Can NuvaRing cause brown discharge?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Can NuvaRing cause brown discharge?
Yes, NuvaRing can cause brown discharge and it is listed as a commonly experienced side effect of this birth control method. This ring contains a hormonal contraceptive that can disturb your hormones and the first thing it leads to is an irregular menstrual cycle (1).
This can result in either insufficient bleeding or heavy menstrual flow, depending on the overall physiology of the woman who took it. Brown discharge is usually nothing to be concerned about, as it is old blood along with mucus and vaginal fluids.
Old blood contains worn-out RBCs which are brown and not bright red in colour. This is quite common with these birth control methods.
However, if you’re experiencing heavy brown discharge with or without severe abdominal pain, you should reach out to your healthcare provider as soon as you can.
NuvaRing may not suit everyone and can cause disturbing side effects, which may lead to the removal of the ring in some women.
What to do if NuvaRing causes excessive brown discharge?
Reach out to your healthcare provider and inform them about the excessive brown discharge you are experiencing on NuvaRing.
Your healthcare provider may recommend continuing to use NuvaRing as prescribed or may suggest adjusting the usage or trying an alternative contraceptive method. It’s important to follow their instructions and not make any changes without consulting them first.
It is also important to keep track of the duration, frequency, and intensity of the brown discharge. Note any other associated symptoms or changes in your health. This information will be helpful when discussing the issue with your healthcare provider.
In some cases, the brown discharge may be temporary and resolve on its own as your body adjusts to NuvaRing. However, if it persists or becomes bothersome, it’s essential to seek medical advice.
Meanwhile, it is important to maintain good personal hygiene by using gentle, unscented intimate hygiene products and changing your underwear regularly. Avoid using tampons or douches, as they can disrupt the natural balance of the vaginal flora.
Alternatives to NuvaRing
There are several alternatives to NuvaRing for contraception. Some common options include:
- Combined oral contraceptives (the pill): These are daily oral medications that contain a combination of estrogen and progestin hormones to prevent pregnancy (2).
- Progestin-only pills (mini-pills): These are oral contraceptives that contain only progestin hormone and are taken daily (3).
- Contraceptive patch: This is a small patch that is applied to the skin and releases hormones similar to those found in the pill (4).
- Contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera): This is an injection given every three months that contains progestin hormone to prevent pregnancy. This injection may also cause brown discharge temporarily, which is nothing to be concerned about. (5)
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs): These are small, T-shaped devices that are inserted into the uterus by a healthcare provider. There are hormonal IUDs that release progestin hormones and copper IUDs that do not contain hormones. They may cause weight-related side effects. (6)
- Implantable contraceptives (such as Nexplanon): This is a small rod that is inserted under the skin of the upper arm and releases progestin hormone. It may also cause brown discharge. (7)
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References
1.-
Gruber CJ. The combined contraceptive vaginal ring (NuvaRing): evaluation of the clinical and pharmacological evidence. Womens Health (Lond). 2006 May;2(3):351-6. doi: 10.2217/17455057.2.3.351. PMID: 19803907. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19803907/
2.-
Cooper DB, Patel P, Mahdy H. Oral Contraceptive Pills. 2022 Nov 24. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 28613632. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430882
3.-
Grimes DA, Lopez LM, O’Brien PA, Raymond EG. Progestin-only pills for contraception. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Nov 13;(11):CD007541. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007541.pub3. PMID: 24226383. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24226383/
4.-
Burkman RT. The transdermal contraceptive patch: a new approach to hormonal contraception. Int J Fertil Womens Med. 2002 Mar-Apr;47(2):69-76. PMID: 11991433. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11991433/
5.-
Sathe A, Gerriets V. Medroxyprogesterone. 2022 Jun 30. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 32644618. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559192
6.-
Lanzola EL, Ketvertis K. Intrauterine Device. 2022 Jul 4. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 32491335. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557403
7.-
Hohmann H, Creinin MD. The contraceptive implant. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Dec;50(4):907-17. doi: 10.1097/GRF.0b013e318159c2f6. PMID: 17982333. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17982333/
