The NuvaRing didn't work well for me. It sounded fabulous, but in practice, it didn't stay in place well.

Does that mean you only have one period a year?

I don't know. It seems like it would start to collect discharge, and it may result in a lingering smell that way. I've always been fine with the once-a-day, myself. I just pop one in right before dinner, usually. I've been on oral contraceptive since I was 14 to control menstrual irregularity...it's not to difficult to remember. And personally, I don't keep ANYTHING on for an entire year, not even a piece of jewelry, so I'm leery of something that would be inside my vagina for that long.

I had issues when I tried the NuvaRing, but mostly they were related to hormonal side effects (bloating, breast tenderness, nausea, bitchiness).

While the idea of a 1-yr ring is fascinating, I can envision plenty of circumstances for inadvertent failure. Also, it would probably get pretty funky.

I have a Mirena IUS, and I think it's the best BC method ever (but I need to get a new one, because it's almost been 5 years.)

I love my Nuvaring! I was terrible at remembering to carry my birth control pills with me, and there were some very close calls where I had to run to the nearest planned parenthood because I left my pills on my desk at my dorm, and didn't realize it till I was on my way back home. The ring is fantastic, but I will admit I did lose one once- I found it on the floor under my boyfriend's bed three months later. Luckily, we realized this before we fucked, but that could have been disasterous. I always check it's in place before I have sex these days.

I like the idea of one ring, personally. I wouldn't have to run to the Planned Parenthood every month, and its more enviromentally friendly to save trips to the PP, packaging, and even receipts. All in all, I am really liking the idea.

Also, I wear my ring for four weeks at a time, at the advice of my doctor, who said some people even use them for five weeks at a time- though she didn't recommend it.

I just joined after lurking for the last month or so... so hello. C. Diane thanks for the tip on the Mirena IUD it sounds like what I've been looking for BUT the website for Mirena raised my ire a bit. It’s something that usually get me in snit about all birth control marketing.
The sales pitch on the Mirena IUD is for “putting pregnancy out of mind, not out of reach.� and geared for women who want a long term solution for birth control but also want to have the option of getting pregnant again. I am a childfree women who has struggled with finding a product that would work for me long term because I have been denied tubal ligation by my former insurance company because I’ve never had a child (I’ve been asking for one since I turned 18 and I’m 32 now and can‘t afford to pay for one out of pocket). The statistics on the Mirena site talk about how 25% of women have regretted tubals and that you and your partner should make sure you don’t want any MORE children before considering one. This would be a perfect product to market for childfree women and instead it’s geared to women who have already had kids and there is no mention of women who have made a very contentious and well thought out choice to be childfree. Just my two cents about something that seems to always crop up in my life when birth control is the topic. And just to stay on the topic, I tried the NuvaRing and also couldn’t deal with the side effects.

I have severe endometriosis so I actually wore the Nuvaring continuously, switching out for a new one every month. It had the absolute least side effects for me, and I couldn't feel it at all. The only thing that ever happened was that it came out a couple of times when my bf and I were having sex, but it isn't out of your system so it doesn't affect bc at all. I was very pleased with it and would consider using it again (not to sound like a commercial for the thing - just offering my own experiences).

Hi thirdwave!
I'm also childfree, and I plan on using Mirena until menopause. The issue, as I understand it, is that women who've never been pregnant have a smaller uterus and have a higher risk of expulsion (or can't even fit one in in the first place.) There's also a lot of "OMG, Dalkon Shield!!" fear floating around.

I wanted a tubal or Essure, but my periods used to be hell before I went on the pill, so hormone-free is not for me.

If you have livejournal, the iud_divas community is excellent (and pretty diverse.)

i have really mixed feelings about this, and first off i will admit that i don't think that ANY advance in birth control is a positive advance.

lately, the trend i've been seeing with birth control is one that encourages women to be more and more detached from their own bodies. the "perks" that are being the most heavily marketed include nearly eliminating your period, and eliminating the "hassle" of remembering to take care of your body.

i'm not perfect, and i myself have forgotten to take my share of pills. so, i completely understand the "convenience" factor. part of me is really supportive of that, because as women, birth control is already treated as OUR issue, and something that we are supposed to take care of, in private.

also, if the convenience factor means that there will be less unplanned or unwanted pregnancies, perhaps that should be the greatest priority. i think it is important to be in touch with the current reality, and that reality is one of sexual miseducation, and a number of women who frankly ARE out of touch with their bodies.

