NuvaRing, residue--is it an infection?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2004
NuvaRing, residue--is it an infection?
3
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 12:17pm
I hope this message doesn't post twice...the first one seemed to disappear...

I insert my NuvaRing on Friday, and so far, it's great. No side effects, no discomfort. Of course, in my paranoia, I check about once a day to make sure it's still there. Anyhow, yesterday, when I checked, I noticed a residue on my finger--tiny, grainy bits, like wet newspaper or oatmeal. I haven't ever had a yeast infection, so I'm wondering if it could be that, though I haven't noticed any burning, abnormal smell or other discharge. What could this be? Is it the normal sloughing of vaginal cells that I've never noticed before? Could it be some sort of reaction in my body that's either making my vagina "peel" or the ring shed? (Might it be something stupid like a bit of toilet paper that worked it's way up there and disintegrated?)

If this sounds familiar to anybody, especially other NuvaRing users, I'd love to hear from you.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 1:39pm
It could be yeast, which to me seems a little pasty and grainy (small white lumps) at the same time. Wait! No panicking until I'm done... ;) Yeast in your vagina is a very normal thing, and its mere presence does not indicate an infection UNLESS there's too much of it, which is when the itching and burning and copious amounts of discharge happen. I have more yeast with the ring (17 months) than I did with the pill, but it hasn't been an issue or turned into an actual infection more than once (thank you broad-spectrum antibiotics).

Does that sound about right?

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2004
Fri, 06-04-2004 - 11:25am
What your talking about is exactly why I had to give up the NuvaRing. I LOVED IT. I was on OTC for years and though I never had side effects at first (weight gain, moodyness) I eventually found that it was harder and harder to remember to take them, that I disliked carrying them around (I took them at 11 pm), and that I was becoming very moody and not sexually driven. Thus, I opted for the NuvaRing. I LOVED IT. My man didn't, but he also felt it was my decision.

BUT, we both noticed that my discharge was more abundant. He said it was "different." I knew it was more yeasty. I have NEVER had a yeast infection in my life and I am somewhat paranoid about them (I know they are not a big deal-I am just weird). It got to the point that I was removing it in the shower and rinsing it. Again, it really was not that big of a deal and truly not enough yeast to be a problem, but it bothered ME. Another thing that I was not too comfy about was that the lower hormones bumped me back on my regular cycle of 26 days.

I gave up the NuvaRing because I just could not handle the extra discharge and having an extra period a year (plus the worry that as I was back on my regular cycle I was not protected). However, I miss it. I loved the lower hormones. OTC is too much for me (and this time I gained 14 pounds) and so next time I am trying the lower hormone OTC.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2004
Wed, 06-09-2004 - 5:07pm
I have noticed the extra discharge, but it has not been a problem, yet! After reading the posts, I am a bit nervous.

My problem is that my ring tends to slip out. I even went to the doc to make sure that I was "inserting" it correctly. It only happens in the morning. Everyday, when I wake up, I have to re-insert it. Does anyone else have this problem? The doc said that I have it in just fine, that perhaps it is "too big for me"? Still, I love the low dose of hormones, and I don't want to change.

Any advice?