Long term boyfriend symptoms and conditions

I'm so glad to find this. It's taken me a while to put 2 and 2 together, but I am absolutely convinced that Yasmin is responsible for the subzero sex drive I've had for most of the past year. After reading this page, I also have an explanation for the brown discoloration on my forehead after I got a sunburn this spring -- it hasn't gone away! It's been a week and a half since I took any of the active pills, and I already feel SO much better. I was beginning to think I would never be interested in sex again! I have an appt. with my doctor this week, but there's no way I'm going back on Yasmin.

Well, I'll share my story with you, and feel free to comment or ask any questions. I had been taking Yasmin for about 3 years. For the majority that time, I was in college (UCLA) while my long term boyfriend and family were back in the Bay Area. I was extremely depressed, which I presumed to be because I missed my boyfriend, and school was very difficult, etc. However, I had terrible anxiety, to where whenever I went to class, walked the campus, etc, I would have trouble looking up, for fear of making eye contact with others. To ask a question in class made my heart race. I would get terrible lumps in my throat that I could not get rid of. I used to be really outgoing, friends with everyone. But at UCLA for two years, I barely made new friends (maybe 3-5), blaming it on being too busy with my studies. Pretty extreme anxiety. As a child, I was a gymnast and suffered from OCD at one point, probably due to the anxieties of a very strict, mature schedule at such a young age. I guess I've been anxious in some way or another during my whole life, however I feel it was WAY worse during the course of being on Yasmin. I have also suffered from depression in my life, but the worst times were during high school, and during the past few years while on Yasmin. I am not saying I blame Yasmin for these things, but I definitely think it made them worse. I also have been having terrible mood swings, crying spells (to where I felt like I was going crazy), and not feeling like “myself”. I did take a break from the pill after I broke up with my boyfriend, and felt WONDERUL, woke up in a great mood, ready to take on the day, instead of forcing myself to try to start the day happy (which rarely worked). It has been a CHORE to be happy and grateful for my wonderful life (family, friends, good job, own apt., dog) for the past few years.

I stopped taking Yasmin 3 days ago (Sunday the 13th was my first day off of it) and already feel more normal, balanced and myself. Happy, hopeful, more relaxed. Of course this could be “placebo effects”, but I now myself really well, am very in tune with my emotions, etc., and I definitely feel different. I am not rhuminating either, which was another effect.

Does anyone have a similar story? Thanks! -Cassie

I have been on the NuvaRing for about 6 months now. I have endometriosis and I'm anemic both run in my family on both sides. I went to my doctor to ask what birth control method would be better for me than the pill because my hectic life doesn't have a set schedule and she recommended the depo shot or the NuvaRing. After hearing about the pros and cons of both forms of birth control I opted for the NuvaRing.
I love it! I don't have to worry about taking a pill every day and I don't have to worry about getting a shot every 3 months. I use the NuvaRing to stop my periods, which stops the progression of the endometriosis, which will lessen my chances of becoming infertile by the time I want to have children.
I have had no negative side affects from the NuvaRing. I have had some breast tenderness but I'm only 19 and I think it is due to my breasts growing and not the NuvaRing. My mother's breasts grew until she was about 21 or 22.
My sex drive is actually greater than it was before because I don't have to worry and my long term boyfriend loves it! Neither one of us have to worry about an unwanted pregnancy and I would recommend this method of birth control to anyone, especially someone who's life is as hectic as mine!

I am a 19-year-old female pre-med student who has been taking this nasty drug for exacly 1 year now.... The amount I am on continues to change, for my disease keeps returning and leaving remission. I finally get down to 10mg from 40mg, and have to go back up when symptoms return!!! This is SO discouraging. The worst part is, no one understands the physical and emotional agony this drug brings on. I'm 19 and feel like I'm 90. My body aches, my weight is constantly fluctuating, I bruise from simply being poked (being a clumsy person, I look like I am beat!!), my bones feel as if they are about to break, and I am SEVERELY despressed. Being in college and taking rigorous classes, this is just too much for me to handle anymore... My 5-year relationship with the love of my life/best friend is falling apart because of my horrible mood swings.. don't blame him for leaving. I feel as if this drug has ruined my life more than the disease itself...Does ANYONE know if one's body and mind returns to "normal" after FINALLY being off this drug??? I pray to God the answer is yes... I would appreciate someone's reply and/or insight, because my Dr. fails to tell me about ANY side effects until I mention something. PLEASE REPLY!!!

I have been on the Nuvaring for about 5 years now. I agree that my sex drive has diminished greatly, but I just thought I was bored of my boyfriend, didn't consider the ring to be the culprit! I never had a history of depression but in the past two years there have been times I have felt so sad that I didn't want to get out of bed and I'm not that type of person at all. I, too, blamed it on my long-term boyfriend, thinking that I just wanted happy in my relationship when the the truth is I just wasn't happy period. As for pregnancy paranoia, well, the ring is 99.9% effective so if you're using it right you really have no worries there. But it does affect your body, for sure. You just have to ride it out, get medication to counter-act it (which isn't the best solution but it works,) or try something else. Not everyone has negative side-affects, so they could go away if you give your body a chance to get over it - but weigh the consequences, Nuvaring is convenient but not if it pulls you down. Being a woman is tough sometimes!!