Expert: DW - 2/22/2007

Question
Hello, I'm 26 and I'm married.  I was on the patch and recently switched to the ring.  In your opinion is there any beneift over the ring to the patch? Wondering about hormone levels, sex drive, blood clots, etc, and etc? Any information would be appreciated. I can't take the pill because I had gastric bypass surgery.

Thanks

Answer
Hi Angela,
I'm not a medical doctor so you might want to check with your personal physician about this question of birth control methods.
I personally do not recommend any hormonal birth control methods. I only recommend condoms, Natural Family Planning and of course, abstinence for single people. I haven't been able to find out any imformation about sex drive issues in either Nuva ring or the Patch. But I have found that the Nuva ring would more consistently release hormones into your body than the patch (from what I have read).
There are blood clot, heart attack risks, and stroke risks in both of the methods.
Hormones from the patch applied to the skin get into the blood stream and are removed from the body differently than hormones from birth control pills taken by mouth. And the info about the Nuva ring states that it
contains two types of hormones, estrogen and progestin (just like the pill), that prevent your ovaries from producing mature eggs.
The hormone release is activated by contact with the vagina. The walls of your vagina absorb the hormones and distribute them into your bloodstream.
To me, both sound dangerous and I can't advise you on this.
Hope this helps but I urge you to check with your doctor. If you would like to talk more, just email me at DWooley97@yahoo.com
Sincerely,
Diane W.