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Australians will have access to another affordable contraception option as a vaginal ring will be added to the government’s medication subsidy scheme for the first time.
The NuvaRing is a prescription contraceptive method that is inserted into the vagina by the user and distributes hormones to stop ovulation.
Used correctly, the ring is 99.5 per cent effective, which is similar to other hormonal contraceptive options.
The NuvaRing is available in a three-pack as a private script for $130.
Starting November 1, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) will include the NuvaRing, making it available to general patients for $31.60 and to concessional patients for just $7.70.
From 1 January, the maximum women will pay per script will be $25.
Within the contraceptive landscape, the ring falls in between a daily pill and a long-acting reversible such as an IUD, Sexual Health Victoria medical director Dr Sara Whitburn said.
Side effects of the ring are similar to the contraceptive pill, including acne, bloating, weight gain and reduced libido.
But Whitburn said it could be a good option for people who have stomach upsets from taking the pill.
In February, the federal government announced a $573 million women’s health package to increase bulk billing for IUDs and birth control implants, as well as added new oral contraceptive pills to the PBS.
The inclusion of the NuvaRing in the PBS is a significant part of a broader healthcare initiative.
Advocates emphasize that cost is a critical factor influencing women’s choice of contraceptive methods.
The changes linked to long-acting reversible contraceptives are expected to benefit around 300,000 women each year and save them up to $400 in out-of-pocket costs.
Health Minister Mark Butler said women’s health needs had been sidelined for too long.
“Australia has one of the lowest uptake rates in the developed world of long-acting contraceptives, partly due to access and affordability.”
