Birth control ring

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.

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.

Take a look at our How to Use It section to see how to get it in and how to get it out.

Yes, you can use the ring to skip your period. Just change the ring every four weeks without taking a 1-week break.

We have reminders to help you change your ring on time. If you decide not to take it out for the break week, just pay attention to the “ring in” day. You’ll take the old one out and put the new one in on that day.

To take the ring out, hook your finger on the lower edge and pull. Simple as that. For more information on getting the ring in and out, take a look at our How to Use It section on the ring.

Leave the ring in for three weeks, then take it out for the fourth week of the month. Check out the How to Use It section for more details.

Most methods will not cause weight gain. Many young women are starting birth control for the first time while their body is going through many other changes. Some women gain weight naturally when transitioning from their teens into their twenties. If that happens to be when a woman starts birth control, it’s easy to put the blame on the pill, patch, the implant, the hormonal IUD, or ring. The truth is each of these methods can be used without an expected weight gain. A recent study showed about 1 in 4 women who use the shot will gain some weight. However, the majority of women (3 out of 4) don’t gain much weight. So most women using the shot are able to keep their weight steady with healthy eating and regular exercise.

Any medicine has some side effects, but when people hear the negative stuff, it sticks in their brain like a cheesy old song you can’t stop humming. That’s just human nature, and it happens to all of us.

Remember that drug companies list every single scary thing you could possibly experience with a medication. Even if it’s super rare. They have to. It’s the law. So before you run for the hills, consider this: the potential side effects of something as harmless as aspirin are pretty scary when you read them, too. Birth control is definitely worth it if you aren’t ready to have a baby. Trust us, pregnancy has more side effects than we can count. There are so many different birth control methods that there’s something for everyone.

For women with high blood pressure, methods with estrogen–the pill (except for the mini-pill), the ring, and the patch–may make their blood pressure even higher, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Fortunately there are lots of highly effective birth control options that are safe and estrogen-free like the IUD, the implant, or the shot. Talk to your doctor about your condition and what birth control is best for you.

Most women who use hormonal birth control–the pill, the ring, the shot, the patch, the implant, or a hormonal IUD–will have less painful periods than those who don’t. This is because these methods of birth control make the lining of the uterus thinner. There’s less tissue in the uterus to shed, so periods are lighter. One special note on the implant and the shot: for some women, these methods cause more days of spotting or bleeding, but periods become lighter and less painful overall.

The Mirena IUD, the shot, and the implant have all been shown to reduce menstrual bleeding for most women. You can also use the pill or the ring continuously to intentionally skip your period.

Absolutely. It’s really quite easy. And if you like, your partner can help as well.