Accidental introduction of a contraceptive vaginal ring into the urinary bladder

Abstract

Vaginal contraceptive rings should be added to the list of potential intravesical foreign bodies causing lower urinary tract symptoms.

A NuvaRing caught in the wrong spot

“…1 Despite the device being available for over 20 years, 4 reports of inadvertent insertion into the bladder remains incredibly rare, with only four cases described in the international literature. [5][6][7][8] Similar to our patient, all cases reported were of young women, most of whom had been using the device for a short duration. No cases identified a cause or technique that had increased the device's susceptibility to be inserted into the bladder.…”

“…Importantly, this does not affect the device's efficacy if it is reinserted within a three‐hour period 1 . Despite the device being available for over 20 years, 4 reports of inadvertent insertion into the bladder remains incredibly rare, with only four cases described in the international literature 5–8 . Similar to our patient, all cases reported were of young women, most of whom had been using the device for a short duration.…”

Examining the efficacy, safety, and patient acceptability of the combined contraceptive vaginal ring (NuvaRing®)

“…The solitary exception is intravesicular placement. Currently, there are two case reports of accidental self-insertion of the NuvaRing into the bladder with subsequent symptoms of urinary urgency, frequency, and pelvic pain until the ring was located and removed 41,42. Insertion instructions should, thus, be reviewed with the patient and insertion demonstrated in the office if necessary.…”