Birth control is very safe for women; for some women it just takes some time for you to find the right form that works best for you.

There are still many kinds of pills with different amounts of horomones that you have not tried, and there are also iuds, some with horomones and some without. There is also the patch and the shot.

I am on birth control and I've ahd no side effects at all.

There are low dose birth control pills as well. I've not tried the ring, nor will i ever, the idea creeps me out a little bit. Maybe try the shot or low dose pills.

I use the ring and I love it, personally. My boyfriend says that he can feel it but it doesnt really bother him. Except when we have sex for a prolonged period of time and then it rubs on his penis too much and makes it really sensitive I guess. I dunno, no complaints from me. I've tried every type of birth control... the pill, the patch, the shot, and the ring and by far the ring was the best choice for me. The shot made me bleed for two months straight and I always forgot to take the pill on time so I would end up spotting alot.. and the patch.. well that one just sucks.

I was on the Nuvaring for about 10 months -- every month I found that the side effects were becoming more and more unbearable.

For example, about 3 months in, I completely and totally lost my sex drive. This was strange because my libido was very high before. Then, I noted that my PMS symptoms were getting out of control -- I was a MESS on the days before the Ring was to be removed. I felt like a different person and it made me lousy company for my sex-deprived husband.

I DID try to have sex but I was so dry and tight (I don't know how else to describe it) that not even the super-slippery silicone lube my husband & I used by the gallon seemed to help. Sex incredibly' hurt. I would ache for a day after trying. Then get a yeast infection, or a bacterial infection, or a UTI.

I finally had enough last week. After yet another bladder infection (and those really SUCK) and another expensive visit to the doctor I got online and looked around at other forums about the ring. What I found was that I was not the only one to experience painful sex and a lack of libido -- these are clearly side-effects not listed by the maker. My gyno did not even make the correlation (she said that I needed to have more foreplay) because of the lack of data on this contraception.

I took out the ring the other day and the next morning I felt "AWAKE" if that makes any sense. I pounced on my husband yesterday and had the best sex we've had in over 4 months. There was still some pain but it felt tremendously better. I'm happy NOW.

It fell out for me once during sex, which was kind of embarassing. But you can take it out for up to 3 hours at a time without it affecting anything, so that is always a good option. Just remember to put it back in after the three hours are up or you could be in trouble! Also, it made me depressed and very irrational. I would start crying or feel like crying for the silliest reasons. I got bad acne as well, for the first 2 weeks or so, but that went away. I gained weight too, though I'm not sure if it's from the nuvaring specifically or just me eating more. I did always seem to crave chocolate and high-calorie foods while on it. Now I've been off it for a few months, but am just now trying it again. Now that I know what can happen, I hope I will be better prepared. Good luck if you try it!

I was on the ring for about a year. My man could feel it and it did come out during sex every once in a while, but we just put it back in when we were done. The package says that if it falls out (which does happen) as long as you put it back in within three hours, you are fine. My husband never said that it hurt, just that it was there. But towards the end, I started getting really irritated and sore after sex, and no amount of lube would help. The doc didn't believe me, but I went off of it, and was better immediately after.

I wish this hadn't happened, because I loved the ring. I had no other side effects and it was sooo easy.

I've been on the nuvaring for slightly over a year now. I'm only 5'0, small boned, and 102lbs... so my doctor wouldn't give me anything else. Over the past year I've loved it. Last month though my body and hormones went way out of whack. I love my husband deeply and love affection from him... all that good stuff. It was like... I was really into it, but I couldn't "climax" no matter what we tried. I stayed right on the verge and it just wouldn't go anywhere. THEN this month, for the first time in having a period for 8 years, my period was an entire day late! Around the end of my period the ring gives me a tiny bit of clotting, and it usually doesn't bother me. This month, I had this nasty brown stuff come out SO much I had to use 3 tampons to soak it all up (after my period ended and I put in the ring). Plus, I have regular vaginal discharge A LOT more than I did before the ring.

