September 1th
2009
2:58 PM
I am so relieved to has found this page. I had no idea how many people on the NuvaRing were having the problems I've been having. I started using the NuvaRing a few years ago soon after starting to have sex. I wasn't very good at remembering my pill everyday, so I thought it would be a good option. I was so happy in the beginning because I could depend on it.
However, the first major thing that happened a few months later was IBS symptoms, which has put a big damper on my life since. I never know what food item will cause me to cramp and bloat next. It changes every day. I have always doubted this symptom attributed to Nuva until now. I thought my metabolism was changing because I was entering the workforce and exposing myself to new levels of stress.
Next, I never expected that it would diminish my sex drive. I have to convince myself that I'm in the mood, feeling responsible for maintaining a healthy sex life with my husband. That sounds so horrible, and it is. I'm almost never in the mood, not even to masturbate, and I have to keep a calendar to keep track of the last time I pleased my husband. I have not had a real orgasm since before starting the nuva.
It doesn't help to not only be not in the mood, but also when I do have sex, it's uncomfortable, burning, and very painful urinating afterwards. On many occasions, the ring gets pulled out a little during sex, causing a moment of uncomfortable prodding plastic for both of us, and I need to stop long enough to take it out and put it somewhere so I remember to put it back in again. Sex is more comfortable without it after that, but the irritation is still there. It takes a few days to heal before having sex again.
The last straw is more recent. I began to get discharge - a lot - starting the second week in the cycle. It wasn't a yeast infection, as I had a physical and pap at this time and the doctor would have picked it up. There was some itching, but mostly, I've had to wear panty liners 3 out of 4 weeks, including my menstrual cycle. This makes me feel less appealing, and much less interested in having spontaneous sex because I have to clean up first.
It just sucks that this has effected me for almost my whole relationship with my husband. Our dates, our honeymoon, our first anniversary vacation last month. All this time, and I find that the only prescription drug I'm on is what has caused me so much stress, sexual tension, and digestive ailment. One can only imagine what all these other happy commercialized medicines have in store for us, and in multiple amounts!
-- By ally_cat | Reply | Private Message me
December 18th
2008
10:40 AM
I have been using the Nuvaring for almost three years and I am thinking of taking it out in a few days and leaving it out for good. I never thought I had any real side effects until I started reading other people's reviews. I thought everything I was feeling was just me being me, but now I know better. Here is the long list of my side effects: weight gain, depression, severe anxiety, painful intercourse, discharge, itching, migraines, pimples, and zero sex drive. I have been with my boyfriend for almost three years. In fact, I got on birth control because we were beginning a serious relationship and I did not want to use condoms. Our sex life is nonexistent at this point. When we had sex is was good, but it was painful too. I am 27 years old and I have started having the attitude of "I could go the rest of my life without sex". I don't want my boyfriend to even touch me at this point and this is definitely putting strain on our relationship. Last night we were discussing the situation and he said to go off of birth control and we would use condoms. Like I said in the beginning I am taking it out. I am a bit anxious about going off birth control because I do not want any kids right now, but being on this birth control I am practicing another type of birth control abstinence. Doesn't make sense does it? The other side effects I mentioned are also affecting our relationship. This is a serious relationship, I am going to marry this man; we have picked out rings and that is why it is so important that I remedy this problem. The discharge side effect was putting a damper on our sex life in the beginning before I lost all interest. I never had a migraine in my life and rarely had even a headache, but I have had two migraines in the last few years and get headaches more often. I had a random pimple every once in a while, but now I have them everyday. I have gained weight and can’t seem to lose any. I wake up in the mornings with my mind racing due to the anxiety and I have not felt genuinely happy in a long time. The depression has made me even think of suicide several times and my life is fine. I am looking forward to being myself again. I hope this helps someone.
-- By kcolbu | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
November 3th
2008
2:08 AM
Hi girls! I just wanted to write and let you know I am a 27 year old female who started using the nuvaring about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I am taking the ring out tonight and am not recommending its use to any of my friends!
