Nuva Ring and Late Period

[tealighttrees.livejournal.com]

Hey all,

I'm starting to get a little concerned, and would love some opinions. Below is kind of a time-line.

July 27th: I got my first Nuva Ring and put it in at 10:30 pm. It was, if I recall correctly, the 2nd day if my period.

August 4th: First time having penetrative sex while on Nuva Ring. No other method of birth control was used, as I was informed that, much like HBCP, I only needed to wait 7 days for the ring to become effective.

August 17th: Exactly 3 weeks after insertion, I removed my Nuva Ring at 10:30 pm.

It is now August 21st, and there's still no hint at a period. I usually get some PMS symptoms or just general aches and cramps a day or two before my period, and I haven't experienced that, either.I'm really, really hoping this is just because my body is adjusting to the new meds.

If it has any relevance, I was previously on HBCP (Alesse), but it was a bit dodgy because I moved so I started a pack late, and then because of the date of my appointment to get my Nuva Ring, there was a period of about two weeks when I wasn't on any form of birth control. I did not have any kind of penetrative sex during this time. But, during the month that I started a pack of Alesse late, and the time I started my Nuva Ring, I had 3 periods (chalked up to wonky timing, I assume).

Also, I'm 23 years old, been menstruating since I was 13, and I'm currently in a monogamous, heterosexual relationship. We've both been tested recently and neither of us have any infections or irregularities.

Any input would be very much appreciated. I'm due to insert a new ring this Wednesday at 10:30 pm, but I'm kind of hesitant unless I see some semblance of a period.

Comments

[knittinggoddess.livejournal.com]

Insert your new Ring on Wednesday, as per usual.

Were those three periods pre-Ring withdrawal bleeds from the Alesse or real periods? Hormonal birth control has a tendency to decrease your uterine lining, and you may not have a whole lot to release at the moment.

In my experience, it often took several days for my body to register a hormonal drop with the Ring. (I never took oral HBC; just the Ring and the Mirena.) Most of the time, my bleeds would not start for 2-4 days after removing the Ring. I would often be bleeding when it was time to insert the new Ring--my cup and Ring spent a lot of time hanging out together!

If peeing on a stick would help your worries--anxiety can postpone your period--then do so. If you're in the States, The Dollar Store has reliable tests for a buck. But honestly, I'd just hang tight and keep a tampon handy.

[tealighttrees.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how to differentiate between a withdrawal bleed and a real period. Only one of the three "periods" happened during my placebo week. The first happened around the second week of pills (after starting the pack late) but was much more than just break-through bleeding. It was 5 days of solid bleeding. The second was the one during my placebo week of pills. The third started roughly a week after my placebo week ended, in the time that I was not on birth control (while waiting to see my doctor about the ring).

I'm actually in Canada, but I'm pretty sure I can still get the dollar store pregnancy tests. I might go that route in a couple of days just to calm my fears.

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

Basically, when you are on hormonal birth control, you do not have a menstrual period, because you don't have a menstrual cycle. If you are using HBC, any bleeding you get is either A) breakthrough bleeding, or bleeding that occurs during active hormones, or B) withdrawal bleeding, which is the bleeding you get during your hormone-free week due to the drop in hormones.

What theknittinggoddess was asking, basically, is if your three previous periods occured while you were using HBC (in which case they were not "periods," but withdrawal bleeding) or if you were not on HBC during that time and having natural menstrual periods.

Anyway, in answer to your original question: I chime in with others that it's normal to start your withdrawal bleed at any time during the Ring-free week. It's also normal to skip a withdrawal bleed here and there while on HBC. Taking a HPT might be a good idea just for confirmation, but overall your pregnancy risk is extremely low. Start your next Ring on time regardless -- you may start bleeding before then, or you may just not get a withdrawal bleed this month.

[loonylupinlover.livejournal.com]

It is normal for a withdrawal bleed to occur anytime during the week following removal of the Ring, even 7 days after removal, when you're about ready to insert the next Ring. Do not wait to insert the next Ring or else you'll have to have another 7 day waiting period before it becomes effective -- insert it on time. It can even be normal to skip a period entirely on HBC. Take a pregnancy test if you don't have the period by August 24th, but likely, you'll get it at some point. You have no reason to believe your protection has been compromised, so there really is no reason to worry.

My period on HBC tended to come 3-5 days after stopping for the week.

[mercyoverthrown.livejournal.com]

I completely second this comment and stopped by to say that on NuvaRing I have had my period start up to 7 days after I removed it several times. And sometimes it starts 2 days before it's time to remove it.

When I was on Yasmin HBC pills, my period would arrive precisely three days after the last active pill, but with NuvaRing it moves around a bit month to month.

Your experience is still within the normal range - as said above just take a pregnancy test if it doesn't arrive by the 24th just to be sure.

[crazyprotein.livejournal.com]

this is my second month on NR
I was and still am spotting / bleeding randomly, but not heavily
and when I tool it out and was expecting my period, IT DID NOT COME! :) nothing at all.
I posted a very similar post here couple of weeks ago
I bought pregnancy tests, both were negative, and was all paranoid
but from this community and NR site I learned that skipping a period like this is not unusual when you just start using NR

buy a pregnancy test, really helps to calm down! :)