The vaginal ring (brand name NuvaRing^®) is a flexible ring worn in the vagina. It is folded and inserted high into the vagina, where it slowly releases estrogen and progestin. These hormones are absorbed into the bloodstream. Each ring is made of a type of vinyl and should be worn for three weeks out of the month. The ring is about two inches in diameter, and one size fits all women.

The vaginal ring is not intended to protect you from sexually transmitted diseases-called STDs for short-which are diseases, infections, or illnesses that can spread from one person to another through sexual contact. Some examples of STDs are chlamydia, herpes, HIV, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

What you need to do:

Insert one ring in the vagina and keep it in place for three weeks in a row. Remove it for a one-week break and then insert a new ring.

If the ring slips out of place for more than three hours, the woman must use additional birth control until the ring has been reinserted for three days, giving the hormones time to rise to protective levels again.

Couples should learn about Emergency contraception before using any contraceptive method. Sometimes called the "morning after pill," Emergency contraception reduces the chance of getting pregnant after unprotected sexual intercourse.

Pros:

• You do not have to do anything right before, during, or after sex.
• The exact positioning of the ring within the vagina is not critical for it to work because it is not a barrier method and therefore cannot be incorrectly inserted within the vagina.

Cons:

• Side effects may include vaginal discharge, infection, or irritation in small numbers of women.

Effectiveness:

This guide gives effectiveness percentages for two categories of contraceptive use: typical use, which includes people who may not always use a method exactly how and when they were supposed to use it, and perfect use, which indicates how effective the method would be if it were always used correctly.

• Perfect use: Out of 100 women who use the vaginal ring correctly at all times, maybe 1 and probably no one in the group might become pregnant in one year.
• Typical use: Because the patch is relatively new in the United States, we do not know the "typical use" rates.