Expert: Norman Solberg - 9/18/2009

Question
I put a new nuvo ring in 3 weeks ago immediately after taking the old one out.  I didn't want to have a period last month.  *sigh*  I know that was dumb.  What could happen?  I did take it out today, and am planning to not use it for a month or so so that I can get my body back to normal.

Thank you so much.

Answer
I don't think it was dumb.  It's like taking the pill longer than 3 weeks and avoiding a period, which women do all the time.  The worst problem that would happen is that you'd have some breakthrough bleeding.  The NuvaRing has hormones just like the pill.  When you have your period is sort of arbitrary.  Some pills are taken to have 4 periods a year, and some even less.  If you stop using the ring, be aware that the period following the withdrawal one (the period when you take it out) is often delayed a week or two.  And if you plan to go back on the ring, you should wait until that period starts to use it again.  I suspect in the future they will market a ring that allows periods only every 2, 3, or 4 months, and it would be used just like you did.