Crossposted elsewhere, sorry if you get "deja vu"

[urania.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of asking my gynecologist about NuvaRing next time I go (winter-ish, barring unforseens). I've been on the Pill for years, and I'm pretty happy with it; but now I'm developing (past year or so) spotting at ovulation, moreso and moreso. It's a pain, and while the default solution would be to get a stronger formulation of the Pill, I'm curious about Nuvaring. I'm prone somewhat to depression, and since the ring is more localized, supposedly that side effect wouldn't be a consideration (I haven't *noticed* bcp making depression worse, but it could be making things a little rougher subtly).

However, while I know it's effective as birth control (they wave that statistic in front of your nose!), I don't know if it's effective for bad cramping--that's why I was prescribed the Pill in the first place. Any of you ladies used the Ring or know if it helps cramping? In fact, any of you used it in general and have experiences you can tell me about? (Plus I don't even know if insurance covers it *grin* but that's another sort of question) Thanks

Comments

[junni.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you've tried this, but when I was getting mid-cycle spotting, moreso and moreso as you describe, I switched low-dose brands. I didn't have to go up to a higher dose. I just went from Ovcon-35 (a monophasic pill) to Ortho-tri-cyclen, a triphasic pill. One month, and voi la, my spotting was gone. Just a thought, anyway.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

NuvaRing is as effective as birth control because it is birth control. So are cervical caps. ;)

Re:

[urania.livejournal.com]

I know it's birth control. But it's hormonal birth control, like the pill--not a barrier method, like a cervical cap. So, I was wondering if it had the hormonal "side effect" of easing cramps, like the Pill does.

[falls2climb.livejournal.com]

I'm curious as to NuvaRing's effect on depression as well... I'm on Loestrin at the moment, but my campus health center won't be carrying it after this month and I'll have to switch to a different type of birth control. I'm in treatment for major depressive disorder, though, so the docs are careful about how much and what kind of hormones they put into my body. if NuvaRing doesn't upset the depression, it sounds wonderful.

Re:

[urania.livejournal.com]

It's listed on their website as one of the "less likely" side effects... and because the dosage is so low, it would seem logical that its probability would be lower. I don't know, though, I'm still looking for information myself obviously! :)...

[enigmae.livejournal.com]

I've been using the Nuvaring for about a week and it's great so far. I don't even have any side effects that I can tell, which I was worried about because I have depression and other birth control has tended to increase it. I also used to get shooting leg pains on both of the types of the pill I tried and I have none of those with the ring.

Basically I am quite happy with it and very excited to not be using condoms anymore!