Low sex drive symptoms and conditions

Well i been on loestrin for about 5 months now, Ive tried 4 other contraceptives (that kept giving me nasty yeast infections, headaches and severe nausea! , but this is probably the only one my body tolerates..... as far as symptoms, in the beginning i would have massive migraines and nausea almost everyday it was horrible! but it got a lil better as time past....of coarse mood swings from here to there, and a low sex drive... it suxs my boyfriend thinks "im not into him" anymore, and im telling u its the pills... cuz i didnt have this problem before i got on em. but i guess i choose to be on the pills cuz i dont want any accidents....it helps my acne for the most part.....haven't had any migrans lately hopefully they wont come back.... but my next step will probably be the IUD...hopefully this wont give me no problems =/ if that dont work then i dont no what im gonna do...anything with tooo much estrogen gets me really sick.....

Hi, So far I have had the opposite experience from these posts with Mirena. I got mine about 4 months ago because I was looking for an alternative to the pill. I had been on O/N 7/7/7 for 15+ years with no problems. A couple of years ago, my insurance started to only pay for generic bc pills and I spent 18 months after that trying to adjust to the generics. Weight gain, moods, low sex drive etc. Four months into Mirena, the weight is gone and the sex drive is revving up. I do feel like a teenager again with some minor acne bugging me, but it doesn't seem like too much of a problem yet. My fingers are crossed that this keeps working for me.

Hello All,
I would like to Thank everyone so much! I thought I was really losing my mind. I started NuvaRing on Sept.27th. The nurse told me I could leave it in for four weeks if i wanted abd not have my cycle. And I did. The doc put me on NR due to the PH in my vagina off. He said it would help. While i think i has helped the PH it has caused: vagina dryness, headaches, nervousness, burning feeling, tiredness, depression, angry Bitchy attitude, low sex drive, paranoid, scared feelings, don't want anyone to talk to me, don't want to party or kick it with my friends, and a weird discharge thats kinda nasty. I also have freaked out on all my male friends. I feel like im somebody else. Some crazy woman. Im 34 years old. And i don't know who I am right now or what I want. I thought about taking this thing out tonight and throwing it in the trash compactor but i have one week to go till my cycle. I was on Desogen pill before and switched for the convince only. Darn NR. Well Thanks ladies this is it for me. And my OBGYN doctor will be having a serious talk next week. Shame on me for not doing more research before switching. And i have a pain in my side and very loose bowels. Run from NR ladies RUN!!!! ******

Hello, my name is pam. About 6 weeks after my son was born I had made the choice to get the mirena iud. Well for 7mon after i got it I bleed. Also, new things started happening. I went to my doctor and discovered that I had an awful yeast infection due to the iud not being set right. He gave me one round of meds just for yeast infections. I went back for a check up and it hadn't cleared a bit. Got second round of med. Then about 2wks afterward I got a call from my doctor. He said that they found yeast infection, staff infection, and a strep infection that I am still having problems with after the level 4 anti-biotic that he gave me. I have headaches, body aches, no sex drive what so ever, mood swings that would send anyone away, and I am also on anti-depression meds ever since Ive had the iud.

Hi been off Yasmin for 2 days now, I had 7 days left in my pack but I thought there was no time like the present..... boobs not as tender, I have talked about coming off the pill to my husband, showed him other postings all had the same symptoms as me....he understands the low sex drive thing and hopefully knows i was not making excuses that there really has been a problem....he is glad as he wants his old wife back! Feeling confident that if being off the pill works out I can come off the antidepressants and I really really really hope my sex drive comes back!!! Will keep you informed. Still have the sore stiff neck and the tiredness not sure if it is a symptom that Yasmin has created. I will let you know if this improves. DO NOT TAKE YASMIN - THIS IS MY ADVICE.

Been on it for about a year and a half. Can't handle the yeast infections and the irritation. I haven't "gained" any weight but have always been able to lose weight rather easily and that is no longer the case. I think I'm going back to the patch. I had worse cramps on the patch but none of these side effects. I can't handle the yeast infections! It's nuts! And low sex drive. Yeah, I had it out for a month and my boyfriend couldn't keep me off of him......crazy? Never noticed that about myself - LOL. I'm ready to have my body and drive back. No thanks, NR.

