L’anneau est un petit anneau clair et flexible qui est inséré dans le vagin près du col de l’utérus. Ce type de contraception contient des versions synthétiques d’œstrogène et/ou de progestérone, qui sont des hormones (également appelées produits chimiques) naturellement présentes dans le corps. Les hormones dans l’anneau régulent les variations hormonales dans un corps pour réduire le risque de grossesse. L’anneau peut soulager les problèmes menstruels ou prémenstruels (aussi appelés règles) tels que l’acné ou des règles irrégulières ou douloureuses.

To use the ring, squeeze the sides of the ring together and insert into the vagina as high as you can. Leave the ring there for three weeks and on the fourth week, use your fingers to remove the ring. During this week you will have a period, and are still protected against pregnancy. Insert a new ring after your ring-free week. If the ring slips out of the vagina, rinse the ring with lukewarm water and re-insert it. If the ring has been outside the vagina for more than 3 hours, it may not be immediately effective again. You should use a backup method of birth control until you have the ring in for 7 consecutive days.

The ring is 92% effective at preventing pregnancy with typical use and is often around $30 a month in Ottawa. The Sexual Health Centre in Ottawa sometimes provides the ring at a discounted rate for those who need it.