Birth control methods symptoms and conditions

I have to say I am SHOCKED over this site but had to read every bit of it. I am a TRUE believer in the Mirena and until I came across this site while searching for sites to send a friend to encourage the Mirena I never knew how many horrible things could happen for someone on the Mirena. HOWEVER, I guess this is proof when with any type of birth control including Mirena it is said it's not for everyone. I happen to LOVE mine. I'm actually on my 2nd insertion. My first one went very well, after a crampy insertion and 2 days of horrible cramps controlled by ibuprofin I was left to enjoy 5 years of birth control w/out problems. I can't take the pill as no matter the dose I spend the 1st to weeks nauseated and vomiting in the morning, I tried the Depo Shot (personally that is the EVIL OF ALL EVIL birth control methods, gained 68 pounds in 11mnts never going over 105 pounds except for pregnancy in my life, have battled to control my weight since therefore I believe it destroyed my metabolism forever, major depression to the point of medication and medical leave from work & the world). And after an accident pregnancy no way was condoms going to be enough for me. My Dr. recommended Mirena and I gave it a try. I was not lucky enough to go period free my first insertion I did have a max of 3 days of period with little or no cramping. My second not as good, I now have about 5 days of spotting only if sex promotes it and occasionally after using the bathroom a little blood on the toilet paper, never needing to actually use any feminine products. I use to get ovarian cysts all the time, small enough surgery was only needed once but I knew when one was there and I knew one they "popped" as my doctor would call it. I haven't had that problem since I started with Mirena, I'm told its due to the small amount of hormones (hence the reason my Dr suggested Mirena versus a non hormone IUD). My sex drive has not been affected one bit...in fact like one of the positive posts I just read...my husband and I have discussed more then once prior to coming across this site how much more of a sex drive I do have, although we contributed it to not being pulled down in the dark world of depression from the Depo shot...and the freedom of placed once & forget for 5 years type birth control. I have 8 friends and coworkers that have the Mirena...One person had a problem, hers "fell out" in the toilet and she had been cramping and in abdominal pain for a few days prior not connecting it to her Mirena...but after 2 months of other methods she had another one placed and has had no problem since...that was 2 years ago. It stinks to hear how horrible this "wonder bc method" is for others...(are you seeing how terrible the other methods were for me first for me to feel this is the wonder of all wonders) and of course I'm concerned with the fact that most of you that had a problem had SEVERE problems..not just a small one here or there. But I'm going to bet that on the flip side the methods that caused me hell might work for one of you. I have 2 more years left on this 2nd cycle...I pray I never have the problems you do if I chose a 3rd insertion...however, with science today we can only hope your complaints are taken seriously and the makers of Mirena continue to improve so that less and less people run into these side effects. I'm not sure I would have another option...SCARY!

I'm 24 years old and have never had a child. I've jumped around to different birth control methods.
I was on Depo-provera which made me gain mad weight, stop having my period all together and loss of sex drive. Then I decided to try Nuvaring...another poor mistake. I started having my period again and lost the Depo weight (plus some) but I became a loaded gun waiting to go off! I was biting everyone's head off and felt extremely bitter. It never stayed in place though and I felt like I was always fooling with it.
My next great venture (with which I'm still experiencing the "joys" of) was Mirena. I went to have it put in while on my period, a rather light one. The insertion wasn't agony but was no pic-nic in the damn park either. Afterwards I reinserted my tampon as my Gyno said was fine to do. I was in a world of pain by this time. I only walked a block before stopping at the nearest restroom and realizing that I was covered in blood and the pain was getting worse with each passing moment.
My boyfriend came to get me and I spent the rest of the evening crying, in pain and in the fetal position. It got better after a few weeks just in time for my check-up. The Gyno went on about the pain being 'normal' and that 'it would fade over time'.
Well, it's been 2 1/2 years and it still hurts. Sex in certain positions kill me, my hair is thinning, I've gain all the Depo weight back and just to remind me the bastard is there I feel stabbing pains randomly that last from a few seconds to a couple of days. I can still feel the string but c'mon....what's the freaking deal??

