Great sex symptoms and conditions

Some of this may be TMI for some, but I believe in not pulling the punches:

I had mine inserted 12/07 when my youngest was 8 weeks old. I had the para-guard (no hormone) previously and loved it, I didn't take into account how poorly I have done with hormonal BC in the past (2 pregnancy's on the pill, 30lbs weight gain in 6 weeks of the patch, constant 'morning sickness' with the shot, etc) all I heard was no more periods....

After doing the HGC diet (as a last resort) I am finally down to the weight I was 2 days before my dd was born. At my peak I was 20lbs more. I want to get pregnant again next spring, but I have at least 35 lbs to loose before even considering it.

I bleed 2-3 weeks out of the month- too light for even the lightest tampons, but still no fun. I have actually developed raw spots from wearing a pad ALL THE TIME since I never know when the bleeding will start.

And, best of all, I hate sex. I have always had a great sex drive (I'm 29 with four kids) but now if my husband even looks like he's thinking about it I snap at him. When I finally give in (maybe once a month!) it hurts horribly for days- two main types: even with copious amounts of lube I am still dry enough that I feel swollen and bruised. On top of that I cramp for a full day - Feels like I've been punched in the stomach repeatedly. And then the bleeding starts.

Also some (relatively mild) acne, constant, but manageable (never a problem before). Including some in the groin area that end up as boils when on a stretch mark. I had never attributed it to my IUD until reading these posts, but had never had them previously.

The only reason I've had it this long is we lost our insurance shortly after the baby was born (DH laid off after 10 years in construction) I am calling my doctor on Monday to find out how much it will cost to have it removed!

I would ( and have) recommend IUD's to all my friends, but if any have ever had a problem with any hormones- para guard it is!!

I am so happy to have found that many others are experiencing the same things...I have gone CRAZY!!!! I almost started anti-depressants and was scheduled to see a psychiatrist next week because I have totally changed emotionally and sexually. I had a great sex drive and was always happy go lucky....after some thought I starting researching this Mirena...and I think this may be the root of my unhappiness. Plus all these other side effects!....

~Tired all the time
~ Depression
~ Hungry all the time
~ leg cramps
~ hair loss
~ oily skin and bad breakouts
~ No period ..ever
~ Mood swings (huge...yelling fits at my husband and the kids)
~ light stomach & back cramps for weeks at a time

Best of Luck to all of you~I am getting this thing taken out ASAP!

Now you guys have me all paranoid. Are any of you first time mothers because some of these things your are experiencing are also post childbirth side effects. Hair loss, when you are pregnant you stop loosing hair, those couple of hairs you loose every time you comb your hair, well they stop happening but you keep growing more hair hence the fantastic thick pregnant lady hair. Once you have the baby the hair that didn't fall out while you were pregnant finally falls out. Also if you are breastfeeding it can cause you to loose your sex drive, its your bodies way of preventing another pregnancy because pregnancy can make your milk supply dry up and then your baby has nothing to eat! My only symptom that sucks that I KNOW is from Mirena is acne and and that's because of the kind of BC it is, which is just something I have to deal with because its the kind I need that wont mess with my milk supply and my son comes first! I am having no mood swings or depression which is something, if someone's going to get it its going to be me, I was diagnosed depressed and bi-polar and an anxiety disorder all through my teenage years and I'm fine now, maybe a little anxious but that comes with having children!

I do also have back pain but I always get back pain when I have my period and well, I've been on my period for almost 3 weeks now so.. A lot of you just sound like tired over worked Moms.

PS: tiny 35 year old.. your 35, your metabolism slows down with age and with every child you have, you can't eat all you want anymore, I lost that ability with my first child before Mirena, you just have to exchange the oatmeal cream pies for carrot sticks, its what I do.

I am taking this ring out tonight! I have had it for 2 years and my sex drive is NIL!! I can not wait to get back on the pill so my husband and I can have a great sex life again!

