This product is a vaginal ring containing combination
hormone medication and is used to prevent pregnancy. It contains 2
hormones: a progestin (etonogestrel) and an estrogen (ethinyl
estradiol).
Using this product does not protect you or your partner
against sexually transmitted diseases (such as HIV, gonorrhea,
chlamydia).
Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your
pharmacist before you start using this product and each time you get a
refill. The leaflet contains very important information on how to properly
use and dispose of the vaginal ring. If you have any questions, ask your
doctor or pharmacist.
This product is for vaginal use only. Before use, wash
and dry your hands. Remove the ring from the reclosable foil pouch, keeping
the pouch for later disposal of the used ring. Fold the ring in half and
gently push it into your vagina as directed, until it feels comfortable.
Although some women may be aware of the ring in the vagina, most women do
not feel it once it is in place; it will not interfere with sexual
intercourse (though your partner may be able to feel the ring). Unlike a
diaphragm, the ring's exact position in the vagina does not affect how well
it works. Once inserted, keep the ring in place for 3 weeks in a
row.
If this is the first time you are using the ring, use a
backup form of non-hormonal birth control (such as condoms, spermicide) for
the first 7 days to prevent pregnancy until the ring has enough time to
work. Do not use a diaphragm, female condom, or cervical cap for backup
birth control since the ring may interfere with proper placement. If you
start using the ring on the first day of your period, you do not need to
use backup birth control the first week.
After using the ring for 3 weeks, remove it on the same
day of the week and about the same time that you placed it. Place the used
ring back into the foil pouch and discard in the trash. Do not flush the
used ring down a toilet. If you have pain/bleeding when trying to remove
the ring, or if you cannot remove it, tell your doctor right
away.
Next, do not wear a ring for 1 week (7 days). You should
have your period within 2 to 3 days after the ring is removed. After 1
ring-free week, insert a new ring on the same day of the week that you
removed the old ring, whether or not you have your period. If you do not
get your period, consult your doctor. Do not go longer than 7 days without
a ring. Doing so will increase your risk of pregnancy.
Regularly check that the ring is in your vagina, such as
before and after sexual intercourse. The ring may accidentally fall out
during sexual intercourse, during a bowel movement, or while removing a
tampon. If this happens and the ring has been out of your vagina for less
than 3 hours, rinse it with cool to lukewarm (not hot) water and re-insert
the ring as soon as possible. If the ring has been out longer than 3 hours,
you could become pregnant. Re-insert it or insert a new ring as directed
and use a backup form of non-hormonal birth control (such as condoms,
spermicide) for the next 7 days to prevent pregnancy. If you are not sure
how long the ring has been out of your vagina, you may not be protected
from pregnancy. Contact your doctor for a pregnancy test before inserting a
new ring and use a backup form of non-hormonal birth control (such as
condoms, spermicide) for 7 days.
If you have left the ring in place longer than directed,
up to an extra week (4 weeks total), you will still be protected from
pregnancy. Remove the ring and insert a new ring after 1 ring-free week.
However, if you have left the ring in place longer than 4 weeks, you may
not be protected from pregnancy. Remove the ring and contact your doctor
for a pregnancy test before inserting a new ring and use a backup form of
non-hormonal birth control (such as condoms, spermicide) for 7
days.
Rarely, the vaginal ring has broken at the weld joint
after placement. This increases the chance of it slipping out of the
vagina. If this happens, throw it away and use a new ring.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about how to switch from
other forms of hormonal birth control (such as birth control pills) to this
product. If any information is unclear, consult the Patient Information
Leaflet or your doctor or pharmacist.
Vaginal discomfort/irritation, nausea, vomiting,
headache, bloating, breast tenderness, swelling of the ankles/feet (fluid
retention), or weight change may occur. Vaginal bleeding between periods
(spotting) may occur, especially during the first few months of use. If any
of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist
promptly. If you miss 2 periods in a row (or 1 period if the ring has not
been used properly), talk to your doctor about a pregnancy
test.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check
your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are
high.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- lumps in the breast
- mental/mood changes (such as new/worsening depression)
- severe stomach/abdominal pain
- unusual changes in vaginal bleeding (such as continuous
spotting, sudden heavy bleeding, missed periods)
- dark urine
- yellowing eyes/skin
Very rarely, the ring has been accidentally placed into
the bladder. Tell your doctor right away if you have
urgent/frequent/burning/painful urination and cannot find the ring in your
vagina.
