If you are using both products then there is like a 1% chance of getting pregnant. You can't get pregnant being on birth control and using condoms. He doesn't even need to pull out. Just let yourself go with the flow. Maybe your pill or well the nuva ring is giving you wacky periods. My periods always go un-known I know its on the last week of my pill pack but I can never determine the day. Just calm now! you're fine.

You just need to relax.

The nuvaring is very safe when used correctly and you are using even more protection with condoms and pulling out. You really couldn't be more protected against pregnancy other than just not having sex. Just have a little trust in your birth control, its the whole reason you're taking it!

How irregular is your period that you panic so often?

And I can't really give you an exact percentage for your situation, but if 100 women used the nuvaring for an entire year then maybe 1 will get pregnant in that time. You lower that chance with adding two back up methods. The chances of both condoms and the nuvaring failing when used correctly is really, really low.

does it matter if i take the nuvaring out during sex because it hurts when it stays in (this is only for 30 minute periods MAYBE 2 times a week, tops.)
and my period is very regular with the nuvaring, but i am prone to jumping to drastic conclusions.

YES!!!!! Removing the NuvaRing before intercourse makes about as much sense as removing a condom before intercourse. According to the NuvaRing website, 90% of people don't feel/notice the NuvaRing during sex. If you do, it may be because you need to slide it further in/back. (nuvaring.com)
If it continues to be a problem I would suggest trying an alternate form of birth control.

If you are regular then you'll always know when its coming.

Do you keep track of when you have your period? Even after I started taking birth control pills, I liked being able to know exactly when I would get it. I wouldn't freak out unless it passed the day I expected it, then I didn't test unless it was 5 days after that (longest five days ever, but it didn't happen often). When you understand your cycle, things are wayyy less stressful.

I've read some different things about taking the ring out during sex. Deteragram is right though, the Nuvaring manufacturers say to keep it in, so if you don't then it could lower how effective it is. If you do take it out, make sure its clean when it goes back in and always within three hours. If you've been taking it out during sex already, don't panic too much since you use a back up method anyways

yeah...but i've heard a lot about condoms failing, too
maybe its just my imagination
i sorta feel really doomed right now, but i'll get over it

You hear a lot about condoms failing because so many people use them and many don't really use them as directed. They are pretty reliable when you use them correctly.

When you pair condoms with another form of birth control you are very safe. What made you decide on the ring? If its causing some problems during sex, and you don't seem very confident in it, why not switch to something else?

yeah, i've heard very good things about Yaz, i have several friends and coworkers on it. i think i might give that a shot.
i picked the ring because my GYN told me to, on account of my mother snoops through my room and would eaisily find pills and flush them. i was still a virgin then, both sexually and to even going to the GYN (lol), so i was naive about birth control, and still kind of am. this was only a few months ago.
but since then i decided that if i make a pocket specifically for my pills in my purse or keep them in my locker at work, i should have no problems with snooping.

so i'm pretty much safe even if i used condoms and withdrawl? the condoms are kind-of tight on him anyway, hes thick.

Oh geez. If your mom is snooping then I guess the ring was a good call.

You could also ask about the depo shot. You only need to get it every three months and there's no pills, rings, or anything. It could be worth considering if the pill hiding fails or just gets to be too much.

Condoms are fine to be used alone, but you could decrease any chance of pregnancy by pulling out, spermacides, or any another form of birth control.

Just as long as the condom isn't too tight for him, then its not a problem.

awesome, i feel a little better now.
fortunately, i'm so neurotic i would never forget to take the pill. and my gyn told me that depo provera is not a good option because i have high testosterone levels (only a little high, but i did't want them to get super high)
but if she changes her mind and my testosterone level dropped, then thats what i'll do, it was my number one choice in the first place. can you get the shot at any clinic or healthcare setting? i have a useless job at the local hospital, so getting a refill would be pretty easy as i don't drive ;_;.

out of curiosity, how does someone improperly use a condom? it just seems like its too straightforward to totally bust up.

Using the wrong lubricant qualifies as improper use of a condom. People use Vaseline, cooking oil, all kinds of crazy things that can damage the condom. You should only use a waterbased lubricant such as KY Jelly. Also, some men claim to need magnum sized condoms when they are actually normal sized or small. In this case the condom can actually slip off.

huh, i've heard of everything else, but i have never heard of someone using cooking oil o_o
but i digress.
i feel much better now, thank you all so much! <3