nuva ring question

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2004
nuva ring question
6
Fri, 04-30-2004 - 5:27pm
Hi! I'm trying to decide on a new form of BC. I've been on the pill for 6+ years, but am getting fed up with side effects - mainly a total loss of libido. I've tried OTC, Mircette and OrthoNovum 777. I was reading other messages here and saw that people really liked the Nuva Ring and had a lot fewer side effects b/c of the lower hormone doses. Now, this may be a stupid question, but for those of you who use it, do you have any problems with discomfort during sex (for you or your mate)? It just seems to me like it would be something that you would feel as being in there.?

Another thought I has was the pill Loestin (sp?) - that seemed to get some positive feedback regarding side effect issues.

My third and final option was an IUD. The more I read about them, the less scary they sound. I really just want something that I don't have to think about all the time (I really don't like dealing with condoms) and that doesn't have the same side effects as the pills that I have tried.

Your thoughts and suggestions would be great! Thanks!

Karen

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 04-30-2004 - 5:53pm
Hi Karen, welcome!

CL-Judie Rae uses NuvaRing and she loves hers! IUDs are very effective and can last 2 ½, 5 or 10 years depending on the one selected. I think the 2 ½ years one (the Nova-T) is available only in Canada right now.

Or, there are vaginal barriers, diaphragms or cervical caps, which are as effective as condoms but permit much greater sensitivity. They can be inserted well before IC and left in place afterward so that you don’t loose spontaneity as so often happens with condoms. If you would like to know more about diaphragms or cervical caps you can look at the information in the FAQs on the Board homepage at http://pages.ivillage.com/cl-judie_rae/id1.html I wear a cervical cap as my primary means of BC and I am very pleased with how well it has worked for me. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-13-2004
Fri, 04-30-2004 - 7:00pm
Hi Karen!

my first try with birth control (aside from condoms) was the nuvaring. I think most people like it, but it would not stay up there enough for me. Also, while my bf was really good about it, he didn't care... but when I went off it and onto the pill he was like "yea, I didn't really like it that much" because he could sort of feel himself hitting it. (I always wanted to thank him because it would get it way up there for me!)

Anyways. It's fine though. I think my body is just weird.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2004
Fri, 04-30-2004 - 9:45pm
Thanks! I have an appointment with my doctor coming up soon. Just trying to gather up lots of info about my options before talking to him about it. It's always good to be able to ask the right questions.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Sat, 05-01-2004 - 2:55pm
All, I can say is that Loestrin gave me terrible headaches and made me extrememly moody and anxious. I would try the ring before Loestrin. Just my 2 cents.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2004
Sat, 05-01-2004 - 5:56pm
I have been on the ring for a few weeks and I could never ever feel it. It's inserted into your vagina like a tampon and you don't have to worry about it for 3 weeks (then of course, you have to take it out). I usually take it out before sex (which you can, up to three hours), but my partner can barely feel it.

The only side-effects I've been suffering from so far are tender breasts, more vaginal discharge (which helps prevent sperm from swimming up), and mood swings (I think, lol). Okay okay, maybe some water weight as well. ;)

- Jade

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 05-02-2004 - 5:03pm
I've been using the ring for a year and almost a half, and I don't have any complaints, or at least fewer than with any of the pills I've taken! And one of those was Loestrin--for me it had way too much progestin for the amount of estrogen in it. Some women do well on it, but others don't, just like any other pill.

We don't have any issues with feeling the ring during intercourse. I love that I don't have to think about birth control every day, it was a relief to not have to look at my watch every night. But I do still have a lost libido that I can't find, though that can also be attributable to stress and some other outside influences in my life.

Side effects with the ring are still possible, we've had some women here with nausea, depression, and the standard pill side effects, some with increased discharge that they didn't like, some with yeast infections, some women that it doesn't fit right, but we've also had plenty here who like it very much. It's going to be a personal decision as to whether it works for YOU, but if you get samples from your doctor it won't cost you anything to try it out.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Judie Cl for Birth Control