Nuvaring - Vanity Fair Article

[tuggyruns]

www.vanityfair.com/politics/2014/01/nuvaring-lethal-contraceptive-trial

Y'all. This is seriously freaking me out. 

[ladyk]

I've had 2 sets of DVTs in my right leg. At first they thought they were due to birth control pills and my weight but the 2nd time, they weren't really sure. My college roommate passed away from a PE a few years back they tied to birth control. I'm not sure what kind she was on. Based on this article and the more I read, I'm telling everyone I know to stay away from 3rd and 4th generation progestins.

[tuggyruns]

Dec 23, 2013 11:46:38 GMT -5 ladyk said:

I've had 2 sets of DVTs in my right leg. At first they thought they were due to birth control pills and my weight but the 2nd time, they weren't really sure. My college roommate passed away from a PE a few years back they tied to birth control. I'm not sure what kind she was on. Based on this article and the more I read, I'm telling everyone I know to stay away from 3rd and 4th generation progestins.

I had no idea this was even a THING. I was told by my GYN that Nuvaring was safer b/c it had lower levels of hormones! I already have a call in to my doctor - I want off of this stuff NOW. 

What really scares me is that I have had a pain in my calf for the past week or so, the massage therapist just said she thought it was a tight muscle, but now I am completely freaked out. Should I be making an appt with my primary care doctor?

[blndsnbrdr]

I didn't read the entire article because I currently have the attention span of a gnat, but I was on the NuvaRing for years. Seriously glad I'm not anymore! I've been off it for 5 years, but wow...!

FYI - for anyone looking to avoid hormones I've had great success with the Paragard IUD.

[Deleted]

Oh god dammit.

[ladyk]

tuggyruns- Seeing as though my first set of clots were in my right calf and knee (2 of the 3 major veins in my calf were completely clotted and the vein behind my knee was as well), I'd go in and ask them to do an ultasound. Better safe than sorry (or worse).

The only pain I had that time was a sharp, one time pain in the back of my knee. I was upping my speed work for my marathon training so I attributed it to that. After a few minutes, the pain went (mostly) away. I only went into the Urgent care about a week later because I felt two superficial clots in that same leg. They sent me for an ultrasound and found them. They ran some genetic tests and found I am hetrozygous for Factor V Leiden and slightly deficient in my C clotting protein. I was on blood thinners for about 6 months and then sent on my way (with a warning about NEVER taking estrogen again). They figured it was due to being overweight, having just been on a plane, on BC pills and that since I had broken that leg several years prior, the circulation just sucks in it. They discounted my mothers PE from the mid 70s because of the BC pills she was on at the time (aka not enough family history).

The 2nd time was a few years later. I had pneuomia and was pounding day/nyquill like it was going out of style. I was on the couch or in the bed for a good week before I went to Urgent Care. They did an xray and said it was pneuomia (I thought I had the flu). That weekend, it felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to the top of my right thigh. I had a raised bruise about a foot long and about 2 inches wide on that thigh. When I stood up, I about passed out from the pain. I knew EXACTLY what it was. (I had a vein removed a few months prior and when I told the doctor about the pain he says "That's what you want to feel. That's the vein collapsing.") Same pain. Monday, I went into my PCP. She took a look at my leg and told me that she was making an ultrasound appointment the next day for me. Yep, I can't remember which vein it was but it was completely clotted from my hip down to my knee.

They aren't sure why I threw them this last time. So lifetime blood thinners for me and progestin only pills (1st gen for me!). I get to give myself twice daily Lovenox shots the entire time I am trying to get pregnant, my entire pregnancy and at least 6 weeks post. If you've never had one, let me tell you that they hurt like an SOB and will bruise you like no other. The bruises from the shots are as small as a dime and as big as a dollar bill.

DVTs and PEs are a bit of a soap box issue for me, especially since all of the BC makers seem to blow over the risk. Oh, if you're young and healthy and don't smoke, you'll be fine. Not really. It's about informed consent. The article goes on to say that once the risks were disclosed about the Ortho Evra patch and the higher risk of blood clots, sales droped 80%.