Wow, what a relief!
I am 24 years old and am almost finished my 4th month with the NUVARING. I WILL NOT be putting another one back in! I have had such horrible depression that I find myself crying ALL of the time. I am a full time mom of two beautiful children (6 and 2) and I find that they are bearing the brunt of my depression. I also have a very LOW sex drive which is making my husband feel slightly inadequate since we usually have a very good sex life.
Also, I used to have a very regular menstrual cycle and having a plastic ring determine my cycle is wreaking havoc on my body. I know one week in advance that my cycle is going to start because I am in such pain for the week before, and the week of that I can barely get out of bed. I am completely exhausted and have also gained 15 lbs in the 4 months alone. Which makes the depression and sex drive worse. It keeps a very vicious cycle going and I can't take it anymore. I would not recommend this to anyone... it is painful during sex, when I can actually force myself to engage in it. It is a little ring of HORROR!

I have been on Yasmin for 2 years now. It is the only BC I have ever been on and have LOVED it up until about 3 months ago. All of a sudden I started having heart palpitations, sever chest pains, extreme fatigue, very bloated in my stomach, low sex drive, pain and tingling in my arms and legs,dizziness, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, weight gain and major mood swings! I went to the DR and they did an EKG (which was normal) Tested my blood (I now have a thyroid problem that I have never had before) and they did an ultrasound (Dr that I may have a murmur) on my heart and the results came back fine. So the DR prescribed me Synthroid for the thyroid problem and the DR said that should help me gain my energy back, loose some weight and would take care of the heart palpitations. The other symptoms he contributed to Stress (Panic Attacks) I have been on Synthroid for 5 weeks now and I don't feel any better in fact I feel worse!

This morning I seen a commercial for a lawsuit against Yaz or Yasmin. Well since I am non Yasmin I immediately did a search and came across this site. I have literally been sitting here all night reading all the comments from different women and now know what my problem is. My problem is YASMIN! I am not taking this anymore and have an appt with my Dr tomorrow to have them do whatever they need to do to see if I have any blockage or any other damage from using this pill. My chest pains and the tightness in my chest are so severe that it takes my breath away and I am only 24! I am not ready for children and don't want to deal with bad periods like I had before getting on the pill but I can not take this rise. PLEASE if you are on Yasmin please stop taking it immediately and call your doctor Your life could depend on it!! I am hoping like other people who have commented that after a few weeks of being off the pill that I will feel so much better. I hope I am getting off of it in time before I have done any further damage.

OMG, the only reason i am not taking this thing out right now is because i don't want my cycle to start early...but i am having all of these symptoms that i am reading about, and i feel like another reviewer when they said it almost causes divorce!! My husband thinks i am just not wanting to have sex, but btwn the low sex drive this thing is causing and the burning and painful sex, its not me, its the ring!! i always read reviews but i didn't read the reviews on this thing only because when i went to the doctor, i had planned on getting my pills that i keep forgetting to take again! i am calling my doctor first thing in the am to call my doctor and pharmacist!!

Hello,
I've tried a bunch of different brands and types of BC's in the past, and none ever worked well with me... then i started Yasmin. It worked wonders. helped my acne, cramps, length of my period etc... i was on it for about 1 year. i stopped BC and had my son (Nov 18 09) .. my doc told me to get back on the pill about 2 months after my son was born and i have been on it since.. lately I've been noticing that I'm not me anymore... i can't remember the last time I've felt like myself.. depression, lack of motivation, hopelessness, i get irritated over the stupidest things, LOW sex drive, LIKE NONE AT ALL, lack of confidence, loss of appetite, loss of hair ongoing 9 months after birth and getting worse, bad menstrual cramps, bad acne, dark colored urine,strange vaginal discharge before my period, longer periods, migraines, mood swings, irrational thoughts and outburst, dizzy spells, blurred (black) vision upon standing, seeing spots and light headed, etc... i attributed all of this to postpartum hormonal imbalance, stress, etc... but I'm now considering the fact that maybe Yasmin is doing this to my body... so i will stop the pill or switch it, my next appointment is only in a month so no sex till then, but yet again my libido is completely gone so that will be no problem... (ahh my POOR BF) lol

all this to say that if it was postpartum depression, my son wouldn't be the only reason i get up in the morning, i wouldn't get up at all...

i know that this isn't postpartum depression... I'm positive that it's Yasmin causing all this i know at least that some of it is..

What i don't understand is that we all have a bunch of docs that ignore us and our bodies.. this isn't only happening to on person this is a lot of people who have had similar and sever reactions to this pill, it should really be taken off the market, or at least doctors should warn us about the "other" side effects...

anyways I'm DONE with this pill and will tell all my friends.

it at least feels good to get this off my chest... it's hard to talk about this stuff to people who are close to you...

All this sounds crazy but makes sense at the same time...

thank god i found this site!

