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.
This post has given me a lot of relief! I Just started the NuvaRing at the beginning of this month (I used the patch for almost 6 years and my new gyno recommended NR as a replacement since apparently the patch is getting phased out a bit?) and all of the negative reviews have had me nervous. I did experience moodiness for the first week, which I knew is normal when your body goes off and back onto hormonal therapy – and it seems to have evened out already. I became more nervous today when I had some slight spotting after sex as well. I’m hoping this is fairly normal (If it isn’t please someone give me a heads up!). But after seeing so many great reviews I’m going to stop worrying about it so much and let my body get used to it.
I am a former NuvaRing user. While I had it, I loved the convenience of it. I loved never having to worry about missing a pill. However, NuvaRing gave me the worst side effects I’ve ever had from hormonal birth control (HBC). It triggered a depression reaction in me and had me wanting to commit suicide. While I realize that this is not a normal reaction, I want others to be aware, so that if they do try some form of HBC and feel off, that they should consider it as a potential source for the problems. In my depressed state it took me months before realizing it was the ring that was causing it. I wish it had worked for me. Now I’m an IUD user though, and that is easy, it’s there and it’s good for 5+ years.
Dr. Kate
I just inserted the NuvaRing for the first time today and I am wondering if I should expect to see any symptoms within the next few days/weeks. I was previously on yaz, but I wanted something that I didn’t have to worry about every day since I already have an anxiety pill that I take.
I never had any difficulty with symptoms from yaz (I did have crazy mood swings on ortro tri-cyclin lo though), but I was wondering since this is a different form of hormonal regulation if I should be watchful.
Thanks!
After three months on NuvaRing, I also had pulmonary embolisms, with shortness of breath as the only physical symptoms. The odds are actually 15 women in 10,000. However, like Jordan, I still love and wish I could use the product. I have been on and off various oral birth controls for the past ten years (ironic that the PE would happen with the lowest dose med of them all), and this one didn’t cause mood swings or weight gain like the others. I have always had chronic migraines (up to 16 a month) and NuvaRing actually helped significantly because it was a constant dosage.
Since the PE, I’m disallowed any hormonal birth control and totally mourning the loss of NuvaRing as an option. Since I’m nowhere near marriage but very paranoid, not sure what to do as a backup method of birth control beyond condoms – the doctors are all hesitant about an implant, and Depo has its own issues.
I used Nuva Ring for 3 years, having used oral pills and condoms before that. I loved it, never had a single side effect or issue, no weight gain or moodiness. Partners never had any issues, never had it “fall out”, and my insurance covered the lion’s share of the cost. I stopped because I lost my insurance, but that is THE method I would use again in a hot minute if I could afford it. Love love love the nuva ring!
Rose, after 7 days of doubling up with condoms, you should have been protected against pregnancy this cycle. The ring manufacturer recommends keeping the ring away from extreme heat…but it’s hard to say for sure what that does to its effectiveness.
Taylor, because the ring wasn’t in for a full 3 weeks, yes, there’s a chance that you ovulated and could have become pregnant. The withdrawal method (him pulling out) is better than nothing, but isn’t great:
http://www.gynotalk.com/2009/08/pulling-out-is-in.html
Yes, I would definitely take plan B as back-up next time – but it’s only good for the first 5 days after sex. If you don’t get a period as expected this month, take a pregnancy test. The odor may be due to a bacterial vaginosis infection: http://www.gynotalk.com/2009/08/all-that-itches-isnt-yeast.html. You can see your gyno for an exam to be sure.
I used the ring for about 9 months, and liked that I didn’t have to think about it everyday, and it wasn’t as hard to purge from my system as the Depo shot. The only side effect that I noticed is that it decreased the amount of natural lubrication I produced during sex if I kept it in. (I was always too paranoid to take it out for sex.) Also, I have a rather petite vaginal canal, and my husband is rather endowed, it made it a bit uncomfortable at times. Other than that, as far as effectiveness, I loved it.
Oh and should i get the plan b pill for this sitchuation?
Dear Dr. Kate,
I have read almost all f these post and none of them seem to apply to my sitchuation. Some are close but not quit the same. I hope this isnt a repeat post, as I see you get those a lot! Now i just hope i can explain this so that it makes since.
I have been on the nuva ring for about 3 years, and have never had spotting before.
