NuvaRing or IUD?
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| Sun, 06-18-2006 - 2:02pm |
Hello,
I'm 19 years old and I've been taking oral contraceptives for about a year and a half now. I started out with Mircette, which turned me into a complete bitchy mess for five months. Then I switched to Yasmin which has been loads better than the Mircette, but I still feel like I've been affected in a lot of ways and I'm only starting to acknowledge that now. For example, I can NOT lose weight. I used to be able to restrict to 1000-1200 calories for a few days and be able to lose a bit of extra bloat and now I can't do that at all. I've now been following WeightWatchers for a month and the scale hasn't budged. (Yes, I've been sticking to the plan.) I am also a bit jumpy and I react way too strongly to things that really aren't a big deal. I can start crying at anything and I'm just not myself. On top of all that, my sex drive is nowhere to be seen. These things are really starting to effect my relationship with my boyfriend (who I've been with since Nov. 2004).
I really want to switch to a non-hormonal IUD, but I don't know i any doctors are going to be so keen on giving one too me. A friend of mine uses NuvaRing and says that it's great, but I am just so leery about taking any hormones...is NuvaRing likely to create weight problems as well? Does it make the sex drive plummet? I really would like to solve these problems....
Anyway, please let me know your opinions and experiences! It would be much appreciated!
~Elyse

Hi himynameise, welcome!
Jill
I have used both. Right now I am using Nuvaring and am mostly happy with it, loss of libido
Mommy to Megan 1/20/01 & Sean 11/11/03
Hey Elyse,
Your reaction to the hormones sounds a lot like mine. I was a moody mess, gained weight, and completely lost my libido when I was on hormones of even the smallest dose. After several years of trying many different methods (shots, pills, IUD), I decided I just need to be hormone free. I got the paragard put in in April and I am thrilled with it. I have not had any issues with cramping or long periods yet and I finally feel like myself again.
I can't really say how nuvaring would work for me since I haven't tried it, but I feel better now than I ever have. I'm 24 right now and I have never had children. When I originally got the minera put in I was 22; my gyno at the time didn't exactly seem thrilled about giving it to me, but once she was convinced that I knew about the side effects and was well informed, she did it. Since then I've switched to another doctor and she did not have any problem giving me the paragard, so I don't think you should have too much trouble finding a doctor to do it for you, although you may need to look around a little.
Anyway, that's just my experience, but I really love paragard.
Hi Elyse,
Because of your age, the Nuvaring is probably better for you. Most doctors don't like inserting the IUD until a woman has had children... and for those that don't have children, they want them to be in long term monogamous relationships for the IUD.
I would imagine the Nuvaring probably works the same way in that the hormones stay in the vagina and uterus since it is not something you ingest like a pill... and it is placed directly in the reproductive organs. That would help to reduce any hormone related problems to the rest of your body.
Check out there website. It should tell you how the ring works.
megan
Elyse,
sorry to hear you're having issues with bc. I am on Mirena, the hormonal iud, ive had it for about a month, and i've had no problems whatsoever, ive been one of the lucky ones, i was put on it for my cramps. Many posters have reported issues with weight gain and acne, but luckly i havent experienced any of that (ive actually lost about 3 lbs, coincidence, maybe), i havent tried the nuva ring, but a friend of mine is on it, and she loves it! hope this helps, and good luck!
I've been using the ring for about 3 1/2 years.