Contraception

The contraceptive vaginal ring is a flexible, transparent plastic ring.

It’s placed in the vagina where it releases two hormones – estrogen and progestogen.

These are similar to the natural hormones produced by the ovaries and are like those used in the combined pill.

The main way the vaginal ring works is to stop the ovaries from releasing an egg each month (ovulation).     It also:

• Thickens the mucus from your cervix. This makes it difficult for sperm to move through it and reach an egg
• Makes the lining of your uterus (womb) thinner so it is less likely to accept a fertilised egg

If the ring is used perfectly, according to instructions, it is over 99% effective. This means that less than one woman in 100 will get pregnant in a year.

Please see here for further information on the vaginal ring: https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/vaginal-ring/