A NuvaRing is one of the safest kinds of contraceptives that exist, as long as you follow all the usage procedures.
But oops, I accidentally left my NuvaRing in for a longer time.
Well, if you have left your NuvaRing in for too long, you are right to be a little scared especially if you’ve been actively making love since the supposed removal date.
However, this is not the end of the world and accidentally leaving your NuvaRing in for too long isn’t going to turn you into some NuvaRing excreting human.
Ewww… that’s gross right? We have got the remedy compiled into this article.
If you have the “what should i Do if i accidentally left my NuvaRing in for too long” question, then you should keep scrolling through this article.
The Answers you seek are contained here.
About NuvaRing Contraceptive
NuvaRing is a clear, flexible contraceptive ring inserted into the vagina for three weeks each month.
With this method of birth control, hormones gradually release low doses of estrogen and etonogestrel (a type of progestin) to protect you from pregnancy.
If you are going to use NuvaRing, however, you need to remember when it is time to uninstall it and pay attention to whether it could fall by mistake or not.
How to use
Each NuvaRing is limited to a 28-day cycle. This is the proper use of the product:
Install NuvaRing on the 1st day of the 1st week
Leave for two weeks and 3rd week
On the 1st day of the 4th week, take out your NuvaRing, which may start your withdrawal period.
A week later, install the new NuvaRing to start the next 28-day cycle.
I Accidentally Left My NuvaRing in for a Longer Time: What You Should Do
If you forgot to remove the ring after 21 days
If you plan to have an empty break, remove the ring and start the break
if you did not intend to have an open break, remove the ring and install a new one immediately
You are still safe during pregnancy, and you do not need to use additional contraception
If the ring lasts longer than seven days after the end of 3 weeks, i.e., more than four weeks in total:
- Take out the accidentally forgotten ring immediately
- Use additional contraception, such as condoms.
For the next week, we advise that you use additional contraceptives if you had sex for several days before changing the ring.
Remember to see your doctor or nurse for advice.
If You Forgot to Install a New Ring
Apply the new ring as soon as you remember, and use an extra contraceptive (such as condoms) for a full week.
Remember to use an emergency contraceptive if you had sex before you remember to insert a new ring.
An emergency contraceptive can help if the length of the ring’s stay in your vagina was no more than 48 hours than it should have been.
When the Ring Comes Out on Its Own
Sometimes the contraceptive ring can come out without effort from you. For example, it can happen after or during sex or if it is not inserted correctly.
You must take note of how long the ring lasts and what week of your cycle it was expelled.
If the ring just came out or hasn’t been up to 48 hours, you can reinsert it by rinsing it with cool or lukewarm water and reinserting very quickly.
You do not need extra contraceptives, and you are safe from pregnancy if you used the Nuvaring correctly a few weeks ago.
Also, if the ring has been out for more than 48 hours in the first week of use of the NuvaRing: immediately insert the new NuvaRing and keep it until the scheduled date of removal.
After inserting the ring, use an extra contraceptive for at least five days.
You will need an emergency contraceptive if you have had sex since wearing a new ring or during breaks.
Loss of Function
Generally, NuvaRing is 91% to 99.7% effective. Your NuvaRing will still work if you forget to take it out within four weeks.
However, if you leave it for more than 28 days (and do nothing), then NuvaRing may no longer work.
However, the current study is unclear on how much protection benefit could be lost after 28 days.
A small study from the University of Albert Einstein suggested that NuvaRing may provide adequate protection for up to 35 days.
But, on the other hand, keeping the ring in after 21 days might increase the risk of seeing or bleeding (the main reason for stopping treatment).
Until further research can support the extended use of NuvaRing without problems, it is strongly recommended that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions as approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
When used as prescribed, NuvaRing delivers sufficient estrogen and etonogestrel into the bloodstream to provide adequate protection within the one-week gap between the rings.
Quick Facts About the Vagina Ring
The NuvaRing is placed in the vagina for protection against unwanted pregnancy.
It releases a continuous dose of estrogen and progestogen hormones into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy.
Used properly, the vagina ring is at least 99% reliant.
A single ring provides contraception for a month, so you do not have to think about it daily.
You can continue to have sex once the ring is in place.
Unlike a pill, the ring still works if you have an illness like vomiting or diarrhea.
The ring may relieve premenstrual symptoms, making bleeding easier and less painful.
Some women have short-term side effects, including excessive vaginal discharge, breast tenderness, and headaches.
A few women develop blood clots when using the ring, but this is rare.
The ring can sometimes expel on its own, but you can rinse it in cold or warm water and put it back inside as soon as possible.
It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so you may need to use condoms.
How the Ring Works
The ring gradually releases the estrogen and progesterone hormones into your bloodstream, which prevents ovulation each month.
It also tightens the mucous membranes of the cervix, making it more difficult for sperm to pass through the cervix, and narrowing the lining of the uterus so that the fertilized egg does not have a chance of fertilizing itself.
When It Starts Working
You can start using the vagina ring at any time during your menstrual cycle if you are not pregnant.
The most common way to use the ring is to leave it inside for 21 days, then remove it and have a 7-day break from the ring use.
Every woman is safe from pregnancy during the period of break from the ring.
After a 7-day vacation, install a new ring for another 21 days.
You can also have a short break with no ring. This is as safe and effective with regular use.
For more information on different options, talk to your doctor or nurse.
You will be protected from pregnancy as soon as you put it in the first five days of menstruation.
After that, talk to your doctor or nurse about whether you need more contraceptives or not.
