Scared to start NuvaRing :(
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Scared to start NuvaRing :(
| Fri, 04-06-2007 - 4:40pm |
I think I've been reading too many horror stories on these boards lately that make me feel really uncomfortable to go on the ring. I just don't understand how it can be safe. It seems like there would be some adverse health affect from hormones getting directly absorbed through your vaginal walls like that. And how will it be for swimming? I'm in the pool...ALOT. Probably at least an hour or two a day, and will be more this summer as I start teaching more swim lessons. One pool I spend a lot of time in is usually 88-92 degrees, but sometimes gets as high as 97. Will that mess up the effects of the ring? How about going in hot tubs? Someone calm me down!

Hi Aimros,
I've been using NuvaRing for a year and a half now and I just love it! It is so easy to use and hardly anything to remember or worry about. My doctor prescribed that I try to wear 2 rings back to back 4 weeks each. (I had a tiny cyst that we hoped would go away with hormonal control, it worked!) I've learned that I can usually go 6.5-7.5 weeks before I start spotting. No worries for me, I either suffer through the spotting until my months are up or I take the ring out a bit early and insert a new one a week later.
I don't have any irritations. Although I do have a bit of extra discharge. But, now that I think about it..it's been less/non-existent the last 2 or so months.
I've also gone swimming on many occasions and it's never caused any problems. Water doesn't generally go up inside of our vagina, especially while swimming. The change in your body temperature surely won't be that much, even if in water for long periods..so there won't be any temp changes to effect your ring.
I also work out at the gym 3-5 times a week and head to sauna too. It gets hot in sauna! Still not pregnant here! :)
I say try it out! If you notice any problems or irritations, you can always take it out and I'd bet the problem would go away quickly without the ring inside you.
I hope I've helped. Let me know if there is anything more I can try to answer.
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I've been using the ring for over four years, pools and hot tubs are a regular part of my life and it's never been a problem. Your body temperature is what the ring is working with, and as long as your body can regulate its temperature, it shouldn't be a problem.
Absorbing chemicals through your skin is something that is done with a wide variety of medications. When you take the pill orally, you're absorbing the hormones through your digestive tract--it's really not that different with the exception of an extra trip through the liver. Where the risk comes in is from the hormones themselves, and that would be the same regardless of the delivery method.
Everybody's experiences with birth control are a little bit different. For as many horror stories as you read, there are at least as many success stories, people just don't come to message boards to talk about how much they like what they're using (not nearly as often, anyway). You won't know how it goes until you try it, you never know what might happen.
Good luck!
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