Dr. Kate is an OB/GYN at one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City who’ll be answering your medical questions here regularly:
Dr. Kate,
I’m writing you because I’m a bit confused about NuvaRing. I would like to try it and I’m fitted to do so (no weight, age, smoking issues…) but I can read a lot of negative testimonies on the internet and it seems that many lawyers are trying to do a class action against this product. The abundance of negative info makes me confused. Do you think that they are just motivated by greed and that the product being FDA-approved should not present more dangers than any other contraceptives? Do you think that these lawyers are right and that NuvaRing presents more dangers than other contraceptives?
— Wannabe Ringer
Dear Ringer,
Birth control in all its forms is a magnet for negative feelings, bad press, and class-action lawsuits. So many folks find the idea of birth control abominable at heart, that it’s not “natural,” or that women shouldn’t be interfering with their fertility in any way. And these feelings influence how they talk about their experiences — or worse, about what’s “right” for other women. You’ll often find that unhappy people are the ones motivated to blog about their experiences, or talk to reporters, or approach lawyers. And if it makes for a good story, or a possible case in court, they’ll find reporters and lawyers who are only too eager to listen.
The FDA, for all its faults, puts all birth control methods through a rigorous approval process — manufacturers seem to have even more hoops to jump through than makers of other drugs and devices. So once a contraceptive has been FDA-approved, you can take some comfort in what the studies must have shown about its efficacy and safety. I can tell you that the studies of the NuvaRing — and there are many — are all in agreement about both the effectiveness and the safety of the ring. While all contraceptives carry rare to small risks of serious side effects, the NuvaRing is no worse than the others. So I would say try it!
Best of luck,
Dr. Kate
[[Editors’ note: Dr. Kate compiled all the most common questions she gets about the Nuva Ring and answered them in a post called “Everything You Need to Know About the Nuva Ring,” so she will no longer be answering any Nuva Ring questions in this or other comments sections. The lady only has so much time.]]
Dr. Kate is an OB/GYN at one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City. She also lectures nationally on women’s health issues and conducts research on reproductive health. Check out more of her advice and ask her a question at Gynotalk.com.
I’ve been using Nuva Ring for 4 months (about to start month number 5). I used the pill many years ago and recently decided to try the ring, I love it! It took about two months for my emotions to level and for my periods to become regular again but lets be honest here you’re pumping hormones into your body so it’s gonna take a little time to adjust. I have no complaints at all. I did tons of research on all types of different bc before I finally made a decision. I also about scared myself to death by reading all of the online posts about side effects and mishaps. Then I talked to my doctor about it, he told me that every body reacts differently so I won’t know unless I gave it a try. So I did and I have no interest in switching to any other method in the future. I love the Nuva Ring, I say go for it! If you don’t like it, try something. If you decide to give it a go, I recommend giving it at least three months before making a final decision. Good luck!
I just started this about 4 months ago, and it has really helped lessen my period and with knowing i am always being covered in the pregnancy aspect. I have been freaked out about the blood clots and stuff that have been advertised, but maybe that is just advertising.. I would suggest this to anyone!
I’ve been using the Nuvaring for 2 years now, and I love it! I haven’t had any um, scares at all. It is honestly just entirely worth it for me. It’s so easy, seems to have few bad side effects. Yeah, it’s just great. 🙂
I used the NuvaRing for only a month I hated it so much. It’s definitely not for me. I had to adjust it often and even though I knew it wasn’t really possible, I was always afraid it would slip out. It also made sex really uncomfortable for me. Not for everyone, I guess.
NuvaRing is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It cleared up my acne (I looked like a before picture for Accutane but I refused to take it because of the risks), stopped my irritability, stopped my periods, reduced my migraines, and stopped my breasts from becoming sore and heavy during that time of the month. I have gained a pants size, but I don’t know if it’s due to the Ring or the fact I graduated from college and have a job where I move around a lot less than when I was in school. My insurance covers $1 of the $52 cost, and it’s worth it to me to spend about $50 a month and myself being the best I’ve ever been. I know NuvaRing isn’t for everyone, there is a brand of BC for each and every woman, and I’m ecstatic that I’ve finally found something that works for me.
