While Nuvaring is not the first ring developed for contraceptive purposes, the others only release one of the female hormones, which results in abnormal bleeding patterns. Some women may think this is discharge and be concerned they have an infection, but it's just due to more moisture and is not a cause for concern. Nuvaring is comfortable and does not irritate the vagina, she says. With the addition of Nuvaring, women today have quite a wide range of effective contraceptive options, including those that can be given monthly or weekly. Called the Evra Contraceptive Patch, it's about the size of a half dollar, and women would wear it on their abdomen, arm, or buttocks.
Early research suggests that it also is as effective as birth control pills.
Then there's the newly approved Lunelle, a shot of synthetic estrogen and progestin that women get once a month in their upper arm from a physician. In the future, women may be able to self-administer these shots. Lunelle can cause similar side effects as the pill, including breast tenderness and breakthrough bleeding or spotting in the first few months. All rights reserved. All rights reserved.