Nuvaring - Grand Prairie,TX

Hi D.. I've been on the ring for over a year now. Got on it after the birth of my 4th child. I don't care much for daily birth control pills (I often forgot them). I am VERY sensitive to hormones so the low dosage is helpful. I love it as far as not having to remember a daily pill and it is very easy to use. As far as "feeling" it, I have never noticed it. My husband says he has just a few times but didn't really care. I have done some research lately about the emotional effects of it and really wonder about how much it contributes. I've tried to track it over the last few months but haven't come up with anything significant. I do notice I get nauseous after being off of it for a week and then starting a new one. I did not notice any weight gain or acne with it. In fact my face has never been clearer. So, don't know if it helps you but I do like it way more than the pill.

The NuvaRing was the only birth control I ever had major side effects from. I started having shortness of breath and chest pains. I went to the doctor several times before I read the nuvaring pamphlet again and realized it could be from that. As soon as I stopped taking it the symptoms stopped. These aren't common side effects from it but it was the only bc that I had serious side effects from.

Well, I don't know if I can offer you some help or not, but here is what I can tell you!

#1 MIRIENA is NOT hormone free! It has hormones in it and that is why it only lasts 5 yrs. Only the copper (old-fashioned) IUD is hormone free and many drs won't or don't like to use it anymore.

#2 I have pretty severe mid-cycle ovulation pain as well and was on Nuva Ring for 2 yrs. Mostly, I liked how it handled the issues that you questioned. I did not gain weight on it (not until I went off it did I actually gain weight), no acne (my skin was actually very clear) and I was not moody. If it did anything, it may have lessened my labido but that is questionable as my labido was never very high to begin with. HOWEVER, it did NOT help my mid-cycle pain! In fact, what I did not like about it and the reason I did get off of it was that it made me constantly feel crampy just as I did when I was pregnant (twice before). I had cramps on and off through-out the whole cycle when I was on the Ring and on occassion, breast tenderness and other "me-pregnancy symptoms": this is why I got off it! I am in no way saying though that it might effect you the same way it did me as we are all very different in this category. One thing I can tell you is that your body does need 6 mos (according to several drs that have told me this) to totally adjust to it since it is low-dose compared to other hormonal options so if you do decide to try it, do not rule it out until you have been through rougly 6 cycles.

As for comparing it to the pill, well, it is really completely different as it is very low hormone and a continuous release of hormone (which the pill is not). According to most drs, it is one of the best options for BC since it is contininous and low hormone but you can NOT get a generic form of it so you will pay more for it than most pills.

Just one note on blood clots (raised from a reply below): All oral contraceptives raise the risk of blood clots and blood pressure. To my knowlege, there are oral contraceptives that raise the risk of blood clot more than the Nuva Ring. I would double-check the theory that blood clot issues are caused more with the Ring than the offered Oral Contraceptives because last I saw, it was about the same with certain orals being more likely than the ring to cause clots.

Hope any of this will help you with this decission. Birth control decissions are not easy for anyone, esp when birth control effects everyone in such different ways!

Good luck!

I personaly LOVE the Nuvaring.... I have gone through so many birth controls it's unreal. I never had any break through bleeding, weight gain or acne with it. And I don't have to remember to take a pill everyday. It's not uncomfortable, at first you may feel a little something inside, but you get use to it. And it does not affect intercourse in anyway. I really recommend you try it. If it doesn't work for you, you can always switch. Good luck, I hope the info helps. Oh, I also have to have a low dose hormone on birth control, if I get to high with the hormones, I have break through bleeding.... I never had any problems being on the Nuvaring.

Every one is different, but my personal experience with Nuvaring came through my best friend. After developing breathing problems that the doctors kept relating to her asthma, and a problem with swelling in her leg that they said was some sort of muscle related injury she was diagnosed with blood clots in her leg & lungs so severe that she was rushed directly to the hospital and had to remain there for a few days on heavy doses of cumadin and another blood thinner. She was told that at any time, one of the clots could have broken loose and killed her within minutes. Several times during this period (several months) she had advised her MD's that she was on the Nuvaring and one of the warnings was related to blood clots and stroke and they all dismissed it. She since has done extensive research on line and has come up with tons of information and warnings from former users regarding blood clots. It wouldn't have made it on the market if there weren't significant tests done, but beware of changes in your health while on it & don't let your doctors misdiagnose serious & life-threatening issues if you feel something isn't right!

Good morning, D.,
My youngest daughter tried the Nuvaring last year and had a lot of problems with it, weight gain and moodiness, which stopped when she removed it.
My advice to you is try it, if your doctor recommends it and if you have problems, then consider using a good old fashioned diaphragm. They are very non invasive and reliable, if used consistently. Also get the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Dr. Toni Weschler. It is excellent and has some great information.
Good luck!

its funny about birth control it seems either a women loves it of hates it. as for the nuvaring I had it for 4 or 5 mo. and during that time I had 3 yeast infections and my doctor said that it might be caused by the ring, so I changed to just the pill and didn't have anymore yeast infections, I don't remember having any increase in moodiness, weight gain, or acne but like I said I didn't have it for long. I have the miriena now and its a love hate relationship, lol.