what i'm trying to say is that, in an ideal world, i wish that we weren't pushing birth control that was "convenient", and instead the focus was on education, and reinforcing positive interactions with our bodies, so that it never seemed like a burden in the first place.

but since we don't live in a perfect world, i don't want to preach to a non-reality, and i think it's more important to deal with the world as it is, and not as you want it to be.

and, on top of that...health risks???? this seems so unhealthy to me, so i'm instantly skeptical. i remember when my doctor was REALLY pushing the patch on me, and i turned her down, and afterwards started hearing horror stories from all of my friends about skin rashes and reactions. i even know a girl who has a scar, where the chemicals from the patch basically burned her skin away. it will certainly be awhile before i am jumping up and down over the once-a-year NuvaRing.

jrav, a friend of mine with endo is absolutely crazy about the NuvaRing, too. She also wears for 4 weeks at a time.

Jen, this raised a few questions for me:

The ring is fantastic, but I will admit I did lose one once- I found it on the floor under my boyfriend's bed three months later. Luckily, we realized this before we fucked, but that could have been disasterous.

It's my understanding that the ring isn't like a diaphragm -- it's hormonal; not a barrier method. It actually doesn't need to be in while you're having sex, but you aren't protected if you've had it out for more than 3 hours.

Hey guys, a couple commentson the whole NuvaRing and IUD thing....
First of all, I use the ring and I am a fan. Stays in, works well, no side effects, have never forgotten it.

Second, keeping the ring in for 5 weeks would be WAAAAAYYY wrong. I'm shocked that a doc would even mention it without making that clear (IMO, an 'I wouldn't advise it' is not nearly strong enough.) Studies on the pharmacokinetics of the ring show that the levels of hormones drop precipitiously after 4 weeks; so leaving it in any longer than 4 weeks signifigantly increases the risk of pregnancy. Variations in metabolism and clearance of hormones is what makes the every three weeks the best option; lots of people do every four to achieve extended cycles and that seems safe, but there may be some outliers who would already have low hormones by late in the fourth week.

Regarding IUDs - it really is only in this country that there is reluctance to put IUDs in women who have never been preganant ('nullips' as we call them, for 'nulliparous'). In many other countries, especially in western Europe, they are routinely offered to nullips. The uterus is smaller, there may be more side effects, and the risk of a uterine perforation may be slightly higher for a nullip - however, if an experienced provider does the insertion the risk is very small. It can be hard in the US to find a provider who will do it, since IUDs are not widely used here. If your provider is reluctant, DO NOT try to talk him or her into it. You will be dealing with a nervous doc poking around in your uterus, and that is the last thing you want. Get yourself to a planned parenthood or other clinic where they do them alot, and they will take great care of you.

Second, regarding the post about discomfort that the emphasis is on making bc convenient. I agree that in an ideal world, we could all be in touch with our bodies and do a lot more education. The number of women to whom I have suggested either the Ring or a barrier method like a diaprahgm who have rejected them out of hand because they hate to think of touching themselves to put them in - there are many and it makes me sad. But the research does show that the birth control that works best (meaning, the fewest number of women using it do not have unintended pregnancies) is that which does not have to be deployed at the time of the sexual act, and efficacy is increased further by how easy it is to use.

Of course, these ideas of convenience can be taken to far, and without education they don't help much. For instance, a few months ago I participated in a termination for a woman who was shocked she was preganant because she had an IUD - an IUD which had been in place for 18 years. (The longest recommeded is 10 years, and this was given to her in another country). We gave her a new IUD, lots of education, and hopefully she will already be menopausal by the time this IUD runs out so the same thing can't happen again.

nerd, I'm on extended hormonal birth control (Seasonale) not because I'm trying to "lose touch with [my]boyd" but because I have primary dysmenorrhea which means I have extremely painful cramps not controlled by pain killers or birth control. With Seasonale, I only have to experience them 4 times a year.

This does seem iffy to me from the perspective of health and cleanliness. Having a pill everyday doesn't seem that hard to me, just keep it with your toothbrush! That way anytime you need your toothbrush, you'll remember to take your pills. But I've been on birth control since I was 14 because of the cramps, so it's almost second nature now.

I have been using NuvaRing for a year and I have never had any problems with it. It’s true you can take it out three hours at a time but I haven’t ha to do that because it hasn’t been a problem during sex. He can’t feel it and neither can I. I didn’t experience any side effects that I had on the pill with the ring. Also my gyn told me that it’s safer because it bypasses the liver. But I can’t wear it for four weeks at a time. I’ll start bleeding in the middle of the forth week.

