I do not know the hormonal differences, I just know that I LOVE MY NUVARING!!! I love not having to take a pill every day. It's awesome!

My doctor's office recommends his female patients use Nuvaring to help regulate periods after WLS. I was on the Depo shot for 10 years and because I have PCOS, I'm very reluctant to take anything other than the pill (low dose even because of possible mental side effects - I also take antidepressants. I know, I'm a mess!). To be honest I really didn't even want to take the pill, but I wasn't having ovulating or having normal periods before I started taking it.

Does anyone know the hormonal/chemical differences between a birth control pill like Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo and Nuvaring? Much appreciated!

My BMI was 40 and I only had PCOS so my insurance approved me.

I forgot to update! Yes I did bring it up to my doctor and it gets a little confusing. I go to the same doctors office I've been going to since I was roughly 15. At first, I had a male doctor who was the one when I was 17 that put me though the ultrasound to check my ovaries. Since then I some how gravitated to this woman doctor who I actually like much much better. She wasn't fully aware that I had those tests done, and when I brought it up to her how all my symptoms match she agreed with me and said the tests they usually do is an ultrasound of your ovaries. I told her I already had it done and asked if it's true about having cysts before your period and I tried to explain what my previous doctor had said but obviously it's been a while so I couldn't remember word for word. I trust her more than I did my older doctor and she said yes you can because before your period you have a release of hormones or something and fluid build up or something... and she explained it in a way that I understood however I forgot already lol so don't quote me.

Though, that doesn't mean I don't have PCOS. She wants to do another ultrasound since it's been about 6 years and she said that the only other thing that I can do at this point even if I DO have PCOS (since I'm pretty much being treated for everything as it is) is get the medication that controls facial hair. Although, if I get RNY I can't use it for long because it contains a diuretic and that's a no-no after surgery. So yeah at this point in time since I'm not trying to have kids that's all they can do, but after I find out if I'm approved or not for the WLS then I'm going to pursue finding out. It was kind of just a vague discussion since I wasn't moving completely forwards yet, but I'm going to ask her for a referral to an endocrinologist when I get the ultrasound! :-) Thanks for all the advice guys *fingers crossed* maybe I'm just a weird one who has EVERY symptom but not PCOS.

*Becky*

I would have gotten pregnant at the 12 month mark but was on a medication (not related to my WLS) where I couldn't get pregnant while taking.  So as soon as I finished that we ttc'ed and got pregnant right away.  I was 16 months post op the 1st time.  The 2nd pregnancy I was 3.5 years post op.   Both of my pregnancies were complication free and 'normal'.  My OB did allow me to do an alternative to the GTT as I'm VERY sugar sensitive.  I did a fasting and 1 hr post prandial test.  Both my glucose levels were normal with both pregnancies.

Good luck!