STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

sfclinevandy · Coach

NuvaRing for BC

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

I love it. The pill makes me crazy, but the ring's side effect was slightly bigger boobs. I recommend taking it out before sex, though. It can stay out for up to three hours without impairing effectiveness. That can be a little awkward, but it's better than going crazy. (Seriously, the pill made me bonkers).

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

My best friend is on it and loves it. Apparently, it can be felt in a few positions during sex, but can be taken out for a few hours. She recommeds it to everyone.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

I used it for a while. I am really sensitive to every bc form I have tried. Ultimately, I had enough trouble with the ring to stop using it. But, if I had to go back on something, I would go back on it because the side effects were mild compared to other forms.

Benefits I experienced
Clear skin
Convenient bc
Didn't feel it at all
lighter periods

Problems I had
Low libido
Suceptibility to irritation/infections
more...can't remember

TMI (but important) Be careful when you use tampons; the nuvaring can get caught and pull out without you knowing.

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

To address that last point - my ring is supposed to come out for seven days a month, and that's when I get my period. I've been using it to skip periods though (seriously, this is the BEST invention ever) so I just put in a new one. But if you're using the kind I have, and getting your period on it, you may not be using it correctly and it could be less effective.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

Yeah, I would have just a couple days of overlap when the 7 days were over.

relrel · Marc Jacobs

I use the ring, but hopefully I'm done in less than six months. My doc, when I went to her and asked for a IUD, she was leery because I've never had kids and they are harder to fit on never-dilated cervixes. Anyway...she said she would do the IUD as long as I gave something besides the pill a chance. I wanted to come off of hormones and wanted something more long term but the ring was a compromise for now.

If I wasn't absolutely sure that I wasn't having kids ever, I would stick with the ring. It's fairly easy to use as long as you are comfortable with your own body. My sister, who doesn't use tampons, was totally freaked out about the ring when I mentioned it to her. I had previously been on pill BC (Ortho-tri, actual brand and generic form) for about ten years and the ring was about the same mood wise for me. I had noticed that my libido did come back, I guess about halfway if I had to quantify it. However, one caveat- if you are at all prone to yeast infections or other vaj infections, the ring might make them worse or increase their frequency. That's the main problem that I've had with it.

Mitz · BCBG

relrel wrote:
However, one caveat- if you are at all prone to yeast infections or other vaj infections, the ring might make them worse or increase their frequency.

My sister had been on the NuvaRing, but, and sorry if this is TMI, she had to stop because she started getting an awful vaginal discharge from it. She said she had never had any problems with infections or discharge before.

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

My friend raves about the nuvaring, and hasn't complained of any side effects.

As for the IUD, the Mirena only lasts 5 years, so if you're not planning on having kids for a while, I still might look into it. It did hurt when they put it in, but the trade-off of never having to think about BC, light periods, and no violent mood swings has made it worth it.

littlebean · Kate Spade

I have tried a number of different pills, etc. and got by far the worst pms (from intense emotional swings to acne to sore back to everything) while I was on the NuvaRing. I love the patch, though, and have never had any problems with it sticking on in two+ years of use.