The first two months I was on NuvaRing, I thought it was the best...

I've used both a copper IUD and a diaphragm for about eight years each and each has it's pluses and minuses. If you and your partner can think of the diaphragm as a sex toy that you can't possibly have intimacy without, you're more likely to have success with it ("ooh honey--go get the diaphragm...!") This worked really well in my first relationship and we used it without a hitch for over eight years. But you also have to be OK with goopy contraceptive gel on your fingers and remembering to take it out after eight hours and wash it and taic it and have it with you whenever you need it. My present partner, however, could never "warm up" to the diaphragm, it turned him off sexually, and because he wanted intimacy so frequently, I switch to an IUD. I stayed with it for over seven years because it was completely "no fuss, no muss" in the bedroom (nothing to buy, do or clean up), but I paid the price in having periods that went on for 10-12 days every month with very heavy back aches and a heavy discharge that required the use of a panti-liner every day. I ended up with chronic fatigue because of the extensive bleeding. I felt a huge sense of liberation when my partner finally got a vasectomy and I could have the IUD removed. My periods immediately went back to being only 3 days long and relatively painless, and with vitamins, the fatigue went away too. I hope this helps you!

I'm filtering through these posts looking for another option; something besides the copper IUD (It looks like the nuvaring might not be my answer either). After the IUD insertion (a year ago), I experienced a lot of pain, needing to take Tylenol with codeine and ibuprofen for about 5 days. It subsided for the most part, but the cramping and amount of blood during menstrual periods has been unbelievably bad. I wouldn't even consider going swimming for 3 days each month. And then, usually about once a week, I need to take ibuprofen for pain. I live overseas so I can't see my doctor that easily. It's driving me crazy enough that I've decided to get it removed, I just don't know what I'm going to as a replacement method.