Broken Nuvaring

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Broken Nuvaring
17
Sun, 06-27-2004 - 9:47pm
I remember reading a while back that someone had a nuvaring break inside of them. I had the same thing happen and just noticed it today. I called them, but of course they are not open on the weekends. So, does anyone know if a broken ring is as effective as a non-broken one? Should I take it out and put in a new one?

Thanks for any answers!

Lisa

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: lisabek
Sun, 06-27-2004 - 10:08pm
Hi Lisa,

You can wear it while it's broken? Doesn't it hurt?

Were you wearing it conventionally? I think, if I remember correctly, the other member who had a ring break was wearing it doubled up. If I were you I'd remove the broken ring and replace it with a new one and, just to be safe, use back-up for at least 7 days. Let us know how you were wearing your ring when it broke and what the NuvaRing people say, ok?

Edited 6/29/04 to note that the original member whose NuvaRing broke was wearing it correctly and not doubled.

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: lisabek
Mon, 06-28-2004 - 11:13am
No, my ring was not doubled up. But I was using an over the counter yeast infection cream at the time. I wonder if that had something to do with it?

I haven't heard back from the Nuvaring people yet, but I will let you know what they say.

Thanks for the response.

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: lisabek
Mon, 06-28-2004 - 1:37pm
The nuvaring people just called me back. They said to take out the broken ring and insert a new one. I am to leave the new one in for the 11 days I had left on my old ring and remove it then. I am also supposed to use a back up birth control for the rest of this cycle because they don't know how effective a broken ring is. Lovely, huh? The nice thing is that they are sending me a voucher for a free ring. That is helpful because I don't have prescription coverage on my insurance!

They also want me to talk to their drug development department...they are supposed to call me back later today.

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: lisabek
Mon, 06-28-2004 - 5:01pm
Hey Lisa. Thanks for the update on your situation. I am on nuvaring (2nd month.) I thought I had a yeast infection last month and did an OTC treatment, only to discover (on this board) that I probably didn't really have a full blown Yeast Infection. This month, I am discovering that I am just way way way more yeasty on the ring than without it.

Curious what the drug development people are going to ask you. It does say on the web site that its okay to use OTC yeast infection treatment while using the ring.

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2003
In reply to: lisabek
Mon, 06-28-2004 - 6:37pm
Lisa, That is great that the Nuvaring company is sending you a voucher. I too would have been very bummed to spend the extra money for another month's worth..whether is was covered by insurance or not!


Sara, I am finishing up my first month with the Nuvaring and I too am noticing that I have more discharge..But it isn't so bad..I think I will get used to if eventually. It isn't itchy like a real yeast infection but semi-annoying none-the-less






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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: lisabek
Tue, 06-29-2004 - 6:46pm
I got a call back from Organon's (the maker of Nuvaring) drug development/quality control people. The woman I talked to just asked about my height, weight, age, ethnicity, whether or not I was taking any other medications, how I found out the ring was broken, if I had any side effects after I noticed the ring was broken and whether I was using the ring as prescribed (3 weeks in, one week out). She said they have been hearing about a few broken rings and they are trying to fix that problem. Other than that, she didn't give me much information. I am supposed to use back up birth control for the rest of this cycle, but I don't know how long the ring was broken before I found it, so I am kind of concerned that I may have not been protected before I found my ring was broken. They couldn't (or wouldn't...I don't know) tell me how effective the ring was when broken. Anyway, I am due to remove my ring a week from Friday (7/9) so I will have to wait until then to find out if this broken ring caused a pregnancy.

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: lisabek
Tue, 06-29-2004 - 7:49pm
Hey, I would think that you still would be protected even with the broken ring. Don't be too stressed. I think they just couldn't guarantee that you are still protected for legal reasons. Plus, they probably haven't really tested that yet. But its not like the horomones would suddenly disappear and no longer be released just because it was now a U instead of and O.

I think you're okay, but i would still use condoms until then.

Sara

Avatar for aerandel
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: lisabek
Tue, 06-29-2004 - 8:42pm
Hi Lisa! I am the one who had the broken nuvaring a while back. I went to PP immediately and they insisted on removing it for me and they compensated by giving me a new ring for free. I also called organon and they were very apologetic and sent me coupons in the mail for 3 months of my nuvaring prescription for free. The problem is, nobody was willing to tell me about whether or not the pregnancy protection was compromised. Everyone kept saying "I don't know" or "I'm not authorized to give that information" etc, etc. So definately use backup!!! Good luck! If you can take your nuvaring out yourself, you might want to. To be honest though I thought I could get mine out myself but the nurse practioner had a hard time getting it out, it took a few tries. They ended up saving the ring as evidence or whatever so you may want to have your gyno take it out for you so they can look at it and check and make sure you aren't injured inside from the sharp edges. Good luck and let us know what happens.

                          

             

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: lisabek
Tue, 06-29-2004 - 8:44pm
Thanks for the reassurance. I agree, I *think* the hormones should have still been released even when the ring was broken. I am not going to obsess over it or anything, but I will be happy to know for sure that I am NOT pregnant just the same!

Lisa

Oh, and you are probably right about them not testing broken rings yet since it is still so new. But, who is going to want to test a broken ring? I could just here the Nuvaring people telling women, "Here, try this ring. We don't know how effective it is when broken and we want to find out how many of you get pregnant while using it". :)

Avatar for aerandel
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: lisabek
Tue, 06-29-2004 - 8:47pm
Another note: I also was using an OTC yeast infection med when my ring broke. I think we're on to something here!!!

and also, someone said something about my ring being doubled up, but that is wrong, I was using it correctly and it broke. I was told that there was no problem using the OTC yeast infection med yet apparently it weakened the ring and it broke the day after I inserted a 3 day ovule insert for treatment of the yeast infection.

                          

             

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