Ask An Expert: NuvaRing Safety

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Ask An Expert: NuvaRing Safety

Question:

Is the NuvaRing safe for me to use if my grandmother died of a blood clot?

Answer:

Like all medications that contain estrogen, NuvaRing increases the risk of developing blood clots. NuvaRing is a hormonal method of birth control that has similar actions to birth control pills, patches and injections. It inhibits the ovary from releasing eggs (called ovulation), so pregnancy can be prevented.

NuvaRing is inserted monthly in the vagina. The ring slowly releases a steady amount of estrogen and another female hormone, progesterone. These hormones are absorbed through the vaginal lining into the blood stream. The steady low levels prevent ovulation.

Most blood clots related to hormones occur in the leg veins. Doctors call this deep vein thrombosis. Assuming your grandmother was older when she had the blood clot, it is quite likely that the clot was caused by prolonged bed rest, recent surgery or active cancer. Even if she had none of these, your risk of deep vein thrombosis is probably no greater than average. This assumes that no one else in your family has had an unexplained blood clot in the legs or lungs.

Smoking increases the risk of blood clots in women who use estrogen-based hormonal birth control, especially those over the age of 35.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he became a hospitalist after practicing primary care for over 20 years.

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Last updated:	January 24, 2007