Pronunciation: ES-tra-DYE-ol
Generic Name: Estradiol
Brand Name: Examples include Estring and Femring
Femring Ring should not be used to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, or dementia. Estrogens have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease (including heart attack), stroke, dementia, serious blood clots (eg, in the lungs or legs), breast cancer, and cancer of the uterus in some women. Tell your doctor right away if you have any unusual or persistent vaginal bleeding while you use Femring Ring. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about the benefits and risks of using Femring Ring.
Femring Ring should be used for the shortest possible time at the lowest effective dose to minimize the risk of its side effects. Talk with your doctor regularly about your need to use Femring Ring.
Femring Ring is used for:
Treating symptoms caused by menopause (eg, hot flashes; itching, burning, and dryness in or around the vaginal area). It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Femring Ring is an estrogen. It works by increasing the amount of estrogen in the body in certain women who do not produce enough on their own.
Do NOT use Femring Ring if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Femring Ring
- you are pregnant, suspect you may be pregnant, have recently given birth, or are breast-feeding
- you have unexplained, abnormal vaginal bleeding; known or suspected cancer of the breast or uterus; or estrogen-dependent tumors
- you have a history of breast cancer, blood clots (eg, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism), or liver problems
- you have had a heart attack or stroke within the last year
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Femring Ring:
Some medical conditions may interact with Femring Ring. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are planning to become pregnant
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you or a family member has a history of lumps in the breast, an abnormal mammogram, or breast cancer
- if you have uterine problems (eg, uterine fibroids/endometriosis), or vaginal conditions (eg, abnormal vaginal bleeding, recurring vaginal infections, prolapse, stenosis)
- if you have a history of yellowing of the eyes or skin during pregnancy or with past estrogen use, or high blood pressure during pregnancy (toxemia)
- if you have high calcium levels in the blood, asthma, cancer, cholesterol or lipid problems, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, excessive weight gain, gallbladder disease, heart disease or other heart problems, high blood pressure, kidney or liver problems, low thyroid hormone levels, lupus, migraine headaches, vision problems, pancreas disease, the blood disease porphyria, or seizures
- if you smoke, will be having surgery, or will be on bed rest
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Femring Ring. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), or rifampin because they may decrease Femring Ring's effectiveness
- Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), ritonavir, succinylcholine, or tacrine because their actions and the risk of their side effects may be increased by Femring Ring
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Femring Ring may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Femring Ring:
Use Femring Ring as directed by your doctor.
- An extra patient leaflet is available with Femring Ring. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
- Wash and dry your hands before removing the ring from the pouch. The ring becomes slippery when wet, so make sure your hands are dry.
- To insert the ring, choose a comfortable position, such as lying down, squatting, or standing with one leg up. Hold the ring between your thumb and index finger and press the opposite sides of the ring together. Gently push the folded ring as deeply as possible into the upper one-third of the vagina. The exact position of the ring in the vagina is not important for it to work.
- You may not feel the ring once it is in place. If you feel discomfort, the ring is probably not inserted far enough in your vagina. Use your finger to gently push the ring further into your vagina. There is no danger in the ring being pushed too far up the vagina or getting lost. You can only insert it as far as the end of the vagina. The cervix will block it from going any further.
- Wash your hands immediately after using Femring Ring.
- Femring Ring is usually left in place for 90 days. You will need to remove Femring Ring and replace it with a new ring after 90 days if you continue therapy. Do not leave the ring in place for longer than 90 days. Follow the dosing schedule carefully.
- Some women may experience moving or gliding of the ring within the vagina caused by bowel movements, straining, constipation, or coughing. If this occurs, push it back into place with your finger. If the ring is removed or falls out of the vagina, rinse the ring with lukewarm water and reinsert.
- To remove the ring, wash and dry your hands thoroughly. Find a comfortable position, either standing, squatting, or lying down. Loop your finger through the ring and gently pull it out. Discard the used ring in a trash container, out of the reach of children and away from pets. Do not flush it down the toilet.
- It may take 2 to 3 weeks for Femring Ring to work. If your symptoms do not get better, contact your doctor.
