What's new in birth control
There are so many birth control options to consider today. Which one is right for you?
By Rhea Seymour
NuvaRing
Approved in Canada about seven years ago, this flexible rubber ring, about two inches in diameter, is a hormonal method of contraception that provides certain advantages over the birth control pill—for example, you don’t need to remember to take it daily, and there’s less breakthrough bleeding. “It’s a fantastic birth control device, but people forget about it, and there is a bit of a ‘yuck’ factor,” says Maker. “Some women don’t feel comfortable inserting it.”
What’s involved: You squeeze the sides together and insert it into the vagina once a month, and leave it in place for three weeks. Then you remove it for the fourth week of the cycle, during menstruation. On Day 1 of a new cycle, you insert a new one.
How it works: The NuvaRing releases a continuous low dose of the hormones estrogen and progestin—comparable to the amount in a low-dose birth control pill—which are absorbed through the vagina. Neither you nor your partner will feel it during intercourse, although it can fall out during sex or from straining during a bowel movement. With perfect use, it’s up to 99 percent effective.
Who it’s best for: Women who often forget to take the pill. It also decreases menstrual flow and cramps, improves acne and reduces PMS symptoms, says Maker. Women who get menstrual migraines sometimes find that the condition improves because the NuvaRing releases hormones at a steady rate.
When to avoid it: Women with a history of heart disease or blood clots, smokers over 35 and women who get migraine with aura are not good candidates.
What’s involved: You squeeze the sides together and insert it into the vagina once a month, and leave it in place for three weeks. Then you remove it for the fourth week of the cycle, during menstruation. On Day 1 of a new cycle, you insert a new one.
How it works: The NuvaRing releases a continuous low dose of the hormones estrogen and progestin—comparable to the amount in a low-dose birth control pill—which are absorbed through the vagina. Neither you nor your partner will feel it during intercourse, although it can fall out during sex or from straining during a bowel movement. With perfect use, it’s up to 99 percent effective.
Who it’s best for: Women who often forget to take the pill. It also decreases menstrual flow and cramps, improves acne and reduces PMS symptoms, says Maker. Women who get menstrual migraines sometimes find that the condition improves because the NuvaRing releases hormones at a steady rate.
When to avoid it: Women with a history of heart disease or blood clots, smokers over 35 and women who get migraine with aura are not good candidates.
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