I do not remember the exact date but sometime in the week before aug 16th I took out my nuva ring bc it was time (it had been in for about 3 weeks) and I had started my period. I put a new one in about a week later on aug 16th, I believe maybe a day or 2 before. (I keeo track of the dates in my phone calander, and my phone broke so I lost the exact dates) Anyway I continued lightly bleeding, not enough to need a tampon. But i started noticing an odor after about a week of bleeding while the ring was in. So after having my period for one week, then lightly bleeding with the ring in for 2 weeks and a odor for one of those weeks I decided to take the ring out on sept 2 and just have my normal period. After having the ring out for about 3 days my period got lighter and I had unprotected sex (but he pulled out) on late saturday night early sunday morning sept 6 and put a new ring in on sunday during the day (my period was completely done and the odor had gone awau). Could I get pregent from this? and can you explain the odor?
THANK YOU!
I tried using Nuva Ring and had a very negative experience. I was only on it for a month, but I had a heavy period flow and cramps for the whole month. The pharmacist said that it was probably too low of a dose of hormones for my body and it caused me to stay on my period constantly.
I also had a friend who used it, and it actually got pushed up into her vagina so far she couldn’t reach it. She had to go to the doctor to get it removed. Needless to say neither one of us use this method of birth control anymore. But, others seem to have very different experiences with it. So I guess you’ll never know until you try it.
Honestly,
I don’t know what to tell you….. one thing I know for sure is that the NV should be in the refrigerator until you are ready or until it is time to actually insert the ring again. They should have even told you that when you picked it up at the pharmacy the pharmacist should have told you that. Anytime time you start a new contraceptive Dr. usually tell you to give yourself a month before you start having unprotected sex, that way your body gets use to it and everything is pretty much settled. But if I were you I would talk to a Dr. and ask him/her, cause if your bf ejaculated in you and you didn’t have the ring in I don’t know how that works. Just call the Dr. office and ask if you can talk to an RN and just tell her your worries. Good Luck.
Hi everyone!
I just started NV a week and a half ago and I have a paranoid question. During the first 7 days I used condoms, and twice I took the ring out (just for half an hour or so each time) and put it back in right away. I then had unprotected sex on the 7th day (about 5 hours after it had been a full 7 days since starting the ring), I was protected right? I suddenly got nervous that I should have waited longer! Also, I had the ring for about 2 months before I used it (it was not expired don’t worry) but it did sit in my room during the whole month of august and the room probably reached pretty high temperatures at some points, do you think this caused it to be less affective? thanks!
I’ve been on the Nuvaring for about 9 months. I had been on 5-6 different pills before and wanted the convience of the ring. And I loved it! Until now.
It was great at first, no side effects at all. Then this last 2 months hits and BAM. 10 lbs gain, 5 yeast infections and a completely lost sex drive and I think I’m done with it.
So many comments from people seem to have the same notes: everyone loves it for a certian, varying length of time, then the side effects hit full force.
I’d say to everyone out there: Try it! It’s super convient and works well, but watch your body continuously. If you’re changing and your habits haven’t, try changing BC. Every type is different for every woman.
Congrats to the people that it works for, and too bad for those of us it didn’t. Hormones aren’t fun, manipulating them is even worse, but if we didn’t think the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, no one would be using them! I’m on to try Yasmin!
Kelly,
Thanks for the feed back…. Yeah this ring is killing me, its great dont get me wrong. Its way easier than the pill and my periods are a little more less than when i was on the pill. But I hate it when it comes to that time of the month cause the pain is unbelievable… I have gotten a bladder infection before and they are a pain in the ASS it the worst pain to have. I just dont think its healthy or normal that I am in pain and that it feels like my period does not want to come down. But like you said in the end it is up to us to go with whatever we feel most comfortable. Good luck back to and the Ring. If the Dr. tells me something about the symptoms I have with the period problem I will let you know.
I am on Nuvaring now for getting my period too much. I was getting it every other week for six months but can’t take the pill cause it turns me into MEGABITCH. I too have been more emotional since being on Nuvaring, but it has had the opposite effects with everything else. It has made my periods lighter and shorter, though they are more painful. I don’t have any pain with sex, and my guy doesn’t feel it either, if I put it in correctly. I am on my period when it goes in, so sometimes I don’t get it up far enough, but usually fix it if my guy notices it during the deed. It does seem like my period doesn’t want to arrive too. Nuvaring works for me though, bc it delivers the hormones locally instead of through my bloodstream. Good luck with whatever bc option you choose.