NuvaRing with DVT risk factors present ?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-08-2004
NuvaRing with DVT risk factors present ?
4
Mon, 03-08-2004 - 10:24pm
I'm thinking about starting NuvaRing ... not as much for birth control, but more for cycle/hormone regulation. (It's been many months since I've had a period and I know this is potentially harmful to me on its own.)

NuvaRing and DVT's

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I am especially worried about the potential for increased risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) with the NuvaRing. I believe that I have some of the risk factors.

I currently have an extremely sedentary lifestyle, so I qualify for the risk factor of immobilization of the legs for long periods at a time.

I have PCOS combined with probable compulsive overeating so my blood sugars are iffy but I'm not actually diabetic, so I'm not sure if I qualify for that risk factor.

And (of course) I am obese, so that qualifies for the last risk factor because the excess weight creates more pressure on the leg veins which weakens them.

So, I'm unsure whether I'm already on the borderline and starting the NuvaRing would just put me over the edge so that I could get a DVT. I keep debating it with myself but I'm not sure how to handle it.

Any comments on my worries?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 03-08-2004 - 10:46pm
Hi mnoeme, welcome!

Given the factors you mentioned the risk of DVT with any combined oral contraceptive is something I would want to discuss with my doc, if I were you. NuvaRing has the lowest dose of estrogen in any COC available in the U.S. so if your doc approves it might be right for you. Let us know what s/he says, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 03-10-2004 - 8:11am

I think these are good concerns to take to your doctor.

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-08-2004
Wed, 03-10-2004 - 7:48pm
I haven't yet taken my concerns to an endocrinologist.

What can the endocrinologist do that an obgyn doctor doesn't, exactly? (Besides the general concept that one is more of a specialist than the other.)

I work for an obgyn group, so I'm heavily biased towards keeping my care in-house so I can keep tabs on my own medical records and such. ;)

But, I sort of know some of the people in an endocrinology group that shares one of our office suites. So I would go there if I were to see an endocrinologist.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 03-10-2004 - 9:49pm

Some obgyn's are very familiar with pcos and can manage it very well - but the details of it are what endocrinologists specialize in and deal with every day.

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