Is it Safe to Use the Birth Control Ring?

The birth control ring looks like a 2-inch doughnut. It's soft and flexible so that the wearer does not even feel it when inserted in the vagina. The pregnancy control ring is a hormonal device that releases estrogen and progesterone slowly through the vagina wall into the bloodstream. The uterus and the ovaries react to these hormones in the sense that ovulation is inhibited and the lining of the uterus becomes unsuitable for the implantation of a fertilized egg.

The woman can insert the pregnancy control ring herself, and the mechanism behind it resembles that of the hormonal transdermal patch or the oral pill. This birth control method relies on the menstrual cycle. The birth control ring needs to be in place on the first day of the period or before day 5 of the menstrual cycle. And it remains inside the vagina for three weeks in a row. It will be removed on the same day of the week it was inserted, and approximately about the same time of day.

For seven days, after the third week, you don't have to use any pregnancy control, because in that interval the period will occur. At the end of seven days, a new birth control ring should be inserted, on the same day of the week and at the same hour. When you use this contraceptive method for the first time, you have to use supplementary birth control for seven days until the ring offers full protection against pregnancy.

The birth control ring is pretty comfortable to wear. It's inserted similarly to a tampon, and it does not feel inside. It does not have to be removed during intercourse, while swimming or bathing. In case you feel uncomfortable you can change the position inside the vagina or push it a bit further back. However, there are some downsides to the use of this form of birth control.

There might appear local irritation and even lesions in the wall of the vagina or in the cervix, mainly because the hormonal release changes the pH of the soft tissues allowing for harmful bacteria to proliferate. Women who use a pregnancy control ring are more exposed to yeast infections and to cervical precancerous formations. You should talk to the gynecologist to learn about the pros and cons of using this kind of contraceptive.

You might want to know what other options there are available to prevent pregnancy and stay safe from sexually transmitted diseases.