All the questions and answers you may need…
- Most asked
- How it works
- What’s inside
- Handle & Care
- Side Effects
How long does Annovera Last?
ANNOVERA is a long-lasting birth control ring that lasts for 1 whole trip around the sun. That’s 13 cycles, which is 13 periods, for those counting.
For each cycle, ANNOVERA is inserted and left in place for 21 continuous days and then removed for 7 days.
CAN ANNOVERA BE INSERTED EVEN THOUGH THE VAGINAL RING WILL EXPIRE DURING THE 13-CYCLE CONTRACEPTIVE USE PERIOD?
ANNOVERA contraceptive vaginal ring must be inserted before the printed expiration date. Once inserted into the vagina, ANNOVERA will provide contraceptive effectiveness for its full 12-month (13-cycles, so long as it is used according to the directions in the approved prescribing information) even if it expires after insertion. For example, if the expiration date is August 5, 2025, you can insert it on August 4, 2025, and ANNOVERA will remain safe and effective for the entire 13-cycle duration based on clinical studies.
Can you use annovera during sex?
Yes, it is designed to be worn during sex. If you prefer, you can remove it for up to 2 hours. If ANNOVERA is out of your vagina for more than 2 hours at one time or at different times that add up to more than 2 hours over the 21 days of continuous use, then you will need to use another method of birth control (such as male condoms or spermicide) until ANNOVERA has been in your vagina for 7 consecutive days.
WHAT ABOUT USING ANNOVERA DURING REALLY, REALLY GREAT SEX?
Also, yes.
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER VAGINAL RINGS?
Many other vaginal rings are monthly and only last one cycle. But ANNOVERA lasts a year (13 cycles – you get the picture). For each cycle, you insert ANNOVERA and leave it in for 21 continuous days, then pull it out for 7 days. And repeat. Plus, it’s soft and comfortable. What’s not to love?
HOW LONG AFTER INSERTION DOES ANNOVERA START WORKING?
Right away. Just insert ANNOVERA between days 2 and 5 of your period. If your menstrual cycles are irregular or if you start ANNOVERA more than 5 days from your last menstrual bleeding, or if you are switching from a progestin-only birth control method, use an additional barrier method during sex, such as a male condom or spermicide, for the first 7 days of ANNOVERA use. If you are switching from another birth control method, speak to your healthcare provider about when to start ANNOVERA.
WILL ANNOVERA IMPACT MY WEIGHT?
Nope. During the ANNOVERA clinical trials, participants showed no changes in weight, clinically speaking.
WHAT IF I LEAVE ANNOVERA IN MORE THAN 21 DAYS DURING MY MONTHLY CYCLE?
If ANNOVERA is left in your vagina for more than 21 days, you should remove it for 7 days and then reinsert it for 21 days to resume a 21-to-7 schedule.
IS ANNOVERA EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING PREGNANCY?
Yup. When used as directed, ANNOVERA is as effective as the pill without the daily commitment.*
*ANNOVERA is 97.3% effective at preventing unintended pregnancy.
DOES ANNOVERA HAVE HORMONES?
Yes. ANNOVERA is a combination hormonal contraceptive, which means it has a couple of different kinds of hormones. ANNOVERA releases one of the lowest daily doses of ethinyl estradiol (0.013 mg/day) on the market and includes a new kind of progestin called segesterone acetate (0.15 mg/day). ANNOVERA continuously releases a low stream of these 2 hormones into your vagina, which then enter your blood.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SIDE EFFECTS THAT MAY CAUSE WOMEN TO STOP USING ANNOVERA?
In the clinical trials, the most common side effects that caused women to stop using ANNOVERA were irregular bleeding (1.7%), headache/migraine (1.3%), vaginal discharge/infections (1.3%), and nausea/vomiting (1.2%).
HOW MUCH WILL ANNOVERA COST ME?
Under most insurance plans, ANNOVERA is covered in full, without a copay. If you do have a copay, we can supply a copay card to help get ANNOVERA at no cost to you.
If you’re still frustrated, you should know that by law, under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most health insurance companies are required to cover birth control with zero copay if you and your healthcare provider decide it’s right for you. Read more about your options from our friends at Power to Decide.
WHAT IF I LOSE MY ANNOVERA RING?
Download our Annovera Replacement Form to complete your request.
WHAT IF I LOSE MY ANNOVERA RING CASE?
Click here to see how you can order a replacement Annovera ring case.
How long does Annovera Last?
