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birth control
I've been BC free for a while now, for several reasons. I follow TCOYF pretty well; we abstain during the hot days, and he pulls out every other time. This has been fine for the last 5 weeks, but lately he's been mentioning that he feels uncomfortable with that. Not that he doesn't trust me, but I can totally understand how any guy would not be very trusting of that method in general. Last night he pulled out a condom, and I just hated it. (Yeah, yeah, yeah, no condoms, the horrors. Save it.)
I hate the pulling out part, I hate condoms, so the only other option is to go back on some form of BC. I've narrowed it down to the best possible option being the NuvaRing, so I have an appointment with my doctor on Thursday to talk about it. I hate the effects that hormones have on me (which is why my last form of BC was the Paragard, but unfortunately it expelled). I'm really afraid that I'm going to have bad side effects, like God forbid, no sex drive, or mood swings, etc.
Has anyone here used the NuvaRing that can give me some real life commentary?
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Re: birth control
I used it for 2 months (until I realized how pricey it would be after the 1st of the year with my high deductible insurance plan) and liked it. I had very few side effects (unlike the pill). I did notice my periods were heavier but faster while using it. I also hardly even noticed any cramps or discomfort prior to my period.
I was actually more weirded out by the leaving it in for a few weeks, but once it was in I didn't even think about it.
I'm sans bc at this point because I'm not sexually active (insert sad face here!) but I would consider using it again.
Price is definitely a factor, my insurance won't pay for anything except the pill. I know that a year of the ring will cost about the same as a new IUD, but I like the idea that I can just take it out if I decide I don't want it anymore, and don't have to go back to the doctor for another office visit.
My periods only last about 2 1/2 days anyway, and I don't cramp a whole lot, so I wonder how that would change?
I'm just mostly terrified at the mood swings (I have major trouble with depression anyway) and the decreased sex drive. That would be a complete dealbreaker for me. The whole point of going on BC is going to be to have better and more sex.
I'm going to talk to him about it tomorrow and see what he says. I don't really want to put any hormones back in my body, but I also want him to feel comfortable and not worried about anything.
Sorry to be the one who brings this up, but have both of you gotten STD tested before you're having condomless sex, regardless of pulling out...??
TWO of my friends have gotten HPV in the last year from new boyfriends that had told my friends they were "clean" and had no reason to worry and neither guy had visible warts........
I take the pill called Junel. I've taken it for about four years, now, and haven't had an significant problems. Of course, there will always be the phase where you're getting used to taking something, but it shouldn't be too bad. Either way, though, your doctor should be able to play around with the type of birth control until you find something that works for you.
Having said that, I have to agree with the PP who mentioned getting tested for STDs. Also, have you said that you are truly committed just to one another, or is the relationship open? I would just be quite leery of having unprotected sex in such a new relationship. It's no fun and condoms suck, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
I have a tendency to get depressed also, and had to scrap Nuvaring after 3 months. The week I took it out to have my period each month was like a vacation. I was a total basket case and sat around all day daydreaming about leaving my husband and 8 month old baby. Once I stopped using Nuvaring, I was like a new woman. I just can't handle any hormonal BC, which is why I ended up with Paragard (interesting that yours expelled - I've been worried about that happening the past few days because I am having weird cramping).
I had mine for 4 years, and had no indication that it had come out. I went to my yearly, and she said that it had come out of place and lodged itself in my cervix. No clue when it happened, just sometime in the previous year since the last exam. It had scare tissue grown around it, lodging it in place. It was murder trying to get it out. But other than that, loved it. Wish it wasn't so expensive, I'd get another.
that sucks your iud was expelled. i have one and i love it.
would you consider trying it again? like you mentioned, they are so much cheaper. no hormones and good for 10 years!
IUDs are traditionally not given to women who haven't had children because they can puncture the walls of a smaller uterus.
the chances of that happening are 1/1000, i have one and i don't have any children. but i understand that due to the risk, some doctors won't do the insertion.
