Expert: Norman Solberg - 2/7/2009

Question
Hi!! I'm totally stressed out, I am a senior year nursing student in my very last semester and completely stressed out by the work and like an idiot, I havent been using my birth control as I should. I am on the NuvaRing and I had a normal period beginning on 1/8 and it lasted about 4 days which is my usual, I completely forgot about putting my ring back in, although I thought I had. In that period I engaged in sexual intercourse with my husband three times, I noticed the third time and put the ring in immediately on 1/22...now I'm worried I'm pregnant and because of my medical knowledge I am overthinking this way too much, I took a pregnancy test today 2/6; and it was negative but I also know that Hcg may not show up this early, any advice on my chances of pregnancy??? I did look up some info on the Ring but not enough to give me a direct answer and ur a professional sooo please help to put my mind at ease.

Answer
The ring is like the pill, and over the years there have been many, many women who have gotten pregnant while using them.  As far as we know there doesn't seem to be a problem for the fetus, if that's what you're thinking.  A pregnancy test will usually be positive 2 weeks after conception, and from 1/22 to 2/6 is 15 days.  However, you don't have immediate protection from the day you put the ring in, especially when it's mid-cycle.  I'd give it a few days and do another pregnancy test.  If that one is negative, I think you're in the clear.