I just started my second pack of Femcon FE a couple days ago. I switched over from Yaz because my GYN said underweight girls need higher dosage pills because they lack estrogen producing pills. The yaz made me incredibly depressed and i started getting panic attacks so i decided to try it out. So far i have not had mood swings or panic attacks. YAY!! And i have been quite horny ^_^. Unfortunately i think i am starting to break-out. I have always had acne problems but when i first switched to Femcon FE my really large blemishes (cystic acne?) disappeared in a couple of days. Now i am getting a bunch of little tiny red bumps which i have never had before. Like i said it is my second month on femcon so i am not sure if that is what is causing it but i am going to keep an eye on it because i was given birth control to clear up acne, not make it worse. Also, i just washed my face with the same cleanser i always do and it is burning now...odd. Hopefully this clears up because i am definitely enjoying Femcon more than my previous pill.

The first two months I was on NuvaRing, I thought it was the best thing on earth. Unlike previous attempts with various HBC, my breasts didn't hurt and I didn't seem to gain weight. It also steadied my out-of-control PMS symptoms and made my period lighter and my cramps disappear. Those are definitely on the PRO side of things. Shortly after starting NR, I met a new boyfriend and after both being tested for STDs, we decided to ditch condoms. Woo-hoo! At first, we had great sex and I had no problem having orgasms. But as time progressed, I became extremely dry down there and developed constant yeast infections. Plus frequent low-grade headaches (sometimes escalating to migraine-like headaches), night sweats, itchiness, insomnia, and exhaustion. Now I find it extremely difficult to get physically aroused (before, a 30-second sex scene in a movie could get me off) and nearly impossible to orgasm. I have very little interest in sex, either, which sucks because I am finally in love with the most amazing man. I have told him time and again that its the NuvaRing, and he says he believe me, but I can tell he thinks it's him. So, we've decided to give condoms another try. I took out the NuvaRing. I guess I'd rather have nasty PMS and a painful period than lose intimacy and sexual pleasure. Just curious: Has anyone used the copper IUD (non-hormonal) or a diaphragm with any success? Thanks and good luck.

After being on NR for about 2 years, 2 weeks ago I stopped using it because I lost my job/insurance and didn't have means to get another Rx at the time. I was pleased with it until I stopped using it. I had been in a 3 year relationship that ended about a year ago for many reasons but, a large one being my lack of interest in sex or even having him touch me. I didn't think anything of it other than I must not have been attracted to him anymore. I am in a new relationship with someone I adore and still... really had no desire to have sex. Seemed I had to have a few cocktails before anything would ever happen and even then I would never orgasm and it would be painful due to lack of lubrication. I began to think I just wasn't meant to enjoy or want sex (even questioned my sexuality) Low and behold its been about 2 weeks since I stopped NR and I can't keep my hands off him. I've had an orgasm every time since and we are having or at least I'm wanting sex daily if not more. It seems my mind is in the gutter all day and it feels wonderful to know that I am not destined for a life without great sex and that the whole time it was just my stupid birth control.

There have also been other things I've noticed and am relating after reading everyone elses problems. I would get frequent headaches (3-5 weekly) they have seemed to subside. I would get painful cramping but, just assumed it was due to PMS. I have a small patch of hair missing on the side of my head... I had no idea why that was missing and now I am hoping that it will grow back. I too was also "down in the dumps" wouldn't say depressed but the last year or so I have frequent mood swings... those have also seemed to subside. All of these things were tolerable except my non-existent sex drive THAT IS NOT OK!!

I will not be refilling my Rx for NR and will try something else hopefully with a greater success story. It is worth a try if you haven't had it but, BEWARE and BE CONSCIENCE of your body. If I would have put 2 and 2 together I would have been off it long ago.

Thanks for this site and thanks for reading.

