The vaginal ring is a very small, plastic ring that a woman herself will insert into her vagina on the first day of her period. It remains there for 21 days and is then removed and disposed of in a special bag. After seven days, a new ring is inserted into the vagina for the cycle to begin again.
The ring works by releasing a combination of synthetic versions of the hormones oestrogen and progestogen into the woman’s system to reduce ovulation and to thicken the mucus in the vagina to deter sperm. By also thinning the lining of the womb, the vaginal ring makes it harder for a fertilised egg to implant there.
With an effectiveness rating of 99%, the vaginal ring is one of the strongest forms of contraception. Women do have to insert the ring properly into their vagina to ensure that it works properly but once it is in place, they won’t have to worry about contraception for the next 28 days. The ring may occasionally come out it should then be washed in warm water and re-inserted as soon as possible.
Other benefits of using the vaginal ring is that it can ease premenstrual symptoms and reduce bleeding during periods. It won’t stop if you have sexual intercourse and because it’s not taken orally, you won’t suffer potential interruption to contraception if you are sick or have diarrhoea.
There are side effects but these are generally only temporary and may include headaches, tenderness in the breasts and an increased vaginal discharge. On rare occasions, some women develop a blood clot or thrombosis and the ring is not suitable for women who have had a blood clot previously; have heart problems or high blood pressure; suffer from migraines or are overweight; and you cannot use the ring if you are over 35 and a smoker.