How Does the Birth Control Ring Work?
The combination of the hormones progesterone and estrogen in the birth control ring prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovaries during a woman’s monthly cycle). If an egg isn’t released, a woman can’t get pregnant because there’s no egg for a male’s sperm to fertilize. The hormones in the ring also thicken the cervical mucus (the mucus produced by cells in the cervix). This makes it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and reach any eggs that may have been released. The hormones in the ring can also sometimes affect the lining of the uterus so that an egg will have a hard time attaching to the wall of the uterus. Like the birth control pill or patch, a woman uses the birth control ring based on her monthly menstrual cycle. She inserts it into the vagina (similar to the insertion of a tampon) on the first day of her menstrual cycle or before day 5 of her menstrual cycle, where it remains in place for 3 weeks in a row. At the end of the third week, she removes it and her
