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The Handbook of Contraception pp 107–123Cite as

Contraceptive Ring

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Abstract

Contraceptive vaginal rings (CVR) offer the benefit of safe, effective, and patient-controlled reversible contraception without the need for daily dosing. There are currently two CVRs in commercial use worldwide, including the etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol (ENG/EE) CVR and a progesterone-only ring approved in some countries for postpartum lactating women. This chapter focuses on the ENG/EE CVR (NuvaRing®) approved by the US FDA. Pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages, and counseling tips are addressed. Additionally, this chapter includes a discussion of drug interactions and side effects, including the risk of venous and arterial thromboembolism with vaginal as compared to oral ethinyl estradiol.

Keywords

  • Vaginal ring
  • Contraception
  • Ethinyl estradiol
  • Etonogestrel
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • Venous thromboembolism
  • Hormonal contraception

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mailcode UHN 50, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Katharine B. Simmons MD, MPH & Jeffrey T. Jensen MD, MPH

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  1. Katharine B. Simmons MD, MPH
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  2. Jeffrey T. Jensen MD, MPH
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Correspondence to Katharine B. Simmons MD, MPH .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck Medical School at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Donna Shoupe

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, LOS ANGELES, California, USA

    Daniel R. Mishell, Jr.

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Simmons, K.B., Jensen, J.T. (2016). Contraceptive Ring. In: Shoupe, D., Mishell, Jr., D. (eds) The Handbook of Contraception. Current Clinical Practice. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20185-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20185-6_7

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