[tuggyruns]

Dec 23, 2013 13:06:29 GMT -5 ladyk said:

tuggyruns- Seeing as though my first set of clots were in my right calf and knee (2 of the 3 major veins in my calf were completely clotted and the vein behind my knee was as well), I'd go in and ask them to do an ultasound. Better safe than sorry (or worse).

The only pain I had that time was a sharp, one time pain in the back of my knee. I was upping my speed work for my marathon training so I attributed it to that. After a few minutes, the pain went (mostly) away. I only went into the Urgent care about a week later because I felt two superficial clots in that same leg. They sent me for an ultrasound and found them. They ran some genetic tests and found I am hetrozygous for Factor V Leiden and slightly deficient in my C clotting protein. I was on blood thinners for about 6 months and then sent on my way (with a warning about NEVER taking estrogen again). They figured it was due to being overweight, having just been on a plane, on BC pills and that since I had broken that leg several years prior, the circulation just sucks in it. They discounted my mothers PE from the mid 70s because of the BC pills she was on at the time (aka not enough family history).

The 2nd time was a few years later. I had pneuomia and was pounding day/nyquill like it was going out of style. I was on the couch or in the bed for a good week before I went to Urgent Care. They did an xray and said it was pneuomia (I thought I had the flu). That weekend, it felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to the top of my right thigh. I had a raised bruise about a foot long and about 2 inches wide on that thigh. When I stood up, I about passed out from the pain. I knew EXACTLY what it was. (I had a vein removed a few months prior and when I told the doctor about the pain he says "That's what you want to feel. That's the vein collapsing.") Same pain. Monday, I went into my PCP. She took a look at my leg and told me that she was making an ultrasound appointment the next day for me. Yep, I can't remember which vein it was but it was completely clotted from my hip down to my knee.

They aren't sure why I threw them this last time. So lifetime blood thinners for me and progestin only pills (1st gen for me!). I get to give myself twice daily Lovenox shots the entire time I am trying to get pregnant, my entire pregnancy and at least 6 weeks post. If you've never had one, let me tell you that they hurt like an SOB and will bruise you like no other. The bruises from the shots are as small as a dime and as big as a dollar bill.

DVTs and PEs are a bit of a soap box issue for me, especially since all of the BC makers seem to blow over the risk. Oh, if you're young and healthy and don't smoke, you'll be fine. Not really. It's about informed consent. The article goes on to say that once the risks were disclosed about the Ortho Evra patch and the higher risk of blood clots, sales droped 80%.

This is a huge problem for me- I don't feel like ANY of this was disclosed to me. I know I wouldn't have chosen this option had I know....almost 12 years ago....I want to cry.

[gncorman]

I knew none of this and saw my doctor LAST WEEK!! He raved about the Nuva Ring. I will be calling in tomorrow and requesting another BC.

Any suggestions? I have no plans on getting pregnant and in the mid 30s. Maybe the IUD?

Thanks for informing me of this!!

[raynajames]

OMG. To me, Nuvaring was the devil because I couldn't orgasm on it. It was awful.

Now? Even worse.

[tuggyruns]

Dec 23, 2013 18:42:43 GMT -5 gncorman said:

I knew none of this and saw my doctor LAST WEEK!! He raved about the Nuva Ring. I will be calling in tomorrow and requesting another BC.

Any suggestions? I have no plans on getting pregnant and in the mid 30s. Maybe the IUD?

Thanks for informing me of this!!

I'd like suggestions too! Going to see the gyn next week to change bc. I don't want anything long term though. Hopefully we'll be TTC soon and bc will all be a distant memory.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using proboards

[amellis2]

That is terrible! I never used that (but I also have unplanned twins!) I have a mirena, but I feel like they are being phased out because people don't want hormones. I love having an IUD. I highly recommend it.

[MrsE]

Wow! Thank you for sharing this.

[emuni04]

Wow. I was on the Nuvaring for quite a while pre-kids. I called it the "devil ring" because I swear to God it gave me the wildest mood swings. I guess I should be thankful that it was my only symptom. How frightening!

Thank you for sharing. Although I likely will not ever be back on hormonal BC, it is important that this article be spread around to raise awareness.

[runs4qs]

Everything has risk and that wasn't very well written. 1st and 2nd generation progestins aren't a good option for lots of people because of the androgenic side effects. Talk your doctors about what your risk factors are and make a decision.