NuvaRing: Experiences and reviews?

Rachel Myers14 said:Yeah, it's by prescription, and you absolutely have to chat with your OB-GYN if you're planning on using it; you definitely need to get some blood work done first. 🙂

Gotcha, thanks! Quick follow-up though—do you happen to know if I should ask my primary care doctor or an OB-GYN to write me that referral for the blood tests? Like, does it matter if I go to a private clinic or just stick with my regular insurance provider?

You should seek out a gynecologist, though a general practitioner might suffice if you are feeling particularly patient. However, be prepared for the inevitable frustration of having to explain everything in exhaustive detail, as my own doctor flatly refused to prescribe anything that fell even slightly outside her narrow scope of practice.

Grace Ortiz5 said:Thanks! Also, do you happen to know if I should ask my primary care doctor or a gynecologist for the blood work referral? (Either a private one or through insurance.)

My GP wouldn't even write me a referral for coagulation tests, which are probably the most important part of this whole thing. I guess since private doctors can't issue those types of referrals, you're kind of stuck. My insurance-based OBGYN actually gave me a referral even though a private specialist was the one who originally suggested the tests; he didn't really ask many questions about it, so maybe I just got lucky, because I imagine getting that kind of paperwork isn't always that easy. So, I suppose your best bet might be to just check in with an OBGYN covered by your insurance.

Thanks, ladies. When my sister went to get her blood clotting tests done, she ran into such a headache because her private doctor wouldn't write the referral, her primary care physician refused to sign off on it, and she wasn't even registered with a public gynecologist yet. I know that whole bureaucratic tug-of-war can drag on forever... Thankfully, I am set up with a public OBGYN, though they're located way out in the suburbs, and honestly, I just can't bring myself to make that long drive. 😢

Are the side effects pretty much the same as they are with O.K.?

Rachel Myers14 said:It might slip out, since it’s actually quite small, and I had a similar experience once during my first time having sex. I honestly have no idea how it managed to slip out, because it hasn't happened again 🤷 and there really isn't any need to manually remove it, given how easy it is to forget you're even wearing it.

Really? It looked quite large to me in the photo.😬 🤣

Which brands are you all using, and where do you typically find them? I’ve been losing my mind today—I checked five different pharmacies and they were completely out of stock. Usually, I can pick it up at the local pharmacy near the city square, but I didn't have the chance to head that way. In the end, I'll just check the pharmacy in Brooklyn or the one at the Mall of America; they claim to always have it in stock.

Here is another success story regarding the NuvaRing. For me, it’s been an absolute game-changer—no more forgetting a pill and spiraling into a panic for the rest of the month. Instead, I get three weeks of total peace of mind; sometimes I even forget it’s there, though I do have a phone alarm to remind me when the cycle is up 🙂
And honestly, you can't feel a thing—it's practically nonexistent
As for the pharmacy, you just walk in, ask them to order it, and it arrives either that day or the next. The issue isn't availability, it's just a lack of initiative from the staff... but if you make it clear that you need it, they'll make it happen

It’s basically a ring you use instead of taking daily pills.

A vaginal ring that slowly releases hormones.

I was wondering if anyone here actually uses one? What has your experience been like?

Just wanted to drop in and share another success story 😉
My first time using birth control—and I am honestly thrilled!
I’m already starting my second pack and haven't dealt with a single side effect yet—fingers crossed it stays this way.
Even my breast size hasn't changed at all, not even by half a cup size 🤷 🙂
And my libido is still exactly where it was before 🙂 (though I know plenty of women complain about it tanking once they start hormones!).
That's the bottom line!

Based on how things have gone for me so far, I’d tell any woman to go for it... it’s just one less thing to worry about.

Do yourself a favor and actually read the instructions; you can easily find them online (if not, I can type them out for you 🙂 since, let's be real, side effects are always a possibility with any hormonal method out there!

I’m trying to figure out if drinking green tea or any kind of green fat burner is actually okay while I'm using the NuvaRing. Does anyone know if that messes with how well it works? Does it impact the effectiveness at all?
I’ve been on it for three months now—and honestly, I’m thrilled with it—but I have noticed this weird drop in my strength during workouts. Has anyone else dealt with that?

I don't believe there should be any issues here; from what I can see, it’s just some kind of barley leaf extract. Green tea seems even less concerning. There isn't anything similar listed under the drug interactions in the manual, aside from St. John's Wort.
Regarding the lack of energy, I am hardly an authority since I'm a complete lightweight🙂 but I know that once autumn hits, I'm basically a zombie—I just want to bury myself under a mountain of blankets and sleep all day.🙂))

That was back in the spring... though, honestly, maybe I was just dealing with that typical spring fatigue hitting me at the wrong time :-) anyway, I had to take a little breather. I finally got my six-month prescription for the NuvaRing, so I'll let you all know if any nasty side effects start cropping up.

Greetings, weather enthusiasts🙂
I am crossing my fingers that there won't be any side effects🙂

It seems like things are finally starting to move in our neck of the woods. I’m actually considering giving it a shot myself; I have a terrible habit of forgetting to take my pill, and frankly, I’m over it. Between all the traveling I do, I constantly deal with this underlying anxiety—sort of like a lingering nightmare—worrying that I missed a dose. As a pharmacist, the science behind it is also quite appealing; specifically, the way it bypasses first-pass metabolism in the liver and how the average daily estrogen dose tends to be lower than what you find in standard pills. I’ll need a prescription first, though, so we’ll see how it goes.
As for all those comments from people saying they "don't want to know anything at all," or those who don't even have a clue how they would administer it... well, 🤦

crimsonstag3-I’m telling you, go for it!! The NuvaRing is hands down the greatest invention of our lifetime 👋ink:

A friend of mine has been on the NuvaRing for years, so I finally decided to give it a shot. I've been using it for a few months now and honestly, I’m loving it. You barely notice it unless you're actually having sex, and even then, it's no big deal—worst case, you just pop it out, put it somewhere clean, and rinse it off in lukewarm water before putting it back. Side effects? Zero. It feels just like being on the pill (I was on Yasmin for ages). For me, this is the perfect way to handle birth control. I'm relieved I don't have to stress about it; I just track my insert/remove dates in my calendar and call it a day.

As for people worrying about the ring getting "stuck" deep inside—it's physically impossible. There's nowhere for it to go; we aren't bottomless pits 😉! I’ve read some women complaining about it slipping out, but that hasn't happened to me once. If your doctor gives you the green light, I say just try it without the fear 🙂

Don't tell me I'm the only one actually using this ring?... I'd really love to hear from anyone else who is...

I’ve been using the NuvaRing for about four months now, and honestly, I’m completely satisfied with it. You just have to make sure you place it deep enough, otherwise, there’s a chance it might slip out... Neither my boyfriend nor I have run into any issues during sex. I haven't dealt with any side effects either, though I will say it is a bit pricey... $50

For those of you currently using NuvaRing, do any of you actually engage in regular exercise—like aerobics, running, cycling, or just anything active?

I’m definitely considering switching to this method of birth control, but I suppose I have this nagging fear that the ring might slip out while I'm lifting weights😁... has anyone here dealt with that? 🙂

silentpanther32 said:For those of you who use NuvaRing, do any of you stay active? I mean, do you do aerobics, running, cycling, or anything like that?

I would certainly consider trying that type of contraception, though I suppose I have some reservations. I'm a bit worried about the ring potentially slipping out while I'm lifting weights at the gym. 😁... does anyone here have any actual experience with this? I suppose I'm just wondering if anyone has gone through it personally. 🙂

Tennis, aerobics, hitting the gym... I feel like I’ve tried just about everything under the sun. It isn't quite as if I'm out there lifting heavy weights or anything, though. 😁 It doesn't seem like it would just slip out of place during the process... I mean, it's sitting right there, spread out in front of the cervix. It isn't as if the uterus is positioned vertically toward the floor or anything, as if some kind of gravity were pulling it down or whatever I might assume. 🙂 Comparing this to a tampon... has anyone else ever had one slip out while they were out for a run? 😉.
I hope I was able to be of some assistance to you. NuvaRing. 🙂