Loestrin- Microgestin Fe VS. NuvaRing

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2004
Loestrin- Microgestin Fe VS. NuvaRing
3
Mon, 11-15-2004 - 4:49pm
Okay, I think I may want to start NuvaRing. Thing is, I just got my Dr to make a switch to Loestrin (Actually, Microgestin FE 1/20) I'm gonna give that a go for a while, but am quite prone to libido changes, and I'm reading that some have had a problem on this particular drug. (By the way, I switched to a lower estrogen b/c of of the slight insanity induced by other pills) I also read that the Ring has lowered libido for others as well. I just gotta know what to try next if this Microgestin doesn't work out.

So, this is just a request for any experiences with either of the medications... Loestrin- Microgestin Fe 1/20 OR NuvaRing. My main concerns are Emotional Flip-Flopping, Weight Gain, Libido, and Skin Condition.

Any input?

Thanks to all!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2004
Tue, 11-16-2004 - 11:16am
Not sure about Loestrin, but I was on the Depo Shot, and hated it, much weight gain, moodiness, and low libido. I switched to Nuva Ring and am doing so much better, less hormones! Worth researching for sure :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 11-17-2004 - 7:32am

I took Loestrin 1.5/30 for about four years. I didn't have any trouble with it except that my skin got dry and I developed a contact allergy to fragrances (and my doctor told me I was nuts and surprise surprise it went away when I stopped taking Loestrin). That and with the high progestin dose, I had a lot of difficulty lubricating during sex and ended up having to stop taking it because I developed atrophic vaginitis. AV is typically seen in menopausal women due to an estrogen shortage, and from that I went into dysethetic vulvodynia. I don't blame Loestrin for the DV, for that I blame Triphasil, but that's another story!

After that, I switched to Nuvaring. Overall, I like the ring better than Loestrin because it's a better fit for ME. I do better with the lower progestin dose, I don't have any issues with the fragrance allergy any more, no random dermatitis. I didn't gain weight with either. I don't have mood issues with either. No acne with either, though my skin was clearer with Loestrin. But I'd wager that both (and the slew of other things I've been through in the last three years) have affected my libido. The good news is that even though I don't feel like doing it, I can lubricate, and my periods are pretty light, lighter than with Loestrin.

Libido is a very personal thing. When you shut down the ovaries to get them to stop ovulating, you're also asking them to stop producing as much testosterone. When you reduce your testosterone production, you improve your skin sometimes, but you also lose your libido sometimes. Whether or not each different concoction of hormones will affect your libido will depend on how your body reacts to each one, so we can't really help you with that part!

I'm not sure if that helps you, but it's been my experience! Would I take Loestrin again? Well, not now, but I would if I knew to watch for symptoms of an estrogen shortage (decreased lubrication, lighter and later periods, shrinking of the genitals, increased susceptibility to infection, loss of pubic hair, burning on urination.....). It's an all right pill, just not right for me.

Good luck!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2004
Thu, 11-18-2004 - 8:35am
Thank you so so very much- very informative! I get more knowledge here than my Dr. I know each pill is different, but I read up here, see which pill affect people in which way and sort of relate it to my experience, to see if I'm "in sync" hormonally with others...then go from there. Until coming here, I really thought I just had to live with it, part of being female.
Thanks to all for the input.
=)