I used to have a massive sex drive... Now I literally have none. It slowly diminished over the year, and didn't really notice. The odd thing is... about a day after I take out the ring all of a sudden I have raging hormones and want sex about 3 times a day (but I can't cause I'm... bleeding!). Then about about 2-3 days after I put it in... I have no interest in sex whatsoever. Even if my brain is turned on, my body won't do anything at all. My husband thinks I don't desire him (no matter what or how much I tell him). It seems like we only have sex on my period. I don't like this couple times a month thing! lol

Anyone experienced this?? I'm thinking of getting off it. Unfortunately, it was the only thing "safe" enough according to my doctor. At least if you use condoms perfectly only 2 out of 100 women will get pregnant per year. My husband and I just don't want to consider children for at least 3-6 years.

Has anyone ever had it throw your body out of whack? Lately I've found my skin has become chemically sensitive... I get weird rashes on my skin. My hypoglycemia symptoms seem to worsening. My vision is often blurry, and I've been getting strange vertigo even when I'm full and my BS is fine. I get headaches a lot. I'm bloated like every 2 or 3 days.

The only side effect I liked was I only have to shave every 2 or 3 days now, and having a period for only 3 days! I used to shave in the morning and by night it would be stubble... plus my period would be 7 days long, and completely irregular. I got that from my mom though... she's never had a regular period in her 41 year life.

Oh I read the fine print in the Nuvaring fact sheet. It claims symptoms listed are "the most common" and not all symptoms are listed. If you have any not listed to email the FDA or something.

I also just read on the nuvaring fact sheet that it causes decreased glucose tolerance. Probably why my hypoglycemia was massively worse after I got on the Nuvaring!! Another thing I read, the actual effectiveness rate is 2 in 100 women will get pregnant a year!!! Same as the condom surprisingly!! Ugh I wanna rip it out of my body now!

I think you are mistaken, hon. The actual effectiveness of condoms (the number that represents reality) according to the FDA is 14% failure within a year. Sure with perfect use they work, but the reality is that the ring is more effective because it is really hard to use it wrong.

Georgia59. I got those statistics off of the Planned Parenthood website. They also had the imperfect use rate as well. Condoms seemed to have the better rate above the other methods.

I would have loved to keep using the ring. The toll its taking on my body is well not worth it. After I found out it messes with your blood sugar (off the nuvarings own fact sheet)... I had to take it out. I've always been hypoglycemic. I was diagnosed with it a second time in 04 because I came to the doctor saying sugar made me feel bad. Then it got extremely severe after I started using the nuvaring. I've lost my job because I had to eat a lot to keep going (and keep from blacking out), I failed my night time midi class this semester because I was hardly ever there... I just got too sick go to (and often had to leave). Same with my 8am to 9:30 class... except he was nice after I told him why I wasn't there and let me have a C (after turning in makeup work). I would often have to leave my audio engineering class early because I got too sick and had to eat.

About 2 months after I started taking it I got severely sick. I was sleeping all of the time and what not. In some ways I'm thankful to it because it pushed the Gluten-Intolerance out into the open.

Considering I'm too tiny to take any other form of birth control... Maybe this was too much for my body over time.


Anyone have some b/c forms that worked for them??

Ashley-
"Of 100 women whose partners use condoms, about 15 will become pregnant during the first year of typical use.* Only two women will become pregnant with perfect use.**

With typical use,* although no studies have yet been published, it is assumed that the ring will be more effective than the pill — eight out of every 100 pill users become pregnant with typical use. Fewer than one woman out of every 100 women who use the ring will become pregnant with perfect use."

From the planned parenthood website. So with typical use by both methods, the condom has a 15% failure rate and the ring has a 8% failure rate. WIth perfect use, the condom has a 2% failure rate, and the ring has a <1% failure rate. So either way the ring is more effective.

