Nuvaring
 

Need to have girl talk...

So I just had my Paragard IUD removed after 6 years because the last 2 years were just awful, irregular, and LONG cycles. I said it was the best BC ever because you can't ever catch a break from TOM to have sex. :lol:

I'm 41 and don't smoke but hormonal BC freaks me out because if risk of blood clots, and the risk is higher after 35. The GYN recommended the Mirena IUD (low risk for clotting) but I'm over IUD's. At least with Nuvaring I can just take it out immediately if I don't like what's going on but the Mirena has to be professionally removed. I won't take pills anymore because that's guaranteed hair loss and I'm thin as it is.

So I read online about a few women developing fatal blood clots with the Nuvaring more so than older forms of BC so I'm really nervous. I know the risk is low but still. Nuvaring has very low hormones (lower than the lowest dose BC pill) and I've used it in the past for only a few months and nothing happened, but I thought it was annoying.. Little did I know how annoying the IUD would wind up being by a long shot.

Truthfully I don't want to take any hormonal BC but DH isn't ready for a VAS yet and I don't want to push him into it.

There's also a sterilization method called Essure but if something goes awry then I would have to have a hysterectomy. I don't want to chance that even if the risk is low.

Tubal is too invasive. Condoms give me infections/irritation/UTI's. *sigh

I feel like refusing BC completely and just avoiding sex when I'm ovulating. With our opposite work schedules we don't even have it that often to justify using any BC.

So any thoughts on Nuvaring or BC in general? I feel like I'm way too old to still be dealing with this stuff.

I used the NuvaRing for about a year and liked it. I do however have some genetic conditions that make me predisposed to clotting so I went off it. I have a Mirena now :) The good thing about the Nuva Ring is that it does keep the hormones localized so there are less system effects. I also had the implanon / nexplanon but wasn't thrilled with it, and it sounds like you don't want anything that has to be removed by a professional.

Mirena has created a new IUD called Skyla. It lasts for three years, and the hormone levels are lower than the original Mirena IUD would provide, especially the progesterone level. I know you said no more IUD, but this one might be worth a look.

I'll look into Skyla. :)

I'm too afraid of the Nuvaring, the lawsuit info is scary as heck.

We've come up with an alternative plan for now.

I hated the Mirena iud so much! Yeast infections and constantly cramping on it. It was so painful yo get that sucker out too :( I get depressed on hormones and condoms cause irritation. We're just doing the pull out quick method lol I wouldn't mind too much getting pregnant though. I wish I could find something else to use without implants or hormones though so we can be sure to have a planned pregnancy when the time is best.