Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
Proper Use
During Week 4
After 28 Days
How to Remove
If you accidentally leave yourNuvaRingin longer than you should, you may or may not still have pregnancy protection. This clear, bendablecontraceptivering is meant to stay in the vagina for three weeks each month. What happens—and what you need to do—if it is left in place beyond that depends on how long its removal is overdue.
Thishormonal birth control methodslowly releases a low dose ofestrogenandetonogestrel(a typeprogestin) to protect you against pregnancy for the month. But levels of those hormones deplete, which is why timely removal and replacement is so important.
This article explains what to do if you forget to replace your NuvaRing according to the recommended schedule. It also explains how to properly use this form of birth control and when you may need to contact your healthcare provider regarding the NuvaRing.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Recommended NuvaRing Removal Schedule
Each NuvaRing is prescribed on a 28-day cycle. To use the product correctly:
When used as prescribed, the NuvaRing delivers enough estrogen and etonogestrel into the bloodstream to provide ample protection during the one-week gap between rings.
Forgetting to Remove the NuvaRing During Week 4
If it is day 2 (or later) of week 4, and you just realized that you forgot to take out your NuvaRing, don’t worry. Generally speaking, the NuvaRing is 91% to 99.7% effective. Your NuvaRing is still effective if you forget to take it out during week 4.
However, you will need to make some slight adjustments:
NuvaRing Left in for More Than 28 Days
If you forget to remove the NuvaRing and it remains in place for longer than 28 days, the levels of estrogen and etonogestrel may have dropped to such a level that pregnancy is possible.
Under these circumstances:
Current research is unclear on exactly how much of the protective benefit, if any, may be lost after 28 days.
One study suggested that the NuvaRing may provide ample protection for up to 35 days. On the downside, doing so appears to increase the risk of spotting or bleeding (a primary reason people stop using NuvaRing).
What Is a Pregnancy Test?
How to Remove a NuvaRing
The instructions for removing a NuvaRing are very straightforward and simple:
The NuvaRing remains an effective means of birth control that doesn’t require daily dosing. To ensure that it provides optimal protection, always be sure to:Store it at room temperature, avoiding direct sunlightStore it for no longer than four monthsCheck the expiration date and throw it away if it’s expired
The NuvaRing remains an effective means of birth control that doesn’t require daily dosing. To ensure that it provides optimal protection, always be sure to:
The NuvaRing is relatively simple to use but requires a little insight and preparation to ensure that is inserted correctly. If you’re still new to the NuvaRing, these insertion reminders can help you feel more comfortable with the process:
The NuvaRing doesn’t need to be in an exact location to work. Your NuvaRing may slightly move around within your vagina. This is normal.
However, if it feels uncomfortable or hurts, you may not have inserted it far enough. Use your finger to carefully push your NuvaRing as far as you can. Don’t worry about pushing too far; it won’t get lost.
When to Call a Healthcare ProviderIf you experience pain or bleeding after inserting a NuvaRing, or can’t find it, call your healthcare provider. Seek emergency care if you have:Sudden chest painShortness of breathJaundiceHigh feverPersistent leg painVomitingFaintingSevere rash
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
If you experience pain or bleeding after inserting a NuvaRing, or can’t find it, call your healthcare provider. Seek emergency care if you have:Sudden chest painShortness of breathJaundiceHigh feverPersistent leg painVomitingFaintingSevere rash
If you experience pain or bleeding after inserting a NuvaRing, or can’t find it, call your healthcare provider. Seek emergency care if you have:
What to Do If Your NuvaRing Falls Out
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Planned Parenthood.What should I do if I mess up using NuvaRing?NuvaRing.Frequently asked questions. Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. 2018.Dragoman M, Petrie K, Torgal A, Thomas T, Cremers S, Westhoff CL.Contraceptive vaginal ring effectiveness is maintained during 6 weeks of use: a prospective study of normal BMI and obese women.Contraception. 2013;87(4):432-6. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2012.12.001Additional ReadingKubba A, Lete I, Briggs P. NuvaRing: A vaginal contraceptive.Trends in Urology, Gynaecology & Sexual Health. 2010; 15(1):17-22.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Planned Parenthood.What should I do if I mess up using NuvaRing?NuvaRing.Frequently asked questions. Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. 2018.Dragoman M, Petrie K, Torgal A, Thomas T, Cremers S, Westhoff CL.Contraceptive vaginal ring effectiveness is maintained during 6 weeks of use: a prospective study of normal BMI and obese women.Contraception. 2013;87(4):432-6. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2012.12.001Additional ReadingKubba A, Lete I, Briggs P. NuvaRing: A vaginal contraceptive.Trends in Urology, Gynaecology & Sexual Health. 2010; 15(1):17-22.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Planned Parenthood.What should I do if I mess up using NuvaRing?NuvaRing.Frequently asked questions. Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. 2018.Dragoman M, Petrie K, Torgal A, Thomas T, Cremers S, Westhoff CL.Contraceptive vaginal ring effectiveness is maintained during 6 weeks of use: a prospective study of normal BMI and obese women.Contraception. 2013;87(4):432-6. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2012.12.001
Planned Parenthood.What should I do if I mess up using NuvaRing?
NuvaRing.Frequently asked questions. Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. 2018.
Dragoman M, Petrie K, Torgal A, Thomas T, Cremers S, Westhoff CL.Contraceptive vaginal ring effectiveness is maintained during 6 weeks of use: a prospective study of normal BMI and obese women.Contraception. 2013;87(4):432-6. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2012.12.001
Kubba A, Lete I, Briggs P. NuvaRing: A vaginal contraceptive.Trends in Urology, Gynaecology & Sexual Health. 2010; 15(1):17-22.
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