Birth Control options (Nuva Ring?)

[steph_co 9]

I'm having a heck of a time figuring this out. I've never been on any form of birth control, DH is the only man I've been with that way and we've only gotten pregnant once, this past July and then I miscarried. Well, the social worker at my surgeon's office said I have to wait 18 months before TTC again after I get the band. :faint:I HATE that, but I'll do it just so everything turns out healthy.

I can't figure out what to do. pills will NOT work for me - I'm terrible at remembering that stuff and I know I'll get pregnant if remembering everyday is up to me. I've been looking into the Nuvaring, but I'm really nervous to take any kind of birth control because of the weight-gain thing. Does anybody have the Nuva Ring and is still losing weight? I hate this kind of stuff. I haven't even seen a regular gyno since 2004 when I got fed up with all the infertility testing and quit going.

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum - I wasn't sure where to put it.

[jmarruda 22]

What about the new Mirena IUD? Last 5 years at a time.

[lo2us 1]

I've used Nuva Ring for the past 3 years because pills make me crazy because of the hormones! Nuvaring is low hormone and I love it. You can download a program (Nuvatime) from their website that will send you a reminder of when to take it out and put it in. I'm not having any trouble with it so far. It does take some practice to insert it, but it's not bad. I'm losing weight fast, so I guess it doesn't effect me like that.

[infamy 0]

You could refrain entirely from messing with your hormones and go barrier for 18 months (diphragm, condoms or both) - that's really not that long. This is going to be an emotional enough time, as it is. I'm not anti-chemical, but you might want to spare yourself another thing to stress and worry about.

Regardless of what you do - get yourself to your gyno and get a proper checkup! That's way more important.

[Daisalana 33]

I have been on the pill of some sort since I was 14 due to hormone problems. When I was about 18 I asked to be put on the 'patch'.. doc told me, since I was overweight, it would not be as effective because of how much my body needs. So, I am still on the pills. 21 days to make a habit.. Keep it next to your bed at night (thats what I do) with your Vitamins and Calcium. I take them all right before sleepy time.

IUD looked scary to me, maybe it's not as bad as it looks but the diagram does leave one to wonder.

Never heard of this ring though, ask your gyno

I did have to go off of my b/c pills for about 2 months (1 before and 1 after surgery).

[Dibaby 0]

I LOVEEE MY NUVORING!! It's fabulous. I hate taking pills and I'm bad at it..(hence my 6 year old..lol). You can take the ring out for 3 hours at a time..and your still covered. I don't feel it at all. Most the time the guy doesnt' even notice its there. I didn't want a IUD because there were too many side effects that I have seen listed. I also think you have to have a full term pregancy to have an IUD. I'm not certain though. With an IUD also you have this string thing hanging out of you all the time..no thanks. Good luck with your choice

[SheShe 0]

I have the Nuva ring and I started right before my surgery, I have been losing weight like a champ! And I love it!

[bandster_1007 1]

i used the NUVA Ring for 2 years in college. A family friend who is also a gynecologist said it was the best as far as lower dose hormones (now they have the pill Yaz which is supposed to be better..but). i loved the convenience of my Nuva Ring. it was awesome. HOWEVER, i was not sexually active at the time, and i kept coming up with bacterial vaginitis (wasn't using toys or anything like that). i asked my gynocolost if it could have been the ring and she said that she didn't think so. however, i stopped using the NUVA Ring 3 years ago and i have not had it again since. Before, i literally was getting every 3 weeks or so. I may just be really sensitive though, as i cannot take baths due to urinary tract infections, have to be super careful with soap for that reason too, and i cannot use latex condoms for that reason.

it is wonderful though, for birth control without thinking about it.

[GenaO 0]

The Nuva Ring is the best birth control I have ever been on, Just pop it in and go for 26 days. So easy and convenient!!! I actually lost 8 lbs in the first 2 months I was on it. I will nerve go back to any other BC.

