The ring is easy to use. All you need to remember is when to insert and remove it. You should also be comfortable with your body. If you are not okay with putting your fingers inside yourself, the ring is probably not the best option for you. It is a lot like putting in a tampon. If you can do that, you can learn to use the ring.
A Vaginal Ring is inserted at any time during your menstrual cycle. However, inserting it on the first day of your menstrual cycle will become immediately effective. If you start it at any other time, you will need to use backup protection for the first seven days.
Before getting this contraceptive, it is important to visit your healthcare provider for a medical evaluation that will determine if it is a good fit for you. In some countries, you will require a prescription before you can purchase it.
Inserting a vaginal ring
To start with, wash your hands with soap and water. Let them air dry. Next, choose the position most comfortable for you, for example, standing with one leg up, squatting, or lying down. To put the ring in, squish it between your thumb and index finger, and insert it like a tampon. It will sit tucked up against the side of your vaginal wall. The exact position does not matter, as long as you are comfortable. You might want to try the “twist” method in which you twist the ring to insert it.
Unlike the cervical cap or a diaphragm, the vaginal ring does not need to cover the entrance to your womb (cervix) to work. If the ring feels uncomfortable, you can push it further into your vagina until it feels comfortable.
Removing the ring during sex is not necessary or not recommended. However, if you so wish, you can remove it for sex, cleaning, or other reasons, but ensure it is returned within 48 hours.
Once you insert the ring, it is recommended that you leave it in for three weeks. Take it out at the beginning of the fourth week [3].
How to Remove the Vaginal Ring
To take the Vaginal Ring out, hook your clean finger on the lower edge and pull it out. Put it in the foil pouch that it came packaged in and throw it in the trash – avoid flushing it down the toilet. Leave it out for a week, then insert a new ring and start the cycle again.
When the ring is out, you will probably get your period. Do not worry if you are still bleeding when it is time to put in the new ring. That is normal, and your period should stop soon.
What happens if I forget to remove my Vaginal Ring?
If you forget to remove the ring after three weeks and leave it in for as long as a fourth week, no special action is needed. Just remove the ring and proceed with a new cycle as scheduled.
If the contraceptive ring is left in for more than seven extra days, take it out as soon as possible, and insert a new ring right away. Then use a backup contraception, like a condom, for the next seven days.
You can still have sex and use a tampon when the ring is in. While your partner may feel the ring during sex, it will not harm him in any way [4].
Why does my Birth Control Ring keep coming out?
You should, be able to check the presence of the ring using your finger. If you find your ring coming out, there is a high chance that you are not inserting it correctly. If the ring slips out, rinse it in clean water, and reinsert it immediately.
If you are sure that the ring is in your vagina but cannot feel it, visit a healthcare provider for support. There is no way a Contraceptive ring can get lost in your vagina.
