Contraceptive Ring: Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

The contraceptive ring acts like the pill, releasing a very low dose of hormones that prevents ovulation. It is used by many women for its many advantages, listed below:

• Very high contraceptive safety (over 99%);
• The hormones released by the contraceptive ring pass quickly into the bloodstream, the mucosa of vaginal lining being particularly thin and rich in blood vessels;
• The vaginal ring, unlike the contraceptive pill, does not involve the first passage through the liver, nor through the gastrointestinal tract: in this way, the contraceptive safety is assured even in the case of diarrhea and vomiting;
• The vaginal ring is imperceptible, both by the woman and by the partner, during sexual intercourse;
• Generally, it does not cause weight changes;
• Ensures regular menstrual rhythm;
• Reduces cases of forgetfulness (considerably more frequent in the case of taking the pill);
• Effective, comfortable and extremely simple contraceptive method to apply and remove;
• Nausea and migraine almost absent;
• Very low spotting probability.

Disadvantages

Unfortunately, there is no contraceptive method completely free of side effects and contraindications. While on one hand the advantages of the contraceptive ring are multiple, on the other hand some undesirable effects cannot therefore be missing. All possible side effects deriving from the use of the contraceptive ring will be described below; however, it is good to point out first of all the impossibility of foreseeing the subjective reaction following the application of the ring; consequently, these effects are not necessarily present in all the users. A woman, for example, may not even have any side effects.

However, the possible side effects of the contraceptive ring are almost identical to those deriving from the use of the pill.

It is possible that during the first few months of use of the ring, the device will spontaneously come out of the vagina. In this regard, it is a good habit for the woman to periodically check the presence of the ring in the vagina: if she is not reinserted into the vagina within three hours of the expulsion, it is very likely that the contraceptive efficacy will decrease.

The ring could favor the onset of bacterial infections (eg Candida albicans): in fact, the presence of a foreign body in the vagina could favor the nesting of bacteria and generate damage.

The vaginal ring could cause dyspareunia (pain during intercourse), particularly in the first months of application, vaginal lesions, vaginitis and cysts .

Other common effects: acne, mood modulation, irritability, decreased sexual desire, abdominal pain, breast tenderness, leucorrhoea, dysmenorrhea.

The perception of the device by the partner during the relationship is rare, albeit possible; still, genital itching, anxiety, feeling of vertigo, diarrhea, vomiting, asthenia and back pain are other possible uncommon adverse effects deriving from the use of the ring (frequency index: 1 / 100-1 / 1.000). When the problems persist beyond the first 2/3 months after using the ring, it is advisable to consult the doctor.

The vaginal ring does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Contraindications for use

The ring, as for all hormonal contraceptive methods, must be prescribed by the doctor, after an assessment of the patient's state of health: the contraceptive ring must never be used by women suffering from venous, arterial, angina pectoris, diabetes mellitus, tumors (past or present), vaginal bleeding, liver disorders. Furthermore, if the woman is hypersensitive to an active ingredient or an excipient, the use of the ring is not recommended.

Just like the pill, the use of some drugs (eg some antibiotics, antidepressants, protease inhibitors (eg ritonavir), antiepileptic drugs such as phenytoin, primidone, carbamazepine and drugs with Hypericum perforatum ) could compromise the contraceptive efficacy of the ring: in the case of temporary intake of these drugs, the use of the barrier method (condom) is recommended.

Summary