[GenaO 0]

PS, I lost the 8 lbs before having the band(not banded yet) and never had a single UTI or vaginitis

[Arin 0]

I have not been banded yet, but I have never gained weight on any form of birth control yet. As you know, everyone is different though. I was on the patch for a little over a year, but it always got that gross looking ring around it from my clothes or lint rubbing on it. I always worried it would come off, and it sometimes did toward the end of the time you need to wear it before changing...So that is not good. I then tried the ring. I didnt mind the ring, but I felt like I needed to reach in and check it a lot. That was strange. I never felt it other than when I was putting it in or taking it out. There were however, a couple of times when it popped out during the act. I know you can take it out and put it back in after, but I was too paranoid to do that. I also had some breakthrough bleeding with the ring, so that was not cool. I am now on seasonal (pill) and I LOVE IT!!! I only have a period every 3 months, no bleeding in between, and I really have not had any problems with it at all. It was not too hard to get used to taking the pill either, it seemed to fit right in with the rest of my nightly routine; brush teeth, take pill, go to sleep. It works for me. Good luck, but I would definately schedule an appointment with you doctor. It is really important to stay current with your annual exams, your doctor can be a great resource for many of your questions as well. Good luck!!

[Daisalana 33]

I took ortho tri-cyclen and ortho tri-cyclen lo, and my doctors told me I could take the 'active' pills back to back (skip the 'sugar pills') and I don't have periods.. when I had surgery and was off 2 months, it was horrendous.

I swapped to Yaz about 3 weeks ago, to see if it helps on my moodiness (thats why I was swapped to lo a couple years ago, but I still am a mess around TOM even if I'm not bleeding), and I am taking the 'active' pills back to back to keep from having periods again.

I did try the depo shot a couple years ago and gained 30lbs in 1 month. My friend gained 80lbs from depo.. so I'm not a big advocate of it.

Since I have been on B/C pills since I was 14 I can't ever tell if it's responsible for weight gain, and of course only time I was off was 2 months for lap-band and I was losing weight anyway! Once we have 2 kids, I'm having him get 'fixed' and I'll be off b/c, and I guess by then I'll be at my ideal and will never know

[stacy73 2]

I have been on the nuva ring for 3 years- I love it- I got terrible headaches from the pill-so that didn't work-this is easy to use and you never know its there-it can be challenging when it is time to remove it but other than that no problems whatsoever-I don't think it has had any effect on weight for me personally

[Lucy 0]

I was on the Nuva Ring for a few months and loved/hated it. It was great to not have to think about it every day, but I still felt some effects from the hormones. What I really hated about it was that once you pick it up from the pharmacy you have to keep it in the fridge until you use it. For someone who does a lot of traveling, it was really inconvenient to have to always keep it refrigerated.

I've had a really hard time being on the pill -- it really messes with my emotions during PMS. Look into the Mirena IUD, I've been begging my gyn for it but she won't install it since I've never had children (a prerequisite to the IUD which recent studies have actually shown is a bunch of BS).

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[steph_co 9]

Thank you so much for your responses, ladies. I'll need to find a gyno and discuss my options. I promise I'll get on it after the band. I have enough to worry about right now.

What about the new Mirena IUD? Last 5 years at a time.

That would actually be my preference, but I've read that you're an ideal candidate if you have had at least one child. I remember hearing that it makes it a WHOLE lot easier for the doctor to place because your cervix has been opened due to giving birth. I've never had any kids.

You can download a program (Nuvatime) from their website that will send you a reminder of when to take it out and put it in.

Oh, now that's cool. That would work for me.

You could refrain entirely from messing with your hormones and go barrier for 18 months (diphragm, condoms or both) - that's really not that long. This is going to be an emotional enough time, as it is. I'm not anti-chemical, but you might want to spare yourself another thing to stress and worry about.

Regardless of what you do - get yourself to your gyno and get a proper checkup! That's way more important.

I can't do condoms. Seriously. We got some for use during my fertile time last month to avoid getting pregnant and screw up being able to get banded. Rather than using them, I just avoided sex altogether. I HATED it, but I dreaded the idea of messing with the dang condom even more. But there's no way I can do that for 18 months. I have zero self control. Hence my weight. LOL

I know I need to get to the gyno. Every visit became a huge emotional disappointment, so it's hard to not see it that way when I make an appointment. And we've moved so many times, I don't even have a gyno in this area. I have to find one. :nervous

21 days to make a habit.. Keep it next to your bed at night (thats what I do) with your Vitamins and Calcium. I take them all right before sleepy time.

When I was pregnant, I had to take my pre-natals and I did force myself to remember, but every once in awhile I'd miss a day or two. Can't you possibly get pregnant if you miss even one pill?

What I really hated about it was that once you pick it up from the pharmacy you have to keep it in the fridge until you use it. For someone who does a lot of traveling, it was really inconvenient to have to always keep it refrigerated.

Haha! Refrigerated?? Weird. I could do that, though.