This medication may rarely cause serious (sometimes
fatal) problems from blood clots (such as heart attack, stroke, blood clots
in the lungs or legs). Get medical help right away if you
have:
- chest/jaw/left arm pain
- confusion
- sudden dizziness/fainting
- pain/swelling/warmth in the groin/calf
- trouble speaking
- shortness of breath/rapid breathing
- sudden/severe headaches
- unusual sweating
- weakness on one side of the body
- sudden vision changes
Rarely, a very serious (possibly fatal) bacterial
infection (toxic shock syndrome-TSS) has occurred in women using vaginal
rings. Remove this product and get medical help right away if you develop
symptoms of toxic shock syndrome, including:
- sudden high fever
- severe/sudden dizziness
- fainting
- unusual muscle pain
- sunburn-like rash
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
See also Warning section.
Before using this product, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to ethinyl estradiol or etonogestrel; or to
other estrogens or progestins; or if you have any other allergies. This
product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic
reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more
details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- blood clots (for example, in the legs, eyes, lungs)
- blood clotting disorders (such as protein C or protein S
deficiency)
- high blood pressure
- abnormal breast exam
- cancer (especially endometrial or breast cancer)
- high cholesterol or triglyceride (blood fat) levels
- depression
- diabetes
- family or personal history of a certain swelling disorder
(angioedema)
- gallbladder problems
- severe headaches/migraines
- heart problems (such as heart valve disease, irregular
heartbeat, previous heart attack)
- history of yellowing eyes/skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or
while using hormonal birth control (such as pills, patch)
- liver disease (including tumors)
- obesity
- stroke
- swelling (edema)
- thyroid problems
- vaginal conditions (such as unexplained vaginal bleeding,
vaginal stenosis, prolapsed uterus)
If you have diabetes, this medication may affect your
blood sugar. Check your blood sugar regularly as directed and share the
results with your doctor. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms
of high blood sugar such as increased thirst/urination. Your doctor may
need to adjust your diabetes medication, exercise program, or
diet.
Tell your doctor if you just had or will be having
surgery or if you will be confined to a bed or chair for a long time (such
as a long plane flight). These conditions increase your risk of getting
blood clots, especially if you are using hormonal birth control. You may
need to stop this medication for a time or take special
precautions.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
The hormones in this product may cause blotchy, dark
areas on your face and skin (melasma). Sunlight may worsen this effect.
Limit your time in the sun. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps. Use
sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
If you are nearsighted or wear contact lenses, you may
develop vision problems or trouble wearing your contact lenses. Contact
your eye doctor if these problems occur.
This medication must not be used during pregnancy. If
you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor right
away. If you have just given birth or had a pregnancy loss/abortion after
the first 3 months, talk with your doctor about reliable forms of birth
control, and find out when it is safe to start using birth control that
contains a form of estrogen, such as this medication.
A small amount of this medication passes into breast
milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your
doctor before breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug
include:
- aromatase inhibitors (such as anastrozole, exemestane)
- fezolinetant
- ospemifene
- tamoxifen
- tizanidine
- tranexamic acid
- certain combination products used to treat chronic hepatitis
C (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir with or without dasabuvir)
Some drugs may cause hormonal birth control to work less
well by decreasing the amount of birth control hormones in your body. This
effect can result in pregnancy. Examples include griseofulvin, modafinil,
rifamycins (such as rifampin, rifabutin), ritonavir, St. John's wort, drugs
used to treat seizures (such as barbiturates, carbamazepine, felbamate,
phenytoin, primidone, topiramate), HIV drugs (such as nelfinavir,
nevirapine), among others.
Tell your doctor when you start any new drug, and
discuss if you should use reliable non-hormonal backup birth control. Also
tell your doctor if you have any new spotting or breakthrough bleeding,
because these may be signs that your birth control is not working
well.
This medication may interfere with certain lab tests
(such as blood clotting factors, thyroid), possibly causing false test
results. Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this
drug.
This product may be harmful if swallowed. Overdose with
this product is highly unlikely. Do not use more than one ring at a time.
If someone has overdosed, remove the ring if possible. For serious symptoms
such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a
poison control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222.
Canada residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Do not share this medication with others.
Regular complete physical exams which include lab and/or
medical tests (such as blood pressure, breast exam, pelvic exam, Pap smear)
should be done while you are using this medication. Follow your doctor's
instructions for examining your breasts, and report any lumps right away.
Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more
details.
Refer to the product package information for
instructions. You may need to use backup birth control (such as condoms,
spermicide) to prevent pregnancy. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have
any questions.
If you have trouble remembering to remove and reinsert
the ring as directed, or if it falls out repeatedly, contact your doctor to
discuss switching to another form of birth control.
Different brands of this product have different storage
needs. Check the product package for instructions on how to store your
brand, or ask your pharmacist. Do not use after 4 months or after the
expiration date, whichever comes first. Keep all medications away from
children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. (See also How to Use
section.)