Nerdyourlolo, I don’t understand why you seem to think that wanting convenience and focus on education are mutually exclusive. I hated taking the pill. I hated having to do something everyday year after year after year. I don’t see how that should mean I am not in touch with my body. I actually think having to put the ring in forces you to be more in touch with or aware of your anatomy because you have to stick your finger in and adjust the ring and think about where you leave it.

Genny, why does it seem iffy to you from the perspective of health and cleanliness?

Ann, you are right, I would have been protected for three hours if the ring feel out the say I realized it was gone, but I wasn't sure it feel out that day or a few days earlier.

Also, to nerdyourlolo- convience doesn't have to mean I dont understand or touch my own body, it just means I am terrible at pills.

For a woman with endometriosis, menstruation means having several days out of each month taken away from me and my job (or other activities) because I pass out or become violently ill. If BC makes me a bit disconnected from that, I'm all for it. It is a huge burden for me and millions of other women like me. It doesn't mean I'm not a real woman or that I have a low threshold for pain, and I hate when people imply that it is (not that I think any of you are doing so).

Additionally, there have been recent studies (I'll have to look up where, maybe it was on here) that said that historically women did not menstruate as often as present women because of diet, increased numbers of pregnancy, and hormonal changes so it isn't necessarily "natural" for us to be so connected to a once-a-month period.

sojourner I'd just be concerned with discharge building up around the ring. The vaginal cavity self cleans everyday, and deliberately leaving something in there seems like it would interfere with that and cause problems. But I'm a music student, so what do I know :)

jrav, I'm with you on losing several days because of pain related to my period. I've been tested for endometriosis a few times becasue of my cramps, but I'm just one of the lucky few that get them without any other complications. Have you tried Seasonale? It works really well for me and allows me to plan around when I'm going to get my period at least a month in advance.

hmm, i really didn't mean to imply that every woman that uses these BC methods are out of touch with their bodies. i don't believe that at all. so, i apologize if i didn't think my comment through enough, and anyone felt personally attacked or judged.

all i wanted to do was raise some questions that i have...not about individual women, but about a bigger system. my comments were more aimed at the way these products are marketed, and a trend i see in the way women, in general, are alienated when it comes to healthcare and body awareness. i imagine most of the women who read Feministing are all for body awareness, but that doesn't mean it is representative of the population at large.

a close friend of mine works with lower income pregnant women, and she has to battle so much misinformation. she had a teenager tell her that you couldn't get pregnant or contract HIV if you use Coca-cola as a douche after sex. that's a pretty extreme example, but in general, she encounters a lot of girls and women who are afraid to ask their doctors questions because they might "look stupid", and frankly there are a lot of doctors who just throw medicine at patients without educating them, because its more convenient and cost-effective that way. i'm weary of that trend, that's all.

like i said, this is something i feel torn about, so i'm glad other people are talking about the positive benefits they've experienced, and how they actually feel more in touch with their bodies using these bc methods.

This is kinda weird but what the hell...

as a guy, I have noticed it once or twice, but it was never bothersome.

Thanks C. Diane I will check out the livejournal.
I would love to have a birth control method that is more long term but most involve hormones and as many times as I try I haven't been able to kick smoking.
I have a friend that had a minor stroke at 28 because she was a heavy smoker AND had been taking the pill since she was 15. I would rather have to use a condom than put my life at risk (I know already am risking my life with the smoking but...)

Yeah, sorry to sound snarky but I imagine that the risks associated with smoking and pill use are worlds apart.

thirdwave,

The chance of stroke is very little anyways (1/50000) and the pill increases that by 50% but that’s still very little. Now if you are smoking, it’s a lot more. I think the lesson form your friend is that you shouldn’t smoke not that you shouldn’t take hormonal bc. btw the pill actually reduces the chance of ovarian cancer.

Genny - I believe Seasonale was the bc method the article was discussing in attempting to debunk the monthly period issue. I haven't tried it (it's one of the few), but that is a reason I stuck with Nuvaring. Out of all the other types, it was the one that actually didn't have any noticeable effects.

Also, the ring itself wasn't anything that I think would become really dirty. It isn't made out of a material that is conducive to becoming really unclean or "gunky" (Sorry for the use of such a descriptive word).

