[Brandye]

Among my patients there have been more adjustment problems with the long term hormonal systems than any other. I agree with sera.

The two most underused are the IUD which you mention and the ring. Each system is experienced differently by different women. There is no perfect "one size fits all" when contraception is being chosen.

For non-hormone approaches, the IUD is a good choice and tolerated well by the vast majority of women. There are copper and there are non-copper. There is usually an adjustment time of a month or so.

For hormonal systems, the ring puts the least hormone in the system and needs only two dates marked on the calendar each month - one day to insert and one to remove. Very few women have experienced difficulties and those are usually expulsion. Some women simply do not hold it in.

And then there is the issue of discipline. Life requires much more scheduling than simply taking a pill each day at the same time. Maturity includes handling these things.

Time for her to sit down with a gyn who has experience with the entire array of contraceptive approaches.