No, that wasn't useful.

Okay, I was on NuvaRing for a year and I asked the pharmacist about refrigerating the NuvaRing back then. He explained that NuvaRings could be unrefrigerated for a period of up to 3 months. So, when I bought my 3 months' supply I did not need to worry about storing it in the fridge at all. The pharmacist needed to store it in the fridge though so that it would not require refrigeration after being dispensed to the patient/customer.

So, for a trip to Africa for 10 weeks you will need 3 NuvaRings, and since that is less than 3 months you do not need to worry about refrigeration at all. Probably best not to leave them out in the sun though.

With the NuvaRing, it can be safely left out for up to 3 hours, but since you left it out for 5 hours, you had special directions from the booklet on what to do. Good job saving the booklet and going to it when you're not sure what to do. Did the booklet say that after starting the new ring you would need to use a backup method? If it didn't say to use a backup method than that means you are okay. Sorry, I really don't know the answer to that one.

Yeah, you leave it out for 5 hours, you should wait a week before you have unprotected sex.

That may be over cautious, but it's like missing pills. You gotta be protected.

You can try to skip your periods by just putting in a new ring. The ring can be left in for up to four weeks (no longer) and then just stick a new one in. But it probably won't work right away.

Woah, nope.
each ring is worn for ONE week - just like the patch.
You replace the ring on the same day every week for 3 weeks then leave it out for a week (pill free week, patch free week, ring free week).

You can attempt to hold off your period by skipping your *free week and moving onto the next ring/patch/pill pack.

note: this can not be done with triphasic birth control pills, but can with monophasic or biphasic.
it is also recommended (but technically not essential) that you only skip 2 *free weeks and allow your withdrawal bleed to occur each 3rd (ie 4 times per year)

I must disagree with Kia--the Nuvaring is left in place for 21 days and out for 7 days for a total of 28 days. You only use one ring per month.

Yes, Kia sorry you got it wrong. Nuvaring is NOT like the patch.

Regular use for the nuvaring is inserted for 3 weeks (21 days), then no ring for 1 week, then start a new ring.

Another option is continuous use, where a ring is inserted for 4 weeks (28 days), then the ring is removed and a new ring is inserted the same day. This can be a way to skip periods

.....or in my case it is a way to make sure you spot almost continuously for a full 3 weeks..... never did that again.