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The combined vaginal contraceptive ring

MSI UK nurse showing client combined vaginal ring.

Home      Short-acting contraception       The combined vaginal ring 

The combined vaginal ring 

The combined contraceptive vaginal ring is a small soft ring that you insert into your vagina. It contains two hormones, progestogen and oestrogen, similar to the hormones in your body. 

The hormones primarily prevent an egg from being released each month. They also make it difficult for sperm to get to an egg and thin the uterus (womb) lining to make it difficult for a fertilised egg to implant there. The ring is kept in the vagina continuously night and day for three weeks and then taken out for a week if you want to have a monthly bleed. A new ring needs to be inserted immediately after a week to maintain contraceptive protection. 


Video – The combined vaginal ring 

Would you like to find out everything you need to know about the ring? We’ve created this short explainer video, filled with information about the ring including: 

– What it is 
– How effective it is in protecting against pregnancy 
– Advantages 
– Disadvantages 
– Risks 


How to use the combined vaginal ring 

With clean hands, squeeze the ring between your thumb and finger and use one hand to insert it into your vagina. If necessary, spread your labia (vaginal lips) with your other hand. Push the ring into your vagina until it feels comfortable. 
 
The ring needs to be replaced with a new one every 3-4 weeks depending on whether you want to have a monthly bleed. 
 
Users of the vaginal ring have the option to have a monthly bleed or to skip or shorten their monthly bleed. It is not dangerous to take combined methods of contraception like the ring continuously, without taking a break. If you would prefer not to have a break at all, you can immediately replace your ring. Taking the ring in this way can also help if you usually experience unpleasant side effects during your break.  

Whilst it isn’t medically necessary to have a break, taking this method continuously does mean that you have less control over when you have a bleed (you may occasionally still have a bleed, but won’t necessarily know when to expect this). 

If you’d prefer to have more control over when you have a bleed, there are other ways of taking the ring available – for example, you could use the ring continuously for 9 weeks (using 3 rings) and then have a break for 4 or 7 days (this is called tricycling). 

If you do not have a routine and think you may forget to replace the ring every three-four weeks, you may wish to consider a LARC (Long-Acting Reversible Contraception) method. 

Effectiveness of the combined vaginal ring 

The vaginal ring works well at preventing pregnancy. However, its ability to stop a pregnancy largely depends on a person using it properly. 

Perfect use: more than 99% effective. Fewer than 1 in 100 people will get pregnant in a year when using the vaginal ring correctly. 

Typical use: around 91% effective. Around 9 in 100 people using the ring will get pregnant in a year. 

Nurse showing client a contraceptive method

Advantages, disadvantages and risks associated with the combined vaginal ring 

Where can I get the combined vaginal ring? 

In the UK, you can get the combined vaginal ring for free from sexual health clinics, some GP surgeries and some young people’s services. 

At MSI UK, we primarily offer contraception services as part of your abortion care. We also offer contraception services in some parts of England for people who have not accessed our abortion services. From these clinics, people can access LARC (Long-Acting Reversible Contraception, such as the coils, the implant and the injection) with us without having had an abortion.  

Follow the link to find out more: MSI UK Contraception Clinics  

The combined vaginal ring and your period  

One advantage of using the combined vaginal ring is that it can make your periods regular, lighter and less painful. 

The combined vaginal ring also gives you more control over your periods: you can choose not to have a period, or to delay your period.  


Learn more about contraception 

Visit the pages below to find a comparison tool to help you find the right method for you, and to learn more about short-acting and long-acting reversible contraception. 

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Which method is right for me?  

Find a contraception comparison tool that can help you find the right method for you.   

MSI Reproductive Choices UK 20230605_0517

Short-acting contraception  

Short-acting methods include the contraceptive pill, patch and ring.

MSI Reproductive Choices UK 20230605_0792

Long-acting contraception  

Long-acting contraceptive methods include the coils, the injection and the implant.