Sex & Romance
67/200
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Nuva ring side effects?
I've been on the Nuva Ring for about 9 months now, and my sex drive has dwindled to nothing. I don't even want to think about being touched or intimate. Has anyone else experienced this with the Nuva ring? I searched around online and have found a lot of mixed reviews. Is there a BC that won't kill sex drive? This is really frustrating.
67/200
Re: Nuva ring side effects?
I was on NuvaRing and had the same problem. I gained weight and I had ZERO sex drive.
As PP suggested, I went on Paragard (the non-hormonal IUD) and my sex drive is back. That's what I'd recommend.
The Art of Living
If you don't mind me asking, which BC did you switch to?
I like the idea of non-hormonal BC, but H and I want to start TTC in the next couple years and I don't think an IUD would be a good fit.
67/200
Sprintec, the generic form of Ortho Cyclen. Prior to trying Nuva Ring I was on Levora for several years. Both of these have a steady stream (v. fluctuating levels) and higher levels of hormones b/c of break-thru bleeding. I've never really had all the nasty side effects while on hormonal BCP, so the Nuva Ring was a shock to me.
I switched after the 3rd month and just started my second week of Sprintec, and sex is so much more enjoyable! While on Nuva Ring, it didn't matter how much lube there was, it was just painful! I really recommend switching if your sex drive has disappeared and you are dry like I was.
Since you plan to TTC in a few years, I wouldn't recommend the non-hormonal IUD--it lasts for 10 years. Look into NFP as an option, too. GL!!
The Art of Living
The Art of Living
Is that just non-hormonal though? I think that's what pp was referring to....
The Art of Living
I had the same issue with the nuvaring, I switched to non-hormonal IUD. I'm having issues with it though. I'm bleeding so much, I'm anemic to the point of developing cracks on the sides of my mouth, and I'm so tired I can barely do anything
.
Although it sounds like you do not think using an IUD is a good match for you, I will add to my thoughts on why you should not use one as well.
I have tried many birth control pills, Estrostep, the Patch, Orthotrycyclin, the LO version of it, Seasonale, Yaz, Nuva Ring and always find some sort of side affect that I do not like headaches, breakouts, pelvic pain and so on. So, I decided to try Paraguard the non hormonal IUD. It was an awful experience and I would not recommend it. Some doctors will not prescribe IUDs unless you have had children. I did not, but my doctor did let my try it. First of all you will bleed very intensely for at least the first three months you have your period. I felt uncomfortable the whole time it was in, then once my first period with it came I had severe cramping and pain. After my period was over, I had clear fluid coming out (also common) for another week. I progressively felt worse and worse and continued to have pelvic pain and intense pain where my right leg meets my buttucks. Slowly, I developed other strange symptoms and had so much pain that I had to be prescribed stronger pain meds for awhile. My gyn doctor could not find anything wrong and told me it couldn't be the IUD (nevermind I had never had pain like this ever before it). After three months I had the IUD removed because I could not stand it anymore. I had hoped my pain would go away, but the damage was already done. I did not get any better, went to my gyn doctor several times with no answers and finally consulted my family doctor. After a few times seeing him, he thought I might have endometriosis and that I should do a laprascope procedure. My gyn said no and I should take BC for three months. At that point and with all the pain I had I just wanted the surgery. My family doctor referred me to a gyn he was in med school with and that he thought could help me. After a few appointments and ultrasounds I had a laprascope and it was confirmed I had endometrios. I probably have had endometriosis for awhile but it was not bad until the IUD brought on the intense bleeding and spurred it on. My new gyn confirmed that was possible. I had the surgery this past March and had most of all the endometriosis removed, but slowly my symptoms are coming back. Unfortunately endometriosis can continue to come back over and over again after surgeries. My choice for treating it is BC, pregnancy or Lupron (temporary/ reversible menopause inducing meds). I chose birth control for now because at 28 and with no children I do not like the idea of Lupron. My husband and I are not ready to hop on the baby train either.
Anway, my story is long, but I do not recommend IUDs. They are foreign objects that I do not feel are meant to be inside a woman and can cause more harm than good. Some women's bodies actually expel them. Also woman can get pregnant with IUDs and I have a friend whos friend did get pregnant with one. Although Paraguard was tempting because it did not have hormones, it had worse side affects than the pill for me.
I am also in the same prediciment wanting to get back off birth control, but do not have many options at this point. I had hoped the Paraguard IUD was the answer but unfortunately found out the hard way it was not good for me. I am ready to go back to using condoms. Although my husband does not love the idea, he would rather have sex than not.
Ok, 1) not everyone has the same side effects on the same birth control.
2) To the PP with the long story about the IUD, it wasn't really the IUD that was your problem. It didn't cause your endometriosis, it just let it finally surface because your body was no longer being regulated by hormones.
3) Not all IUDs are for 10 years. You can have it for 2 years and have it taken out, 10 is the max that the paraguard will last. There are also hormonal IUDs that could be an option. The hormonal IUD is only a local hormone so it doesn't get into your bloodstream and is much easier on side effects and coming off of it.
If you have concerns, talk to your doctor. I found out through my GYN that the best BC for me is the pill but that's a whole other story.
Have been lurking around TN for a little while, but felt the need to share my expereince.
I was on Nuvaring only 3 months, and it was all i could take. You are not alone. I have been having trouble with hormonal BC for years now, but have been trying other pills, etc. Ring has been the worst experience by far.
Anyhow, I have done a lot of reading online about side effects and it appears there are a lot not mentioned in the info they give you, and I had them all. The first month was ok, and the following two were brutal. I had weight gain, inexplicable exhaustion (like napping 2+ hrs every day after work), borderline migraines at least once a week, joint pain, and crazy mood swings. Think rage, depression, etc which is a total 180 from my usual sunny disposition. It makes no sense, when I'm on it, I am full on mean (he and my mother both told me), I border on hating my bf which freaks me out, cause when I'm not on hormones our relationship is perfectly normal, loving and happy. I love him to pieces, its just scary that my personality changes so drastically. Plus all the "don't even think of touching me" feelings and maybe once a month in the sack, but it was so painful i didn't enjoy it, and neither did he. The infections were terrible too. I am still trying to get my body/hormones sorted out 6 weeks after i took it out...but am feeling a lot better then I was. Hopefully back to 100% soon.
I know non-hormonal iud is a great option for many, but it makes BF and I really uncomfortable. For many reasons, but particularly bc we won't be starting kids til after 30 and we really, really want children (just not for another 2 yrs after wedding and his school) and there are (low) risks involved we just aren't willing to take. Particularly since I seem to be so damned sensitive to anything and everything drug related, or touching my skin (no latex). I am worried that after the painful procedure and the expense, I'll have to go and have it out anyway. We're at a loss too, and frustrated. At this point I think we'll go the NFP route, and withdrawal every single time... and hope for the best. Not a great option, but what can we do?
I was on Nuva ring for about 3 months and got off of it because I ended up with 2 UTI's (I have only had one other in my life) and I have a feeling (and so does the surgeon that removed it) it's what helped fail my gallbladder causing me to get a laproscopic surgery last year to remove it.
Wouldn't recommend it >: