Question
I've been using the Nuvaring for about two months now, and about a week after I started it my boyfriend and I had vaginal intercourse (we waited until I was taking birth control to have sex, just in case). We've been doing it since then, and always with a condom (again, just in case). Neither I nor my boyfriend want me to get pregnant at all since it just doesn't fit in with our plans, so we are trying to be as careful as is necessary. What I want to know is whether or not it is actually necessary to use a condom while using the Nuvaring in order to be protected. We don't want to take any unnecessary risks, however if we don't need a condom, then it would be great if we didn't have to use it!
Also, would you advise me to take at home pregnancy tests? And if so, how often, and what names/brands would you recommend as being accurate?
Thanks so much for your help!
The NuvaRing is a HIGHLY effective method of
birth control
(birth control: Any number of methods people use to intentionally prevent unwanted pregnancy, including the condom, the cervical barrier, the implant, the patch, the pill, the rhythm method, the ring, the shot, the IUD, spermicide and withdrawal.)
. As you'll see here, the NuvaRing has only a 8% failure rate with
typical use
(typical use: When a birth control method is not used perfectly, every single time, the entire time. Many birth control methods will state their effectiveness rates with either "typical use" or "perfect use".)
(and less than 2% with
perfect use
(perfect use: When a birth control method is used correctly and reliably, the whole time, every time, in accordance with the manufacturer's directions. Many birth control methods will state an effectiveness for "perfect use" vs. "typical use.")
). This is lower than the birth control pill (9%) and the external
condom
(condom: A thin sheath or tube of latex or another material, worn over the penis during sex to prevent or reduce the risk of pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted infections.)
(15%).
The real question is how much of a risk you and your
partner
(partner: In a sexual context, a person with whom someone is having some kind of sex. The term "partner" can be used for all kinds of relationships, not just serious ones. "Partner" can also mean the person someone is with in a romantic or familial partnership.)
are comfortable taking. If you are uncomfortable with even a smal failure rate, by all means, continue to use the condoms. They're cheap and easy to use, and definitely worth the peace of mind. If you haven't already, you and your partner also need to discuss what would happen in case of accidental
pregnancy
(pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the uterus. Medically, someone is considered to be pregnant when an egg has been fertilized by sperm, cells divide, and the fertilized egg is implanted within the lining of the uterus.)
. Are you prepared (financially, emotionally, etc) for the possibility?
The one thing to keep in mind is that the NuvaRing does not protect against
sexually transmitted infections
(sexually transmitted infections: STIs: illness, infection and/or disease which is often or can be transmitted through sexual or other intimate contact, like HIV, Chlamydia or Herpes. Some people call STIs STDs.)
. Unless and until you and your partner have both been tested, twice (six months apart) and are completely monogomous, condoms are still your best bet.
The only time I would advise anyone to take a
pregnancy test
(pregnancy test: What we tell you to take when you ask us if you're pregnant. A test that can be done at home or by a healthcare provider to determine pregnancy. Usually a urine test, a pregnancy test measures for a specific hormone, hCG, only produced with pregnancy.)
is if they have had a significant risk (unprotected
sex
(sex: Different things people choose to do to actively express or enact sexuality and sexual feelings; often this involves genitals, but not always. )
) or are late for a
period
(period: The fluid – or flow – which contains blood, from the shedding of the uterine lining usually at the end of each menstrual cycle. Sometimes periods may be less fluid and more globby; this is the state that is often mistaken for blood clotting.)
. If you're using the NuvaRing correctly, this is not a signifcant risk, by any means!
If you remove your NuvaRing for your
withdrawal
(withdrawal: A method of birth control which involves the person with the penis "pulling out" of a vagina well before ejaculation and ejaculating away from a partner's genitals.)
bleed week (like a period, but caused by the withdrawal of
hormones
(hormones: Chemicals – via our endocrine system – that send messages across our bodies and brains. They both naturally exist and can also be made in a lab.)
) and you don't get it, I would suggest you take a pregnancy test before you put the new ring in. If you get a negative, you can go ahead and insert the new ring.
We've got lots of articles here that I think you'll find helpful;
