Birth Control/NuvaRing filter: I've had the ring in for 4 weeks and 12 hours. Should I worry?
June 15, 2009 9:49 AM Subscribe
Birth Control/NuvaRing filter: I've had the ring in for 4 weeks and 12 hours. Should I worry?
When I started the Ring my doctor actually advised me to just keep it in for four weeks if I wanted to miss a period, just trade old and new rings at the four week mark. But, I'm a day late putting the new Ring in this week.
All the NuvaRing documentation I can find says this:
"If NuvaRing® has been left in for more than 3 weeks (but less than 4 weeks), remove it immediately and insert a new ring after a 1-week ring-free break.
If NuvaRing® has been left in place for more than 4 weeks, you may not be adequately protected from pregnancy.... etc."
Doing the math, isn't putting a new ring in today with no break just the same as realizing I was "over 3 but under 4 weeks" a couple days ago therefore being on my recommended week-long break anyway?
When I started the Ring my doctor actually advised me to just keep it in for four weeks if I wanted to miss a period, just trade old and new rings at the four week mark. But, I'm a day late putting the new Ring in this week.
All the NuvaRing documentation I can find says this:
"If NuvaRing® has been left in for more than 3 weeks (but less than 4 weeks), remove it immediately and insert a new ring after a 1-week ring-free break.
If NuvaRing® has been left in place for more than 4 weeks, you may not be adequately protected from pregnancy.... etc."
Doing the math, isn't putting a new ring in today with no break just the same as realizing I was "over 3 but under 4 weeks" a couple days ago therefore being on my recommended week-long break anyway?
I leave mine in for 4 weeks and don't get periods. My doctor said all the girls in the office do it that way.
posted by stormygrey at 9:57 AM on June 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by stormygrey at 9:57 AM on June 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
Whoops, checked vaginapagnia myself and this is what they say: "It is generally removed every 3 weeks to induce a period, though according to this information from the Nuva Ring website, there are actually sufficient hormone concentrations to allow for 4 weeks (28 days) of use from a single ring."
Still, if the manufacturer is telling you that you may not be protected on the 29th day of use, I'd use a back-up method for the first week anyhow. It really can't hurt, at least.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:00 AM on June 15, 2009
Still, if the manufacturer is telling you that you may not be protected on the 29th day of use, I'd use a back-up method for the first week anyhow. It really can't hurt, at least.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:00 AM on June 15, 2009
What about leaving it in for 28 days and then taking a week off? Would that work?
posted by elsietheeel at 10:10 AM on June 15, 2009
posted by elsietheeel at 10:10 AM on June 15, 2009
Elsie,
My Dr. gave me the stern Dr. face when I suggested your scenario... He said there is no proof that the hormone would stay in your body long enough to cover week 5.
I wouldn't risk it.
posted by prettymightyflighty at 10:20 AM on June 15, 2009
My Dr. gave me the stern Dr. face when I suggested your scenario... He said there is no proof that the hormone would stay in your body long enough to cover week 5.
I wouldn't risk it.
posted by prettymightyflighty at 10:20 AM on June 15, 2009
I'm not sexually active at the moment, but I really don't pay close attention to when I take my ring out, and I never get my period until I take it out. So while I'm probably not protected from pregancy, it serves the purpose of regulating my periods past the 3 week date.
posted by emilyd22222 at 10:28 AM on June 15, 2009
posted by emilyd22222 at 10:28 AM on June 15, 2009
I've never gotten pre-period symptoms (which I interpret as hormonal levels falling below some threshold) with a ring in, unless it has been in for longer than 5 weeks. YMMV and IANAD, of course.
posted by ecsh at 11:00 AM on June 15, 2009
posted by ecsh at 11:00 AM on June 15, 2009
Best answer: Yes, I believe your math is right and you would still be protected (no need for back-up) if you put a new Nuvaring in today. As you point out, if you'd had the NuvaRing in for, say, 25 days (3 weeks and 4 days) and then took the ring-free week recommended by the manufacturer you would be putting a new ring in 11 days after 3 weeks of continuous use, if you put a new one in now you'll only be 7.5 days past the 3 weeks. See also my note to Elsietheeel below.
Elsietheeel: I was told by my OB/GYN that a 4 weeks in, 1 week out schedule will protect you from pregnancy. I have been doing this for the past 2 years without any resulting babies. Others at vaginapagina have been told the same thing. But I see that prettymightyflightly has been told differently, so it's probably smart to check with your doctor as well.
posted by radiomayonnaise at 11:00 AM on June 15, 2009
Elsietheeel: I was told by my OB/GYN that a 4 weeks in, 1 week out schedule will protect you from pregnancy. I have been doing this for the past 2 years without any resulting babies. Others at vaginapagina have been told the same thing. But I see that prettymightyflightly has been told differently, so it's probably smart to check with your doctor as well.
posted by radiomayonnaise at 11:00 AM on June 15, 2009
I regularly left mine in for four weeks before taking it out. Anecdotal data only, but I used Nuvoring very successfully for several years with no incidents.
posted by arnicae at 11:21 AM on June 15, 2009
posted by arnicae at 11:21 AM on June 15, 2009
Best answer: It depends on how much of a pregnancy risk you find acceptable, really. You can definitely go exactly 4 weeks straight on one ring, provided you put a new ring in immediately afterward. Even if the amount of hormones drops off a bit, it's no different than having a ring-out week.
Since the acceptable amount of time to have your ring out is 3 hours, and you've gone 12 hours past what is considered Definitely Safe, I would recommend putting a new ring in right now, and using a backup method for the next 7 days.
I've called the NuvaRing toll-free hotline before and the operator was really nice. If you need reassurance in the form of a human voice, the number is on the website.
posted by giraffe at 12:20 PM on June 15, 2009 [2 favorites]
Since the acceptable amount of time to have your ring out is 3 hours, and you've gone 12 hours past what is considered Definitely Safe, I would recommend putting a new ring in right now, and using a backup method for the next 7 days.
I've called the NuvaRing toll-free hotline before and the operator was really nice. If you need reassurance in the form of a human voice, the number is on the website.
posted by giraffe at 12:20 PM on June 15, 2009 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I leave my ring in for 4 weeks, then immediately insert a new ring after removing the old one. I've been doing this for approximately 2 years, and per my doctor's instructions. I rarely have periods, but occasionally have some breakthrough bleeding.
Put a new ring in today, and you should be protected from pregnancy. If you are having sex and want to be sure you're protected from pregnancy, use a backup method for the next 7 days.
posted by pecanpies at 7:17 PM on June 15, 2009
Put a new ring in today, and you should be protected from pregnancy. If you are having sex and want to be sure you're protected from pregnancy, use a backup method for the next 7 days.
posted by pecanpies at 7:17 PM on June 15, 2009
Response by poster: thanks all! gotta love my fellow ring users, holla
posted by dahliachewswell at 4:00 PM on June 16, 2009
posted by dahliachewswell at 4:00 PM on June 16, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
I would put a new ring in immediately and use back-up birth control for at least the first seven days with the new ring.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:56 AM on June 15, 2009