Hi all,
I want you all to know that if you are having any of the symptoms here that you should seriously consider having your IUD removed! Taking it out after almost 4 years was the best thing that happened to me! As a mom of 4, I have used my share of birth control methods and although after the 9 months of heavy bleeding stopped, I had no more periods, that was the only good side affect. Over time things in my body changed and I didn't know that they were related to my IUD until I did some research here before my annual exam. The morning after I had it removed was the 1st morning in 4 years that I didn't wake up with back pain. Since I have had it removed, I sleep better, have no more headaches (before I had about 4-7 a week), my joints don't hurt anymore, my moods are more regular (before I was having episodes where I felt like I needed to kill someone I was so enraged over nothing), I am not so tired all the time (after I had it put in, I felt so tired all the time that I couldn't function.....I actually started drinking coffee daily to help), like I said my back stopped hurting, and so many more things. When I had my follow-up with my OBGYN she felt bad that my experience was so miserable. I reassured her that it wasn't her fault and some people have had ok experiences with it, I just wasn't one of them. We decided that taking it out was a good decision for me and left it at that! I hope that you have a better experience than I did, but if not, I strongly recommend you have it removed....you will appreciate feeling like yourself again!

K.

I'm 21 and I have never been on any kind of birth control method. I decided to get on the Nuvaring because I had a pregnancy scare. My boyfriend and I have only ever used condoms, but one broke and that was enough for me. I've been on the Nuvaring for about 2 weeks. I normally get my period every 35 days and the only cramping I ever experience is the first and second day of my period. After the first week I noticed I had some light cramping and thought nothing of it, but as time went on the cramping only seemed to be getting worse. I told my doctor about it and she advised me that it was probably my body trying to get used to the ring. Never having used birth control before, I tried not to worry. Then, I noticed some other changes that concerned me since it wasn't like me to feel that way. Aside from the cramping, I had been feeling very depressed about my life and where I was headed for some reason, and my sex drive was depreciating. My boyfriend noticed of course and I had no idea why I was feeling that way. It wasn't until I came across this website that everything started to make sense. I thought I was the only one experiencing these changes. I'm definitely going to change birth control methods. I just don't know what is the best out there. Can anyone help me?

I cannot contribute - in the same way as other posters, I can add a side effect of getting of all birth control pills-- health. The pill seems to act by mimicking the first trimester symptoms of pregnancy in many ways - explains many of the symptoms. Can you imagine being 1st trimester-pregnant for years? I cannot understand why women will use un-natural, non-organic foreign substances in their bodies with possibly deadly side effects - yet swear by organic soy milk, veggies what have you -seems a bit schizophrenic. Better to wait for the man who would love you fully and not ask you to hurt yourself so he can use you for sex. We become just like the men here, this is so sad to me. Instead of being "liberated" we, (not the men) become slave to the pill. And then we don't get he freedom or the man. Try organic sex, in the ways God intended, much healthier.

I recently got Mirena (May 20th) and am wondering if my current depression is linked to that. Its been nice not having to take a pill everyday and previous birth control methods left me with no sex drive. I've had the most every day spotting, but I enjoy feeling sexual again. Is there anyone else out there who has had depression on Mirena and had anti-depressants be effectual? I have had a history of depression, but it has been four and a half years since I've needed them.

Hi Everyone,

I need Some help!!!!!!!!

I been on Yasmin for two months now because of extreme period pain. Im 20 years old. And for the past week, Im bleeding a little and also clotting, however its still a week from time for the sugar tablet. On top of this my skin hasn't cleared up yet. Is this due to the time scale? Also I am bloated so much and i have stacked on the weight, its the fattest I've ever been, Im only meant to be small. It pretty much came on in a couple of months, I just feel like shit. fatigued also.

Its nice to know that there are a few of you that are going through the same thing.

Is this the wrong pill for me???

