NuvaRing and Pregnancy

In studies on NuvaRing and pregnancy, high doses of the hormones from NuvaRing did not cause any problems when given to pregnant animals. Since there is no good reason to use the product during pregnancy, however, pregnant women should avoid using the contraceptive. Even if you accidentally use NuvaRing before realizing you are pregnant, complications are not likely to occur with you or your baby.

 

An Overview of NuvaRing and Pregnancy

NuvaRing® (etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring) is a prescription hormonal contraceptive. As with all hormonal contraceptives, NuvaRing should not be used during pregnancy.
 

NuvaRing and Pregnancy Category X

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category X is given to medications that should not be used during pregnancy. Often, this is due to problems such as miscarriages or birth defects.
 
Although NuvaRing is a pregnancy Category X medication, it will probably not cause any problems if accidentally used during early pregnancy. In animal studies, giving very high doses of the hormones in NuvaRing to pregnant animals did not cause any problems. However, there is no good reason to use NuvaRing during pregnancy. It should not be used in an attempt to prevent a miscarriage.
 
If you accidentally used NuvaRing for a while before you realized you were pregnant, you can be reassured that this is unlikely to cause any problems for you or your baby. If you are pregnant, you should stop using NuvaRing. If you think you may be pregnant, you should contact your healthcare provider for further instructions.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;