Bleeding on nuvaring could i be pregnant

Q: What can cause breakthrough bleeding on NuvaRing?

This is the bodys natural response to the removal of the hormones released by the NuvaRing. Spotting is a common side effect for women just beginning a hormonal birth control method and for those who continuously skip their periods, especially during the first few months.

Hormonal contraception is undergoing a change away from a 21/7 day regimen where a woman utilizes a combination estrogen and progestin therapy for 21 days followed by 7 days of a hormone-free interval (HFI). It is well documented that women may experience a higher incidence of mood changes, headaches and cramping that begin prior to and during this 7 day HFI. By reducing the HFI and extending the active combination contraceptive therapy, it is hoped that women will experience greater satisfaction with their contraceptive regimen and will experience fewer negative side effects associated with a HFI.

Table of Contents Show

How do I put in and take out the vaginal ring?
How do I use Annovera?
How do I use NuvaRing?
What do I do if I mess up using the ring?
When can I start using the birth control ring?
Do I have to take the ring out during sex?
How should I store my rings?
What do I do if I want to get pregnant?
More questions from patients:
Why am I bleeding while my NuvaRing is in?
Can you be pregnant and bleeding on birth control?
Is it breakthrough bleeding or am I pregnant?
What can cause breakthrough bleeding on NuvaRing?

The most common reason for discontinuation of an extended contraception regimen is irregular bleeding. The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the best way to manage this breakthrough spotting and bleeding. Ease of use and acceptability of a flexible regimen of NuvaRing will also be evaluated. A comparison of cyclic mood symptoms, pelvic pain, and headaches will be made between a standard 21/7 regimen and an extended regimen.

The contraceptive ring used in this study contains both an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (etonogestrel). These are synthetic (man-made) hormones. The amount of ethinyl estrogen released into the bloodstream each day is 120mcg and the amount of etonogestrel is 150mcg. The NuvaRing®, by Organon, is FDA approved for contraception, but is not approved for use in an extended regimen. Therefore its use in this study is considered investigational.

I use NuvaRing for my birth control and Planned Parenthood mentioned continuous cycle, how does that work?

There’s lots of schedules you can choose from when using the NuvaRing, though the most common one you hear about is having it in for 3 weeks, and then taking it out to have 1 ring-free week. But that’s not the only way to use it. We now know that the ring has enough hormones in it to last up to 5 weeks, so if you want to have a ring-free week to get your period you could do 4 weeks in and 1 week out, or even 5 weeks in and 1 week out.

Some people like to use NuvaRing continuously to keep from getting their periods. This is simple: all you have to do is skip your ring-free week, and instead put a new ring in every 3, 4, or 5 weeks (which one you choose is totally up to you). It’s normal to have some spotting or bleeding for the first few months of doing this as your body gets used to it.

Some people like getting their periods, and others don’t. And some people want to skip their period every now and then for a specific reason (like during a trip), which is totally OK. Using NuvaRing continuously (whether all the time or just sometimes) is completely safe.

Tags: nuvaring, the ring, continuous birth control, no periods, skipping periods

Using the ring is easy: just put a small, flexible ring into your vagina once every 3-6 weeks, depending on your schedule. If you’re using NuvaRing, you can choose to get a period every month, or you can skip it — it’s totally up to you.

How do I put in and take out the vaginal ring?

It’s easy to put in the ring:

Check the expiration date on the package. If the expiration date has already passed, don’t use that ring.
Wash your hands with soap and water
Take the ring out of the wrapper or case

If you’re using Annovera, wash your ring with mild soap and lukewarm water, then pat it dry with a clean cloth towel or paper towel. Do this every time you put in your Annovera ring.
Squeeze the sides of the ring together with your fingers and gently push it deep into your vagina.

Don’t worry about the exact placement of the ring in your vagina — if you can’t feel it when you’re walking around, it’s in correctly. If the ring feels uncomfortable, try pushing it in deeper or moving it around in your vagina with your finger. The ring can't get lost in your vagina or be in too deep. You can leave your ring in during sex or any other kind of physical activity.

When it’s time to take your ring out, just hook your finger through the ring and gently pull it out of your vagina.

If you’re using Annovera, wash your ring with mild soap and lukewarm water, pat it dry with a clean cloth towel or paper towel, and store it in its case at room temperature, away from kids and pets.

Once you’re done with your ring, put it in its case or foil wrapper and throw it in the trash. You can also wrap it in toilet paper, but using the case or foil wrapper is better for the environment because it helps keep any hormones that are left in the ring from getting into the soil and water. Don’t flush the ring down the toilet.

How do I use Annovera?

One Annovera ring has enough hormones in it to last for 13 cycles (1 year).

Using Annovera is simple: keep the ring in your vagina for 21 days (3 weeks), and then take it out for 7 days (1 week) — this ring-free week is usually when you’ll get your period. After 7 ring-free days, put your Annovera ring back in your vagina for the next 21 days.

Take out your ring and put it back in on the same day of the week every time. For example, if you put your ring in on a Sunday, take it out 3 weeks later on a Sunday. Then put it back in 7 days later on the following Sunday. So your “insertion day” and “removal day” will always be a Sunday.

It’s okay if you’re still bleeding or spotting when it’s time to put your ring back in — that’s normal. You can safely use tampons, menstrual cups, and pads with your Annovera ring in. Just be careful not to pull the ring out when you remove a tampon or menstrual cup.

Wash your Annovera ring with mild soap and lukewarm water anytime you take it out of your vagina and before you put it back in. Annovera comes with a case you can keep it in whenever it’s not in your body. Store Annovera away from extreme temperatures, pets, and kids. Don’t keep your Annovera ring in the refrigerator.