It so annoying!!!!

I had the mirena removed about a week ago and I already seriously feel better. I haven't felt that tired foggy feeling, haven't been depressed or angry. The first 3 days after removal I did get chills for a day. I also had a real heavy period which I hadn't had for a long time. I tell you what though I really do feel better and I know its just not wishful thinking. Sometimes I just sit quietly and relish in how good I feel. My size 10 shorts are falling around my hips because the bloating in my stomach has went down significantly. I can't explain it. I feel to be close to my husband again and welcome his touch. I knew that I would start to recover quickly . I've been through this with other birth control methods but was told that mirena had little to no side effects and was good for 5 years. I don't regret taking it out for one second. We are using a OTC b/c but at least we are needing to because before we weren't even having sex! My husband is so happy, but not as happy as I am........Did I just say that? "Yeah I'm happy!!!" Listen to your body. This thing isn't for everyone.

I have had the mirena since November 2007. People around me started noticing differences in my level of energy not long after. I am constantly fatigued and have had to stop dancing (I normally danced flamenco a few times a week). Last summer I had serious periods for 5 weeks straight!
Now for the last 3 months I have had very painful breasts, just walking kills me! I feel like I am in my PMS ALL the time. Since the mirena I have gained weight in the tummy area (and my breasts are fuller too) and my muscles fatigue faster. Last November (2008) after 12 months with the mirena I wanted it out but my gyneco did not see the relation between my symptoms and the mirena and told me to hold on a little more. Something is definitively happening to me hormone wise. I even had 2 hot flashes last week!! I am seeing the doc on June 3 and will demand to have this thing taken out! Oh! and my sex drive? GONE, completely gone :(

Holy Moly...Basically I think all birth control methods suck, especially hormone based ones. Women always bear the brunt of the hideous side effects.
Used rhythm method for years, no problem. Conceived 2 kids when I wanted to. Afterwards, I thought Mirena would be good idea. AWFUL! Stupid thing poked him and me. OUT! Started Nuvaring 2.5 months ago. Sound familiar: Great for first month...I thought. Didn't fall out which was the big thing I had heard about. Now, noticing 1) weight gain despite running, tennis, etc. and following weight watchers. 2) Thin, brittle hair. 3) knee and joint pain which makes exercise hard (thought it was my sneakers) in addition to upper-thigh soreness. 4) IBS symptoms for first time in 38 years! Bloating, diarrhea, gas, etc. 5) trouble staying asleep despite fatigue 6) new level of fatigue 7) vaginal dryness which never had EVER before hormones! 8) increasing disinterest in sex.
So, yup, took it out yesterday after finding this site. NO more hormones for me! Abstinence or condoms, I guess. Geesh.

I had a Mirena put in a month ago and it was AWFUL.. I think it was misplaced, because within 15 minutes I could not walk, was sweating, dizzy, and shaking, and had the sharpest pain you can imagine.. it was expelling itself. So I went back (almost called an ambulance, went with a cab cause I hadn't gotten far down the street anyway) and got it removed immediately. Yesterday I had another one put in, by a different (more trustworthy) Doctor. Extremely painful process, ended up laying in bed all day downing ibuprofen. But today I am fine, just some mild cramping.

What I really wonder is who out there has compared Mirena with other birth control methods.. I had to get one because I had awful experiences with migraines and other side effects from pills. I have spent months researching different methods of birth control and reading reviews on all of them.. honestly, every method has hundreds of postings describing the exact same side effects. The best birth control methods are, by nature, hormonal, so it isn't surprising that people have similar reactions to them. Mirena is supposed to be better in that it acts more locally and does not have estrogens. Can anyone tell me how this worked out compared to other methods, or if they had migraines? I just get so scared reading all of these horror stories, and I cant tell if they are general reactions to hormones or specifically from Mirena. Thanks for your help...

