QuestionHi. I just discontinued the nuvaring on September 10,2007. I took it out when I was supposed to, meaning I took it out during my 'off week' and never put in another one. My boyfriend and I have been having unprotected sex since I took it out and now I am feeling very strange. I have swollen breasts, abdominal cramping, extreme fatigue, nausea, sensitivity to odors, and odd cravings. I have heard that coming off BC can increase a womans fertility. Is it possible for me to have ovulated a few days or so after my period? Or are these symptoms due to discontinuing the nuvaring? Please help! Thanks so much :)
AnswerDear Tiff,
Since you removed the NuvaRing at the normal time, the "off week", you should have had a normal period during that week. After that period your body was expecting the hormones in the NuvaRing to kick back in. When they did not, it is POSSIBLE that you ovulated. It would not be something that we would have necessarily expected, but it is definitely possible as a reaction to not having those hormones present as you had previously.
As far as coming off BC increasing a woman's fertility - nope. In fact, some women struggle to conceive. It simply depends on the individual woman. Some conceive easily, others do not.
The symptoms you describe are hormonal in nature so they can be related to hormone fluctuations within your cycle as it tries to re-regulate itself without the influence of the NuvaRing, but they can also be related to early pregnancy. You will simply have to wait long enough to get an accurate test. I usually suggest that women wait until the week after a missed or spotty period before testing for pregnancy. For you this would be approximately 10/17. Make sure when you test that you use 1st morning urine to get a concentrated sample for the most accurate results.
I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Brenda
