Nuvaring "experts"...

Avatar for coco1022
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2003
Nuvaring "experts"...
3
Tue, 03-30-2004 - 2:45pm
I have read here on the boards at some point that you can skip a period by simply replacing an old ring with a new one. We are going to Hawaii in a couple weeks right when the ring should come out. I checked with my doctor who said I can either take the ring out early, or just put in a new one. Forgot to ask though WHEN to do the switch? I am assuming I would switch them on the day that the old one should be removed? Then start counting three weeks again? If someone has this info I'd appreciate it...

CoCo
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2004
Tue, 03-30-2004 - 7:48pm
I've never skipped having my period by using the Ring, however my cousin does it every month. She uses the Ring for 3 weeks, removes it, and replaces it for another 3 weeks. My GYN said that the Ring is actually effective for up to 5 weeks in desperate situations (you can't afford another Ring, you forgot about it), but this isn't recommended. You could ask your GYN if keeping it in for another week would be a problem.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 03-30-2004 - 8:39pm
Hi Firespirit, welcome!

Actually, you shouldn’t trust the ring for protection after 4 weeks of continuous use. Perhaps that's what you meant. Here is what the prescribing information says.

"Prolonged Use of NuvaRing ®

If NuvaRing ® has been left in place for up to one extra week (i.e., up to four weeks total), it should be removed and the patient should insert a new ring after the one-week ring-free interval. The mean serum etonogestrel concentration during the fourth week of continuous use of NuvaRing ® was 1272 ± 311 pg/mL compared to a mean concentration range of 1578 ± 408 to1374 ± 328 pg/mL during weeks one to three. The mean serum ethinyl estradiol concentration during the fourth week of continuous use of NuvaRing ® was 16.8 ± 4.6 pg/mL compared to a mean concentration range of 19.1 ± 4.5 to 17.6 ± 4.3 pg/mL during weeks one to three. If NuvaRing ® has been left in place for longer than four weeks, pregnancy should be ruled out,and an additional method of contraception, such as male condoms or spermicide, MUST be used until a new NuvaRing ® has been used continuously for seven days."

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 8:30am

I've done it two ways.

Judie Cl for Birth Control