Overcoming BC induced NO SEX DRIVE

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-04-2003
Overcoming BC induced NO SEX DRIVE
6
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 2:41pm

My one side effect of the Nuvaring has been NO SEX DRIVE.


I am not talking reduced - I mean an abrupt change from 4-5 times a week hugging kissing affectionate person to Honey, please don't touch me. For three solid weeks.


I thought it was just stress, but we still have the same stresses in our life and when I took our my nuvaring within about 24-36 hours - I was back to my old horny self and it kept getting better through today.


Tomorrow is the last day I can have the ring out -

MadsenFallSiggy3.png picture by jenniemadsen1

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 4:31pm
I have no experience with nuvaring, but have tried 3 types of pills over the years and have had the EXACT same experience you mention everytime I use hormone based bc. It stinks:(

I will hope if you continue that this symptom will decrease or disappear.

Sandy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2004
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 8:50pm
I had the same experience on hormonal bc, I stopped using them.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-04-2003
Sat, 10-09-2004 - 12:12am
What did you do instead?

MadsenFallSiggy3.png picture by jenniemadsen1

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 10-09-2004 - 10:27am
Hi Jennie, welcome!

I'm sorry, I've forgotten, I think you are new to using NuvaRing aren’t you? If you are it can take 3 or so cycles for your body to adjust to the hormones from your ring. Even so, reduced or loss of libido is a very common side effect of hormonal contraceptives. You can try switching to a different mix of hormones and see how you do. When I was on OTC it took 2 years but I lost my libido. When I realized what might have caused it I stopped hormones and my sex drive came back within a week! Now I use a cervical cap between menses and a diaphragm for flow control and contraception during them.

A very effective, low maintenance and long term method of birth control is an IUD. There are also cervical barriers, diaphragms and cervical caps, which can be very effective if the user has the motivation and discipline to use them correctly and consistently. There are posts in the FAQs about both methods. You might also want to take a look at these links to Planned Parenthood: contraceptive choices http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/cchoices.html and method effectiveness http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/bcfacts2.html Let us know how you’re doing and what you decide, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2004
Sat, 10-09-2004 - 4:20pm
I'm considering the copper IUD, I don't have any children so I'm not sure how well it would work, I also have a tilted uterus. I have been using condoms mainly. I just can't stand trying hormonal bc and then stopping and starting again. It never gets better for me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Sat, 10-09-2004 - 4:46pm
You can still get an IUD if you haven't had children. And a tilted uterus shouldn't be a problem either. Before they do the insertion, they do a procedure to check how the uterus is angled. I have never had children and my uterus is tilted and I had no problems with getting an IUD. My doctor told me it might hurt more for the insertion since I hadn't had children, but it actually didn't hurt at all. I had serious problems on birth control pills and an IUD was definitely a good choice for me.