Problems with libido, considering hormone-free contraception

[rikkitsune.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone,
I'm female, 27 and nulliparous. I've been using the Nuva Ring for about 4 years.

I am having some serious problems with my libido, due to a number of factors, including severe depression, job stress, family turmoil and massive weight gain.

I have managed to get a handle on all of these problems, and I kind of hoped that my libido would come back, but it hasn't. It is causing major problems in my relationship - I am too weary to post it all here, but I'm sure many of you in a similar position know what I'm going through.

My question is: would changing over to hormone-free contraception make a difference to my libido? If I can get the all-clear from a gyno (suspected septated uterus, endometriosis) I am leaning towards a Paragard.

I am not currently taking any other regular medication. I take Valium for anxiety very rarely, and also smoke marijuana rarely to treat chronic pain.

Thank you in advance!

(x-posted to iud_divas.

Comments

[kaberett.livejournal.com]

Can I ask... is the endo the source of the chronic pain? Because I have gone down the Mirena+endo route, and it did not end well, partly because I don't get on with progestins but partly because, well, put it this way, I was taken to A&E twice before I worked out what the cause of the agonising pain is. In your position I'd be really leary of adding a Paragard into the mix. :-s

[kaberett.livejournal.com]

Just popped over to iud_divas and see your edits there. You might find that you get on well with the Mirena - I coped unusually badly with it, and the low dose of hormones might work for you. By "I don't get on with progestins" I mean "I got seriously depressed and didn't notice until 12 months in", but - as I say - this seems to be a slightly unusual response. In general it's the case that the side-effects of the Mirena are expected to be less than that of any other form of hormonal contraception because it's such a low and localised dose - and I *did* find that the side-effects were less bad for me, but mostly in the sense that I was hideously depressed after 3 months rather than the 3 days it takes on Cerazette :-s

[rikkitsune.livejournal.com]

No, it's a back injury that causes the chronic pain. Since I've been on the nuva ring, I haven't even needed to take paracetamol on my period (well, maybe a handful of times in 4 years).

[mrar.livejournal.com]

Just be aware that when you get a paraguard your period is extremely likely to get VERY heavy. Hormonal birth control lightens periods, so after getting off of it your period will be heavier period, and if you get off of it and go straight to a paraguard it will be a HUGE difference. When I had a paraguard my periods lasted 9-10 days every month and I would fill my menstrual cup every 2 hours on the first day, every 4 hours the next two days, every 8 hours the next two days, and have 4-5 days of light bleeding.

[septicidal.livejournal.com]

I switched from Nuvaring to a Mirena IUD several months ago, and it has been unbelievably fantastic. I had issues with recurring yeast infections, high blood pressure, and missing libido. Since my health insurance fully covered an IUD with no out-of-pocket costs, I was already open to getting an IUD and given that I have PMDD, I opted for the Mirena.

Within about a week of getting the Mirena, my sex drive was back, my blood pressure was back to normal, and I haven't had even an inkling of a yeast infection. I've also had minimal to no periods, which has been awesome. As I understand it, while the Mirena has hormones in it, it has a very small amount compared to any other hormonal method of birth control. Given that hormonal birth control elevated my blood pressure, I was told that I couldn't be on any form of hormonal birth control, but that the Mirena was okay because the hormone levels are so low and are released locally, instead of fully absorbed into the bloodstream like with pills and the ring.

[biggestsmall.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to say that I love your icon.