Have any lupies here tried Nuva ring for birth control/menstrual problems? I currently take combination birth control pills to help regulate my period (otherwise I bleed/ have my period every 2 weeks). I looked at the website and it says that it can excaterbate lupus. I kinda laughed and then looked up my birth control pills (Lessina) and they can do the same. My OB knows I have lupus and didn't have a problem prescribing them. Anyway, Nuva Ring just looks like a really nice convienant option (put one in a leave it for 3 weeks). Has anyone tried it? Any problems with your lupus?
Nuva Ring
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Hi there,
I'm afraid I have no experience of the Nuva ring but did used to have a lot of problems on birth control pills.
They gave me high blood pressure and very high cholesterol (at first we didn't know it was the pill causing it). It was a pill I had been on for years but suddenly it just didn't suit any more - I was ill at the same time, (so coincidence??) but I wasn't diagnosed.
I did a trial stop of the pill at my endocrinologist's request and it solved the blood pressure and cholesterol very quickly.
In the past I had tried a simple IUD (copper) but it gave me terribly heavy periods and awful pain etc. So, this time the gyne asked me to try the mirena IUD (hormonal but much less than the pill and only one hormone). It is more expensive but lasts five years and, for me anyway, is frankly wonderful.
Most of the time I have no period whatsoever, very occasionally slight spotting or very light bleeding and none of the symptoms in and around period time which used to lay me very low.
I was lucky enough to have a two year remission which ended 2 years ago :lol: - maths again. I had the IUD during remission time and did fabulously well. Of course, I'm no longer in remission but I am sure it has nothing to do with the IUD. At least now, I don't get the worse symptoms so many of us experience in and around periods.
I think this is a tough subject as there as almost as many solutions as people...
Oh yes, almost forgot, I also used to take the pill to regulate periods. Like you I could have them every two weeks or once every three or four months!
It was also a combination pill. I am told that pills like cerazette can work well too but they have a slightly lower protection level (pregnancy). Cerazette didn't suit me but I can't remember why, it was ages ago.
Katharine
I'm afraid I have no experience of the Nuva ring but did used to have a lot of problems on birth control pills.
They gave me high blood pressure and very high cholesterol (at first we didn't know it was the pill causing it). It was a pill I had been on for years but suddenly it just didn't suit any more - I was ill at the same time, (so coincidence??) but I wasn't diagnosed.
I did a trial stop of the pill at my endocrinologist's request and it solved the blood pressure and cholesterol very quickly.
In the past I had tried a simple IUD (copper) but it gave me terribly heavy periods and awful pain etc. So, this time the gyne asked me to try the mirena IUD (hormonal but much less than the pill and only one hormone). It is more expensive but lasts five years and, for me anyway, is frankly wonderful.
Most of the time I have no period whatsoever, very occasionally slight spotting or very light bleeding and none of the symptoms in and around period time which used to lay me very low.
I was lucky enough to have a two year remission which ended 2 years ago :lol: - maths again. I had the IUD during remission time and did fabulously well. Of course, I'm no longer in remission but I am sure it has nothing to do with the IUD. At least now, I don't get the worse symptoms so many of us experience in and around periods.
I think this is a tough subject as there as almost as many solutions as people...
Oh yes, almost forgot, I also used to take the pill to regulate periods. Like you I could have them every two weeks or once every three or four months!
It was also a combination pill. I am told that pills like cerazette can work well too but they have a slightly lower protection level (pregnancy). Cerazette didn't suit me but I can't remember why, it was ages ago.
Katharine
many people with lupus can take birth control pills without a problem - it is an individual thing.
If you have APS, then you definitely should not take birth control pills due to the clotting risk.
While I don't know much about Nuva, I do know that those products tend not to be absorbed systemically, which tends to make it better for you if you are one of those who flares on BCP's.
Did you notice a worsening of your lupus when you went on BCP's ? If not, you may be fine to stay on them.
Have you talked this over with your doctor ? I think that it would be important to discuss this with your rheumie - if your BCP's are working well and if they haven't affected YOUR lupus, then why fix what aint broke.
hth
raglet
If you have APS, then you definitely should not take birth control pills due to the clotting risk.
While I don't know much about Nuva, I do know that those products tend not to be absorbed systemically, which tends to make it better for you if you are one of those who flares on BCP's.
Did you notice a worsening of your lupus when you went on BCP's ? If not, you may be fine to stay on them.
