WE’RE HERE TO GET THIS METHOD WORKING BETTER FOR YOU.
And if it still doesn’t feel right, we’ve got ideas for other methods. Just remember: If you change methods, make sure you’re protected during your switch.
I’M TIRED OF INSERTING IT.
A once-a-month method like the ring requires less effort than many other options out there, but there are certainly other effective methods that require even less work.
Still not working?
If inserting something once a month is too much for you, perhaps you want to think about something you can forget about for months or years, like the
shot,
the implant, or
IUD.
I’M GETTING VAGINAL DISCHARGE.
The extra discharge you are experiencing from using the ring is probably normal. After a couple of cycles, this discharge may go back to normal. Also, the ring may protect you from a bacterial infection that can occur in the vagina called bacterial vaginosis (BV).
If you’re concerned that the vaginal discharge that you’re experiencing may be caused by an infection, visit your health care provider.
Still not working?
If it sticks around and really bothers you, think about something you don’t insert into your vagina. You could try the
pill or
patch (if you like regular periods), or the
shot (if you don’t mind irregular or nonexistent periods).
IT’S ALWAYS SLIPPING OUT.
There’s a chance you’re not inserting the ring correctly.
Try this: Place the ring in an empty tampon inserter to push it in all the way.
Still not working?
If you tried the tampon trick and it’s still an issue, look into a form of birth control you won’t need to insert yourself. Think about the
shot,
implant, or an
IUD
IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE.
Since we don’t exactly know what you’re paying now, we’ll cover a few scenarios to see if we can help you out:
If you have private insurance, it’s probably covered for no more than your co-pay. If you are not covered by insurance or unsure consider visiting a local Title X funded clinic or enrolling in
Texas Healthy Women.
If that’s not an option for you, check with the
family planning health centers around you and find out if they offer free or low-cost birth control. Most do.
Another solution might be to ask your partner to help pay for the expense.
You could also check the
NuvaRing website for discounts and coupons.
Still not working?
If you find it’s still just too expensive, you have other options. Some varieties of
the pill (generics, in particular) may be cheaper than the ring (no generic ring yet!), but don’t forget that you need to take the pill every single day.
MY PARTNER SAYS HE FEELS THE RING WHEN WE HAVE SEX
You can always pull the ring out when you’re getting busy. Just be sure to rinse it with cool water and reinsert it within 3 hours. And only do that once within a 24-hour time period.
Still not working?
If you want a method that you don’t have to remember daily, you won’t have to remove in the moment, and that your partner won’t feel during sex, you might want to go with the
implant,
shot, or
patch.