ANNOVERA is a long-lasting birth control ring that lasts for 1 whole trip around the sun. That’s 13 cycles, which is 13 periods, for those counting.
For each cycle, ANNOVERA is inserted and left in place for 21 continuous days and then removed for 7 days.
CAN ANNOVERA BE INSERTED EVEN THOUGH THE VAGINAL RING WILL EXPIRE DURING THE 13-CYCLE CONTRACEPTIVE USE PERIOD?
ANNOVERA contraceptive vaginal ring must be inserted before the printed expiration date. Once inserted into the vagina, ANNOVERA will provide contraceptive effectiveness for its full 12-month (13-cycles, so long as it is used according to the directions in the approved prescribing information) even if it expires after insertion. For example, if the expiration date is August 5, 2025, you can insert it on August 4, 2025, and ANNOVERA will remain safe and effective for the entire 13-cycle duration based on clinical studies.
Can you use annovera during sex?
Yes, it is designed to be worn during sex. If you prefer, you can remove it for up to 2 hours. If ANNOVERA is out of your vagina for more than 2 hours at one time or at different times that add up to more than 2 hours over the 21 days of continuous use, then you will need to use another method of birth control (such as male condoms or spermicide) until ANNOVERA has been in your vagina for 7 consecutive days.
WHAT ABOUT USING ANNOVERA DURING REALLY, REALLY GREAT SEX?
Also, yes.
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER VAGINAL RINGS?
Many other vaginal rings are monthly and only last one cycle. But ANNOVERA lasts a year (13 cycles – you get the picture). For each cycle, you insert ANNOVERA and leave it in for 21 continuous days, then pull it out for 7 days. And repeat. Plus, it’s soft and comfortable. What’s not to love?
HOW LONG AFTER INSERTION DOES ANNOVERA START WORKING?
Right away. Just insert ANNOVERA between days 2 and 5 of your period. If your menstrual cycles are irregular or if you start ANNOVERA more than 5 days from your last menstrual bleeding, or if you are switching from a progestin-only birth control method, use an additional barrier method during sex, such as a male condom or spermicide, for the first 7 days of ANNOVERA use. If you are switching from another birth control method, speak to your healthcare provider about when to start ANNOVERA.
IS ANNOVERA EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING PREGNANCY?
Yup. When used as directed, ANNOVERA is as effective as the pill without the daily commitment.*
*ANNOVERA is 97.3% effective at preventing unintended pregnancy.
IS ANNOVERA FDA-APPROVED?
You bet.
DOES ANNOVERA PROTECT AGAINST HIV OR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIs)?
No. Condoms are still your best bet to prevent against HIV or sexually transmitted infections (STIs). ANNOVERA is compatible with male condoms made with natural rubber latex, polyisoprene, and polyurethane.
How should I use Annovera?
You can insert and remove it yourself, giving you control over your fertility and menstruation. For each cycle, ANNOVERA is inserted and left in place for 21 continuous days and then removed for 7 days. See How Do I Use It?
What Does annovera feel like?
It’s a soft and comfortable ring that fits comfortably in your body during daily activities, including sex. Most women don’t feel ANNOVERA once it is in place.
What do other women have to say about annovera?
Overall, nearly 90% of women in a clinical trial were satisfied with ANNOVERA as a form of contraception. Women rated ANNOVERA on product characteristics related to ease of use (ease of insertion, removal, and cleaning), comfort (soft and flexible, not felt while wearing for most women), expulsion (whether expelled while wearing or during sex), and physical effects during sexual activity (impact on sexual pleasure or frequency).
DO I NEED TO SEE MY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO STOP USING ANNOVERA?
Nope. ANNOVERA does not require a healthcare visit for insertion or removal. You can easily remove it on your own if you change your mind about taking birth control.
WHAT IF MY ANNOVERA RING IS NEARING ITS EXPIRATION DATE?
If you insert ANNOVERA on or before the expiration date, it will last for the complete 13 cycles (1 year) from insertion, as indicated.
DOES ANNOVERA HAVE HORMONES?
Yes. ANNOVERA is a combination hormonal contraceptive, which means it has a couple of different kinds of hormones. ANNOVERA releases one of the lowest daily doses of ethinyl estradiol (0.013 mg/day) on the market and includes a new kind of progestin called segesterone acetate (0.15 mg/day). ANNOVERA continuously releases a low stream of these 2 hormones into your vagina, which then enter your blood.
