Hello,

I want to warn everybody about the Nuvaring birthcontrol. (I don't know about the rest ways of birth control)

I've been using this method for more than 1 year already and only 2 months ago someone warn me about the fact that Nuvaring loose its effectiveness and therefore it doesn't work any more after 4 months unless you keep on the fridge.

Until that moment I always though that the expiry date written on the box was the time you have to use them however only here I was told that. I don't think is something to play with, at least in my case I'm buying several of them at the same time as I'm living abroad and in most of the destinations they don't even know what it is so it was just by luck that I still hadn't used an ineffective one.

Source?

According to the leaflet with the ring:

"Store NuvaRing® at roomtemperature, 25°C (77°F). Temperatures
can be from 59–86°F (15–30°C). Avoid direct sunlight or storing
above 86°F (30°C)."

But further

After being dispensed by the pharmacy, NuvaRing® can be stored for up to 4 months at room temperature, between 59° and 86°F (15° and 30°C). Avoid direct sunlight or storing above 86°F (30°C).

Put the two together, and that might indicate - don't get more than 3 months supply at a time. In any case, probably not a good idea to use them straight from the fridge.

I'm no doctor, but I generally follow the manufacturers instructions.

I have been using Nuva Ring for over two years now. When I recieve them from the Pharmacy I put them directly into the fridge (sometimes I do have more than a 3 month supply). I take one out just before I need a new one. My Doctor advised me to do it this way. While no it is not necessary to keep them in the fridge if you only have 1 or 2 month supply at a time. I prefer this method of storage and it has been fail proof for me for over 2 years now and at one time I had a 6 month supply due to travelling.

Just my experience.

My God! Imagine opening someones fridge to find that

Is it even hygenic??

I would hope they keep the new unused ones in the fridge.

LOL! Me too but even so, wouldn't fancy opening up my mates fridge to get another glass of chablis to find one of these next to the cheddar Would be like seeing a condom in the display cabinet....

Darling, this calamari's very chewy.....how long had it been in the fridge?

ha. ha. Sorry to kill the laughter but I do not see the humor. First of all they come on sealed discret plastic bags. Second my doctor gave me a little bag manufatured by Nuva Ring to store them in discretly. It is no different than keeping insulin or any other medication in the fridge.

I currently live with 3 roommates and no one has ever thought twice about it.

I don't see why it would matter.... the only person that's made a weird deal of it was my ex-boyfriend. Even when my parents visited, they didn't say anything about it. I would think they would prefer me using birth control over an unintentional pregnancy.

hmm. luckily my ex-gf didn't do that. i might have mistaken it for calamari...

I think it only needs a fridge once you open the foil package. as long as it is sealed in the original package it should be good until the expiry date printed on the box. if you want to be sure, you can ask at the pharmacy next time you are there but I am almost positive they aren't storing them in fridge.

edit: oh, I am sure the op has figured it out by now...

^ pharmacists are told to keep the item in the fridge until dispensing, afterwards the user should keep it at room temp (below 30c)

Actually, they are meant to be stored in the fridge, I called the number on the box and asked when I started using it years ago. If the pharmacy is not storing them in the fridge, they warn not to use them. In Canada, the company says it's okay as long as it's not out of the fridge for longer than 3 months, in Switzerland, they say 4 months. It just seems silly to not put it in the fridge since my roommates would find out I use birth control. I'm pretty sure they already know given that I'm not constantly pregnant.

maybe if you put them in the freezer instead, they will keep for 6 months?