Prescription medication · Progestin (Implant)
etonogestrel
Also sold as Nexplanon. This vaginal ring is used by women of reproductive age to prevent pregnancy.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 46,939
- FDA reportsOften reported
- 29
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- Rx
- Availability
What the data shows
etonogestrel (Nexplanon) is a prescription Progestin (Implant), reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (46,939 FDA reports), with 29 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
etonogestrel (Nexplanon) is a prescription Progestin (Implant). This vaginal ring is used by women of reproductive age to prevent pregnancy.
Etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring is a birth control ring. It prevents pregnancy by releasing hormones into your body.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
What it does
This vaginal ring 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 from this medicine.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from etonogestrel's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
The ring releases etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol into your body. These hormones prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). They also change the lining of your uterus, making it harder for a fertilized egg to implant.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 46,939 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for etonogestrel, by number of reports
- Product Quality Issue
Product Quality Issue
5,554 reports
- Complication Associated With Device
Complication Associated With Device
5,228 reports
- Device Difficult To Use
Device Difficult To Use
4,562 reports
- Device Breakage
Device Breakage
4,501 reports
- Incorrect Product Administration Duration
Incorrect Product Administration Duration
3,644 reports
- Unintended Pregnancy
Unintended Pregnancy
3,449 reports
- Device Deployment Issue
Device Deployment Issue
3,370 reports
- Complication Of Device Removal
Complication Of Device Removal
3,270 reports
- Complication Of Device Insertion
Complication Of Device Insertion
3,249 reports
- Pregnancy With Implant Contraceptive
Pregnancy With Implant Contraceptive
3,147 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for etonogestrel each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where etonogestrel sits
etonogestrel has more FDA adverse-event reports than 72% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is etonogestrel; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 46,939 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
46,939
Reports Mentioning Death
94
0.2% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
1,645
Top Indication
Contraception
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | PRODUCT QUALITY ISSUE | 5,554 |
| 3 | COMPLICATION ASSOCIATED WITH DEVICE | 5,228 |
| 4 | DEVICE DIFFICULT TO USE | 4,562 |
| 5 | DEVICE BREAKAGE | 4,501 |
| 6 | INCORRECT PRODUCT ADMINISTRATION DURATION | 3,644 |
| 7 | UNINTENDED PREGNANCY | 3,449 |
| 8 | DEVICE DEPLOYMENT ISSUE | 3,370 |
| 9 | COMPLICATION OF DEVICE REMOVAL | 3,270 |
| 10 | COMPLICATION OF DEVICE INSERTION | 3,249 |
| 11 | PREGNANCY WITH IMPLANT CONTRACEPTIVE | 3,147 |
| 12 | DEVICE DISLOCATION | 2,662 |
| 13 | IMPLANT SITE PAIN | 2,575 |
| 14 | MENORRHAGIA | 2,443 |
| 15 | VAGINAL HAEMORRHAGE | 2,280 |
| 16 | DEVICE EXPULSION | 2,167 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems from this medicine. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke. If you are over 35 and smoke, you should not use this ring.
Known Drug Interactions
Counsel women to use an alternative non-hormonal method of contraception or a back-up method when enzyme inducers are used with Etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring, and to continue back-up non-hormonal contraception for 28 days after discontinuing the enzyme inducer to ensure contraceptive reliability. Note: Etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring may interfere with the correct placement and position of certain female barrier methods such as a diaphragm or female condom. These methods are not recommended as back-up methods with Etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal...
Mechanism: Certain medications can speed up how the body breaks down birth control hormones. This makes the birth control less effective and increases the risk of pregnancy.
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 medicines together can cause your liver enzymes to rise, which is a sign of liver stress. This happens because both drugs affect how the liver functions at the same time.
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 cause the levels of the hormones in your birth control to increase in your bloodstream.
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: This antibiotic does not change the levels of birth control hormones in your blood.
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 causes your body to clear the seizure medicine more quickly, which lowers its levels in your blood.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
What if the ring comes out?
Can I reuse the ring?
What if I have trouble inserting the ring?
Will I still get my period?
What if I don't get my period?
Can I use other vaginal products with the ring?
What should I do with the used ring?
Can certain medicines affect the ring?
What if I want to stop using the ring?
How often do I need to replace the ring?
What are the common side effects of etonogestrel?
Does etonogestrel interact with other medications?
What drug class is etonogestrel?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for etonogestrel?
Related Medications in Progestin (Implant)
Other drugs grouped near 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 etonogestrel →
anastrozole
Arimidex
Anastrozole is a medicine used to treat breast cancer in women after menopause.
Compare with 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 etonogestrel →
cabergoline
Dostinex
Cabergoline is a medicine that helps lower the amount of prolactin in your body.
Compare with etonogestrel →
clomiphene
Clomid, Serophene
Clomiphene citrate is a medicine that helps women ovulate.
Compare with etonogestrel →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for etonogestrel: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 46,939.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 0.20%.
- crisaborole Δ 0.06 pts · 9,400 reports · PDE4 Inhibitor (Topical) 0.26%death share
- levonorgestrel Δ 0.06 pts · 197,074 reports · Progestin 0.14%death share
- adapalene Δ 0.18 pts · 178,147 reports · Retinoid (Topical) 0.02%death share
- dupilumab Δ 0.23 pts · 411,692 reports · Anti-IL-4/IL-13 Monoclonal Antibody 0.43%death share
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
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What the FDA Data Shows for etonogestrel
The FDA label for etonogestrel (sold under brand names such as Nexplanon) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Progestin (Implant) class. This vaginal ring 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. For this drug, FAERS contains 46,939 voluntary reports. The database also lists 29 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: July 8, 2024
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
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages