NuvaRing or Mirena IUD?

Tits McGee · Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:37 pm

I have terrible pain from endometriosis. I was on oral BC for years until 3 months ago when, out of the blue, I had the worst side effects EVER! Mood swings, nausea, skin problems, etc... I actually thought I was pregnant because my body was so out of whack. I thought I was going crazy! I've been off oral BC for three months, and my cramping has gotten progressively worse. My doctor offered the NuvaRing or Mirena IUD. I've read up on both, and I was wondering what people had experienced personally. The drug companie's websites make it sound like their method of BC will solve all of life's problems and poo cotton candy. I have not had children, if that makes any difference, and I don't plan on having any in the next few years. Thanks!

Bubatunda · Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:37 pm

I'm on the NuvaRing and I love it! I just started SB and I haven't had any side effects while on the diet. I dont have the cravings, acne, and weight gain like I did with the 10 other BCs I've tried. Of course the risk are still the same for all BCs. If you feel it during intercourse you can take it out for up the three hours, so don't make it last too long. :D

Tits McGee · Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:43 pm

I had horrible skin while on BC, but even worse without it! I feel like a leper right now. I wish I could wear a bag over my head to work!

JenJo21 · Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:08 pm

I suffered from a great deal of pain from endo a few years ago, too. I didn't want to go on birth control because we were planning to try to conceive within a few months. My endo was bad enough that in order to have our first child, we had to do IVF. However, after that pregnancy, I was quite fertile (just struggled with miscarriage, but was happy to at least know I could conceive on my own). After 2 miscarriages, we put off ttc for a while. My endo came back when my ds was about 18 months old, and I immediately began doing research. I found the book Endometriosis: A Key to Healing Through Nutrition by Dian Shepperson Mills and Michael Vernon and read that. I changed my diet (I was on SB) to exclude dairy, beef, ham , poultry, and eggs. Within two days, I was pain free! (I feel like advertisement for the book, but it really was that fast and that drastic.) Even better, within 6 weeks, I was pregnant, and I had a full-term, easy pregnancy and a healthy baby boy.

Nowadays, I'm on a minipill that eliminates most of my endo pain. I can always tell when I've had too much dairy, though, as the pain flares up. I drink soy milk (I've grown to love 8th Continent Vanilla Light), so that I can have some cheese and ice cream without overdoing the dairy. I do eat a variety of meat now, but I try not to eat too much.

I hope this information helps you a little at least.

Tits McGee · Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:13 pm

Thank you so much! When I first found out I had endo, I went vegatarian for two years. I don't remember a lot of pain during that time period. I asked my doctor in February if there were any dietary changes I could make to help the endo, and he said NO! Jerkie. I will order that book. I was miserable all weekend from abdominal pain and it is nowhere near my TOM. Ugh. With excluding all those things, what in the world do you eat?!?

JenJo21 · Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:51 pm

Ultimately that is why I chose the mini pill this time. I was already at my goal weight. When I started my Endo diet, I lost several pounds very quickly. Luckily before, I only had to eat like that for six weeks, because I got pregnant. However after my son was born, I did not want to eliminate all of those foods because I was nursing, so I just went on the pill. With the exception of one cycle, the pill has eliminated almost all of my pain.

As for what I ate, I ate lots of vegetables, brown rice, fruits, beans, couscous, quinoa, whole grain pasta, and basically anything else South Beach approved other than meat. I did eat fish, including salmon, shrimp, crab meat, etc. Also, I slowly added some of the foods back to my diet to see if it made a change. For example, I added eggs, and found that it didn't bother me, but I only ate them in moderation.

I hope this information has been helpful. My doctor did not seem to be too up on the information for diet changes either. However, I know that I would be able to control it totally with diet if necessary, because I did. I highly recommend that you try; you have nothing to lose but the pain.

A-Rod · Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:33 pm

i've been on the ring for about three years and i really like it. minimal side effects, great for the skin, lighter/shorter periods [and you can skip for a few months if you want - i only have one every 3-4 months, though not sure if that's possible with your condition].

i have heard some nasty things about IUDs ... i remember researching them as a peer health educator in college, and they weren't something i typically recommended.

Tits McGee · Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:09 pm

Yeah, it kind of freaked me out, how your body can expell the IUD spontaneously, possible infections, and potential uterus puncturing. Sounds scary to me.

Harlow21 · Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:33 am

I got Mirena IUD at the beginning of June I was lightly bleeding 2 weeks after it was inserted for about 3 weeks. But so far no other complaints. I do think that IUD's are meant mainly for people who have had at least 1 child though, I don't know why

Namaste · Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:57 pm

Tits McGee wrote: My doctor offered the NuvaRing or Mirena IUD. I've read up on both, and I was wondering what people had experienced personally.

I have used the Mirena for 4-1/2 years and absolutely love it. I haven't had a period in all that time, which is what I especially love. ;)

I've had no side effects from it or any complaints.

However, they often don't recommend it for people who've never had children due to the fact that there is a very slight risk of puncturing the uterus during insertion. I have never been pregnant, but I was 40 when I had it put in and had no plans of having children, so willing to take the risk. You don't say how old you are, but if you're younger and do plan on children, you might have a harder time getting approval (although if your doctor is recommending it, perhaps not). There also was a slight risk of the body rejecting it, because the uterus was not accustomed to having anything in it. I didn't have either of these problems. I'll be having mine replaced in a few months (they're good for 5 years, and that time is coming up soon for me).

CarbQueen · Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:53 pm

I had to go off BCP because the hormones were doing some whacky things to my moods - even the low-dose ones.

I went on Paraguard copper IUD and I love it. The first few months I had a heavier than normal period and some cramps, but now it is like a normal period. You don't have to think about it at all, there is no pain. And for me, the lack of hormones has made me a lot nicer during my TOM.

I have not had children either. The risks of puncture, expelling or infection are very small.

I would recommend it 100% - I just wish I had known about it in my 20s!

jnclelland · Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:17 pm

When I asked my OB about the relative risks of the pill vs. IUD after my first child was born, he had a great summary. Basically, the pill involves a slight increase in your risk of things like heart disease, and the IUD involves a slight risk of things like uterine perforation. So he said, "The pill slightly increases your risk of death; the IUD slightly increases your risk of infertility."

Jeanne

Bubbles331 · Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:40 am

I just had my first baby in January. I got the Mirena IUD in March. I did bleed a lot longer than I would have liked after I got it (about 3-4 weeks), but now I hardly even notice my period. It is so light I don't even need to wear a tampon or pad. I haven't had any side effects. I love it, and I am planning on having more children.

I also have a friend that got hers in April. She hasn't had any issues. She didn't even bleed after she got it like I did. She said she has had two light periods since April.

P.S. I got pregnant while I was on the Nuva Ring. :shock: I really liked it, but I didn't want to chance an OPPS again.

teeteehawk · Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:31 am

I have tried the Nuva Ring...really liked it actually. I never had a problem with it really. The only time it was a nusaince was during intercourse and I would take it out and then put it back in. As for an IUD, never tried it. My sister and mom both had it and both had SEVERE migraines while they had it. I haven't wanted to try it since then! Hope you get something that helps!

pucksgirl · Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:56 pm

I have been on the nuvaring for months now. I had a lot of issues with my period-all month long, never month, every other week. I couldn't find the right pill. My dr. suggested nuva ring and I love it. My period is back to normal, and I have had no issues with it. My only complaint is my insurance doesn't cover much so, I pay more than on the pill. But, I figure its much better than having my period so randomly.


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