Nuva Ring was the first hormonal birth control method I tried. Like angelbaby_cc I got migraine. I stopped after two months.
Besides the ring had a really annoying tendence to slip down and nearly out, so I did notice it, no matter what the leaflet said.
But one should try it, every woman reacts different.
I have been using the Nuva Ring for 3 years now and it is the best HBC I have ever used. I barely give it a second thought (and not just because I only have to “take” it once a month)… I have virtually no side effects, I don’t feel like I’m “on” anything. Just another good testimonial for the ring; I’m surprised to hear it’s getting bad press… everyone I know that is on it also loves it.
I tried NuvaRing for about 6 months and would never ever use it again or reccomend it to ANYONE!!! I had such severe migranes while useing it and had “spotting” (more like a period) for about 4 months of the 6 I used it.
But if it works for you, that is great! I just would never use it again.
I have been using NuvaRing for nearly a year now, after trying the Pill (8 years) and the Patch (2 years). This is by far the BEST birth control method I have ever used.
Everyone is guilty of missing a pill here and there, and I love that freedom! I have my dates to remove and insert my NuvaRing set in my cellphone so that I never have to think about it.
My boyfriend and I like the reliability of knowing that we are 99% protected every month. He doesn’t notice it, and it has not affected our intimate life. I think it has helped (not worrying about pregnancy).
I think my friends are usually “weirded” out by the idea of the ring (insertion & leaving it there), but it is no different than say using a tampon during your menstrual cycle. It really only takes a month to get used to it!
I agree that every woman should at least try the ring. It is one of those products that once you try it, you wonder why EVERYone isn’t on board with it.
I am lucky that with my insurance, one fill-up (four rings) is only $10. I don’t have anything negative to say about the ring. Go for it!
The ring is the best thing ever. For the first two weeks I was a little sensitive (think crying in petsmart for homeless kittens), but after that, it has been smooth sailing for 3 years. The best thing about the ring is that it doesn’t seem to have much weight gain associated with it, and that I don’t have to think about bc for three weeks at a time. The only downside is that it is really expensive, even with my insurance.
My friend was on the ring and said that it made her very sensitive, and sometimes she hurt while having sex. I have been using the pill for over a year and once in a while forget to take it…but I am afraid to go on the ring because I don’t want to start being really sensitive!
I’m surprised the NuvaRing is getting such bad press. To be honest, I spiraled into a year-long depression that started right when I began the Pill. My doctor explained that when you take a pill every day, it’s a small hormone spike every day. But when something like the Nuvaring is inserted in you, it’s steady levels–AND actually lower hormone levels than the Pill gives. Sometimes you just have to go through a few contraceptive methods to find one that doesn’t make you, well, crazy.
I think it’s also important to note that for women who tend to forget a pill once in awhile, Nuvaring helps keep your birth control up to that “99% effective” advertised level, because you don’t have to worry about taking the pill at the same time each day.
Anyways, I’m a young, athletic female who is sexually active and I’ve never had any problems with it. My emotions have leveled out again and a sexual partner has never “complained” about it–I think some women worry about this too.
I have been on the NuvaRing for almost 6 1/2 years. Hands down it is the best birth control I have ever been on. Without birth control, my period are erratic, long and heavy. Since being on NR, I usually wear no more than a pantyliner, for only three days, always starting the same day at around the same time. And it’s not a pill. If that’s not birth control precision, I don’t know what is.
I’ve been on the nuva ring for a while now, and I love it. I’m horrible at taking pills, and this is how i can be 100% sure that i’m protected. People have said things about it, but people say a lot of things and I know it works for me. The best way to know is to try it!