Since I have started using this product I have had severe pains in both my knees and have had discomfort and incredible irritation while trying to have intercourse (when I can find the mood which hasn't been very often in the past few weeks and being a Scorpio that just isn't like me!!!). My mood swings have been ridiculous and have put a damper on my birthday weekend in Montreal! I went from being a very friendly strong outgoing person to and irritable unsocial bitch that breaks down and cries for no reason at all! I cant believe the side effects have hit me so hard and so quickly and I couldn't imagine using this product for more than a month.
Im happy to have found this site and to find out I am not the only one dealing with these side effects! What surprises me is there is a commercial on Canadian television promoting this product when im not sure it should have made it to our markets to begin with! Nobody at the clinics I have been to nor the doctor I have talked to have informed me of these side effects either and I encourage us all to let our fellow female friends know this product does indeed come with some nasty side effects!
Thank you to everyone who has written a testimonial on this page I appreciate your input and hope mines has been even a little bit of help!
-- By barbrabadass | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
October 6th
2008
11:28 PM
My son is now 31/2 years old and has been on Singulair since he was about 1 Yr. old. His pediatrician recommended this due to his allergies and runny nose. He has had fluid on his ears since age 1, at least that we had confirmed, and she thought that the Singulair combined with another type of antihistamine could dry up the dripping nose and clear up the ears. It did not clear up the ears, but it does stop the drip. He had tubes placed in his ears a year ago in May of 2007 and is looking now at his second set coming up in Mid-October of 2008. He has been taking this medication all but one summer of his short life. My husband and I have both had children, he a boy and I a girl, both 14 years old now. In comparison to the other two, our little one has been so completely different to raise. I've always seen children of "other parents" that have discipline problems with their children and wondered what might cause that type of action in such a small child. Now we have this beautiful little boy, but all we've ever known is how difficult he is to handle and how is anger, temper tantrums and stubborness have always put a damper on outings and even casual days at home. Due to the fluid on his ears, his speach was delayed and he has now really began to speak like a normal 3 year old. I have noticed within the last 2 weeks how he has really started saying things that I have not approved of, but have fluffed it off thinking that he has heard other children in his pre-school say these things, or heard it on a superhero show. Something happened today that really made me stop and think. I picked him up at pre-school like normal after work and he would not come to me. He looked slightly glazed in the eyes, totally not like himself at all. He talked very little on our 30 minute commute home, which was not like him. He said, "I hate you and you don't like me". I told him I do love him and he said, "NO". He said, "I'm bad for you and I have a dangerous heart". He then told me, "I kill you". This was so disturbing that I told my mother what he had said. She told me that it sounds so much like what she had heard on the news that I should check it out. This is how I've come to find this site. We have stopped giving this medication to our son and I am curious to see if there will be any change in his personality. Tubes will probably be placed in his ears again despite whether his nose drips again, so that is a mute issue at this point. When we voiced our concerns to his pediatrician when the information first surfaced several months ago regarding adult behavior and side effects of Singulair, she fluffed it off and told us she has many young patients on this medication with no adverse side effects. He is taking Pediox every 12 hours. I am worried that we may need a substitute med, but we have tried so many that haven't worked. He has Albuterol Inhaler and Xopenex Inhaler when his Asthma symptoms kick in, when his allergies are at his worst. He has had pnumonia 2 times, or one like run of it I should say. It's important to keep his allergies under control so he doesn't get something like this again, but his overall mental health and stability cannot be jeopardized. Since his brain has been developing on this medication for 2 and a half years, does anyone know if this has lasting effects? He is very active and has a very short attention span. He can however sit through an entire movie if it is something that he likes and he has nothing better he wants to do at home. I do not believe he is hyperactive or ADHD in the sense that he needs medication for that symptom. He can be a very loving child and he is very polite and knows his manners. He comes from a very loving home with loving siblings. We have wondered for so long how he could possibly have turned out this way, and I am truly scared to think that this medication could be the cause of so much turmoil in our lives. I will be monitoring his results.