As far as bc is concerned- I like condoms. Less mess, no extra hormones. Birth control is such a personal issue- to each his or her own, right?!?

First off, I think it's funny that Bad Touch by Bloodhound Gang happens to come on while I read this.

Secondly, while I do not use any form of bc (I don't really need it as of yet-- I don't have sex nor do my periods bother me), the NuvaRing always seemed kinda sketchy to me. One would think that you would feel it, right? What do I know. That was just my first impression.

I guess it's kinda like braces; notice them the first week, then you feel nothing at all.

I also had a bad experience with NuvaRing. I think that your vaginal and cervical shape must have something to do with how well it stays in. Mine came out every time I had sex, and one time, while I was in a foreign country, I thought I'd lost it!

But for those that it works for, great! You can't feel it at all, it's easy to insert, and you only think about it every few weeks. Thinking about it once a year sounds like a dream, but, it looks like I'll be popping the pill for now. Sigh.

I use the nuvaring and I love it. The only time I have issues with it staying put is if I happen to have it in when my period starts (you don't always have your period solely during the week it's out) because tampon removal can take the ring out. I usually check it's position each time I have to use the bathroom and have had no problems with it staying in. I took the pill for three years and it was always good to me, but now that I have kids I find my morning and evening routines so rushed that a pill is next to impossible for me to remember. I also don't keep a consistent schedule (we're up earlier on daycare days, I stay up later on nights when my spouse is closing so that we can spend some child free time together when he gets home, etc...), so it would be hard for me to take it at the same time everyday. In both respects, the Nuvaring is fantastic for me. I can't feel it at all (it surprised me, but you really can't!) and my insurance covers it exactly like other bc (it cost 41 at the pharmacy, my co-pay is 30).

i luv my nuva ring. i was fairly awful at remembering pills daily but this little fella is like a secret i keep tucked in my favorite pocket.

ANYWAY. something that gives me a little pause is how much hormone a year-long ring would have to have in it to last so long. slow-release or otherwise, it just seems like it would pack a punch for sure.

i've been using nuvaring since about this time in 2004, and i love it.
but hormonal birth control is always hit or miss when it comes to which kind gives which person which side effects. nuvaring really messed with my friend's emotions and system for the short time she was using it and it hasn't ever been a problem for me. the pill does different things for different bodies.
same with it staying in, apparently. that has never been an issue for me personally.

also, i share some of nerdyourlolo's concerns about the marketing of no-period pills as being for people who just don't have time to bother. i definitely understand that there are reasons for not wanting as many periods

i am also hesitant about a yearlong ring, it just seems like it would break down after a while. and how much hormone is in it to begin with, seems like it would have to be a lot.
as for keeping something in my vagina for a year, the idea just gives me the willies, i don't know why. the ring doesn't get gunky at all, but i still take mine out sometimes to give it a rinse.

i was surprised when i asked my doc about it the first time that she seemed so surprised i would voluntarily ask about something that involved touching my vagina. and then she was VERY careful to let me know that if my period wasn't done with by the time it was put the new one in that i would need to put it in, menstrual blood and all. it sometimes amazes me how weirded out people get by their own bodies and natural cycles.

I'll tell you what they should make... 100% effective birth control. I find it hard to believe that we have such advanced technology, but we can't make 100% effective birth control. It kinda shows you where the business' and the country's priorities are, doesn't it?

This is so funny because I actually saw a screening of a movie last night called "Period: The End of Menstruation?", so how timely... I think the technology of slow-release of hormones is pretty good, and even if it weren't, just think about the initial high dose when you get the Depo shot... There was a woman in the film who had been on Depo for years and she had bouts of nausea and flu-like symptoms each time she had her shot. Anyway, I'm all for any advances that BC wants to throw my way. I really wish I could go on the ring too, but my cheap student health care doesn't cover it...

Nerd,

I totally see where you're coming from. A few years ago I realized that I didn't want to be on hormonal birth control anymore and read the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Wecshler. I decided to try Natural Family Planning as a method of contraception and since I had a visit with a brand new doctor coming up, decided to ask my new doctor for some advice to make sure I was doing it right.

Unfortunately, instead of helping me understand NFP she told me that method was too complicated and just to use the calendar method (where you don't have sex around the 14th day of your cycle). Now having just finished reading a huge book about the complexities of the menstrual cycle I knew this was incorrect and totally reductionist. (I didn't keep this doctor for very long). But had I not known this information I probably would have listened to this doctor and become pregnant.