I can't handle hormonal birth control well either. It makes me a basket case, I have no sex drive, I'm tired all the time, etc. The NuvaRing did the exact same thing to me. It was bad. I hated it. I had the Paragaurd and loved it. I had it for about 5 years when it randomly expelled itself and I got pregnant with DS. Apparently the most common way for it to fully expel is to get the strings wrapped up in a tampon so when you pull that out you pull the IUD with it. I never even knew. I had my annual a month before getting pregnant so it happened fairly immediately.
Would your BF be more comfortable with TCOYF plus a different barrier method like a cervical cap or diaphragm? They aren't particularly effective on their own but with TCOYF and pulling out I think they're good options.
I don't want another IUD. I'm turning 34 this week, and it doesn't make sense for me to get a 10 year birth control when I want to leave my options open to have a child.
Also, because my insurance won't pay for an IUD or office visit to have it inserted, I'd have to have over $1k up front before the doctor would put it in, and that's just not feasible. A least with the ring, I'd pay monthly.
No one loves condoms, but they have been the best option for us. I am prone to anxiety/depression and it was HORRIBLE being on the ring.
that isn't totally true....your gyno can give you a better idea if you're a good candidate ....even without having kids.
OP, I use the generic of seasonale....it took me a few pills to find one I liked. I would go with a low dose pill versus the nuva ring. What about the
Which generic are you using? Quanase?
My oncologist switched me to Seasonale from Depo back in 2006, and told me that she didn't want me to switching to generics or to Seasonique, so I've stayed on it.
I'm on a stupid high deductible health plan right now, though, while I'm between jobs, so I'm wondering if the generic would be worth it. Were you ever on the brand? If you were, did you notice any difference in side effects switching from the brand to the generic?
"You don't get to be all puke-face about your kid shooting your undead baby daddy when all you had to do was KEEP HIM IN THE FLUCKING HOUSE, LORI!" - doctorwho
I think this is a good idea, if no one wants to get the snip.
NuvaRing made gave me NuvaRage. Seriously. I was manic.
I'm just on a standard, run of the mill generic pill. If not only to prevent the pitter-patter of additional feet, I have killer periods and the pill helps regulate that a bit.
EFF.
This is what I'm afraid of. I have major mood issues anyway.
I think between the possibilities of that and the loss of libido, I'm just way too scared to even attempt it. I know what I'm like on the pill (I've been on several different brands), and if this is anything like that, it's going to be a no go. What the point in birth control if I never want to get it on and bite BF's head off when he asks?
And to the PP who asked why the condom hate, for me personally with him (it's never been that much of an issue with past guys), it's WAY different. At the risk of giving TMI...well, you asked, so here goes. One thing that makes our sex so great is that we focus on a lot of the slow sensations (kinda like how you focus on each muscle and movement in yoga), and some of the feeling is so light that you have to really focus to feel it and feel it well. The condom takes those sensations away completely, and it's just like any old run of the mill sex I've had with other people.
Awhile back, I did use the little sponge thingies.
http://www.todaysponge.com/
I didn't mind these at all.
I use NuvaRing and the only problem I had had was dryness, so I have to use lots of lube now. It didn't make me crazy, but I take meds for anxiety daily, so I don't know if that has something to do with the rage control.
I personally love it. I am horrible at remembering to take a pill. It also regulated my AWFUL periods. I went from 7 day periods with horrible cramps to 3-4 days with minimal cramps.
No one can tell you how you personally will react to it. Maybe try a month and if it is making you ragey, take it out! It's worth a shot if you think it is your best option.
I think you should just try it! Everyone has different reactions, so you never know, it could be great! I've been using the ring for years and I love it. I leave the ring in for 4 weeks and just switch out for a new one so I never have a period, yes my doctor is fine with this.
I see posts like this all the time and EVERYONE has something different to say, so I think you should just find out for yourself