For those who have an irregular menstrual cycle, using the ring at any time during your menstrual cycle will keep you protected from pregnancy if you use additional contraceptives (such as condoms) within the first seven days of use.
Suppose you are from another form of contraception (other than condoms) or have recently used emergency contraception. In that case, the advice on when to start using the ring and how soon you will be protected may be different.
Your doctor will advise you on the best time to start using the ring and whether you need to use extra contraception.
Your doctor will also give you tips on how to install and remove it.
How to Insert the Vaginal Ring
With clean hands, press the ring between your thumb and forefinger.
Gently apply the tip to your vagina.
Gently push the ring into the vagina until it relaxes
Unlike a diaphragm, the ring does not need to close your cervix (cervix) to function.
Using your fingers, always check that the ring is still on. See a doctor or nurse if you do not hear it but are sure it is there. The ring can’t “get lost” inside you.
After the ring has been in the vagina for 21 days (3 weeks), remove it. This should be the same day of the week you entered.
How to Remove the Vaginal Ring
With clean hands, insert a finger into the vagina and rub it on the edges of the ring
Pull out the ring patiently
Put it in the provided bag and throw it in the bin – do not flush it down the toilet
Removing the ring should not be painful. However, see a doctor or nurse immediately if you have bleeding or pain or can’t get rid of it.
Once you have removed the ring, do not install the new one for seven days (1 week). This is a period without a ring. You may have a bleeding problem during this time.
After seven days without bleeding:
- Install a new one.
- Apply a new ring even if you are still bleeding.
- Leave this ring for 21 days, then repeat the cycle.
You can have sex and use tampons while the ring is in the vagina. You and your partner may feel the ring during sex, but this is not dangerous.
Who Can Use a Vaginal Ring?
Some women are unable to use a vaginal ring. It may not be appropriate to use a Nuvaring if:
- You have a blood clot in a vein or vein
- You have heart or circulatory problems, including high blood pressure
- You are 35 years or older and smoke or quit smoking in the past year
- You have migraine and aura (warning signs)
- You had breast cancer five years ago
- You had complications of diabetes
- You are fat
- You take medications that may interact with the ring
You cannot hold the ring in your vagina for too long.
If you do not smoke and there are no health reasons why you should not use the ring, you can use this contraceptive until 50.
Side Effects of NuvaRing
The side effects of NuvaRing are not very different from birth control pills.
Some side effects usually disappear within two to three months; some people do not experience any side effects at all.
Potential side effects include:
- Abdominal pain
- Acne
- Outstanding bleeding or blurring
- Breast tenderness or pain
- Depression and anxiety
- Decreased sexual desire
- A headache
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Emotions change
- Nausea or vomiting
- Vaginal infection or irritation
- Weight gain or constipation
You could also have the risk of blood clotting and related health problems, as well as heart disease, stroke, liver cancer, gallstones, deep vein thrombosis, and toxic shock syndrome.
We advise that you contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- The unusual odor of vagina or vaginal itching
- Symptoms of blood clots such as pain, tenderness, or swelling in the leg
- Persistent leg pain that does not go away
- Sudden breathing
- Severe pain or pressure in your chest
- Severe abdominal pain
- Sudden sharp pain in the head unlike your normal head
- Two menstrual periods or other possible symptoms of pregnancy
Who Should Not Use a Birth Control Ring?
Your doctor may give you some birth control pills if you are a smoker over 35, if you are taking certain medications for hepatitis C, or are planning major surgery that will leave you unable to walk for a long time.
Additionally, you should tell your healthcare provider if you currently have them or have the following health conditions that will increase your risk factor:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Blood clots
- Breast cancer
- Heart disease or stroke
- Migraine headache with aura (any migraines if you are over 35)
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Unexplained bleeding from the vagina
- Cervical or liver cancer, or other liver diseases
What Are the Benefits of NuvaRing?
Because the vagina ring requires a low dose of hormones, it acts as a contraceptive control with few side effects. And it is a good option for anyone who does not agree with latex.
Additionally, NuvaRing can prevent or reduce:
Acne
Anemia
Decreased bone density
Breast cysts and/or ovarian cysts
Ectopic Pregnancy
Endometrial and/or cervical cancer
Female genital infections
Premenstrual syndrome
If the contraceptive ring sounds good, talk to your healthcare provider.
What Are the Problems With NuvaRing?
There are some disadvantages to using NuvaRing, that is, its efficiency. The birth control ring is about 91% effective.
With regular use, it has the same level of function as a pill or contraceptive pill.
As a comparison, the male condom is only 85% effective (with normal use). For long-term and non-invasive protection, you may want to consider an IUD, such as Mirena, or an implanted control like Nexplanon.
Additionally, you should feel free to touch the vagina in order to use NuvaRing.
There is an application available to install the ring, but it does not help to remove it.
Applicants do not bring their prescription, but you can request applicants on the NuvaRing website.
Some drugs can obstruct NuvaRing, which makes it less effective, so be sure to give your healthcare provider a list of all the things you take before considering a vaginal ring as your primary birth control method.
How Much Does NuvaRing Cost?
Many insurance plans cover part of the cost of NuvaRing if not all of them. It can cost more than $200 if you pay out of pocket, but you can reduce the amount with a SingleCare coupon.
While there is currently no standard option, there are other ways to save on prescription drugs and get less expensive or free birth control.
Conclusion
We hope this article answered your “I Accidentally Left My Nuvaring in for a Longer Time: What You Should Do” question.
Feel free to leave us a comment about your experience with a NuvaRing.
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