I did NFP tracking my cervical mucus and basal body temperature for a while but never felt entirely confident to use it as a birth control method.

HOWEVER - I found the perfect form of birth control for me. It's called Persona. Unfortunately, it's not sold in the United STates so I had to order it on Ebay. It's basically NFP using a computer that tracks the hormone levels in your urine to let you know when it's safe or not safe to have sex if you DON'T want to get pregnant. For more info about it you can go to the persona website: http://www.unipath.com/Persona.cfm

Since using Persona and learning about NFP I have become more in touch with my body, and can tell when my body is giving me signals that I will be ovulating each month. Because I know about the variations in cycles and the changes in cervical mucus throughout the month, I no longer get nervous when my period is "late" because I know that based on when I ovulated it is actually not late even if it is a few calendar days later than normal.

Also, for all of you who think that NFP=lots of unplanned pregnancies, I've been using NFP/Persona to prevent pregnancy for almost 2 years and have not gotten pregnant yet.

I understand that many women cannot use NFP either for medical or other reasons, but I do think this is something that should be taught by schools/doctors as a way for women to learn about how their body works. Women get fed so much information about how our bodies are mysterious and it's impossible to know when you're going to ovulate or what's happening with our menstrual cycles - this tool is a great way to get in touch with bodies and take control of our glorious fertility.

“Also, for all of you who think that NFP=lots of unplanned pregnancies, I've been using NFP/Persona to prevent pregnancy for almost 2 years and have not gotten pregnant yet.�

Andrea, *you* are only one sample. Has the failure rate been established for this method? And if so do you know what it is?

oh my. I've been on Nuvaring since 2004. My GP recently "approved" what I'd already been doing - stacking the bc without the one-week break to avoid a period. It's been nifty, except I have to beg some samples to get by the months I have to wait for insurance to catch up.

I would wonder if the hormones for a one-year solution or multi-year like depo or IUD could pack a serious punch. My only hangup there is migraines, but I'm sure my body would get used to it.

Do have a friend who went to get an IUD and was strongly discouraged because she wasn't married! Despite the fact that she, at 32, and her similarly aged boyfriend, were absolutely certain about never wanting children, they had to switch docs because the one was so concerned she might mess something up and get sued? Weird. I wonder about that whole argument...

"the 'perks' that are being the most heavily marketed include nearly eliminating your period..."

OTOH, does every worker get enough breaks to change pads or tampons on heavy flow days? Unfortunately I wouldn't be surprised if, for some women, the real "perk" of not menstruating is the "perk" of keeping her job (and paying her rent, buying her food, etc.)...

I have been using the Nuvaring for about 9 months now (the first bc I have ever been on) and experienced no side effects other than being slightly moody. My period, while it was never terribly heavy to begin with, has become lighter, shorter, and more evenly distributed, which has been nice. As for noticing it, I never feel it, but occasionally my husband does. A couple of times it has gotten wrapped (for lack of a better word) right around his penis, which was actually really funny.

The thought of never having a period (while it can be frustrating some times) kind of weirds me out a bit. I just don't like the idea of interrupting my body's natural cycle that much. Plus, i have been using a Diva cup for a few years now and it has made my periods much more comfortable. No tampons to change every four hours, not odd smell. It has been rad.

Sojourner,

According to Unipath (the makers of Persona) Persona is 94% effective when used correctly.

The Fertility Awareness Method (FAM/NFP)alone is considered to be about 90% effective according to the "Taking Charge of Your Feritility" website. However, according to the comparison chart in the Ortho Tri-Cyclen prescribing information, it actually lists the sympto-thermal method (another name for FAM/NFP) as 98% effective with perfect use.

All of these statistics are based on *perfect* use not typical use.

Just to clarify...

Study participants are instructed to keep the contraceptive ring in place for three weeks and then remove it for one week to permit periodic bleeding. Seven days later the device is to be re-inserted.

So it's not in the vagina continuously for a year. It operates the same way as the NuvaRing--3 weeks in, 1 week out--only it's the same ring all year long.

"Having a pill everyday doesn't seem that hard to me, just keep it with your toothbrush! That way anytime you need your toothbrush, you'll remember to take your pills."

OTOH, not all sexually active women live independently. Sometimes keeping her birth control with her toothbrush just makes it easier for her parents or her in-laws to confiscate her birth control. :(

"I guess it's kinda like braces; notice them the first week, then you feel nothing at all."

That was so not my experience of having braces.