-- By jcrispy | Reply | (5) replies | Private Message me
July 29th
2008
12:38 AM
I am on my 3rd NuvaRing, and my last NuvaRing. This thing has cause me more pain and problems than anything I have ever used! The first time around the only problem I had was an increase in UTI's and extreme discomfort in my vagina and urethra, especially during and days after sex. I was told these side effects would go away within the next trial of the NuvaRing. Boy, were they wrong. After Taking out my second NuvaRing my period lasted from JULY 5TH to JULY 18TH! I also had to face the heaviest period of my life. I would go through a super plus absorbency tampon and panty liner in less than an hour. How embarrassing, inconvenient, and uncomfortable! I have had two ultrasounds, and 3 pelvic exams since starting the NuvaRing just 3 months ago. I have also had to face headaches, stomach pains, MOOD SWINGS, IRRITABILITY, and depression. This thing has put a damper on my sex drive and my relationship with everyone around me including my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years. I would not recommend the NuvaRing to anyone!!!!!!!!
-- By lovetoberitzy | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
June 26th
2008
4:39 PM
My side effects are severe bloating and complete lack of sex drive....at first I bled for days and days and called to have it removed and was told to wait a couple of weeks. I waited a couple of weeks and the bleeding was dimishing so I left it in. Then the light spotting continued and continued and so I made an appointment to have it removed. The nurse told me it was normal and that it would stop eventually and I may not have a period at all. I agreed to leave it in. She was correct in saying that things would even themselves out eventually but I still have the bloating and it's been 2 years now and I have a very light irritating period that is mainly brown spotting but it lasts for seven days straight and puts a real damper on the sex life that already has issues because I just don't feel like having sex. I don't feel attractive with that thing up there...it's uncomfortable and I feel pain in both ovaries on occasion. It's convenient in that it keeps me from getting pregnant but it's really sucky for the relationship when the man wants to do it all the time and the woman has no desire whatsoever. I find ways to avoid having sex or doing anything remotely sexual. It's crazy, I was never like this before. I like the fact that you don't have to remember anything as far as bc is concerned but they need to be honest with people when they recommend it. It has more side effects than birth control pills. I'm now starting to have chest pains and I've decided I think I'm going to have it removed and use condoms from now on. That's the only thing that keeps me from having issues. I just don't think our bodies were meant for all of these chemicals and I wish the doctors would get that through their heads and stop telling us we're crazy when we're not. We know our bodies better than anyone, you can't tell me this thing isn't causing problems in my body that I never had before. I have put off getting it removed because I know they are going to try to convince me to keep it and I don't feel like arguing but I'm to the point where I really want my life and my body back. I also want that extra 20 lbs to come off as I haven't been able to lose it since I had my daughter 2 years ago and had this thing inserted. So anyway, I'm with the rest of you with the crazy symptoms. Oh yea, I left off the fatigue and headaches that I get the week before I start my period. And oh yea, that mood swings are ridiculous. I hope someone is reading this. It's for real people.
-- By ellie42475 | Reply | Private Message me
June 22th
2008
2:39 PM
Wow!!! I am shocked to see all of these posts! I had the Mirena inserted 2 weeks ago and I have been having CRAZY mood swings. Naturally I thought this was from my hormones going crazy due to the change in Birth control. I decided to google the mirena and mood swings, and here I am! I don't think that the insertion was bad at all. I am 24 and have 2 children, I think my Dr. prepared me for the insertion as fairly as he could. What I am upset about is the bleeding. It has not stopped which puts a damper on my sex life, and also the mood swings! I go from pissed off to crying to apologizing! I have never felt so emotional before, even during pregnancy! I am going to tough it out though... just a little longer. But I will let you know how things go. After reading this... I will def. be careful and pay close attention to my body. Thanks to all that posted, it was very comforting to see that I am not alone... or psycho!
-- By louisianagirl | Reply | Private Message me
August 13th
2007
1:06 PM
I have only used the ring for one cycle and a few weeks in there were a few days of excruciating nausea and lower intestinal pain. Otherwise, just general discomfort a couple of times a week. I removed the ring last Friday and have been having continuous nausea and abdominal discomfort since last Thursday. No pain relievers that generally do the trick are working, not even my failsafe Midol. Besides being worrisome about my health, it's wearing having to put up with all of this. I've only been married for a few weeks and it's already putting a damper on things as I have no drive.
