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Vaginal Birth Control Ring In India: What You Need to Know? |
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Written by Smita Raghav
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Thursday, 19 November 2009 |
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THURSDAY, November 19, (News Locale) - Women in India who do not like to use the Pill for birth control now have a new option in the form of a vaginal ring called NuvaRing. The world's first ever vaginal birth control ring was approved by Indian regulators and has hit the market on Wednesday.
Currently available birth control options in the country include the Pill and the Intra-Uterine Device or the IUD. However many women do not prefer these methods and are on the look out for alternatives. NuvaRing promises to be such an alternative.
Here are some questions and answers about the new product and how it can help India women achieve better birth control in a hassle-free manner.
What is NuvaRing?
NuvaRing is a vaginal contraceptive ring developed by US pharmaceutical company Organon. Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2001, the vaginal ring is used by more than 1.5 million women worldwide in over 42 countries, the company said.
How does NuvaRing work?
The ring contains the same hormones, namely progestin and an estrogen. It is basically a flexible plastic ring that releases these hormones over a period of three weeks. On a daily basis, the ring releases 120 µg of a progestin called etonogestrel and 15 µg of an estrogen called ethinyl estradiol.
It works by preventing ovulation and by inhibiting of sperm penetration by changes in the cervical mucus.
How is the ring inserted?
The company says that the ring can easily be inserted by women into the vagina and that the exact positioning is not critical for its function. Once inserted NuvaRing molds to the body and should stay in place even during exercise, the company revealed.
How should it be used?
Women should remove the NuvaRing after a period of three weeks and be ring free for one week. Women will get their period a few days after the ring is removed and they should insert a new ring on the 29th day of their cycle, leaving it in place for three weeks and then following the same procedure.
What are the possible side effects of this ring?
Some of the side effects include vomiting, weight gain, change in appetite, vaginal infections and irritation and headache. If you experience any of these issues, talk to your doctor and then remove the ring.
K.G. Anathakrishnan, managing director of Organon (India) Limited, said the ring would give Indian women an option to use a different form of birth control without experiencing the side effects of the Pill or the discomfort of the IUD.
For more information on NuvaRing and its uses, click here.
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