Although a steady increase in contraceptive use has been observed both in developed and less-developed countries, the large number of unplanned pregnancies may indicate that the contraceptive needs of a significant percentage of couples have so far not been met. Several new contraceptive products have reached the market during the last 2 years. Among these is a new contraceptive vaginal ring, which has become available for prescription. This new female method has been developed to expand the contraceptive choices available to couples. This review will address the specifics of the vaginal route for delivering contraceptive steroids and describe the various systems available or under evaluation.