-- By cowswguns | Reply | Private Message me
May 17th
2007
5:02 PM
I went on it for my wedding, and although I had great skin, it's really been a damper no my new marriage. Loss of sex drive- just like ortho tricycline.
-- By jm13 | Reply | Private Message me
March 26th
2007
1:10 PM
i started taking welchol a week ago, and now i am having muscle aches, weakness and black, tarry stools. according to my doc, this med has no side effects-- i just think it is a coincidence that i am now feeling this way after taking this, and i was fine before. what a damper on my day!
-- By rachaelgoldman | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
January 30th
2007
6:05 AM
I am currently on Yasmin (have been for about a year). I have been thinking about getting off of it, but I wasn't sure if my side effects were because of it or not. I do not take any other medicaton.
I have found that I now have NO libido WHATSOEVER! This has definetly put a damper in my relationship with my husband. I also find myself lethargic most of the time. It's a constant tiredness that just becomes so annoying! I also find that I get real moody and crabby for no reason.
I have a Dr.'s appointment on Friday and I'm gonna tell my Dr. no more Yasmin. I was just wondering, what methods are you all now using? I wanna get off the pill but my husband and I are not planning for children yet. What have you guys tried?
-- By lulubae | Reply | Private Message me
October 19th
2006
5:28 AM
I came across this site last week after finally getting fed up with vaginal dryness/painful intercourse that my obgyn couldn't explain. (She put me on yeast infection medicine..but obviously, that wasn't the problem.) It hit me all at once that my weird, very uncharacteristic crying spells (ex. unable to complete sentences without feeling like tears are welling up)....to extreme anger and a flared temper....to a recent fainting/diarrhea spell...to overnight changing my feelings completely on having children, to hating my job!! (I mean really...my feelings are ALL over the place.)I've never been one to blame things on others or for this matter, a pill. But I realized that a lot of my strange personality changes may really be attributed to the Yasmin. I have had insomnia for the last 4 months...which I've also never ever experienced before. In general, I've become a worrier and feel all around numb and no love for myself or my boyfriend. And for no reason. It's putting a real damper on our relationship actually. I told him about this site and explained what I've been dealing with...silently for the most part because I thought it was just me. So I guess we'll have to wait it out....I started taking Yasmin in November 2005...and now in retrospect...can start adding up small changes to my personality starting back in Feb. 2006. My last pill was this Friday. I'm day 6 off Yasmin and have my period this week. I am not going to go back on the Yasmin this weekend. (after my period ends) I'm afraid to go on any hormonal birth control because of the way this affected me so badly. In a way, I feel like I may have never been "myself" around my boyfriend. We started dating in Dec. 2005, and I had started it a month before. Does this make sense? I had been on OrthoTryCyclen a long time ago....and remember when I moved to England...I got off of it and felt as though my feelings in general went from black and white to colorful and vibrant. I think I'm going to explore non hormonal options from here on in. I've done some research on IUD's. In particular, the copper IUD.
Anyway, sorry for the ramble ladies. My point is to say thank you for speaking up. I come and look at this site everyday to just remind myself that I'm not alone. And that I can look forward to feeling myself again one day. And mostly, that feelings of butterflies and happiness will come back to my relationship with my boyfriend. Who is simply wonderful. Just a fantastic guy.
Keep those chins up ladies!
Vicki
NuvaRing (5) Mirena (3) Yasmin (2) Minocycline Hydrochloride (1) Singulair (1) Welchol (1)
October 7th
2009
9:08 PM
Not trying to put a damper on your day ladies, but you will find when you get it out, your "side effects" wont all go away. Gaining weight?? No It's called as we get older we have to watch what we eat.. Hair falling out? I have had no such thing like that. Ache yes but thats with all birth control, headaches, stomach aches thats with all birth control! The Mirena was the best decision i could have EVER made!
-- By mcan0024 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me