I HAD MIRENA INSERTED AFTER MY BABY WAS BORN IN SEPT 07. IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS I HAVE BEEN HAVING NAUSEA ON AND OFF ALMOST EVERYDAY. I HAVE MADE SPOTTING AND MILD CRAMPING. I HAVE HAD MOOD SWINGS AND I TOO FEEL LIKE I AM GOING NUTS. I AM DEPRESSED AND AN EMOTIONAL WRECK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK BECAUSE ALL THIS JUST STARTED BUT THIS THING HAS GOT TO COME OUT. MY BOYFRIEND TOOK THE LAST ONE OUT AND I GOT PREGNANT. MY GOD FATHER IS MY OB/GYN AND HE DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE IT OUT, PLUS I WORK FOR HIM. IM JUST REALLY TIRED OF THIS. AND NOT TO MENTION I DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE RIGHT NOW SO I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE.

I am 18 years old and I have been on the NuvaRing for about a week and a half...already I have been extremely emotional. I am the kind of girl who never crys, and lately EVERYTHING makes me cry or upset. Granted, I do have a lot on my plate right now which adds to my anxiety and stress levels so that could be it too. My boyfriend doesn't like the feeling of it when we are having sex either, and it causes a burning sensation for me when we are finished. Ive experienced sleeping problems as well. Im not quite sure if it is because of everything going wrong in my life right now..or if it is because of the NuvaRing. I have also been experiencing back pain.

I'm so glad I found this website! I am 28 years old, and have only been on NR for about 2 months.....everything was fine the first month or so. Really didn't notice any changes. The past two weeks have been awful. I was really surprised to read about some people having nasal problems....I live in Arkansas and it's spring, so I just thought I'm finally developing allergies, but it makes more sense to me that it's NR, since I've never had drainage and sneezing like this. And I don't think it's allergies because my eyes aren't itchy or watering like they do when I'm around cats (which I'm definitely allergic to).
The other main side effect, like most people was weight gain. I've always had a fast metabolism and I can pretty much eat what I want. My weight stays around 125, and I'm a size 6. If I gain a pound, usually I just eat really healthy, drink lots of water, and maybe exercise, and I'm back down. But the past two weeks, I'm up to 130 and the scale WILL NOT BUDGE!!! No matter what I do!! I am drinking so much water, thinking it is water weight, but that didn't matter. I tried working out EVERYDAY, which I never do, and that didn't help. Cut out all sweets for a day and that usually makes a huge difference. Nothing.
One other think I noticed is that my skin is drier. I have dry skin anyway, but my skin looked awesome when two months ago. My dermatologist had prescribed a skin regimine that worked great, but now it doesn't seem to be as effective.

So tonight I took NR out. I'm SOOOOOOO glad I've figured out what the cause is before I gained any more weight. I expect to be my good old self in about a week.

I've only taken two birth control methods (the other was the pill), which completely killed my sex drive. So hormones are not good for me. Has anyone tried Para-Gard? It's an IUD with no hormones that is good for 10 years. My husband wants me to try it.

I had the Mirena inserted July 2007. I thought the Mirena was the best invention ever! I have migraines so I could no longer continue taking the pill. My doctor and I discussed my options and we both thought the Mirena would be a good solution. I didn't want to have anymore kids but I was mentally ready to have my tubes tied. With the Mirena I would have lighter periods and no migraines and it lasted for 5 years. No remembering taking a pill every night. Sounded like a win-win situation to me. During the latter half of 2007 to early 2008, I gained 22 lbs. It appeared overnight (or that's how I felt). I blamed it on it being the holidays and eating too much. I increased my workouts, hired a personal trainer (not cheap) and dieted my butt off. I didn't lose a pound. Early this year my co-worker told me about this sight. She had the Mirena also. When I started reading the side affections that women were experiencing, everything started clicking into place. The weight gain. The hair loss. My hair grows like a weed. And I've been trying to grow my hair out for at least 8 months. It hasn't grown an inch even though I get my ends trimmed. The hair at the back of my head has broken off. It's shorter than the rest of my hair. I have ZERO sex drive. I'm moody (more than usual). I've made an appointment to have it removed Wednesday. I can't wait! I still don't know what I'm going to do about birth control.

