Other names: contraceptive ring; hormonal ring
WHAT IS THE VAGINAL RING?
The vaginal ring is a small, soft, plastic ring that you place in your vagina. It releases two hormones, an oestrogen and a progestogen into your bloodstream to prevent pregnancy.
Each ring lasts for 3 weeks followed by a 1-week break.
OVERVIEW
EFFICACY
91%
FREQUENCY
EVERY 4 WEEKS
EFFECT ON FERTILITY
UPON DISCONTINUATION OF USE, FERTILITY SHOULD RETURN TO NORMAL
BLOOD CLOT RISK
INCREASED
HOW DOES THE VAGINAL RING WORK?
Once inserted into the vagina, the contraceptive ring slowly releases the hormones progestogen and oestrogen into your body and prevents pregnancy in two ways:
Stops the ovaries from releasing eggs (ovulation).
Thickens the cervical mucus, which keeps the sperm from getting to the egg.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE VAGINAL RING AT PREVENTING PREGNANCY?
The ring is 91% effective at preventing pregnancy with typical use but can be more than 99% effective when used correctly (perfect use). Inserting the ring incorrectly, forgetting to change or insert your new ring on time, the ring breaking or, the ring falling out can make this method of contraception less effective.
PERFECT USE*
99%+
Effective
Approximately 1 out of every 100 women in a year will experience an unintended pregnancy.
* Perfect use of a contraceptive method is when it is used correctly all the time.
TYPICAL USE*
91%
Effective
Approximately 9 out of every 100 women in a year will experience an unintended pregnancy.
* Typical use is what generally happens in real life. It takes into account human error e.g. forgetting to insert your new ring on time.
WHAT IS THE VAGINAL RING MADE OF?
The vaginal ring is a soft, transparent, pliable plastic ring-shaped device. It contains artificial versions of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are produced naturally in the ovaries. The ring is available in one size and has an outer diameter of 54 mm and a cross-sectional diameter of 4 mm.
PP-UN-WHC-GB-0301 July 2025