I cannot describe how happy I am to have found this webpage. I have been on NR for almost 6 months and have begun to think i am going crazy. I have always been an upbeat person with a lot of energy and a pretty great sex drive. For the past 2 months I have been experiencing severe anxiety to the point where I wake up nervous and have difficulty falling asleep at night. I have chest pain, headaches, loss of appetite, acne (which i thought birth control was supposed to make better), pain in my legs, frequent crying episodes for no reason and absolutely no desire to have sex. I was starting to think I was going a little insane and was wondering what could make me have such anxiety and other symptoms. After reading all of your posts, i realize that it is most likely my NR since I have never had issues like this in the past. I am going to take it out in a few days and see how it goes. Hopefully it is just the drugs and not me going completely insane! I'll let you know how it goes and if anyone else has had these symptoms which have been relieved by taking the NR out, i would love to hear from you!

i started aviane because of horrible cramping, i would miss class because i would be constantly crying, not sleeping, and uncomfortable bloating. also the protection of pregnancy benefits. ive never been on a pill before.
i am in the middle of my 3rd week of aviane, alesse's generic. i only see my boyfriend during the weekends bc of distance, and -before- i started i had great sex drive, and never had a problem getting in the mood.
since beginning aviane, i have had cramping, like during a period for the majority of being on it. i have no sex drive whatsoever and cant even get wet after hours of foreplay, and that's never been a problem.
i take my pill at 8:15, and ive only been about an hour off twice.
im also a lot more easily angered and stressed, crying over stress and crying when getting yelled at which i usually don't do so easily, not being able to stop crying
i cant exactly call my gyn. because im not planning on going back to her, we didn't get along, and i don't know what to do..
i also think im beginning to get a yeast infection, and i haven't had sex at all since beginning the pill so i do not think it could be anything else.

I Had mine inserted 01/2006 and plan to have it removed in a couple of weeks. My husband and I would like to start trying to get pregnant (I've never had kids) soon. My experience so far includes: Sever abdominal pain for the whole first week - I had a heating pad on my lower belly that whole time and had to be drugged up from the "widening" of my cervix.

Afterwards - almost constant cramps all month long, mild to severe, no period blood or very little, mood swings like crazy, pain during sex (dependent on position) and pain after sex so severe sometimes I would cry. I swear I have cysts from it - the ultrasound said so, but they said that could just be from the hormones? That made no sense! The doctor never suggested having it removed though. Great birth control - you have painful sex, so you don't want sex!

I have a great sex drive though and we have found ways around it. I have to take diflucan every week to keep me from getting thrush, never had that problem before. Can't wait ot have it out, however, I'm really worried about the bleeding so many have experienced after its removal.

I had Mirena put in in April 08, I did not have the bad cramping when inserted or any cramping after, how ever I did start bleeding 2 1/2 weeks later and it continued for almost 15 days, and then every 8 days after that I would start "spotting". Just recently the spotting has slowed, but I am bloated ALL the time I have had Looser stools I get nauseated easily IM VERY stressed and tired, and I had a great sex drive before, now I don't even thing about it and pretty well shun my husband who now sleeps in the living room. I have a blood clotting disorder where I cannot take certain forms of birth control and I was told that this was the best option now I wonder if the mini pill is better?!

Just had Mirena put in two days ago (Friday). This is Sunday and tried to workout and couldn't finish. I usually do pilates on a reformer everyday. I feel tired and crampy. I never looked up Mirena on the internet before I had it inserted and feel scared to death. I don't want to bloat or constantly spot. I have a great sex life with my husband and constantly having to worry about bleeding will make my sex life a disaster. I will keep everyone up to date on what I am going through. I sure hope I don't have any problems with this. I was pregnant with triplets 6 weeks ago and lost them and decided I better get on some great birth control. My doctor thought this would be great for me to go on. Lets all hope the cramping and light bleeding stops.

I can't believe I've stumbled on this website. Until now my symptoms did not make sense to me.
I had my Mirena in 2005 after the birth of my son. My life has changed dramatically since then & I didn't put it together until now. I was plagued by nasty vaginal discharge from the start. Though my period stopped completely what replaced it was a terrible vaginal odor that no amount of washing, deodorant spray, etc will cure. It's a bacterial infection that will not leave me alone. I almost always have it. Before the Mirena I never heard of it. My sex drive & sensation is virtually none. I even went as far as having a female piercing as I read it increases sensitivity. This is upsetting as I've never had problems with odor, loss of sensitivity or inability to achieve orgasm. Along with this I've experienced a large weight gain, abdominal bloating, migraines, aching joints, decrease in vision, back pain, dizziness, exhaustion, increase in body hair growth yet limp thinning hair, & fibroids.

