To remove NuvaRing, wash your hands, insert a finger into your vagina, hook the rim of the ring, and gently pull it out. The process takes a few seconds and shouldn’t hurt. The ring sits deep in the vaginal canal, so you may need to reach in past the first knuckle to find it.
Step-by-Step Removal
Find a comfortable position first. Most people squat, sit on the toilet, or stand with one foot propped on a raised surface, the same positions that work for inserting a tampon. Relax your pelvic muscles, since tensing up can make it harder to reach the ring.
Insert your index finger (or index and middle finger together) into your vagina and feel for the ring’s flexible rim. Hook your fingertip under or around it and pull it out slowly. If the ring has shifted deeper, bear down slightly with your abdominal muscles, the way you would during a bowel movement, to bring it closer to the opening. The ring is flexible plastic and won’t break from normal pulling.
If the ring feels slippery and hard to grip, try pinching it between two fingers instead of hooking it. There’s no wrong technique here. Anything that lets you get a grip and pull gently will work.
When to Remove It
The standard schedule is three weeks in, one week out. You insert the ring, leave it in place for 21 days, then remove it on the same day of the week you put it in. Your period will typically start during that ring-free week. After seven days without the ring, you insert a new one and repeat the cycle.
Keeping track of the day matters. Set a phone reminder for both your removal day and your reinsertion day so you don’t lose track.
What If You Want to Skip Your Period
You can skip the ring-free week entirely. Leave the ring in for a full four weeks instead of three, then remove it and immediately insert a new ring with no break in between. The ring contains enough hormones to remain effective through that fourth week. This approach prevents the withdrawal bleeding that happens during the off week. Some spotting is normal for the first few months of continuous use.
Taking It Out During Sex
If the ring feels uncomfortable during intercourse, you can remove it temporarily. The key rule: it must go back in within three hours. If it stays out longer than three hours, you lose pregnancy protection and need to use a backup method like condoms for seven days after reinserting it.
Rinse the ring with cool or lukewarm water before reinserting. Don’t use hot water, and don’t use soap or any cleaning product on it.
What to Do If You Forget to Remove It
If you leave the ring in past the three-week mark, your next step depends on how long it stayed in. The ring has enough hormones to provide protection through week four. If you remove it before the end of week four, you can still take your normal ring-free week and then insert a new ring on schedule.
If it’s been in longer than four weeks, remove it, insert a new ring, and use backup contraception for seven days. The hormone levels drop too low after four weeks to reliably prevent pregnancy.
How to Dispose of a Used Ring
Don’t flush the ring down the toilet. The hormones in the plastic can enter waterways and affect aquatic life. Instead, place the used ring back into the foil pouch it originally came in and throw it away in a trash can that’s out of reach of children and pets. If you’ve already tossed the foil pouch, wrap the ring in tissue or place it in a small plastic bag before throwing it in the trash.
Trouble Reaching the Ring
The ring sits deep in the vaginal canal, and it can shift position over time. If you can’t feel it right away, don’t panic. Try a deeper squat, bear down with your abdominal muscles, or switch to a different position. Some people find it easiest to remove the ring in the shower when muscles tend to be more relaxed.
If you still can’t reach the ring after several attempts, contact your healthcare provider. They can remove it quickly with a speculum, the same tool used during a routine pelvic exam. This is uncommon but not an emergency.