Nuvaring FAQs

The NuvaRing injury lawyers at The Driscoll Firm, LLC, believe that the more you know about the medications you take and the products you use, the safer you will be.

On this page you will find answers to common questions about NuvaRing contraceptive vaginal ring.

For additional information, please call a member of our NuvaRing litigation team at 314-932-3232 or use this contact form. You will speak with a caring and dedicated professional who understands what you are going through. You will get straight talk – not a legal runaround – at no charge and with no strings attached.

Click on any of the following questions to go directly to the topic:

Nuvaring

What is NuvaRing?

NuvaRing is a flexible plastic ring about the size of a silver dollar that is manually inserted into the vagina once a month. It is held in place by the vaginal muscles. Over a three-week time period, the ring releases low doses of progestin and estrogen hormones that suppress ovulation to prevent pregnancy.

NuvaRing was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2001. It is the only birth control device of its kind sold in this country and is available only by a doctor’s prescription.

Who manufactures NuvaRing?

Several different big corporations have had a hand in bringing NuvaRing to the United States market. The device was originally developed by Organon, a Dutch pharmaceutical company. In 2007, Schering-Plough purchased Organon, and in 2009 Schering-Plough merged with Merck & Company.

NuvaRing has proven to be an extremely popular method of birth control. More than 1.5 women worldwide use it – one million of them in the United States. This year approximately five million NuvaRing prescriptions will be written in this country alone.

Sales of NuvaRing bring in hundreds of millions of dollars each year to its manufacturer Merck.

How does NuvaRing work?

NuvaRing works by releasing a low dosage of the hormones progestin (etonogestral) and estrogen during the three-week period it is inside the vagina. These arethe same hormones found in so-called “third generation” birth control pills.The FDA has found that third generation contraceptives can double a woman’s risk of blood clots as compared with other contraceptives.

NuvaRing releases a continuous dose of hormones into the body, unlike the fluctuating doses that occur with birth control pills. And the hormones are released directly into the bloodstream instead of through the stomach, as with pills.

Can I get a free evaluation from a NuvaRing injury lawyer?

Yes. If you or a loved one has used NuvaRing and suffered blood clots, heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, liver disease, gallbladder disease or other complications, you are entitled to a free and confidential consultation with an experienced NuvaRing injury attorney. Call 888-511-0123 or use this contact form. Compensation can include doctor expenses, hospital bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Is NuvaRing recommended for use by all women?

No. NuvaRing is not recommended for women:

With a history of blood clots, heart attack or stroke;
With breast cancer;
Who are pregnant or think they might be;

Who are over 35 and smoke cigarettes;
Who suffer from migraines.

What are the known side effects of NuvaRing?

Like other contraceptives – and most prescription drugs generally – there are some known side effects of NuvaRing use, including:

Minor bleeding or spotting
Fluid retention
Vaginal irritation, infection or secretion
Headache

Nausea
Weight gain
Decreased sex drive
Mild depression

Are there more serious NuvaRing risks?

Yes. Approximately 1,000 serious adverse incidents have been reported to the FDA by women using NuvaRing and their doctors. Reported problems include:

Blood clots
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Heart attack
Heart arrhythmia

Stroke
Pulmonary embolism
Liver cancer
Gallbladder disease

A particularly poignant case was described in an article in Marie Claire magazine, where a 26-year-old woman developed life-threatening blood clots linked to NuvaRing use.

Have there been any scientific studies on NuvaRing dangers?

Yes. In May 2012, the British Medical journal published a Danish study of more than 600,000 women ages 15 to 49 who were using hormonal contraceptives including NuvaRing. The researchers found that NuvaRing use increased the risk of thrombosis by 6.5 times compared to women of the same age using some other contraceptive.

In 2012 the FDA released the results of another study that concluded that women who use NuvaRing run a 48 percent higher risk of blood clots.

Cardiovascular side effects enhanced by NuvaRing use included:

Venous thromboembolic events (VTE);
Pulmonary embolism (PE);
Arterial thrombotic events (ATE), including heart attack, acute myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke.

Have there been any NuvaRing deaths?

Yes. CBS News reported that there have been as many as 40 NuvaRing deaths worldwide.

One fatality in New Jersey received widespread publicity. There, a 32 year old mother of two who was using NuvaRing was killed by a sudden blood clot that traveled from her pelvic area to her lungs. She died on the floor of her home with her children and husband watching, according to news reports.

The surviving family members in that case have brought a NuvaRing wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for the loss of their loved one.

Has there been a NuvaRing FDA recall?

No, despite public calls by consumer watchdog groups like Public Citizen for immediate removal of NuvaRing from the market.

This does not prevent an injured person from filing NuvaRing lawsuit. A NuvaRing personal injury lawsuit or NuvaRing wrongful death lawsuit can be filed even though the product has not been recalled.

Have there been any NuvaRing injury lawsuits filed?

Yes. It is estimated that as many as 1,000 lawsuits have been filed in state and federal courts across the country.

Those lawsuits allege that the big companies that make and sell NuvaRing minimized the risks and misled consumers about NuvaRing’s safety and effectiveness.

Is there a NuvaRing class action lawsuit?

No. Lawsuits are being filed separately. A large number of NuvaRing federal lawsuits have been consolidated in a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) case in Missouri. Another group of lawsuits have been grouped together in New Jersey.

A qualified NuvaRing litigation attorney can help determine the best way for you to proceed with your NuvaRing injury claim.

How do I get started with a NuvaRing injury claim?

Contact an attorney who is experienced with drug liability litigation in general and NuvaRing injury lawsuits in particular.

The NuvaRing litigation team at The Driscoll Firm, LLC, is accepting cases of NuvaRing injury and death nationwide. Call 314-932-3232 or use this contact form for a free, confidential case evaluation today.

John J. Driscoll has a proven record of fighting for people and families injured through the use of pharmaceuticals such as NuvaRing. He was the first attorney in the United States to win a financial award for injuries from YAZ birth control pills. He was won thousands of drug injury claims against big companies like Merck.