I’ve been on the Nuvaring for approximately 7 months now. I’ve had no side effects and my periods have returned to the moderate flow and minimal cramps that I had on every other birth control besides the Seasonique. As long as I remember to set reminders on my phone, I have no problem remembering when to remove the Nuvaring or when to put a new one in. I have, however, had one issue with this method of birth control.
A couple months back, I went to remove my ring after it had been in for 3 weeks and it wasn’t there. I was understandably freaked out, but I remembered that a week or so before, I’d removed it during sex with someone and assumed that maybe I had forgotten to put it back in (you can remove the ring for up to 3 hours at a time without it losing it’s effectiveness). I promptly forgot about it. However, I went to remove my ring yesterday and again, IT WASN’T THERE. I know for a fact this time that I have not purposely removed my ring at any point during the last 3 weeks. To put it mildly, this freaks me the fuck out.
I haven’t found it in or around my bed anywhere, nor has Jesus found it at his place, so I highly doubt that it came out during sex and we were unaware of it. One time I was going to the bathroom (yes, pooping) and I felt it come partially out and I had to push it back in. Part of me wonders if it could have come out while I was going to the bathroom and I didn’t feel it happen, but aside from that one time I’ve never had any other incident with it coming out.
Has anyone else that’s on or has been on Nuvaring in the past ever had any problems with the ring going AWOL? If so, is there a way to prevent it? I’m thinking that if this happens one more time, I’m going to make an appointment to talk about the possibility of an IUD because I’m not gonna be a happy camper if I get knocked up because some silicone ring decided it didn’t wanna stay inside my vag.
Though I can’t understand why anything wouldn’t want to stay inside my vag. I hear it’s quite nice in there.
I'm Britni, a snarky bitch and generally awesome person. I write about sex, love, and bullshit. If sex-positivity, discussions about BDSM and kink, queer issues, and topics that are completely inappropriate by society's standards make you uncomfortable, then this blog is not for you.
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12 Comments
When I was on Nuva, I took it out before sex and big poops just in case.
I quit the ring after one month for precisely that reason. I’m gonna throw out a vote for the IUD. It hurts like hell to get it put in, and it’s an odd sensation while your body gets used to it invading your uterus, but it’s fucking wonderful. I’m on my second one now, and I will never, EVER use any other BC again. I have almost no period after six months or so, very little cramping, and most importantly, I don’t have to do a damn thing about it for 5 years (I have the Mirena). It’s also the only HBC my body doesn’t adjust to (2 pregnancies on 2 different pills; one to term, one termination).
Since you’re smart and on top of stuff, I’m guessing you already know it carries some risk of PID and other infections if you’re exposed to STDs, but anyone who reads your blog KNOWS you know how to keep yourself safe. I’ve never had a problem with doctors inserting one while I wasn’t married, which is strange for the middle of Indiana, and I would hope Boston is a little more progressive
Also, I don’t comment much (I tend to lurk. It’s a thing.), but I’m so glad to hear you’re doing well in Boston. You fucking deserve it!
Have you considered the Mirena? I did a bit of research on it and it seemed to have less issues than some methods of birth control out there, I didn’t like that it was hormonal though but aside from that, it was the only one that my doctors recommended considering my other health issues. I didn’t end up getting it then but a few women I know have had traditional IUDs and also Mirena and they swear by it. Apparently if you’re like me and have heavy or crampy periods, its not nearly as hellish as a regular IUD.. You’re brilliant though, I have no doubt that you’ll have a virtual encyclopedia of info before you make any choice, that’s part of what I admire most about you
my problem with the ring was that if I took it out for sex (sometimes it got in the way, sometimes not) and then tried to put it back in again it would never feel or fit right and would sometimes fall out while on the toilet. i started putting a new one in after sex if I needed to take it out and that seemed to help. but I was paying close to full price for them at planned parenthood and that shit was getting expensive so I stopped using it. I was getting married a few months later and planned to spawn anyway so it was no biggie. i’ve heard great things about mirena.
I’ve used the Nuvaring for years and I’ve never had a problem with losing it while pooping or any other such activity except for sex.
There have been numerous times it’s come out during intercourse, and I wouldn’t have been aware of it if I didn’t always check for it post sex.
Also, I’ve had it come out during sex and then go AWOL never to be found in the bed or the bedroom. I think it hooks up with the socks that go missing in the dryer when that happens!
I used the Nuvaring for about a year and a half and never had it come out without me intentionally removing it, but it ended up giving me yeast infections toward the end of my time on it, so it went out the window as a BC option.
I strongly, STRONGLY recommend the Mirena IUD. It hurts getting it in, and you’ll be crampy for a while afterward, but now I have almost no period, no cramps, and I never have to think about it at all! Good luck with whichever you decide.
This is something I’m paranoid about since I’ve been on Nuvaring. I ask my boifriend all the time “Can you feel it?” “Is it in there?” and it’s a mood killer. I want an IUD soooo badly, but the American ones are too big for my minuscule uterus.
Also, hormone BC and me do not get along. I get headaches like whoa and Nuvaring has affected my libido in a not-so-great way (as some oral contraceptives have in the past).
Sucks.
I’d say, just check on it every so often, especially before man-sex, just to make sure it’s there and there will be no “whoopsies”
I have been on the NuvaRing for 6 years, and I can’t say I’ve ever had that problem. I leave it in for everything and I never take it out unless it’s been 3 weeks.
I absolutely love it, and I’m sorry that you’re having problems!
My experience with NuvaRing has been fairly positive so far. I haven’t had issues with it coming out during sex, or any other time, but then agian not all medications are going to affect people the same way.
Did you see this from Texts From Last Night today?
(610): I SWALLOWED her nuva ring. Please tell me how your night could have been worse. http://tfl.nu/qk0b
I’ll jump on the Mirena bandwagon. Haven’t had a period since I got it, just some light, intermittent spotting. The cramping has been pretty epic on occasion (especially since I really had no basis for comparison–my periods have alway, thankfully, been relatively light and cramp-less) but I’ve had it for six months now and couldn’t be happier with it. It’s more effective percentage-wise at preventing pregnancy than tubal ligation, it’s SO much safer than it used to be, and the incidence of IUD-related PID has gone down over the last ten years or so due to the newer materials they’re using for the “strings.”
I think it’d be a fabulous option for you!
I was on the Nuva Ring for a year. I thought it was a great concept but a fucking pain in the ass. My lady bits did not like this foreign thing and I kept getting yeast infections, which almost never happens ever for me. Also I’ll never forget the one night stand I was on, he was knuckle deep and was like “WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!” Oh that? Just my birth control. We got down to business and it took him a bit to keep it up since he found it distracting. All reasons why he stayed a one night stand. Also, my friend from high school had switched to it… 3 months into it and after her wedding, she was knocked up. I swear by the Depo shot. Greatest thing ever.