by Rachel Burt, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner at Roswell OB/GYN ……………………………..
Typically, my patients come talk to me about birth control during their annual exams. Some of my patients love taking the birth control pill. They never forget, set it by the toothbrush, and have been taking it nightly for years. But, there is another group of patients, the not so great pill takers. These are the women who have been taking the pill for a while but every few months they miss a night here or there. They know how to double up on pills to catch up in the pack. They usually don’t worry too much about it. But, remember birth control pills are about 99% effective without user error!
So when I see my patients each year at their annual visits, I ask them how they like their birth control. If my patient confides in me that she occasionally forgets her pill, I suggest alternate options. The Nuva Ring provides an alternate delivery system for birth control. Just like the birth control pill, the Nuva Ring contains progesterone and estrogen. Instead of having to remember a pill every day, the Nuva Ring is inserted vaginally like a tampon. It stays in the vagina for 3 weeks. Women can exercise, swim and have sex with it in place. After 3 weeks, the ring is removed and the woman has her period. A new ring is placed after 1 week. The risks are the same as the birth control pill. If you are having difficulty remembering to take your pill every day, the Nuva Ring might be a good option for you. Please talk with your provider to discuss if this option.
Any questions, please contact us at 770-751-3600