Have you talked this over with your doctor ? I think that it would be important to discuss this with your rheumie - if your BCP's are working well and if they haven't affected YOUR lupus, then why fix what aint broke.
hth
raglet
Hello Allerian
I suspect that the manufacturers' warnings are rather out of date. Major surveys show that the old view that 'mild' lupus could be worsened isn't on the whole true.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/519791
I hadn't heard of this Nuva device. It sounds awfully fiddly to my mind and who wants periods anyway. Is it still the general view that having periods is necessary to show that everything is 'working' properly or is this another example of male attempts to control female bodies, as used to be suggested in feminist circles.:hehe:
I'd rather try the patch if I had problems remembering to take the pills. I have heard excellent reports of the Mirena coil though for dealing with period problems. I think coils are used more in the UK than in the USA and maybe a coil would not be advised for women who haven't had children.
If you are OK on the pill and there are no contraindications, as Raglet says, why worry.
Good Luck
Clare
I suspect that the manufacturers' warnings are rather out of date. Major surveys show that the old view that 'mild' lupus could be worsened isn't on the whole true.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/519791
I hadn't heard of this Nuva device. It sounds awfully fiddly to my mind and who wants periods anyway. Is it still the general view that having periods is necessary to show that everything is 'working' properly or is this another example of male attempts to control female bodies, as used to be suggested in feminist circles.:hehe:
I'd rather try the patch if I had problems remembering to take the pills. I have heard excellent reports of the Mirena coil though for dealing with period problems. I think coils are used more in the UK than in the USA and maybe a coil would not be advised for women who haven't had children.
If you are OK on the pill and there are no contraindications, as Raglet says, why worry.
Good Luck
Clare
I don't know in the UK, but here in the US the patch is being phased off formularies mostly because of the higher clotting risk. My problem with my pills right now is I start bleeding before I hit the placebo week. I thought that maybe the nuva ring might be more effective since it release hormones right into the surrounding tissue. And, as my schedule get's more hectic (with medical school rotations and such) it becomes more of a hassle to take a pill that must be taken at the same time each day. My lupus meds don't matter so much. I just take them with meals and as long as I don't skip them entirely it's fine. I'll be sure to ask my rheumatologist when I next see her in 5 weeks. She seems to be very up on research and new medicines.
Hi,
Nuvo Ring, is a form a BCP that is inserted into the vaginal canal, it is a soft not latex ring about 2 to 3 incher in diameter. It has about 15 mcg. of estr.
My daughter is on this product as she was having her period every other week sometimes continuous. It is not ideal for someone who has a clotting disorder. Her specialists said as long as she is on the low molecular heparin she could use this. Some of her medications can also be the culpret for frequest periods. They are also talking about the mirenia which is a !UD, not really ideal in a young women, but it is progestin only, and a low dose.
So right now the nuvo ring is working, but the team is out whether they will change her as BCP is not ideal for patients with a clotting disorder even though she is on a blood thinner.
Sharon
Nuvo Ring, is a form a BCP that is inserted into the vaginal canal, it is a soft not latex ring about 2 to 3 incher in diameter. It has about 15 mcg. of estr.
My daughter is on this product as she was having her period every other week sometimes continuous. It is not ideal for someone who has a clotting disorder. Her specialists said as long as she is on the low molecular heparin she could use this. Some of her medications can also be the culpret for frequest periods. They are also talking about the mirenia which is a !UD, not really ideal in a young women, but it is progestin only, and a low dose.
So right now the nuvo ring is working, but the team is out whether they will change her as BCP is not ideal for patients with a clotting disorder even though she is on a blood thinner.
Sharon
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602 Posts
Just thought I would add my two cents here...my daughter (who doesn't have SLE) was on the Nuva Ring had issues with it falling out all the time. If she got stressed her body would push it out. Well, when she went to take to take it in March of this year it wasn't there.
To make a long story short, I'm going to be grandma! Thank god she was already engaged. This just pushed up all there plans.
The gyno put her on the Nuva Ring becuase the hormones were more steady and less daunting on the body. She wasn't having a cycle at all and they needed to make her have one every month. I know my daughter isn't the first one to have this issue of the ring falling out. Just thought I would let you know that it can be a problem and possibly bring it up to your doc.
To make a long story short, I'm going to be grandma! Thank god she was already engaged. This just pushed up all there plans.
The gyno put her on the Nuva Ring becuase the hormones were more steady and less daunting on the body. She wasn't having a cycle at all and they needed to make her have one every month. I know my daughter isn't the first one to have this issue of the ring falling out. Just thought I would let you know that it can be a problem and possibly bring it up to your doc.
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14 Posts
i dont know about the ring but i take depoprovera injection every three months for last 10 years never had a problem and never had a period feels great not to go through the monthly pain on top of all my other pains and i know alot of others on it its very safe idont know anyone who has had anunexpectaed pregnancy
take care good luck
take care good luck
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