I have an appointment in July to get this thing out & wish I had been more informed of the side effects.

I just had Mirena removed yesterday, and could feel relief in my body with a half hour. Yes, truly-a feeling that I removed this "irritation". When I saw the size of the Mirena-and the shape of it, internally understood why my body was swelling. It scares me that so many of us are exhibiting the same types of symptoms. I had this inserted 4 !/2 years ago and have gained 30Lbs., experiences of depression and strong mood swings, changes in my skin-acne, and an increased libido.

What I notice the most after removal is the very distinct sensation that its out. I didn't realize that I just got used to this being in my uterus.The swelling was so obvious it looks like I am 5 months pregnant. I am 5'4 and when I first had this inserted I wore Size 6. I now wear Size10, 12. And its not my diet-I do not indulge in junk food,or large portions. I exercise 4-5 times a week, and have a great sex life..

I think that the Pharmaceutical community and Physicians are aware that this is a problem, They just aren't acknowledging it...YET. Who knows what the long term effects are.
I have had this out for about 36 hours and I feel a sense of comfort in my own body... It is not my imagination and I would call anyone in our "medical Community" ignorant for not standing up to the obvious fact that this IS A PROBLEM.

I don't know if seeing all these posts help me or scare the crap outta me even more (none the less very helpful), I have no insurance and really want to get my IUD removed. I had it inserted when my daughter was 8 weeks old that was about 11 months ago. I have had nothing but problems, severe cramping, nausea, periods that last a whole month, one month it will be icky brownish discharge with a lil blood here and there, I will stop for about 2 weeks and get it again this time lasting about 3 weeks then i will go about 6 weeks and have it again this time with severe cramping and bleeding for a whole month straight. then i may not have it again for 6 weeks etc... I have really nasty blood clots that look very fleshy. I also have had very thick yellowish stinky discharge everyday i don't have my period ( I have NEVER smelt this bad) I feel like im losing my mind Im so absent minded i forget the simplest things, my arms and legs go numb and tingly, my hair is falling out in clumps, im extremely moody and very impatient. and the tiredness is really starting to bother me, no matter how much i try to stay awake its almost impossible, i literally need to take a nap every 3 hours it seems like just to function...I feel like im falling apart. Has anyone else had a lot of these symptoms? And what should I do about getting it taken out....I don't qualify for Medicaid so I was wondering if i should just go into the hospital the next time the pain gets bad and see if they will remove it any advice will be helpful! And good luck to anyone else going through problems with this IUD.

Hey everyone...I have been on yasmin for 6 or 7 months now... I have experienced som of the same symptoms..whe i first got on it i was nauseated and tired for about 2 weeks...being on it for a while my boobs got fuller, and i had clear skin...i little weight gain...but my weight goes up an down all the time! somedays im 5 pounds heavier than others! i've never gotten depresson or anything from taking the pill, and it definately didnt kill my sex drive...it improved i quite a bit...im horny all the time! and have great sex...its painful at times but that's not cuz of the pill!!! but i currently have a problem...im experiencing several prego symptoms but i took a test and it came out negative....so i'm curently wondering whats wrong with me! i have all the early symptoms and no baby???? that makes no sense to me!!! anyone have any ideas what it could be...or is it possible that the test was wrong??

Here's my history of birth control:

Started with Yaz when I got married. Had fantastic periods and great sex drive but it made me really sick and crazy hormonal. Had to stop it because I was getting migraines a few times a week.

Switched to condoms for a while, but found out I'm allergic to latex. Switched to the (expensive) lambskin condoms but still experienced some discomfort.

Switched to the nuvaring 3 months ago. I've had fantastic periods, no cramping, no headaches, etc...but the darn thing won't stay in this month! It slips down about every hour no matter what I do. I also have ZERO sex drive, and I've been experiencing numbing in my arms/hands.

