four month supply to see how you get on. You only need to return for further supplies and to have your blood pressure checked.
INFORMATION
You will not be required to have a breast examination or smear test for the vaginal ring.
A ring is inserted into the vagina and left in continuously for 21 days. The ring is then removed and you have a seven day break. After this break a new ring should be inserted.
To insert the contraceptive vaginal ring:
You will usually bleed at some point during the seven day break. This isn’t a period – it is called a ‘withdrawal bleed’. This bleeding occurs as a result of the reduction in hormones from not having a ring in place during the break. You will be protected from pregnancy during this break.
You can use both towels and tampons whilst using the contraceptive vaginal ring.
If you insert the ring in the first five days of your period you will be protected straight away.
If you have a short menstrual cycle, where your period is normally 23 days or less, you will need to start taking the vaginal ring in the first four days to be immediately protected (because you might ovulate early).
If you start using the contraceptive vaginal ring at any other time in your menstrual cycle you will need to use additional contraception such as condoms for the first seven days.
The contraceptive vaginal ring is held in place by the muscles of your vagina. Occasionally it may come out (expulsion) and what you need to do depends on how long the vaginal ring has been out for, and where you are in your ring-cycle.
The ring has been out for less than three hours:
More than three hours in the first or second week of use:
More than three hours in the third week of use:
Throw the ring away and either:
If you lose the vaginal ring insert a new one and continue with the cycle that you were on.
100% FREE & CONFIDENTIAL