Nuva Ring removed too late.
April 25, 2012 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Hendrik Bernau
Hello dear team,
I use the NuvaRing and always leave it in for 4 weeks, then take a one-week break. I should have removed it last Sunday, but I forgot and only removed it this afternoon. I know that after 4 weeks, there is no longer protection. I can rule out a pregnancy, as there was no intercourse during the exceeded time.
But how do I proceed now??? Should I immediately insert a new ring or follow the usual schedule on Sunday or take a one-week break??? And do I need to take additional contraceptive measures for the whole next month, or is the protection restored after a certain point???
I hope you can help me. Thank you in advance!!!
Best regards, Stephanie
Dear Stephanie,
Don't panic, it's not as bad as it seems. The ring is comparable to a combined pill (containing both progestin and estrogen), and although it is recommended to use these methods at approximately the same time each day (to avoid forgetting), if you happen to be a few hours late on occasion, it is usually not a problem and should not have a negative impact on effectiveness.
The ovulation-inhibiting effect of the pill and ring does not suddenly stop; there is typically a window of time in which the pill (or in the case of the ring, the insertion time) can vary. Pill manufacturers often allow for a 12-hour window, and the current recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) on hormonal contraception ("Selected practice recommendations for contraceptive use") also do not raise concerns if the pill, for example, is taken 20 hours late.
However, since more than the recommended 12 or 20 hours have passed in your case, the "7-day rule with condom use" applies: Do not prolong the ring-free interval, but reinsert the ring. Use a condom in addition for the next 7 days.
Everything will be okay.
I hope I have been able to help you. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Wishing you good health.
Best regards,
Dr. med. - anonymized -
