Annovera Birth Control Ring

Clinical research shows that Annovera doesn’t cause weight gain. Some women experience changes in weight while using hormone-based birth control due to changes in appetite, food cravings, or mood. You can avoid this through things like regular exercise and a healthy diet.

The Annovera ring is designed to be worn inside the vagina for 21 days in a row, then removed and left out for 7 days in a row before being reinserted. It is NOT meant to be worn only during intercourse and will not prevent pregnancy if it’s used this way. It’s unlikely for your ring to fall out, but if it does fall out simply wash it with warm water and a mild soap, pat dry with a clean towel, and reinsert.

You should use back-up birth control methods like condoms or spermicide for one week if your Annovera ring is out of your vagina for more than 2 hours during the 21-day wear time, if you’ve recently had a baby and have not started having periods again, or if your Annovera is out of your vagina for longer than the expected 7 days.

Annovera might make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so wear layers and SPF sunscreen when you go outside.

One of the most important precautions you can take before using Annovera is to tell your doctor or one of our Patient Care Advisors about all recreational, over-the-counter, and prescription drugs you use—and even herbal supplements! This is because Annovera interacts with certain medications, including drugs used to treat hepatitis C or HIV. These drug interactions may make Annovera less effective at preventing pregnancy or make the other drugs less effective.

Annovera and other contraceptive vaginal rings do not protect against sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, or HIV. If you use vaginal lubricants, make sure they are water-based.

Lastly, do not use Annovera if you’re pregnant, recently had a baby (within the past 4 weeks), or if you are breastfeeding.

Annovera should be available at most local pharmacies. You’ll just need a doctor’s prescription, which our team at Pandia Health is happy to provide! We partner with licensed physicians in a number of states and work with most major insurance carriers.

It’s a myth that birth control rings like Annovera increase the risk of infertility. While it might take one or two cycles after removing your Annovera ring for your fertility to be back to normal, using the ring won’t lead to long-term fertility problems. If and when you want to become pregnant, simply remove the Annovera ring.

Pandia Health CEO and Co-Founder Dr. Sophia Yen understand how important it is for women to be well-informed about their reproductive health. Learn more about infertility and birth control with Dr. Yen in this video.

Annovera and Nuvaring are quite similar, they are both vaginal rings that use hormones to prevent pregnancy. One big difference is how each of these rings are used. Annovera is a yearly ring that is meant to be washed and reused every month, whereas Nuvaring is monthly, meaning you will dispose of the ring at the end of your 21 day usage. Annovera may require a bit more upkeep than Nuvaring, but it also means less trips to the pharmacy because you only need one ring for the entire year.

Another big difference between Annovera and Nuvaring is the hormones used. Both Annovera and Nuvring contain the same estrogen: ethinyl estradiol. But, they do not contain the same progestin. Annovera contains segesterone acetate whereas Nuvaring contains etonogestrel. In short: Annovera is a combination of segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol while Nuvaring is a combination of etonogestral and ethinyl estradiol. Both of these hormones will effectively prevent pregnancy, hormones effect everyone differently so it’s just a matter of figuring out which progestin gives you less side effects.

Yes. You can expect to get your period when using Annovera once you take the ring out after each 21 day period. You will experience a withdrawal bleed which occurs after a drop in hormones in the body. However, you can use Annovera to skip your period by continuously using it instead of taking it out every 21 days. Note, you will need to replace the ring in 12 months rather than 13 if you opt-in to continuous use. As always, consult with your doctor before you choose to make periods optional to see if it is the right fit for you.