elizabeth17x ([info]elizabeth17x) wrote in [info]birthcontrol,
@ 2009-07-05 11:13:00
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stacking nuvaring + early period
Here's the situation:

I stacked my Nuvaring, and my 2nd 3 weeks will be up on Wednesday. But I just started my period (or what I assume is my period) this morning. I assume it's my period b/c I'm cramping....

What do I do? This wouldn't be too much of a problem, except for I will be traveling next weekend and I would prefer not to have my period during that time.

Do I keep having my period, and take out this ring on Wednesday? Once I take it out on wednesday, can I put a new one in that same day and stop my period in any way?

I haven't stacked the rings in a long time, so I'm sure my body is just a little whacked out, but I'm am pretty confused as to what to do in this situation.

Thanks for your help!!

-Elizabeth

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[info]dindin
2009-07-05 04:21 pm UTC (link)
It's not really your period - it's just breakthrough or out of cycle bleeding. It's kind of semantics, but your period on the pill is triggered by the lack of hormones, so there's a difference.

Anyway, since you've already had one full ring cycle what you may want to do is take your ring out now, have an actual period and put a new ring in after a week.

Generally once you have that no ring/inactive week it should "reset" your cycle and the bleeding.

If Wednesdays are better for you, what you can do next no-ring week is shorten it- just take your ring out Sunday -Wednesday and put a new one in Wednesday.


Hope that helps!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]elizabeth17x
2009-07-05 04:42 pm UTC (link)
There's no way to know when my period will start. Usually it takes a few days after I take my ring out for my period to start. So I don't know whether I should take it out today, and hope my period starts immediately and is over my friday/saturday, OR if I should wait and take it out wednesday or even thursday and hope that my period waits a few days to kick in.

If i take it out today and put in a new one next Sunday, will I be protected the whole time it's out? I plan on having sex next weekend.

Also, I've been cramping, and I keep feeling what feels like ovulation-pangs for a few days now.

So I guess my first concern is protection, and my second is trying to NOT have a period by this Friday.

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[info]dindin
2009-07-05 04:52 pm UTC (link)
Sorry I can't help with the timing. But cramping is normal and there's no reason to think that you're ovulating.

As long as you've had one full ring cycle (21 days), you can take up to 7 days off at any time and then put a new ring in and you'll keep your protection.

You might want to check out Instead menstrual cups. They're worn internally like your nuvaring, can be worn for hours, for any level of bleeding, and won't interfere with sex.

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[info]mslaynie
2009-07-05 06:07 pm UTC (link)
Unfortunately, when you attempt to skip a period it's a gamble. You may have no bleeding at all til you take your second ring out, you may get random spotting, or you can end up with heavy period-like bleeding. Sometimes it just doesn't work.

You can take this ring out at any point, but if you're bleeding like a period, odds are you're going to have to have your period right now. You can put your next ring in anytime within the next 7 days- early is ok, later than 7 days is not.

The good news is that you should go back to normal after having your period. If you put a new ring in immediately, it probably won't stop the bleeding, though, and you could end up with bleeding for the entire time the new ring is in. It's just a weird thing our bodies do sometimes.

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[info]elizabeth17x
2009-07-05 06:15 pm UTC (link)
you guys are such a great help!

just let me make sure I understand 100%....

this current ring has not been in for 21 days...it will be 21 days on wednesday....can I still take this one out today?

if that is the case, I will just take it out today, and put in a new one whenever, and maybe try out the menstrual cups.

But my previous understanding was that EACH RING had to be in for 21 days, in which case I will take it out wednesday and take it from there.

sorry I'm a little slow on the uptake!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]dindin
2009-07-05 07:03 pm UTC (link)
Your current ring hasn't been in 21 days, but you've had a ring in continuously, without a break for more than 21 days. Your body doesn't care if you have had 1 ring in or 6. As long as you've had 21 continuous days worth of protection you can take up to 7 days off.

A 7 day break isn't scientific, it's not based in anything medical. It was supposed to make women "feel better" by "looking like" a natural menstrual cycle, when the pill was legalized almost 60 years ago. Except most women don't have 7 day periods on or off HBC.

The key here is a minimum of 21 days without a break. If you're stacking rings it doesn't matter. If you're not, then each ring has to be in for 21 days, because you've had a break in between.

Does that make sense?

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[info]elizabeth17x
2009-07-05 07:11 pm UTC (link)
yes, it definitely does make sense, thank you!

I'm going to take out the ring today, and put a new one in next sunday, and just deal with whatever happens in the meantime.

I knew that each ring had to be in 21 days, I just wasn't sure what the "rule" was in regards to stacking

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[info]dindin
2009-07-05 07:12 pm UTC (link)
You're welcome!

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[info]mslaynie
2009-07-05 11:22 pm UTC (link)
It's not important how long each ring is in. Your protection is based on the hormones you're getting, not a particular ring or how long it's been in. So, this is the key formula to remember:

You need AT LEAST 21 days of hormones, followed by NO MORE THAN 7 days of no hormones.

So, the 21 days could be from 1 ring, from 2 rings if you lose one, whatever. It's not important. Also, you can have a ring in for 21 days, you could have a series of rings in for 42 days, or 36, or 75... as long as it's been AT LEAST 21, you're ok.

Then, for your ring-out week, you need NO MORE than 7 days out. You can skip your period by putting a new ring in immediately, you can put a new ring in after 3 days without a ring, or 4, or 5... as long as it's not more than 7 days, you're ok.

Make sense? :D

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