Nuva Ring Birth Control Review

Overall 3.75 of 5 view all 20 reviews

RachaelsView
Myrtle Beach, SC

Is that a Jelly Bracelet?

a fan of no-nonsense birth control, Tried this medication

MAR

2008

The need for BC

I've always had the worst luck with birth control methods...if I wasn't getting sick from birth control pills or experiencing a decreased sex drive from weird hormone levels, then I was fighting with condom wrappers or frantically ripping Ortho Evra patches from my hip for fear I'd wind up with a brain hemorrage. When the Nuva Ring came out, I was eager to try it, now I'm just happy to be rid of it!

Nuva 101

The Nuva Ring birth control system gets its name from the clear flexible "jelly bracelet" type rings designed to be inserted into the vagina and laid flat against the cervix. The rings slowly (over the course of a month) release a hormone called ethinyl estradiol, or, low levels of progestin & etonogestrel. The flexible Nuva Ring has an outer diameter of 54 mm, a cross section diameter of 4 mm, and an efficiency rate of 99.2% when used properly. When inserted, one of these flexible rings is designed to stay in your vagina for three weeks at a time, after the third week, the ring is removed to allow for your monthly period.

Migrating South

I am a huge fan of no-nonsense birth control, in fact, I'm usually too busy to even remember taking it! BUT, I'm also a huge fan of sex, and the Nuva Ring put a cramp in just about everything. I can understand why the Nuva Ring is effective. I (for one) bled for a month straight when I began using it. Who wants to have sex like that? Once the bleeding subsided (as my body became used to the hormones) I was in for another disadvantage. Attempting relations with this device in place was even more aggravating! I'm a frequent kegel-ciser and even though I can maintain a righteous grip, this ring was constantly slipping down, rotating, and flipping!

4 Month Eviction

After frequent consultations with my ob, and constantly battling with the "migrating" jelly ring, we ALL pretty well decided that Nuva Ring WAS NOT for me. I gave it a fighting chance for four months before becoming a "just say no (to Nuva Ring)" advocate. For whatever reasons, some women have difficulty with certain birth control methods, I for one simply could not appreciate the "so called" advantages offered by the Nuva Ring. The side effects of bleeding, increased cramping, and the shear ridiculousness of chasing down my birth control after...well....pretty much anything! ...No. No. No. I say no to Nuva Ring!!!

Last edited on Mar 24, 2008

Nuva Ring Birth Control is not recommended by RachaelsView

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Comments about RachaelsView’s Review

Didn't your doc tell you that you can take it out for sex if you want? It can be outside of you for up to 3 hours and still be doing its job. Probably good to keep it under an hour though just to be safe.

Thank you for writing this! All my friends are on nuvaring and love it. I too have bad luck with birth control so I gave it a try. It was CONSTANTLY slipping. I tried everything. The tampon applicator trick. Sitting, squatting, lying down. I finally gave up. Glad to hear I'm not the only one.

I hope everyone takes into consideration that you cannot compare apples to apples. Everyone will react differently. I use Nuvaring and I would say it's worth a try! I've had excellent results, a decrease in appetite and only experience very mild vaginal irration towards the end of the three weeks. This method is great for me and never (in the course of one year) have I experienced a "slip". My ring always navigates itself to the cervix and stays in place. My first week, not my first month, was the worst: I did experience nausea, upset stomach and a tremendous decrease in appetite. But over the course of that first month the negative side effects dewindled down and completely disappeared. If you decide to try Nuvaring, I hope you experience the same positive effects that I did/have. Thanks!

Sounds too frustrating. Good review that will be very helpful to others.

I love your honesty here... you made me crack up with the "attempting relations" part ! :)

Yikes... it just sounds uncomfortable!

Oh hey! It's good to see you back! I know someone who had one of these and she was moody and gained a lot of weight. She stopped using it as well.

In response to BayouBengal's comment from Mar 26, 2008 at 12:25PM:

thank you! :)

In response to Jo's comment from Mar 26, 2008 at 9:04AM:

thanks Jo! :) Good to see you're doing well :)

Nice and informative review! Good luck with finding something that works for you :)

It's so nice to see you back. Great review:) Jo

In response to mrkstvns's comment from Mar 25, 2008 at 1:21PM:

Hahaha! :) Good to hear from you ;)

In response to Buggheart's comment from Mar 25, 2008 at 9:49AM:

Thanks girl! I really hated this thing! I have Mirena now....Four days and counting....We'll see lol! ;)
I hope you are doing well! :)
-Rach

In response to RachaelsView's comment from Mar 25, 2008 at 8:57AM:

You're very welcome, looking forward to more of your reviews. You tell it straight and that is refreshing. ;) Ron

Now see, if you just dated ugly guys you wouldn't be worried about this ;-)

Great review, Rachael! My doc suggested this one to me and I almost went with it but after reading other reviews like yours I decided it against it. Of all the weirdness associated with it I was most freaked out about it flying out in the middle of yoga LOL. I hope you find something that works better for you. Thanks for sharing.