- If you forget and have not inserted a new ring after 90 days, contact your doctor to establish a new schedule for Femring Ring.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Femring Ring.
Important safety information:
- Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) has been reported in a few patients using vaginal rings. TSS is a rare but serious and sometimes fatal condition. Symptoms of TSS may include diarrhea, dizziness or lightheadedness, fainting, fever, muscle pain, nausea, a sunburn-like rash, or vomiting. Tell your doctor right away if you notice these effects.
- There have been a few reports of Femring Ring becoming attached to the vaginal wall. This may make removal of the ring difficult. Tell your doctor if you have trouble removing the ring.
- Femring Ring may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you use it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Femring Ring with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Limit alcoholic beverages while you are using Femring Ring.
- Femring Ring may cause dark skin patches on your face (melasma). Exposure to the sun may make these patches darker and you may need to avoid prolonged sun exposure and sunlamps. Consult your doctor regarding the use of sunscreens and protective clothing.
- Femring Ring may increase the risk of blood clots (especially in women older than 35 years). The risk may be greater if you smoke.
- Contact your health care provider if vaginal bleeding of unknown cause occurs. This could be a sign of a serious condition requiring immediate medical attention.
- Contact your health care provider if vaginal discomfort occurs or if you suspect you have developed an infection while taking Femring Ring.
- Follow your doctor's instructions for examining your breasts, and report any lumps immediately.
- If you wear contact lenses and you develop problems with them, contact your doctor.
- If you will be having surgery or will be confined to a chair or bed for a long period of time (eg, a long plane flight), notify your doctor beforehand. Special precautions may need to be taken in these circumstances while you are using Femring Ring.
- Nonprescription therapy to help prevent bone loss includes a weight-bearing exercise plan, as well as adequate daily calcium and vitamin D intake. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
- Femring Ring may increase the risk of breast and endometrial cancer. Your doctor may prescribe another hormone (progestin) to decrease this risk.
- Your doctor should reevaluate you every 3 to 6 months to determine whether or not you need to continue using Femring Ring.
- Femring Ring may interfere with certain lab tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are using Femring Ring.
- Diabetes patients - Femring Ring may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
- Lab tests, including physical exams, hormone levels, or blood pressure, may be performed while you use Femring Ring. You should have breast and pelvic exams and a Pap test at least once a year. You should also have periodic mammograms as determined by your doctor. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Use Femring Ring with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, including an increased risk of heart problems, stroke, breast or uterine cancer, and certain mental problems (eg, dementia).
- Femring Ring should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Femring Ring if you are pregnant. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are using it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. Femring Ring is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Femring Ring.
Possible side effects of Femring Ring:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Breast pain or tenderness; hair loss; headache; mild burning, irritation, or itching after insertion; mild nausea or vomiting; spotting or breakthrough bleeding; stomach cramps or bloating.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); back pain; breast lumps or nipple discharge; calf or leg pain or swelling; changes in vaginal bleeding (eg, spotting, breakthrough bleeding, prolonged bleeding); chest pain; constipation; coughing up blood; dark urine; diarrhea; dizziness; fainting; fever; irregular heartbeat; memory problems; mental or mood changes (eg, depression); muscle pain; one-sided weakness; painful or difficult urination; persistent or severe breast pain or tenderness; persistent or severe headache, nausea, or vomiting; severe or persistent stomach pain or swelling; severe vaginal pain or bleeding during ring removal; slurred speech; sudden shortness of breath; sunburn-like skin rash; swelling of feet, hands, or legs;unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor; unusual weight changes; vision changes; weakness or numbness of an arm or leg; yellowing of the skin or eyes.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Femring side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include excessive vaginal bleeding; severe nausea; vomiting.
Proper storage of Femring Ring:
Store Femring Ring at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store in the original packaging until just before use. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Femring Ring out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Femring Ring, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Femring Ring is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Femring Ring. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Femring resources
- Femring Side Effects (in more detail)
- Femring Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Femring Drug Interactions
- Femring Support Group
- 6 Reviews for Femring - Add your own review/rating
Compare Femring with other medications
- Atrophic Urethritis
- Atrophic Vaginitis
- Postmenopausal Symptoms
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