Birth Control - Chicago,IL

I would reccomend a non hormonal method of BC if the pill made you depressed. This does the same thing to you, just in a different format...it is still hormonal. I have used both Natural Family Planning and a diaphragm effectively, and I love not having any side effects. They both do take a little planning, but I would rather do that then be constantly having to deal with side effects. If you have any questions on either of those methods feel free to contact me.

There is also a new copper IUD (there are two kinds now, copper or hormonal, the hormonal is the more common one) that is an option that isn't hormonal. My best friend got one and it is working very well for her. She had alot of cramping the first two weeks, but after that she has been fine. And it is semipermanent for several years and you don't have to do a thing.

I use the Nuvaring and have not had any issues until recently. I get terrible headaches after I remove the ring. My close friend is an OBGYN and says it is from the sudden drop on Estrogen levels which is normal with almost all birth control. One option is to consistenly keep a ring in for three months and only have a period four times a year. Depression was not an issue for me but I experienced PPD with my second and have been on Zoloft for almost a year, so I can't say if depression is an issue.

I switched to that 2 years ago cause I kept forgetting to take my pill and the patch made me very sick. I LOVE it. U nor your partner do not feel it. It's not hard to put in at all, just shove it up and you're done for 3 weeks. No side effects, no weight gain or mood swings. I wish they had this yrs ago. Just make sure u don't smoke.
I highly recommend it to my patients and they all have had positive responses too. Only thing that keeps people from using it is they are squeamish about how to insert it.
For more info, visit www.nuvaring.com

Hi! i am on the NuvaRing and have been for almost a year. I also got moody on the pill and gained weight. I like the Nuva Ring and don't suffer from the side effects--or the forgetfulness of the pill. Nuva Ring can stay in for 3 weeks or in for 4 weeks, so you can postpone your period a littlt bit. Also, it can stay out for no more than 3 hours and still be effective. I really like it and have been on the patch and Desogen, and prefer Nuva Ring.

Hi M.,
I recently tried the Nuvaring this past winter. I personally was not happy with the results. It creates quite a bit of discharge. And my sex drive completely changed. It was almost non-existant (much to my hubby's disappointment :-). I wasn't aware that this was a side affect. I stopped taking it after two months. However, I have heard some positive comments from other people. Good luck with your decision.

J.

I tried Nuvaring a couple of years ago. It definately had less of an emotional affect on me than the pill. It fell out several times during sex, but otherwise it was okay.

I have used the product for about four months. I have not had any unsual side effects. I love it!

The ring is inserted for three weeks and you take it out on the fourth week for your menstural cycle. I have an alarm on my cell phone and PDA to remind me to insert and take the ring out. You can't mess this up. I am happy that I switched to the Nuvaring because I was not as consistent with the pill and many times forgot to take it. I am not ready for the second child just yet. The first child was planned and I would like to plan the second child as well.

Try the product. You will like it.

I went on nuvaring after the birth of my daughter. I was previously on the pill but would always forget to take it. I love the nuvaring, I don't have to think about it at all, and my period is much much shorter than before. I only notice that I do get a little down and cranky the week before my period. It's nothing that would make me want to swith though.

Dear M.,

My name is T. Doyle and I am the Director of Midwest Midwifery, a practice of certified nurse midwives on staff at St Alexius and Alexian Brothers Medical Center. The Nuvaring is a good next option for you to try, but as I am sure it was explained to you by your provider, it is still a hormone based form of contraception and may cause a similar response in you. The nice thing about the ring and the pill - if you don't like the way they make you feel you can just stop them - unlike an injectable. Best of luck.

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midwestmidwifery.com

I have been on various kinds of the pill, tried the patch (I was allergic to the adhesive), female condoms, Depo, and Nuvaring. I seemed to have side effects with all of them -- though the side effects with the pill were fewer.

female condoms are like putting a trash bag in your vagina. I didn't find them appealing.

I was allergic to the adhesive in the patch and broke out in hives.

I had a hard time remembering the pill everyday, though I had the fewest side effects with the pill.

I gained seven pounds of Depo, but I don't think all of it was the shot itself. I also bled (either heavier bleeding or kind of heavy spotting) almost everyday for six months. I also had cramping (which I didn't have with the pill) and my skin broke out with acne -- on my back, chest, face... I recently went off the shot.

I have also tried the nuvaring, although only for two months. If you have, <<ahem>> rigorous sex, then nuvaring is not for you. After it came out a few times I thought maybe I wasn't putting it in right, so I had it checked and it was in right. After it came out about eight times in two months I said forget it. I know others have had better luck, though.

Good luck with your decision!

I have been using the Nuvaring for about 4 years, and I love it. I didn't like taking the pill every day, and the thought of wearing a patch didn't appeal to me. I definitely didn't want to use an IUD. The ring is easy to use, and once it's in you can forget about it for up to three weeks. You can leave it in if you are intimate with someone, but I prefer to take it out. I felt no changes emotionally/energy-wise. It regulates your period, like being on the pill. Hope this helps.

I've been on the Nuvaring for 2 years now and I love it. As far as I can tell I really don't have any side affects from it. It's great you don't have to worry about birth control for 3 weeks, and you don't feel it at all. Hope this helped you out.

S.

M. -

I switched to the Nuvaring around the beginning of this year. I had been on the minipill but it was difficult to remember to take it at the same time everyday, so I wanted something easy and effective. You put it in for three weeks and then take it out for one - very convenient. Also, I have less cramping and my period is actually a day shorter than it was before I switched. I'm really glad I switched.

N.

I've been on NuvaRing since I had my little girl, and I LOVE it. I had used DepoProvera (which made me go psycho for 1 month before the next shot was due), and OrthoEvra patches (which led to VERY heavy periods for me, and super crankiness whenever a patch was due to be changed). I've had minimal crankiness when the ring comes out, and super short and light periods. I had been resistant to it pre-baby, but I had no idea what I was missing out on.

I am currently on Nuvaring and have been for quite some time - over a year or so. I love it! When I was on the pill, it made my stomach upset, plus you have to worry about taking it at the same time everyday, and I couldn't do that. With the ring, my only concern is that I am very succeptable to yeast infections (which I also happen to be allergic to) and with the Nuvaring, you have the possiblity of getting more, but it depends on your body. I did not notice much mood swing changes, but I did notice that it makes my cycles much lighter and almost no cramps at all, which is an extreme improvement for me (I have a condition called congestion of the pelvis, where my arteries in that specific area are huge, so my blood flow during that time of the month is excessive and I would get debilitating cramps and bloating - now I don't). I still deal with the fatigue that I did before, but at a much lower level.

I tried it and loved it. You put it in for 3 weeks and take it out for one. I have migrans on the pill and didn't with this. I didn't continue it past 3 months b/c my insurance only covers oral pills (something to look into before the switch).

D.

I used it for about a year. Much better than the patch- it only came out once by mistake during sex... I sometimes had to take it out before bowel movement though because it would slip out then. It can be out for up to 5 minutes, I think, before there is a chance that it doesn't work.
My problems with it were- breast discomfort for 2 weeks out of the month, and having to keep them refrigerated (though some providers will say you only have to keep them at 70* and below.)
Also, I have now been off of it since December of last year and have yet to conceive. My husband has had fertility testing and nothing is wrong and I have a daughter already, so this concerns me that it may have something to do with the birth control, but I can't be certain- just wanted to let you know.
It was the most convenient BC I have ever used, hands down!
-Amanda