The contraceptive vaginal ring is contraindicated for a risk of blood clots. This is because it contains the hormone<unk> , the active metabolite of the prodrug desogestrel. It is a third-generation contraceptive. A study in The BMJ, with over 1.6 million women, found that users of vaginal rings with ethinylestradiol and<unk>  have a 6.5 times increased risk of venous thrombosis compared to non-users. Epidemiological studies have shown that oral contraceptives that contain desogestrel can increase the risk of blood clots (venous thrombosis) by 1.5 to 2.4 times the risk of second-generation oral contraceptives. Second-generation oral contraceptives do not contain desogestrel. Hormones are released continuously from NuvaRing, thus peak and total estrogen and progestin doses are lower than with combined oral contraceptives, but what effect this has on the risk of blood clots has not been established. NuvaRing also has the cardiovascular contraindications associated with combined oral contraceptives, such as stroke and heart attack. These risks have been shown to be much greater if combined with other risk factors such as smoking, recent surgery, a history of cardiovascular disease, or women over 40 years old. NuvaRing should not be used while breastfeeding. The hormones may pass to the baby through the milk, and it may decrease milk production.
Ethinylestradiol/etonogestrel
Ethinylestradiol/levonorgestrel
Ethinylestradiol/desogestrel
Segesterone acetate/ethinylestradiol
Norelgestromin/ethinylestradiol
Ethinylestradiol/drospirenone
Ethinylestradiol/megestrol acetate
Ethinylestradiol/gestodene