NuvaRing Birth Control May Reduce Bleeding

According to new research, continuous use of NuvaRing birth control could reduce bleeding and pelvic pain. However, prior research has raised some safety concerns about the use of the contraceptive ring, as it has been associated with an increased the risk of potentially fatal blood clots.

NuvaRing is a once-a-month combined contraceptive vaginal ring, which was approved by the FDA in October 2001. The birth control ring prevents unwanted pregnancies by releasing controlled amounts of etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol (EE), which alter female hormones.

Recently, concerns have emerged about NuvaRing side effects, as prior research has demonstrated an association between the use of the birth control ring and blood clots which caused injuries such as heart attacks, strokes, pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis for otherwise healthy young women.

In the September issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, researchers who conducted a randomized controlled trial, found that the continuous use of NuvaRing could be beneficial in reducing bleeding and pelvic pain. One group of women replaced the vaginal ring every month on the same day, irrespective of their menstrual cycle and had no ring free days. Another group of women were told to stop using the ring if they experienced 5 or more days of breakthrough bleeding and re-started its use after 4 days.

According to the authors of the study, the continuous use of the vaginal ring led to a reduction in flow, pelvic pain, an acceptable bleeding profile and a high continuation rate in most patients. However, no commentary or findings were reported about the incidence of blood clots among the two groups during the study.

A number of NuvaRing lawsuits have been filed by young women who have experienced blood clot related injuries that they allege were caused by the birth control ring. The lawsuits claim that the risk of heart attacks and other serious injuries were not properly disclosed, preventing them from making an informed decision about whether the benefits of the NuvaRing contraceptive outweigh the risks.

On August 22, 2008, all federal NuvaRing lawsuits were consolidated by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation in the Eastern District of Missouri, before Judge Rodney W. Sippel. An initial conference has been scheduled by the court for October 2, 2008, where preliminary issues regarding the establishment of a Case Management Order will be addressed by the Court.