Thinking about Nuvaring, Questions

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2006
Thinking about Nuvaring, Questions
10
Wed, 06-27-2007 - 11:40pm

Hi ladies

I am no stranger to using BC, but its always been the pill. I kept having too many issues on the pill, depression, mood swings, yeast infections, to name a few (the worst of the symptoms) and have heard good things about the ring. I did check the archives but I had a few more questions if you don't mind?

#1. I checked out Nuvaring.com, so the ring lays flat against your vaginal wall? I always thought it went around your cervix area? And how far up does it go? (1/2 way I'm guessing from the demo, I always thought all the way up)

#2. I am worried my BF will either feel it or pull it out! (This has happened to friends) If I do decide to take it out for intercourse (I heard I have a 3 hour period) how do you store it during those times? So it doesn't pick up bacteria or dust? And do you have to rinse it to reinsert it or anything?

#3. I heard it was a lower dose so do you think my problems on the pill (described above) would be less likely with the ring?

#4. Can you skip periods on the ring? How?

Thank you so much for taking the time to those who answer my questions. I am due to start my period on Sunday, and plan on calling my GYN tomorrow to get the ring (I was just in for my pap on Monday June 4, but went with my old pill standby and am having second thoughts)

TIA
Katie

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2006
Thu, 06-28-2007 - 1:49pm

I can answer a couple of your questions. Hopefully I'm not too late!

You asked if your problems on the pill would go away with the ring. With me, they did! I had problems on Mircette which, at the time, was very low hormones. My dr. put me on the ring and I had no problems after that.

You can skip your period when on the ring by putting in a new ring every 3 weeks.

I hope that helps. In my own experience, I would take the ring out for sex and put it back immediatly afterward. I don't think I did anything more special than putting it on a clean surface while DTN. I didn't rinse it off. Also, I don't know if it lays flat against the vaginal wall or not, but I didn't notice it at all when it was in. As I recall, sometimes I would have a little trouble getting it out, but either bearing down on the toilet or laying down always made it really easy.

HTH!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-06-2005
Thu, 06-28-2007 - 3:28pm

Hi Katie-


I had some bad experiences on the pill (Ortho Lo and Aviane) and switched to the Nuvaring about 5 months ago.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2006
Sat, 06-30-2007 - 9:39am
as long as it's "in" you're ok, it doesn't have to go around your cervix just be in your body for it to be absorbed. and you can skip periods like regular pills. i love it and hope you have a good experience if you try it:)
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2007
Sat, 06-30-2007 - 9:21pm

I've been on tons of them over the years, and used the Nuvaring for about the past 11 months. I liked it! The PMS symptoms were about the same as my last pill, Estrostep FE, but that's also very low-dose so they weren't that bad before (they were terrible on other pills, worst on Depo-Provera). My period got to be very short, but still a little intense for a day or two.

As far as where it sits, there's really not a wrong place to put it as long as it stays in. As long as it is in contact with the skin in there, you're good. I just jammed it in there each month and could not feel it at all afterward! Often it shifted during the month, but I always found it with no problem. Removing it is a little more difficult and definitely a little bit gross, but not a big deal.

My husband never removed it accidentally (or on purpose, technically), nor did he feel it most of the time. Occasionally he said he noticed it slightly but it wasn't an issue. My house is very dusty and we have several very nosy cats, so removing it temporarily really wasn't an option I would ever consider!

Honestly, the convenience of not bothering with a daily pill was AWESOME. I'll never go back! I quit recently because we're trying to get pregnant, otherwise I would stay on it forever. I'd recommend it highly!

BTW I used to have a lot of trouble with yeast infections back about 10 yrs ago. They went away after I fixed up my diet (added daily organic yogurt, which I HATE but still eat because it's good for me) and broke up with the wrong man. I swear my body was rejecting him! Once I got with the right person, I never had a problem again.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-30-2007
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 3:18pm

I went on the Ring after a failed attempt at going back to the pill after I had my baby. I stuck with it for almost a year but I had finally had enough! My experience with ring wasn't a bad one but it wasn't a great one.

Good things: only have to think about once a month and there is a handy dandy timer you can download from the website onto your desktop that will remind you when to take it out and when to put it back it in, you don't feel it when it's in, my husband never felt it during intercourse and the side effects were minimal.

Bad things: discharge discharge discharge!, my periods got heavier and I had bad cramps and pre-menstrual migraines.

As for storage when you take it out, rinse it with cool or cold water and put it back in the sealable package it comes in. It's perfect!

Good luck!
Melissa

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2004
Tue, 07-03-2007 - 11:24am
I went on nuva ring because my gyno said she used it and liked it. I also had a friend who absolutely loved it, so being that she gave me free samples, I figured I would try it. And let me tell you its been nothing but a generally unpleasant experience. For those that cannot feel it.. let me tell you.. I hate having sex right now because its so uncomfortable. It must push on something near where the urinary parts are because I always free like i have to pee or feel like i'm about to get a UTI. It also hurts and isn't even enjoyable. I think that some women are just build different then others, so for you, it may be good.. not sure.. I also was on it for two weeks and on the date the 3rd week was to start I started bleeding.. Enough that i've had to wear a tampon now for a week and am supposed to take it out this Friday, which means I will be getting my period for an additional two weeks. I do not know if the hormones aren't enough or what, but I hate it. So.. all in all, I have had a bad experience with it. Wouldn't suggest it to anyone, but if you get free samples like I did, I would say give it a shot, you may love it, some people do!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2004
Tue, 07-03-2007 - 12:45pm
I was on the ring for 10 months. I really liked that I only had to deal with it 2 days out of the month, to insert it and take it out. I LOVED not having to remember to take a pill everyday! What I didn't love was the constant, nonstop yeast infections!! I tried EVERYTHING under the sun to get rid of them and prevent them and NOTHING worked.. Finally about 3 weeks ago I got sick of it and stopped using them, my yeast infection cleared up immediately, and I haven't had one since! The other side effect I had, which I have with all hormonal b/c is that my sex drive was GONE, that has also thankfully started to come back now that I'm not on it anymore! So for now dh and I are just using condoms and while we both don't really enjoy using them, their better than dealing with the side effects of the Nuvaring.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2006
Mon, 07-23-2007 - 11:40pm
I've been on NuvaRing for about 3 months, and for the most part I like it. I don't usually notice it during sex, although every once in a while I'll feel it moved or rubbed against. I don't have any of the mood swings or bad PMS that I had with Triphasil. The only downside is that with those mood swings and crazy hormones went some of my sex drive. I guess I would recommend it; its at least worth a try.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-11-2007
Mon, 07-30-2007 - 7:54pm
I was on NuvaRing for 6 months...the only reason i stopped it is because I couldn't afford it anymore (no insurance). I enjoyed not having to think about bc, i was horrible taking the pill. my bf said he could feel it once in a while...but he liked it...i enjoyed it during sex because it made it tighter. :o) SOmetimes i would take it out, then rinsed it off before putting it back in. i think once he accidently pulled it out...but just check after sex. my periods were super light and short. Whenever i decide to go back on bc, i would definitely go back on it! oh, and it took a few months to get my period back after being on it...missed 3 periods, but am normal again!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 07-31-2007 - 11:04pm

I'm the poster child for a successful ring user.

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