Nuva Ring questions

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 28, 2007

Please make sure you report any undesired side-effects to your OB/GYN ASAP, if you have trouble! I hope this regimen agrees with you; good luck.

Ophelia78 · Mar 1, 2007

I despised the Nuva Ring because it irritated my bladder...but everything irritates my bladder. I was always a Patch girl myself before we ditched the BC. My sister has been using it for 3.5 years and loves it. The only incident she's ever had with it was when she and her fiance were being "intimate" and, ahem, it appeared he won the ring-toss game. They both thought it was hilarious...

daisybaby, LPN · Mar 2, 2007

Thanks again for the clarification/correction

I figured it was probably a mistype :)

I just started Nuva Ring myself (week and a half ago) and so far I LOVE it! I tried a lower-dose BCP for a few months (neuro. said my migraines were in part r/t ortho-cyclen so I tried Alesse) but the lower dose made me crabby/teary/miserable/NUTS.

Even though NuvaRing uses a low dose of hormones, the change in delivery seems to agree with me. The past 10 days is the longest I've gone without a migraine in months, and my mood has been really level, thank heavens! I have noticed an increase in appetite and craving for sweets, but perhaps blaming it on the Ring is wishful thinking?

OrigamiAirplane · Mar 2, 2007

The Nuvaring did not work for me at all. I hated it! I was on it for approx. 2 weeks and had about every side effect you could think of despite blood clots. For one thing I bled the whole time I was on it. I was extremely fatigued, had wierd emotional changes and couldn't go by the donut case without my mouth watering. If I stayed on it I'd probably be 20lbs heavier. Not to mention my libido disappeared. I thought, well what is the point? Prior to starting the ring my husband and I used condoms. We are back to that method and I am soooooo thankful!

RN BSN 2009 · Mar 2, 2007

I have a friend who uses it, she is really satisified and has had no side effects from it.

SharkLPN · Mar 2, 2007

My sister has been using it for 3.5 years and loves it. The only incident she's ever had with it was when she and her fiance were being "intimate" and, ahem, it appeared he won the ring-toss game. They both thought it was hilarious...

LOL! The same happened to my BF and I! Had us doubled over with laughter for a good 5 minutes. :lol2:

I used NuvaRing for about a year, and the only problem I had was ~ TMI alert! ~ a little more discharge than I was used to during non-menstrual times. My periods were lighter though, with less cramping, so it was a trade off I was happy to have. My hoo-haa must have been irritated a bit by the rings presence, but not enough to cause itching or pain. I just used pantiliners daily instead of using them only for tampon backup.

anne74 · Mar 2, 2007

So did anyone experience a lot of weight gain with the Nuvo ring? Also, a friend of mine didn't like it because it grossed her out when she had to "retrieve" it. (She's not a nurse, so maybe she has a lower tolerance for grossness.) So, do you have to take it out every 3 weeks?

And it does help with cramps? Does it work essentially like BC pills - releasing the same type of hormones as BC pills? Do most insurance companies cover it like the pill?

Cherish · Mar 2, 2007

Yes you take it out every 3 weeks. It has enough hormones in it to last a month. After that it wears down and you have a higher chance of pregnancy. It definately helps with cramps. I have had VERY BAD cramps, irregular and heavy bleeding since I started my period. Nuvaring has helped a lot. Ortho Tri Cyclen helped with me getting lighter and more regular periods but didnt do much about the cramps. I hated the patch I had very bad cramping with that. This has been the only BC that has helped with cramping and lighter periods.

I've never had the ring slip out of me. I am very active and exercise a lot. I think its a great method of BC. I was thinking of getting a IUD but the wait to get it done was about 2 mths so my physician suggested the Nuvaring till my appt. was available. Haven't thought about getting any other BC since starting.

Remember if it has slipped out that as long as its less than 3 hours you are protected. Also, you should carry an extra pack with you in your purse just in case something has happened. If its been more than 3 hours since the ring has been in your body, replace the ring and use a back up like a condom for 7 days. This is all explained to you in the insert of the package.

I have found that when I take the ring out when I shower every 3 days, wash the ring, and insert back in it combats the discharge. I found that this has helped a lot and I dont get the same discharge amount, it wasn't a lot anyways.

Spatialized · Mar 2, 2007

Probably TMI, but it was the best birth control my DW ever used. No crazy ups and downs, little to none weight gain (in fact she lost...), out of sight and out of mind and it worked...the next biggest thing is that she recommends it to anyone who will listen. Not an issue anymore though since we "pulled the goalie..."

Cheers,

Tom

Kinky Slinky RN · Mar 2, 2007

I was on depo provera (worst BC EVER) and then i got on the nuva ring... i was on the ring for about 6 months... i had migraines as a kid but then they went away when puberty hit.. when i got on the ring, my migraines came back like CRAZY.. it was terrible.. then my bf and i saw a study that if u have HAs with BC then ur more likely to have a stroke, so we decided to just yank it and never use it again... plus i gained about 20 lbs in 6 months on it...

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 2, 2007

Again, I must caution anyone considering any form of birth control, particularly hormonal forms, be sure to talk with health care providers, having a thorough review of health history taken, to be sure to ascertain what is best for YOU individually. No one here nor these anecdotes, can replace solid medical care and advice when considering such issues.

Thanks.

PattonD · Mar 4, 2007

SharkLPN said "TMI alert"....hehe thats funny!