As long as you start using Annovera on or before the expiration date on the package, it will last for 1 year after you put it in your vagina.

How do I use NuvaRing?

One NuvaRing has enough hormones in it to last for up to 5 weeks. You have a few different options for ring schedules, and you can choose to get a period or choose to skip it. All of these schedules work just as well to prevent pregnancy.

If you want to get your period:

Wear a ring for 3 weeks (21 days), 4 weeks (28 days), or 5 weeks (35 days). Then take it out for the next week (7 days) — that’s when you’ll get your period. After 7 ring-free days, put in a new ring.

Take out your old ring and put a new one in on the same day of the week every time. For example, if you put a new ring in on a Sunday, take it out 3, 4, or 5 weeks later on a Sunday. Then put a new ring in 7 days later on the following Sunday. So your “removal day” and “new ring day” will always be a Sunday.

It’s okay if you’re still bleeding or spotting when it's time to put in a new ring — that’s normal. You can safely use tampons, menstrual cups, and pads with your NuvaRing in (just be careful not to pull the ring out when you remove a tampon or menstrual cup).

If you want to skip your period:

Skipping your period with NuvaRing is safe and super easy. Just keep the ring in your vagina at all times, and swap it out for a new one every 3-5 weeks. You can do this 2 ways:

Pick a date and always change your ring on that date. So if you put your first ring in on the 15th of the month, you always change your ring on the 15th of every month. (It’s ok that some months are longer than others.)
Wear the ring for 3 weeks (21 days), 4 weeks (28 days), or 5 weeks (35 days). Then take out your old ring and put in a new ring. Change your ring on the same day of the week every time — so if you put your ring in on a Monday, change it every 3, 4, or 5 weeks on a Monday.

You may have some bleeding or spotting when you use the ring to skip your period — that’s totally normal. If you skip your period week every month, the spotting should go away after several months.

There’s nothing dangerous or harmful about using NuvaRing to skip your period. And it comes in really handy if you want a special occasion (like a vacation or a hot date) to be period-free.

What do I do if I mess up using the ring?

Even though the ring is easy to use, accidents can happen — you might not change your ring on time, or it may be out of your vagina for too long.

If you’re using NuvaRing, here’s a handy tool to help you figure out what to do if something goes wrong. If you’ve already had sex in the last 5 days since making a ring mistake, you may want to use emergency contraception.

If you’re using Annovera and you:

Leave the Annovera ring out of your vagina for more than 2 hours at one time
Leave the Annovera ring out of your vagina at different times that add up to more than 2 hours total during the 21 days you’re supposed to have it in
Don’t put the Annovera ring back in your vagina on time after your ring-free week

Wash the ring with soap and water and put it back in as soon as you can. Then use a backup birth control method (like condoms) until the ring has been back in your vagina for 7 days in a row. If you’ve already had sex in the last 5 days since making a ring mistake, you may want to use emergency contraception.

If you leave Annovera in your vagina for more than 21 days, that’s OK. Just take it out for 7 days as soon as you can and restart your normal schedule — after 7 ring-free days, put the ring back in for 21 days, and repeat. You don’t need backup birth control or emergency contraception.

When can I start using the birth control ring?

You can start using the birth control ring as soon as you get it — any day of the week, and anytime during your menstrual cycle.

If you put your first ring in within 5 days after your period starts, it will start working right away. For example, if you get your period Monday morning, you can start using the ring anytime until Saturday morning and be protected from pregnancy right away.

If you start using the ring at any other time in your cycle, it needs to be in your vagina for 7 days before it will start protecting you from pregnancy. Use another method of birth control — like a condom — if you have penis-in-vagina sex during your first week on the ring.

Do I have to take the ring out during sex?

Nope. In fact, it’s best to leave the ring in your vagina as much as possible. NuvaRing and Annovera are made to be worn all the time, including during sex. If it bothers you or your partner, try moving the ring around until it feels comfortable.

If you do take the ring out during sex, rinse it in lukewarm (not hot) water and put it back in when you’re done. Just make sure you remember to put it back in as soon as you can.

If you leave an Annovera ring out of your vagina for more than 2 hours at a time, or at different times that add up to more than 2 hours total during the 21 days you’re supposed to have it in, you won’t be protected from pregnancy.

If you leave a NuvaRing out of your vagina for more than 2 days during the weeks you’re supposed to wear it, you won’t be protected from pregnancy.

If your ring has been out of your vagina for too long, use a backup birth control method (like condoms) until the ring has been in your vagina for 7 days in a row.

Don’t use lube that has oil or silicone in it while the ring is in your vagina. Water-based lubes are safe to use.

How should I store my rings?

You can store NuvaRings at room temperature away from direct sunlight for up to 4 months. After 4 months, keep your NuvaRings in the refrigerator. Read the storage instructions on the package, and always check the expiration date before putting in a new NuvaRing.

The Annovera ring comes with a small case you can keep it in when it’s not in your vagina. Store Annovera at room temperature and away from kids and pets. Don’t put Annovera in the refrigerator. If you start using Annovera on or before the expiration date on the package, it will last for 1 year (13 cycles) after you put it in your vagina.

What do I do if I want to get pregnant?

If you decide you want to get pregnant, just take your ring out and throw it away.

It’s possible to get pregnant right after you stop using the ring. It can take a few months for your period to go back to the cycle you had before you started using it. But it’s still possible to get pregnant during that time, even if your period isn’t regular or you haven’t gotten your period yet since you stopped using the ring.