nuvaring begins today (?)

Aha! Perfect Heart is not a teaching blog after all! It’s a teaching and birth control blog! How do you like that?!
Today (I’m pretty sure) I am going to go on birth control for the first time in about five years. I don’t like birth control. I don’t like gaining weight, I don’t like sore and swollen boobs, I don’t like mood swings. I especially don’t like migraine headaches, which did not noticeably increase last time I was on the Pill, but certainly could this time. I also don’t like the panicky feeling that I have forgotten to take a Pill, or that I need to take one soon, or that I forgot to put my Pills in my purse and so I need to be sure to be home in time to take one. Pills! I don’t like them!
But.
I also don’t like having babies. Or rather I don’t like worrying about having babies. I have 22 babies already germing all over me at school- I don’t want any more! So I made the (not entirely decisive) decision to go back on birth control. I (sort of) decided on the Nuvaring because a) It’s low-hormone, b) It’s not a Pill, and c) it seems cool. I actually got a prescription for it a few months ago, and have been meaning to start. But then I got a migraine and it freaked me out, and then also I started teaching and I was worried about hormone-related mood swings or depression. I’ve already got enough 1st grade-related mood swings and depression, right?
So.
School has been going pretty well, I haven’t had another migraine, and my bf comes back on Tuesday. Seems like a pretty good time to stick that flexible plastic ring into my VJ, right? Today is the first day of my “cycle,” and it is also a Sunday which is the day they recommend starting. All signs point to yes.
And yet.
IT’S VERY SCARY TO GO ON BIRTH CONTROL!!!
I just have to do it.
Trying never hurt a person and the rewards seem worth the risks, right?
Ugh.
Scary.
But worth it.
By midnight tonight I will be under the control of the Nuvaring.
(As long as I don’t chicken out.)

This entry was posted in Opinion. Bookmark the permalink.

14 Responses to nuvaring begins today (?)

  1. KRS says:

    Don’t chicken out. It’s way better than the pill, for I have had all of the same problems you speak of. It’s also not weird and you can’t feel it and you better write yourself a note to take it out or you will forget because ITS THAT EASY!!!!
    Good luck,
    LV
    KS

  2. nicole says:

    hello. i found your blog through the WW article and have followed it ever since. I also just graduated and started by first teaching job and like reading about other first-year teachers. fun stuff! i just wanted to write you about the nuvaring…i may have some inside information…if you are interested, you can write me (chickens_and_hens@yahoo.com) so that we don’t have to subject your other readers with information that they might not want.

  3. Stewart says:

    FYI from your friend with the sex-ed career: hormonal birth controls require 2 weeks of steady use to be fully effective, ring included.

  4. willow says:

    Thanks, y’all!
    I’m going for it!
    (And Nicole, I will email you now for your insider info!)

  5. sarah says:

    Why is birth control so scary??
    Getting pregnant when you aren’t ready- now THAT sounds scary.
    (Also, studies have been very inconclusive in showing whether hormonal birth control positively or negatively affects long term health)

  6. rebo says:

    Put it in your VJ!!!

  7. Nicole says:

    Hook me up with the 411 too! I am intrigued

  8. dalas v says:

    Just a heads up that I will be asking you in a couple months how this is working out for you. I think anja is curious about it. I figured I should give you fair warning, because it’s not that often that blokes ask lassies about their birth control out of the blue.

  9. Larry Forney says:

    In hindsight, there’s, of course, nothing shocking here, heaven knows I’ve had these conversations before plenty of times. But I just wanted to point out that reading that entry, then the sort of play by play of the comments, my jaw actually dropped. Like I am all reading with my mouth closed, then *puh* my mouth was open.
    um, good luck!

  10. willow says:

    That’s what I’m here for, Larry. Jaw dropping content regarding my VJ.
    :-)

  11. Larry Forney says:

    When I read VJ I think of VJ Day or “Victory over the Japanese Day”. It was a holdover in Rhode Island. I think the celebrations have died down in the rest of the country.

  12. Sweet Lucy says:

    God, I hate birth control. Gives me mood swings like no other. Agreed though-very necessary. I am on this new new low dose stuff called Yaz! which is better, but since it’s so low dose, if you miss a day, you could be screwed. Ahem.
    I met the man, the myth, the legend the other night–your boyfriend! He was delightful and listened to my apartment problems and we talked about Project Runway! It was hilarious–I was hugging Liz and then I saw him and I was like “YOU’RE MIKEY!!!!OMIGAWD!!!!” Anyway, I gave him a BIG hug to give to you. I love you and you are the best teacher ever.

  13. marissa says:

    Speaking of babies:)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *