Might be starting Nuvaring next month...

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2003
Might be starting Nuvaring next month...
8
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 3:57pm
So I went to my doctor today to discuss possibly going off the pill and starting hormone free for awhile. I haven't had any problems on my BCP...just sort of felt like I wanted to be off hormones. We discussed the cap, IUD, and then she brought up Nuvaring. She had me try one out and it seemed pretty good. She did apologize for trying to endorse it even though I went in with the intention to go off hormone BC, but she made me feel better about the hormones. I guess I'm just worried about the longterm effects, but she sort of quelled those fears. I'm interested in trying Nuvaring, it seems pretty neat and nice to not have to think about a pill everyday. I've only read good things about Nuvaring on this board, but has anyone else ever been in my situation where you wanted to get off hormones but stayed on them anyway? Do you think Nuvaring would be a good idea? My doc said she was on it for 6 years and loved it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2003
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 5:10pm
I used hormonal birth control for 10+ years and went off of it to have my son. I got pregnant the first cycle off the patch. I personally do not have issues with using hormones.
Which concerns do you have specifically? That will give us a starting point.
BTW, I like Nuvaring too, but if you so not want to use hormones, we’ll figure out something else.
Thanks,
Holly
Holly
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2003
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 5:20pm

I guess I'm just worried about long term health effects...like what the hormones are really doing to my body. I read about increased risk of breast cancer and all that, but my Doc just kept bringing up the fact that hormones can reduce the risk of other cancers (endometrial, ovarian, etc)...I know all that too. I told her that I was wondering how I "am" off of hormones...and she said in her own personal experience, she was off hormones for awhile and starting getting PMS and all that other stuff back and couldn't wait to go on them again. So who knows. She's not against me going off of them, but doesn't make them sound dangerous enough to do so.

I don't know, Nuvaring sounds pretty good, except for all these posts I'm reading about gaining weight! I don't want to gain weight!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2003
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 6:57pm
OK...now I'm really nervous about weight gain. I've been reading from too many people saying they gained 5, 10, 20 pounds on Nuvaring!!! That scares me so much!
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2003
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 6:56am
Help! Help! I need advice! I'm worried about using Nuvaring...its weird having something in you for 21 days straight...and I'm afraid of weight gain! Help!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 10:45am

Hi again hon,


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-06-2005
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 3:20pm

I've been on the ring for about 3 months now, and it

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2003
Wed, 04-04-2007 - 1:31pm
I used Nuva for 3 months and was able to lose weight during that time. I stopped using it because it decreased my milk supply (I knew that was a potential problem when I started it).
I checked for it about 3x per day at the beginning but I never had any trouble with it at all.
Good luck!
Holly
Holly
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 04-04-2007 - 10:57pm

Your doctor could not possibly have been on Nuvaring for six years unless she was part of the clinical trials and was still using it--it's only been on the US market since October of 2002. I started using it in December of 2002.

I wanted to get off hormones last year (after being on hormonal birth control for 9 years), but after being off for two months I couldn't wait to get back on. For me, the transition was pretty rough and being on hormones was just easier.

I have not had any weight issues with the ring. Nothing I've used has caused weight gain and I don't have issues trying to lose weight, but when I want to lose weight I put a good amount of effort (diet and exercise, mostly exercise) into it. Gaining weight is a natural part of aging, but is not a given with any form of birth control except Depo Provera (and some women lose weight with Depo).

You might as well give it a try--you won't know how it goes for you by reading about other people's experiences. We're all different, and one person's experience is not a predictor for how your experience will be. It could be the best birth control you've ever used, or it might not be, you'll just have to see.

Good luck!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control