I have had Mirena for five months now since Oct. 2008. I seriously thought I was making the best decision after begin told by my doctor that I could not get my tubes tied because I did not inform her before my six week check-up. And she totally talked me into getting mirena. I waited a week to read up on mirena on the official website and i heard nothing but good reviews.Since I had mirena inserted I have had some periodic cramping which did not seem so bad. Yester was the first day i experienced my period since mirena. To my surprise I had no sanitary napkins (pads) available I only had tampons. I was afraid and a little reluctant to use the tampons b/cause I was not sure if it was safe to do so with the IUD in plac, so i decided to research it on the website I google for mirena side effects and my results wer the official website along with tons of others. I decided to check the official site b/cause I thought that they would best be able to answer my question an address my concern about the tampons. Well the did answer my question and said that there was no risk and it was safe to use iI just needed to pay close attention as to how I removed it so as to not remove the device instead. Well anyway I used the tampon and when dear hubby returned from work I rushed to the store to get some sanitary napkins (Pads) b/cause I was still a little scared with the tampons. That whole evening the situation pondered me and I started to think about all the other sites that i came across but never pulled them up and thought that maybe I should b/cause one sub heading caught mu attention which said" I finally got Mirena removed Yeaaa!!!". Anyway this morning I got up and started my research I was shocked by the things I was reading about the side effects which were all things that I was experiencing but had no idea and no clue that the mirena was the cause . Here goes, I experienced the cramping, very uncomfortable at times. Oh my God the extreme hair loss, which i was told that due to increased hormones during pregnancy it happens shortly after giving birth when the hormones are leaving the body and decreasing. Bull shit I am almost six months postpartum hormones are all gone and still i have excessive hair loss. The tiredness and depression I thought was due to me being at home all day. I never have the strength to do simple chores around the house even when I take vitamins. I am always sleepy and sleeping. And the weight gain I thought It was shame on me I had gained over 30lbs since my six week check up. I am always hungry can never seem to stick to a diet or exercise regimine. Pre pregnancy with my last child which I have three I weighed 125 lbs and have always been a fitness fanatic with six pack abs!!! Now I have a barrel so to speak. Which I did not have after giving birth until i started the weight gain that I thought was due to being at home and being stressed with so much going on in my life within the last two years. little did I know MIRENA made me FATTT!!!!!!. I have also had problems with back and chest pain and also total body pain. I have stairs in my recent new home which it literally hurts me to go up and down the stairs b/cause my whole body is in pain I just thought I was fat and out of Shape but I constantly walked pre and post pregnancy so no it's not me its MIRENA!!!. I have also experienced very bad blurry vision. Hell! I thought i was going blind! I could never focus my eyes and they are always cloudy and blurry.I also experience a very annoying ringing sound in my ear like a radio which sometimes last very long. I am so happy to have found this site and realize that nothing is wrong with me it is MIRENA that is the problem and I am going to waste no time to fix it my plan was to have mirena for at least two years then get my tubes removed b/cause I do not want any more kids but I am not waiting any longer I am going to make an appointment to have it removed ASAP!!!! I need my life , my energy, appearance and my happiness back so long MIRENA. I wil;l not miss you one bit I will let you all know how it turns out fell free to comment and ask questions. I think I experienced it all and poor me I did not know. Thank you all so much for this site and information. Oh! my husband will be happy to know that his sexy little house wife did not just happen to deteriorate for no reason!!!!!! he will be reading this site.

