GIRL'S TIP: NuvaRing

Step aside the pill! The new contraceptive ring is about to take centre stage. NuvaRing, a flexible contraceptive ring was introduced into Australia in March this year and it’s easy to use. Each month, all you have to do is insert a new NuvaRing into your vagina where, like the pill, it releases a low dose of the two hormones oestrogen and progestogen, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream. Positioning of the ring doesn’t have to be exact and manufacturers claim the hormonal ups and downs seen with the pill are reduced. It requires a one a month action, which ends the daily concerns of forgetting to take the pill. NuvaRing costs about $25 a month and is available on prescription only.

IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, which is almost always caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Want the good news? Australia has developed a new vaccine that can protect against HPV, the cause of up to 70% of cervical cancer. And if you are between the age of 12 and 26, this vaccine is available to you for FREE.
For school girls, the National HPV Vaccination Program started in April this year and for women under the age of 27, the free vaccine will be available form you GP or community immunisation clinic from this July. Remember the vaccine doesn’t prevent all cervical cancers, so regular Pap smears are still a must!