T O P I C R E V I E W
Kotori
Member # 17839
posted 09-14-2010 06:43 AM
Hi! I have been searching for a similar topic to this one but couldn't find it. I am going to stop using Nuvaring and tomorrow I am supposed to take the ring I am currently using, aka my last one, out. My question is, for how long after I take it out am I protected against pregnancy? Would that be until I should put the new one in, ie. a whole week? Thanks in advance! [ 09-14-2010, 06:44 AM: Message edited by: Kotori ]
Heather
Member # 3
posted 09-14-2010 08:24 AM
Since (if I understand correctly) you will NOT be putting a new one in following the week off, you should figure your protection ends when you take the ring out. If you were putting a new one in, you could count on protection for that whole placebo week, as that next one influences effectiveness for any sperm remaining in the vagina from sex during that week, but since you are not, you cannot.
Kotori
Member # 17839
posted 09-14-2010 11:52 AM
You understood correctly, however I do not understand one thing. If the new ring has a sort of "retroactive" influence, killing those sperm still remaining in the vagina, wouldn't it be a problem to have unprotected sex some hours before removing the ring, because of this same reason?
Heather
Member # 3
posted 09-14-2010 11:54 AM
Why a person can have just as much effectiveness during the placebo week is that protection is being provided from the ring that was in the cycle before, and then will be provided by the next ring after. That matters because sperm can live in the vagina for several days, potentially even a few days longer. Again, this would be a different conversation if you were going to keep using the ring, putting a new one in after the placebo week. Make sense?
Kotori
Member # 17839
posted 09-14-2010 01:18 PM
I understand now I meant my second question in a kind of literal way as well, though - meaning, if I were to have sex (with no protection other than the ring) today, then remove it tomorrow morning, wouldn't I be at risk then? I guess that depends on the sperm and how many days they live for then, which I don't think is a sure and fixed thing... so in case of doubt I guess it's condom time
Heather
Member # 3
posted 09-14-2010 01:32 PM
No, you would not, particularly if you were putting a new ring in again next week. But without doing that, we just couldn't say how effective your ring would or wouldn't be, because that's not how effectiveness for it has been figured.