Well crap, what am I supposed to try now? The pull-out method? Pills are out, condoms are out, nuvaring is out, mirena is out (haven't had a baby yet so I'm not a candidate. Maybe God's telling me that I'm supposed to have a baby?

Ugh. It's all so upsetting.

Oh my goodness.. I have been on Ortho Tri- Cyclen Lo for four years and lately it has been making my life a living hell. I have been experiencing some of the same things that you guys have been experiencing. My sex drive have been horrible, like to the point that it has put my relationship in the pitches. I have been having mood swings, depression, ( where I don't want to talk),suffering for anxiety. I mean it's weird I just don't feel like myself around that time of month. Can somebody help,cause I due to go to the doctor in the morning and I want to try out yaz... TALK TO ME ......SLAUGHTER'S GIRL

I have been experiencing a lot of numbness in my arms and hands over the last few months. I ignored it for awhile but decided I definitely should speak to my doctor about it so I am going this afternoon. It only just dawned on me a few days ago that the numbness might be related to the NuvaRing. I think I have been on it about 5 months.

Has anyone else experienced numbness in their arms and hands?

i have been on the NR for about 3 months now. i haven't had a lot problems. the only complaints i have are....... 1. it comes out almost every time we have sex. my friend who is on it says it never fell out on her. i have to put mine back in just about every time. and 2. sex drive!! this is frustrating. my boyfriend and i had a GREAT sex life before i had our son. (he was born 12-20-06, perfect and beautiful, sorry a little brag time) we stayed abstinent for the first 6 weeks after birth and then i started the ring. before having the baby it didn't take much for us to enjoy our alone time. but now we are lucky if i feel like kissing before we go to bed at night. does anyone else have this problem? if so please share. i am worried that its not the NR and maybe i am just doomed. also, my poor boyfriend is taking this personal.

Guest 37371-

A decrease/change in vaginal lubrication is a change with oral-contraceptives. See a couple of entries below your entry on side effects of Yasmin. Many women have complained of loss of libido on Yasmin. Given how many other problems women here and on the new site in the UK have experienced, I cannot reccommend Yasmin or its sister pill Yaz at all as they have created very serious problems for many women including myself. I personally would recommend getting off it and finding a more traditional pill, or off the hormones altogether if you can and practice a more natural/non-hormonal method.

Yasmin generally helps women with acne which it did with me so you are experiencing sounds unusual. Another reason on top of many others to get off of it.

Look 2-3 entries below your entry and read the insert that comes with Yasmin-if you are experiencing chills and fever like symptoms-you should contact your Doctor immediately. This is not normal. Many women have had this happen actually-Yasmin and Yaz have some terrible life threatening and very serious health effects.

So, I'd say get off of it. Check the U.K site Flowerbabies set up. you'll see what kinds of problems Yasmin is creating.

I have been on Yasmin for a little less then a month. Since I have been on it my husband and I haven't not had sex, not once!! Before Yasmin we had a great sex life and now it's like, what's sex?? I have pimples the size of dimes that are nasty and I break out all the time. I gained probably about five pounds in less then a month. I get cold chills and fever-like symptoms and I really hate it so far. My husband just hates that we never have sex anymore. Is loss of sex drive one of the symptoms? I was reading about it and I guess my other ones are normal, but I read nothing about loss of sex drive. I'm 20 and a newly wed...I should want i should want to do it every day!!

I have been on Yasmin for a little less then a month. Since I have been on it my husband and I haven't not had sex, not once!! Before Yasmin we had a great sex life and now it's like, what's sex?? I have pimples the size of dimes that are nasty and I break out all the time. I gained probably about five pounds in less then a month. I get cold chills and fever-like symptoms and I really hate it so far. My husband just hates that we never have sex anymore. Is loss of sex drive one of the symptoms? I was reading about it and I guess my other ones are normal, but I read nothing about loss of sex drive. I'm 20 and a newly wed...I should want i should want to do it every day!!