NuvaRing® Removal

NuvaRing® removal can happen a number of different ways and for different reasons — not all of them intended. This hormonal contraceptive is designed to be inserted in a woman's vagina, worn continuously for three weeks and then removed. A new NuvaRing® is inserted after a week "off," and then removed in three weeks, with a continuation of this cycle for as long the woman wants to use NuvaRing® as her birth control method.

NuvaRing® works by providing two hormones (a form of progestin called etonogestrel and a form of estrogen called ethinyl estradiol). These hormones are steadily released from the vaginal ring for the three weeks that the ring is worn, "tricking" the user's brain into preventing the process that results in ovulation and potential pregnancy.

Unintentional NuvaRing® Removal

Normally, a NuvaRing® removal occurs intentionally as the wearer manually pulls it out and discards it. However, as the official website for NuvaRing® notes, unintentional or accidental NuvaRing® removal may also occur due to:

a strained bowel movement
sexual intercourse
[even] tampon use

Thus, it's pretty clear that NuvaRing® removal (or perhaps a better term is "NuvaRing® expulsion") happens too easily. When NuvaRing® removal occurs accidentally, the user must follow certain specific steps to try to ensure the effectiveness of the NuvaRing® for preventing pregnancy. The steps are too detailed to provide here.

Removing NuvaRing® Early

When the NuvaRing® is dislodged due to any of the above-listed reasons or intentionally at the beginning of the fourth week of the cycle, the wearer may experience unpleasant side effects such as spotting (irregular bleeding) and cramps. However, for some NuvaRing® users, the side effects after removal may be preferable to problems they were experiencing while wearing the NuvaRing, such as:

foreign body sensation
problems with sexual intercourse
unwanted device expulsion
vaginal and/or cervical erosion or ulceration
adherence of the NuvaRing® to vaginal tissue