Nuvaring question

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Nuvaring question
2
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 10:20pm
I was reading the directions for nuvaring and found that if you were not previously using a hormonal birth control that you must use nuvaring for 7 days before you are protected, even if you start using it on the first day of your period. Birth control pills, on the other hand, say that you are protected from day one if you start taking the pill on the first day of your period. Does anyone know why nuvaring is different from the pill in this way?

Thanks.

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-13-2004
In reply to: lisabek
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 10:33pm
Hi there - I have always been told that even with the pill, you are not protected immediately. You always need seven days if you have not been on any other type of hormonal birth control before...
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: lisabek
Mon, 04-26-2004 - 2:35pm
The labeling from the patch says the same thing about needing backup for the first seven days no matter what. I'm wondering if it isn't to allow the hormones to start releasing at a steady rate and get them to a stable level in the bloodstream--the ring releases more hormones each day up until day 6, when it levels off until after day 21 or so when it starts to decrease. I always use backup when I switch, so I didn't worry about it!

Hope that helps...

Judie

Judie Cl for Birth Control