Femring

What is Femring?

Femring is a treatment for menopausal women. It’s a soft, flexible silicone ring you place directly into your vagina. The ring gradually releases estrogen, a hormone which is made naturally by your ovaries.

During the menopause women’s estrogen levels drop,^[1] and it typically causes hot flashes and night sweats, among other uncomfortable symptoms like mood changes and disturbed sleep.

By replacing low estrogen levels, Femring can ease these symptoms so you can carry on with your usual routines comfortably.

How does Femring work?

In the time leading up to the menopause, known as perimenopause or the menopausal transition, symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats can develop as estrogen and progesterone levels in the body start to drop. These hormones play an important role in the menstrual cycle, and in reproductive development.^[2]

Femring works by replacing low estrogen levels, and reduces the effects of declining hormones as you enter the menopause. It releases estrogen slowly, and one ring lasts for 3 months. Using Femring can help to relieve regular hot flashes and night sweats, along with other menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness and irritation.

Estrogen-only medications are usually prescribed in combination with progestin-only drugs to women who still have their uterus. This is because using estrogen without a progestogen has been linked to cancer,^[3] and blood clots.^[4]

How to use Femring

Femring is easy to use. Insert the ring using the following steps:

• Wash and dry your hands. Open the pouch your Femring comes in, and get yourself in a comfortable position, such as lying down, to insert it.
• Press the sides of the ring together using your thumb and index finger, so it forms a figure-eight shape as seen on the instructions provided.
• Push the folded ring into your vagina as far as you can. It doesn’t have to be exact in order for Femring to work properly.

If you need more help, or have questions about inserting Femring, you can ask a clinician for advice.

To remove your Femring after 3 months:

• Wash and dry your hands.
• Get yourself into a comfortable position, lying down or standing with one leg up.
• Loop your finger through the ring, and gently pull it out. Wrap it in tissue or toilet paper, and dispose of it in the trash.

You should wash and dry your hands before inserting or removing Femring.

Are there different doses of Femring?

Femring is available in two different strengths, that provide 0.05mg or 0.10mg of estradiol each day. The rings can begin to work within 1-2 weeks, but they continue to release estradiol for 3 months.

The Femring dose you’re prescribed will depend how often your symptoms occur, and how much they’re impacting your life. A clinician can decide which strength of Femring they think you should start on. If you feel like it’s not working well enough, you can contact them about switching doses.