I just started NuvaRing this month, and I have 3 days left until I have to remove the ring. After which, I will not be using it again. Only a week after I started taking the pill, I started experiencing fatigue like I have never had before, along with severe, random cramping. Soon after, I started to get INCREDIBLY emotional. Granted, that might be the medication interacting with an antidepressant I am on, but this FAR surpasses any mood swings I have EVER had. Now, this morning, I wake up to my entire body itching like crazy! I've been scratching ALL day, and now, at 4 am the following morning, I'm developing this extreme rash all over my body. I will be calling my doctor tomorrow to see what she thinks I should do, but either way, I WILL be switching birth control methods. This may work for other people, and I thought I was crazy with this whole rash thing until I got on a few sites, and noticed I'm not the only one. THANK YOU LADIES for posting your experiences, without which, I might still think I'm a nutcase with a random rash!

I just took the NR out today. I have used other birth control methods and have never had too many issues. I did have some break through bleeding with depo, but it subsided fairly quickly and then I didn't have my period at all for almost a year. I decided to take the ring out after 12 days because I am experiencing bleeding every day, breast tenderness, and most uncomfortably cramping and pelvis pain. My husband and I don't have sex during my period, so in effect this has turned out to be the ultimate contraceptive because we're not having sex at all. I'm just glad that I haven't used it long enough to be experiencing some of the horrible side affects that some of these other women have had. I think I will go back to using foam and the calendar method. It worked for my mother and it has been successful for us so far!

Just started with Nuvaring a week ago. Haven't been on any birth control in over 5 years. I don't know if these are common to all hormonal birth control methods but have been experiencing nausea, dizziness, anxiety, mood swings, pelvic soreness, and I can feel the ring; in general and during intercourse. My boyfriend can feel it, too. Also, there is some vaginal discharge that smells funny. Not strong, just funny. The mood swings are intense, from crying for almost no reason, to a strong sense of anxiety. My sleep has been disturbed due to a general sense of nervousness. I think after this month, I will switch to the pill.

I only lasted one week! Im 17 years old and "healthy" according to my doctor. I thought i would try out the Nuvaring bc my best friend loves it. Unfortunately, my experience made me feel the opposite. The first 2 days were fine. On Day 3, i got a mild headache and wasn't that hungry all day. It didn't seem that bad, so I brushed it off and forced myself to eat. Day 4 my headache was much worse and i barely ate anything all day. Again, I brushed it off thinking my body still had to get used to the hormones. Day 5 was a bad one. I was fine half the day. Then around 3 or 4 pm, my severe headache returned. I called the doctor who told me to take some vitamins to see if that would help. I did, but much to my disappointment, the side effects got worse. That same day in addition to my severe headaches, I went on to experience severe mood swings, sudden fever, chills, chest pains, shortness of breath, lack of sex drive, nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness, sore throat (may or may not have been from NR), and spotting (could have been from my period, but i usually stop by this time).

My first of two major concerns was my loss of appetite. I already have a very fast metabolism, so i can't go a long time without eating. I was afraid that I would end up losing weight bc every time i would force myself to eat, i would feel like i was gonna throw up. Also before the Nuvaring, i had never had a severe headache. My headaches got so bad on the Nuvaring that i couldn't move my head without wincing in pain. The headaches were the main reason i finally yanked it out two days later when they didn't go away.

It's only been a day since i took it out, and i feel 95% better (still mild effects, but it takes more than a day for the NR to get out of your system). I don't know what birth control method I'll use now (thinking about just going back to condoms), but it definitely won't be the Nuvaring. I'd rather be a pregnant teenager (Knock on wood) then kill my body with hormonal birth control methods.

i was taking yaz for about 1-2 years. it was great - my moodiness subsided, lighter periods, no cramps, and it made my acne go away. i noticed that the longer i was on yaz, the more frequent my migraines became (4-5 per month). i didn't realize it at first because i have always gotten migraines (3 per month) since i was a child and i would always attribute the migraines to either stress or stormy weather. with the increase in migraines, i started trying various migraine medications, including zomig and maxalt combined with an alleve. however, i recently switched to nuvaring because my doctor said my blood pressure increased and i was placed on a low dosage of a beta blocker. nuvaring has a lower dosage of hormones and was recommended to me. i used nuvaring for 2 months and then stopped because i had problems with it slipping out. tired of trying differed birth control methods, i simply asked to go back on the yaz. this is when it dawned on me. the entire time i was using the nuvaring, i barely had any migraines (maybe 1 or 2 over 2 months compared to the usual 3-4 per month). i've been back on the yaz for 2 months now and i am having a migraine EVERY week and they last about 2-3 days long. i'm seeing my doc ASAP and getting of this pill immediately. i'm tired of the migraines interrupting my life. they completely immobilize me. i also noticed it completely got rid of any sex drive i have.

