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"If you're in the market for contraception and know there's no way you'll take a pill every single day at the exact same time, you're not alone. While researching IUDs, we learned that the number one reason birth control fails is because women have a hard time sticking to a routine. But even if you know popping a pill isn't for you, you might not be ready for a semi-permanent form of contraception like the intrauterine device. Luckily, there's an in-between option: the ring, commonly referred to by its brand name, NuvaRing. It's just as effective as the pill, but you only have to think about it once a month. Keep reading to learn more about it, and figure out whether or not it's a good choice for you.\n\nWhat is the ring, and how does it work?\n\nIt's a small, flexible, plastic circle that you insert in your vagina once a month. It works by releasing a low-level dose of the hormones progestin and estrogen, which keep your body from ovulating (this is the same way the birth control pill works). If you're not ovulating, then there's no opportunity for sperm to fertilize an egg, and you won't get pregnant. The ring also thickens the cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus in the first place.\n\nWhen used properly\u2014for three weeks at a time, without interruption\u2014the ring is highly effective; less than one of out of every 100 women will get pregnant if they use it as directed. After three weeks, you'll take it out and get your period during the \"off\" week. At the end of that week, you'll put a new ring in and be good to go for another 21 days.\n\nHow do you insert it?\n\nThe great thing about the ring is that you can think about it once a month instead of once a day, but inserting it is a bit more complicated than just taking a pill. The best way to do it is to get in a comfortable position, pinch the ring in the center so it looks like a figure eight, and gently slide it into your vagina. You want it to go far enough up that it's not uncomfortable (in a few hours you won't even be able to feel it at all), and your pelvic muscles will hold it in place.\n\nIt's not likely, but it is possible that the ring can slip out, particularly if there's a lot of pressure or strain on your pelvic floor, so you'll want to check in on it about once a week. Always wash and dry your hands before you adjust the ring to avoid any possibility of causing a UTI! And no, the ring can't get \"lost\" in your body. Rest assured, your cervix keeps it from heading anywhere else.\n\nDo I have to take it out during sex?\n\nNope. If your partner can feel it during sex, it may need to be pushed up a little further, though some guys insist they can feel it no matter where it's placed. Another note on the sex front: The ring protects you against pregnancy, but like every other non-barrier contraceptive, it does not protect against STDs.\n\nReal talk: Is NuvaRing safe?\n\nYou may have read that the ring is controversial. While some evidence suggests that NuvaRing can create a blood clot risk among the women who use it, so too can a number of other types of birth control. The truth is, doctors aren't totally sure why even the pill can increase the risk, but that's not the same as saying that if you use the pill you're going to experience a clot. And it should be noted than an increased risk of clotting is not the same as a high risk of clotting.\n\nThe vast majority of women don't experience any scary side effects at all! In fact, because the ring is so much like the pill, the side effects (both good and bad) are pretty much the same. You might have some spotting and breast tenderness, or even nausea and vomiting, but you may also get lighter periods and see your acne clear up. As with any other kind of birth control, you need to assess the health risks based on your personal medical history with your doctor, and then weigh the side effects and benefits and pay attention to the impact it has on your body (which may very well be different from the way it affects your BFF). If you don't feel quite right on the ring, schedule an appointment with your doc and discuss other options. Contraception should never come at the cost of not feeling like yourself.\n\nHow much does it cost?\n\nAbout the same as the pill, though sometimes a little bit more depending on your insurance status. You can expect to pay somewhere between $15 and $80 every month.\n\nIs there anything else I should know?\n\nYep! Because the ring is one-size-fits-all, you don't have to get fitted or anything like that. Your doctor will simply write you a prescription, and together you'll determine when you should put it in based on where you're at in your cycle. If you're storing the ring for more than four months, you'll want to keep it in the refrigerator\u2014and you definitely don't want to leave it anywhere warm while it's still in the packaging, no matter the circumstances.\n\nOne more thing: If you decide you want to go off the ring, your cycle should return to normal within about a month. If you're thinking about switching to another form of hormonal birth control, you'll definitely want to discuss the transition with your doctor and use a backup method in the meantime."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.teenvogue.com/story/nuvaring-birth-control>