Prescription medication · Vaginal Contraceptive Ring

ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel

Also sold as NuvaRing. NuvaRing is used by women of reproductive age to prevent pregnancy.

Data updated 2026-05-15

28
InteractionsSeveral interactions
Rx
Availability

ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel (NuvaRing) is a prescription Vaginal Contraceptive Ring. NuvaRing is used by women of reproductive age to prevent pregnancy.

NuvaRing is a vaginal ring that contains hormones to prevent pregnancy. It releases hormones over three weeks to stop you from getting pregnant.

Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →

Compare with Another Drug →

What it does

NuvaRing is used by women of reproductive age to prevent pregnancy.

Common side effects

Vaginal infection, Headache (including migraine), Mood changes (like depression or mood swings)

Key warnings

Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems if you use hormonal birth control like NuvaRing.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

NuvaRing contains two hormones: etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol. These hormones are released slowly into your body. They prevent pregnancy mainly by stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg.

Serious Warnings

Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems if you use hormonal birth control like NuvaRing. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke more cigarettes. If you are over 35 and smoke, you should not use NuvaRing.

Known Drug Interactions

moderate glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

Concomitant use with some other HCV antiviral medicinal products, such as those containing glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, may increase the risk of ALT elevations [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] .

Mechanism: Taking these medications at the same time can cause a rise in liver enzymes. This is often a sign that the liver is under stress or being irritated.

minor atorvastatin

Substances increasing the plasma concentrations of CHCs Co-administration of atorvastatin and certain CHCs containing ethinyl estradiol increase AUC values for ethinyl estradiol by approximately 20-25%.

Mechanism: Atorvastatin can raise the levels of birth control hormones in your blood.

minor amoxicillin

The serum concentrations of etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol were not affected by concomitant administration of oral amoxicillin or doxycycline in standard dosages during 10 days of antibiotic treatment.

Mechanism: Amoxicillin does not change the levels of birth control hormones in your blood.

minor estradiol

The serum concentrations of etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol were not affected by concomitant administration of oral amoxicillin or doxycycline in standard dosages during 10 days of antibiotic treatment. The effects of other antibiotics on etonogestrel or ethinyl estradiol concentrations have not been evaluated. Substances increasing the plasma concentrations of CHCs Co-administration of atorvastatin and certain CHCs containing ethinyl estradiol increase AUC values for ethinyl estradiol by approximately 20-25%.

Mechanism: This combination can increase the amount of estrogen that stays in your blood.

minor lamotrigine

A significant decrease in the plasma concentrations of lamotrigine has been shown, likely due to induction of lamotrigine glucuronidation. This may reduce seizure control; therefore, dosage adjustments of lamotrigine may be necessary.

Mechanism: The birth control ring causes your body to process and remove the seizure medicine more quickly.

Check all your medications →

This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

How do I insert NuvaRing?
Compress the ring and insert it into your vagina. The exact position isn't important.
How do I remove NuvaRing?
Hook your finger under the rim or grasp the rim and pull it out.
What do I do with the used ring?
Place the used ring in its foil pouch and throw it in the trash, away from children and pets. Do not flush it down the toilet.
When should I start using NuvaRing?
You can start on the first day of your period. You can also start on days 2-5, but use a barrier method like condoms for the first 7 days.
What if I'm switching from the pill?
You can switch any day, but no later than the day after your hormone-free pill interval.
What if the ring comes out?
If the ring is out for less than 3 hours, rinse it with cool to lukewarm water and reinsert it.
Can I have sex with NuvaRing in?
Yes, most women and their partners do not feel the ring during sex.
What if I have heavy bleeding?
Irregular bleeding is a common side effect. If it's heavy or concerning, talk to your doctor.
Can other medicines affect NuvaRing?
Yes, some medicines can make NuvaRing less effective. Tell your doctor about all medicines you take.
What if I want to stop using NuvaRing?
Simply remove the ring during a scheduled removal. Talk to your doctor about other birth control options.
What are the common side effects of ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel?
The registry lists Vaginal infection, Headache (including migraine), Mood changes (like depression or mood swings), Problems related to the ring (like it falling out or causing discomfort), Nausea or vomiting among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel interact with other medications?
The registry has 28 documented interaction rows for ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel. Notable source-record pairings include glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, atorvastatin, amoxicillin. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel?
ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel belongs to the Vaginal Contraceptive Ring drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). NuvaRing is used by women of reproductive age to prevent pregnancy.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel?
The FDA label for ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Related Medications in Vaginal Contraceptive Ring

Other drugs grouped near ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel - same-class peers and common alternatives.

abiraterone

Zytiga

Abiraterone (Zytiga) is a medicine used with prednisone to treat prostate cancer that has spread.

Compare with ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel →

anastrozole

Arimidex

Anastrozole is a medicine used to treat breast cancer in women after menopause.

Compare with ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel →

bazedoxifene/conjugated estrogens

Duavee

Duavee is a combination medicine containing estrogen and a drug that blocks estrogen in some parts of the body.

Compare with ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel →

cabergoline

Dostinex

Cabergoline is a medicine that helps lower the amount of prolactin in your body.

Compare with ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel →

clomiphene

Clomid, Serophene

Clomiphene citrate is a medicine that helps women ovulate.

Compare with ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel →

Compare ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel vs abiraterone side-by-side →

Medication Guides

Understanding Drug Interactions

How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications

Generic vs Brand Name Drugs

FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters

Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs

FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines

Common Drug Interactions

Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself

Save on ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel

Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.

Check Prices on GoodRx →

Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.

What the FDA Data Shows for ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel

The FDA label for ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel (sold under brand names such as NuvaRing) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Vaginal Contraceptive Ring class. NuvaRing is used by women of reproductive age to prevent pregnancy. Official labeling lists 13 commonly reported side effects, including Vaginal infection, Headache (including migraine), Mood changes (like depression or mood swings).

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 28 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: March 21, 2025

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page