My experienced with Mirena was my worst experience ever in my life. After I had my first son my doctor and I discussed some suggestions of birth control as I was trying to go back to school. My doctor suggested that mirena would be the best choice because i can have it for up to five years without worrying of getting pregnant; so I agreed with my doctor for i believed she knows more than i do when it comes to birth control methods. I had the mirena inserted in me, but since mirena was put in me I kept having excruciating stomach pain, cramping, bloating, head aches, non-stop bleeding and much more. Finally, after i realized that i could no longer bear the horrible pain of mirena, I decided to have my doctor take it out. However, just after mirena was taken out I had an ectopic pregnancy which caused me to lose one of my folopian, and now I'm only left with one tube. After the bad experience with mirena, i discussed with my doctor to find out if mirena was the cause of my ectopic pregnancy because i used to use other birth control methods, but i never had any terrible problem with them like mirena. My doctor stated that she wasn't sure if mirena was the cause, but I definitely believe that mirena was the cause of my ectopic pregnancy. I am so relieved to know that i am not the only one to have a very bad experience with mirena, and I was also waiting for this day when a law suit can be filed against mirena.

Thanks for allowing me to express my bad experience with mirena,

Hawa!

I've been on nuvaring for 2 years and its the best birth control that I've used so far. The only side effects that I get are occasional hot flashes. I do experience some mood swings, which are "PMS" type mood swings, which have lasted only a few hours right before my period starts.

The hot flashes can be annoying but they are manageable, these happen to me when I have had the one week break from NuvaRing and then insert the new ring, the first day or two, i experience hot flashes.

Other than that, my sex drive has not changed, it is very normal and healthy.

I have been on various birth control pills, in the past, for 6 years. Ive tried "ortho-tri cyclen", which made me feel bloated, moody and depressed. I've also tried "ortho-tri-cylen lo"and it made me feel the same way. I have also tried Triphasil and it caused me to feel depressed, and i experienced bloating.
I do have to say that all of the Birth Control pills were more effective in controlling acne than with the NuvaRing.

I still get quite medium to heavy periods with NuvaRing with some menstrual cramps, however, the cramping does not last very long and it is a lot lighter than when I am not taking any birth control.

Overall, nuvaring is working for me so far. I recommend trying it out and giving it a minimum of 6 months trial before giving up.
Also, I found that taking a break from all birth control methods for about a year, and using other barrier methods (aka condom) have also helped me, as I felt like it gave me a break from synthetic chemicals and my body was able to be "natural" for awhile, I felt that was psychologically and emotionally a good idea for awhile. So if you feel like you are switching and just completely all over the place, I suggest that you might try taking a break for yourself, as a woman, to restore the biological settings and maybe try again with something new after a long period of time.

cheers : )

I have the mirena for a lil over three years now. My doctor strongly encouraged it. He told me there were no side affects like all the other birth control methods. Yeah right after reading all these post I have realized I have all the same problems. I just thought I was crazy. My husband was always upset there was something new wrong with me, little did I know there was one common factor. I have developed a ovarian cyst on my left ovary on top of all the other problems due to the mirena. I am happily getting it out next week! After having a bad experience with Merina I'm kinda weary on what other birth control to use if anyone has any advice please let me know.

I have never had a problem before with orgasming from masturbation but since I started having sex and taking Yasmin it has been hard for me to climax during sexual intercourse, despite becoming close to climax. Any suggestions??