DO THE HORMONES IN ANNOVERA WORK THE SAME AS THE PILL?
Yes, they do. Some science: ANNOVERA is a combination hormonal contraceptive (CHC) that contains a form of estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and progesterone (segesterone acetate) to prevent ovulation. CHCs also change the cervical mucus and the lining of the uterus (endometrium), which can help prevent pregnancy.
WHAT IS ANNOVERA MADE OF?
ANNOVERA is made of silicone and not with natural rubber latex. It contains 2 female hormones, an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (segesterone acetate).
WHAT IF I LEAVE ANNOVERA IN MORE THAN 21 DAYS DURING MY MONTHLY CYCLE?
If ANNOVERA is left in your vagina for more than 21 days, you should remove it for 7 days and then reinsert it for 21 days to resume a 21-to-7 schedule.
How do I keep it clean?
Just wash ANNOVERA with mild soap and lukewarm water. Then rinse and pat dry with a clean cloth or paper towel before each insertion and after each removal.
WHERE DO I STORE ANNOVERA WHEN I TAKE IT OUT?
ANNOVERA comes in a small, compact case where you can store it whenever it’s not in your body. Be sure to store ANNOVERA away from children, pets, and extreme temperatures.
Does it require refrigeration?
Nope.
CAN ANNOVERA GET LOST INSIDE ME?
No. There’s nowhere for it to go—it will stay in your vagina
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF ANNOVERA COMES OUT OF MY VAGINA?
Don’t worry or panic if ANNOVERA comes out, accidents happen. Just make sure you wash and reinsert within 2 hours. If ANNOVERA is out of your vagina for more than 2 hours at one time or at different times that add up to more than 2 hours over the 21 days of continuous use, only then will you need to use another method of birth control (such as male condoms or spermicide) until ANNOVERA has been in your vagina for 7 consecutive days.
Can I still use Tampons?
Yes. Tampons can be used while ANNOVERA is inserted inside your vagina.
WILL ANNOVERA IMPACT MY WEIGHT?
Nope. During the ANNOVERA clinical trials, participants showed no changes in weight, clinically speaking.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SIDE EFFECTS THAT MAY CAUSE WOMEN TO STOP USING ANNOVERA?
In the clinical trials, the most common side effects that caused women to stop using ANNOVERA were irregular bleeding (1.7%), headache/migraine (1.3%), vaginal discharge/infections (1.3%), and nausea/vomiting (1.2%).
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ANNOVERA?
Do not use ANNOVERA if you smoke cigarettes and are over 35 years old. Smoking increases your risk of serious heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) side effects from hormonal birth control methods, including death from heart attack, blood clots, or stroke. This risk increases with age and the number of cigarettes you smoke. Also, ANNOVERA does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF ANNOVERA?
The most common side effects reported by women taking ANNOVERA in clinical studies were headache/migraine, nausea/vomiting, fungal infections, abdominal pain lower/upper, menstrual cramps, vaginal discharge, urinary tract infection, breast tenderness/pain/discomfort, bleeding irregularities including intermenstrual bleeding, diarrhea, and genital itching.
WHO SHOULD NOT USE ANNOVERA?
DO NOT USE ANNOVERA IF YOU:
- smoke and are over 35 years old.
- have or have had a blood clot in your arms, legs, lungs, or eyes.
- have had a stroke.
- have reduced blood flow to your brain (cerebrovascular disease).
- have reduced blood flow or blockage in 1 or more of the arteries that supply blood to your heart (coronary artery disease).
- have had a heart attack.
- have heart rhythm or heart valve problems that increase your risk of having blood clots, such as an infection of the inner lining of the heart and heart valves or a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
- have a problem with your blood that makes it clot more than normal.
- have high blood pressure that is not controlled with medicine or have high blood pressure with blood vessel damage.
- have diabetes and are over 35 years old; have diabetes with high blood pressure or problems with your kidneys, blood vessels, eyes, or nerves; or have had diabetes for longer than 20 years.
- have headaches with changes in vision, numbness or weakness, have migraine headaches with aura, or are over age 35 years old and have any type of migraine headaches.
- have liver disease or liver tumors.
- have or have had breast cancer or any cancer that is sensitive to the female hormones estrogen or progesterone.
- have unexplained vaginal bleeding.
- are allergic to segesterone acetate, ethinyl estradiol, or any of the ingredients in ANNOVERA.
- take any Hepatitis C drug combination medicine containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir. This may increase levels of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the blood.