The vaginal ring is a type of contraception you put inside your vagina. It’s made of soft plastic and is around 5cm across.
It prevents pregnancy by releasing the hormones oestrogen and progestogen into the blood. This stops the ovaries releasing an egg each month.
The vaginal ring is not suitable for everyone.
When you stop using the vaginal ring, your fertility usually returns to previous levels after around 1 to 3 months.
The vaginal ring does not stop you from getting or passing on sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Use a condom every time you have sex to help protect you and your partner against STIs, including HIV.
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How does it work?
- You put the ring inside your vagina and leave it there for 3 weeks.
- The vaginal ring is 99% effective if you use it correctly all the time.
- If not used correctly, it’s less effective.
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Advantages
- It is easy to use, comfortable to wear, and flexible enough to fit all vaginas.
- It does not interfere with sex and can be removed at any time if you wish to get pregnant.
- It does not need to be fitted by a doctor and does not require daily dosing, which improves compliance and effectiveness.
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Disadvantages
- You may have some side effects when you first start using the vaginal ring.
- Bleeding between periods (breakthrough bleeding) or changes to your periods are common in the first few months.
- Some people report headaches, feeling sick or having sore breasts. But there is not enough evidence to say whether this is caused by using the ring.
- Where to get it?