Birth control ring

Absolutely. To remove the ring, insert one finger into your vagina and hook the edge of it and pull. You might want to practice putting it in and taking it out a few times to get the hang of it.

Each ring has enough hormones for pregnancy prevention for up to 4 weeks. If you want to have a period each month, leave the ring in for 3 weeks, then take it out for the fourth week. Want to skip your period altogether? Leave the ring in for 4 weeks and switch it out for a new ring the same day. Check out the How to Use It section for more details on how to get and use the ring.

A cyst is basically a bubble—a collection of fluid with a thin wall around it. Some types of cysts form when a follicle (the fluid-filled sac that develops around an egg during ovulation) grows larger than expected. Sometimes they can cause un-fun symptoms like abdominal discomfort, pelvic pain, pain during bowel movements, or pain during sex. Most cysts disappear on their own, but if they keep growing, they can cause severe pelvic pain or pain that causes dizziness or fainting and comes with a fever or vomiting. If you have any of these severe symptoms, go see a health care provider ASAP. Some hormonal birth control methods—the ones that work by blocking ovulation—may mean fewer ovarian cysts. If you tend to get cysts, your provider might recommend you try a method like the [pill](/birth-control/the_pill}, patch, or [ring](/birth-control/the_ring}.

First, if all of the ring is in your vagina it’s effective as birth control. Generally, the most comfortable place is tucked up against the side of your vaginal wall. To get it there, push it up as far as you can get it inside the vagina with your finger. It’s funny to say, but the ring almost has a sixth sense for getting itself into the right place. If you insert the ring and can’t feel it, you’ve got it in correctly.

First, make sure you are inserting the ring correctly, sometimes you need to push the ring further into your vagina. Although as long as it’s in your vagina, it’s working as birth control.

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

To take the ring out, reach your finger into your vagina and hook it on the lower edge of the ring 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.

No, the ring does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The best way to prevent STIs if you’re having sex is using a condom or internal condom. Dental dams, gloves, some vaccines (HPV and hepatitis B vaccines) and daily medications, such as PrEP for the prevention of HIV also offer STI protection. If you’re concerned about both pregnancy and STIs, doubling up with the ring and condoms is a great option.

Depends on if you need protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). No method of birth control other than condoms or internal condoms protects you from STIs. Using a condom with another form of birth control is called dual protection since you’re protecting yourself against both pregnancy and STIs.

Yes, you can use the ring to skip your period. Just change the ring every four weeks without taking a 1-week break. You’ll just take the old one out and put the new one in on the same day.