I am just skeptical of using only condoms because I've used them and they've broken and I had to use plan b. I thought I was using them perfectly and I thought I would never have trouble because I was responsible and always careful to do it right. I don't know what we were doing wrong but that's what happened. Not that there's anything wrong with using plan b, it just made me very anxious .

But I totally understand the frustration of using a bc method that drives you crazy. I've been there. I had to give up the ring too because of side effects and I loved it! Can you not be on low dose pills? Maybe try an IUD? There is the paragard which is hormone free. I wish you the best.

I don't know. My doctor doesn't want me on the pills because of my ADD. I'll think of something, then think of something else, and then forget the first thought 2 seconds later. The ring was supposed to be the low-dose hormones. I am really good at taking my vitamins every morning with breakfast, but its at different times. I know with the pills if you are one second late it becomes 75% effective. Plus if you have blood sugar problems you can't take them = (

The pills are not that bad. You can miss it by 6 hours and still be totally protected.

Setting an alarm on a watch that beeps when it's time to take your pill can help a lot. I think your doctor is trying to help, but he's not giving you any credit at all; he's got no faith in your ability to remember. If you took the pill when you took your vitamins you'd be fine.

I'll make an appointment and see what she'll agree to. = ) If they won't mess with my BS, have really low-hormones, and I can take them with my vitamins during breakfast... that should work.

I don't know how they might mess with blood sugar. There are "sugar pills" but those are the off week and you don't actually have to take those.

The sugar pills usually don't even always have sugar in them, so if the doc wanted to avoid that she easily could.
Low dose pills are just as effective as normal pills, and cause fewer side effects. And you do have to remember to take them every day, but with the combination pills you can be a little off and still be protected, so it's not really that bad.

I tried using the nuva ring a little over a year ago and it was the biggest hassle I have ever had to deal with! First off I found it difficult to find a position for the ring to sit in that I didn't feel. Once I would get the ring into a comfortable spot it would move around a few hours later and become uncomfortable. Also I found that I would still have my period when it was time to insert a new ring. That put the hassle on having to use a tampon while the ring was inserted....not easy let me tell you. Everytime I would have to take a tampon out, the ring would get caught on it and come out with it. Also during sex my partner could feel it. You can however remove the ring during sex or for any other reason you may have for up to 3 hours. This should be stated on the package insert. It will not lose the effectiveness. And you will still be protected for that short period of time. You must however get it back in place within that 3 hour window. I did use that method for about a year and did not get pregnant. Please remember if you do take it out to wash it off with warm water before reinsertion. Otherwise you could be running the risk of infection. My partner also did take the ring out without my knowledge once and fell asleep after we had messed around so I ended up going a whole day without it. It has also fallen out during intercourse without my knowledge...that is why I began to take it out and replace after intercourse. If anyone else has any further questions regarding this topic I have alot of info feel free to ask!

I have been using the nuvaring for about 6 months. I like not having a pill to take and havent had any weight gain from it which is a big deal for me b/c I weigh about 245 lbs. I saw an earlier post that said it may not be as effective if you weigh over 180. I havent gotten pregnant but now I am a bit worried. Even when I was ttc my daughter
lily, it took me 6 months to get pregnant. I guess
i may have to consider other options.

I took the ring out 5 days ago. I've definitely noticed a change in my sex drive. I went from never wanting it... to wanting it twice a day. Only negative thing... I started my period again today. Its a lot heavier this time... I feel like I'm a temporary waterfall. At least we know I'm not pregnant! lol

The doc who prescribed it should have been aware of weight constraints, and I'm sure if it was less effective for you she would not have prescribed it for you. I have heard that too, but the docs know best, right?

yes I hope so..however now I am paranoid b/c I am trying so hard to lose weight (I have a long way to go) and I am taking Hydroxycut ant dieting and have lost 9 lbs in 3 weeks so far and I dont want an accidental pregnancy while I am taking diet pills, ya know? If I had a unexpected pregnancy I would embrace it but I dont want to harm it either....perhaps I am over reacting?