I have used nuvaring and love it. It's easy, if you can get one of their timers, it's really helpful, but I'm not sure if they give them away anymore. You insert it vaginally, and the only "issue" I had was my hubby and I can feel it when we are intimate. Not painful, but weird. No weight gain, no acne, but I would assume everyone is different.

I have been on the Nuvaring now for 3 years and haven't had any issues (no weight gain, acne, etc). My doctor says it's just as effective as the pill. I've been very pleased with it. I hope this helps.

I used it for a couple of months. I didn't have much for a period, very light. I had an ovarian cyst at the time at it was painful. Not sure exactly what caused it. I did have a lot of brown spots on my face as a result of Nuava Ring and yes I gained a little bit of weight. I had some big brown spots on my face and I didn't like that. It was a side effect of it. I tried Mirena also and found out I wasn't suppose to be on it. I have a blood clotting problem, so I'm not suppose to be taking it since it increases blood clots. Now, I don't take anything- my husband got a vasectomy.

Nuava Ring to me was better than the Mirena, more comfortable. It was a little messy when you were taking it out.

Just wanted you to know the Mirena does have hormones - that is how there are no periods.

I used it for awhile. Very bad mood swing. It took me about 3 months to figure out. I didn't like at all. FYI

When I was on it as far as side effects go, I had none. My body did have trouble adjusting though and I was menstrating 2 times a month, but the doc thinks if I had stayed on it longer I would have gotten used to it. I stopped only because we were ready for another baby- and it took NO time to leave my system, we were able to conceive the week after stopping.

I was on it before and have tried many things in the past. I think this has been mentioned, but the ring is not non-hormonal - it does have hormones. It may be a lower dosage, I don't know, but if you're having severe pain you definently want the hormones to keep that under control. I have suffered severe pain from endometreosis for a long time and being on birth control with hormones is the only thing that has controlled it.

That being said, give the ring a try. Like everyone says you either love it or hate it. I personally hated it. I didn't have any side effects from it at all. My issue with it was a wierd one. It was all psychological. I knew it was there, but I couldn't really feel it, so I was always stressing over whether it was in or not! I almost became obsessive about it. It drove me crazy so I went back to pills. I told you it was crazy!

That being said, if you decide not to do the ring - I had a lot of luck keeping my pain under control with the pill seasonique. You only get your period every 3 months, so less pain.

I'll also give another piece of advice - stay away from the Depo Shot! I gained about 50 lbs in 3 months - went almost overnight from a size 2 to an 8. Lost my sex drive almost completely too. I've heard alot of other people say the same thing.

Good luck whatever you decide to do, and hope the pain gets better - I know how bad it can be!

Weight gain, no, acne no, moodiness....OMG my husband said I was a monster on Nuvaring. Just extrememly irritable. I do have PCOS so my hormones are a little wacky anyway, hopefully you won't turn into the mega "B" like I was. The other thing that I didn't care for with the ring is the constant vaginal secretions. It got to a point I had to wear a panty liner everyday. Hopefully you'll have better luck.

I was on it for about 3 years before we had our daughter and I loved it. I had no side effects whatsoever. Nothing. I loved it and plan on getting back on it when I stop nursing. I highly recommend it.

Best of luck

I have the Paragaard IUD. It is non-hormonal. It uses copper as birth control. I know nothing about Nuvaring.

I was on the NuvaRing for about 5 years. I absolutely loved it! I got to the point where I would leave it in for 4 weeks, then put in a new one, thereby skipping my period. I didn't have any trouble with weight gain, acne, moodiness, etc. The only side effect that I ever experienced, which could be seen as a good thing or a bad thing, was increased vaginal lubrication. It did start to taper off after about 3 months or so.
I stayed on it until my husband and I decided to get pregnant. Took it out and 2 1/2 months later I was preggers.
Also, I worked in a women's clinic for 8 years. Of all the different birth controls (pills, patch, ring, & depo, the ring had the least amount of side effects, least amount of side effects, and most user friendly. Easy to put in (you can also use a tampon applicator to insert) and to remove. And the likelihood of unwanted pregnancy is much less (due to user use/error) than any of the other methods, even depo I noticed. Plus it does have less hormones that the pill.

My gyno recommended it. I tried it and liked it but our insurance wouldn't cover it. Didn't have any side effects but only tried it one month.

I love the Nuvaring. No side effects for me (certainly no libido decrease as I saw someone said), lighter periods, easy to use, no pill to remember (or to forget!). No problems at all for me- using for years.

Hi D., I'd like to give one more vote for the ring. I've been on it for years and haven't noticed any side effects.
If you do try it, one hint I learned from a girlfriend is to use a empty tampon to insert it. It's a slippery little thing lol!! :) Best of luck!

K.