Katie asked
How much estrogen and progesterone is in the Nuvaring? Does it affect people differently from the combo pill?
Answer
NuvaRing is a small (2.1 inches in diameter), rubber-like vaginal ring that works just like combined oral contraceptives. It is made from a latex free polymer and contains two hormones, an estrogen and a progestin, which are released slowly over a 3 week time period. It is indicated to be inserted once a month (3 weeks in, 1 week out) .
Nuvaring contains ethinyl estradiol (0.015mg/24h) and etonogestrel (0.12mg/24h). Most oral contraceptives contain ethinyl estradiol. Etonogestrel is the active metabolite of the commonly used progestin desogestrel. According to studies, Nuvaring has the same contraceptive efficacy as combined oral contraceptive pills.
As mentioned, the ring is indicated to be left in for 3 weeks then to be removed for the last week of your cycle, promoting the onset of menses, just like oral contraceptives. In addition, during your active ring weeks, it may be removed for up to 3 hours and reinserted with no loss of efficacy.
Below, we list some commonly reported positives and negatives of Nuvaring:
Positives
- Increased adherence with dosing. There is no need to remember to take pills daily.
- Same contraceptive efficacy of combined oral contraceptives.
- Contains a third generation progestin, which may be beneficial for acne, fluid retention, and lipid profiles.
Negatives
- Increased incidence of vaginal symptoms such as discharge and vaginitis.
- Possible increased risk of thromboembolism versus oral contraceptives, but this isn't conclusive.
Lastly, NuvaRing in stored in the refrigerator at the pharmacy before dispensing. However, it can be kept at room temperature for up to 4 months without loss of efficacy.