C. xxo

I've had Mirena for almost a year and I'm wondering if there is anyone who's suffered adverse effects that didn't start until much later. I had the usual severe cramping and excessive bleeding for a few months after I got it, but my period has been pretty regular since then. I do have sharp stabbing pains (I'm guessing they're cramps) off and on. Very occasionally they are just terrible, but normally it's just like a quick shock every now and then. I can tell that there are extra hormones being put into my body because I have experienced all the stereotypical period side-effects (moodiness, cramping, cravings) much more than I ever did before I got Mirena. About two months ago I was sure I was pregnant - I had all the symptoms - but three pregnancy tests all came out negative. I'm not experiencing anything bad enough to get it out. So far it has actually been great. I feel terrible for everyone suffering all these severe side-effects. I guess I'm just wondering if these symptoms show up sooner or if they can start a year or more after Mirena has been in. Please let me know if there's anything I should be watching for. Thanks.

My husband stumbled across this website and first I would like to thank everyone who have posted their experiences on the NuvaRing. Because of you guys I now know I'm not losing my mind.

I started the NuvaRing March of 2008 and I started getting dizzy spells May 2009. I actually got my first dizzy spell when I was driving. Everything started to spin very fast!! My husband had to grab the wheel and tell me how to slow down and how fast to do it. That was the scariest thing ever!! My head felt a numbing sensation in my head. I had a pain above my left eye and it would shoot up my head and down my neck. The dizzy spells would come whenever, once every 8 days to twice in one day. I have had an MRI and an MRA done and nothing. The docs have had me on so many migraine meds to try to get a handle on this and nothing has helped. My longest migraine lasted for 14 days, that was in May. This month (July) I got a migraine on the 13th, took the ring out on the 21st, and had a dizzy spell this morning but this afternoon and especially this evening I feel amazing.

Since getting on the NuvaRing, like so many of you, my sex drive does not exist. It has caused so many fights between my husband and I. Its hard to tell him that he is still attractive but I can't explain why I'm not excited. So thank you for writing your experiences. He got to read that I'm not the only one and I wasn't making it up.

These last three months have been hell for my family and I. I have been like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. So much tension has caused everyone to walk on pins and needles when they are around me.

So lets sum it up here, after being on the NuvaRing for 14 months I started getting dizzy spells, migraines, nausea, neck pain, twice I've puked because of the room spinning so damn fast, and very very VERY low sex drive.

I'M NOT CRAZY!!!! :)

All I can say is wow.

I just had the Mirena removed this morning, because it hurt while having sex. (Nothing like a sharp pain in there to spoil the mood). Also and I may be the only one who feels like this, but I really disliked not having a period at all. Just didn't sit right with me.

My doctor was very understanding, and he said that the Mirena seemed like it wasn't all it was supposed to be. He said that their practice is removing more and more of them because of complaints about the side affects, pain during sex, moodiness, and others.

I decided to look and see what the "other" side effects were, and what I am reading is such a relief. I have been having severe facial acne, and back acne. Low sex drive (went from three times a week to once every two weeks) I have felt really tired and moody, but I thought maybe that was due to having a 18 month old daughter. I am so happy that I may be myself again soon...and happy that I am not going crazy. I will definitely tell everyone I know to stay away from Mirena.

Wow. I had Mirena insertedin March 2009, following two years of horrible periods following my third c-section. I would have a heavy period for an average of 10 days, then get two weeks off and start again. They originally tried giving me Depo Provera - BAD! I was losing blood clots the size of my fist for three months!

At first Mirena seemed ideal, though I don't need birth control - I had a tubal ligation with my c-section. The periods were just awful! They inserted the mirena during a D&C and hysteroscopy because I also had uterine polyps. My hair is falling out (my thyroid has been checked, thank you);I have acne on my face and back; I am growing hair on my face; I am irritable; my back hurts; I am bloated; I am gaining weight even though I am on a reduced calorie diet, gave up drinking wine AND run two miles a day; I have yeast infections; sex hurts and I bleed nearly every time I have sex; I have a low sex drive now; I bleed when I exercise or go for a walk; I have ruined every pair of panties I own, and I am still having 14 day long periods. No longer heavy periods, but 14 days of bleeding, then nine days off before starting again!

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and told him all of this: his responses were that the spotting and irregular periods are likely for the FIRST YEAR (WHICH IS NOT IN THE FINE PRINT INCLUDED WITH THE MEDICATION!!!) and that doctors can't find or treat the cause of heavy periods and bleeding, only treat the symptoms.

We need to band together to demand that women's health issues are taken seriously. It is not acceptable to have a doctor say that the cause of these problems doesn't matter. Treating the cause should be the primary goal, not peddling drugs or covering up symptoms! The New York Times ran an article yesterday recommending Mirena as a solution to heavy bleeding in women! This is not a solution. And neither is a hysterectomy - I am only 31.

I have had the Mirena for about 2 1/2 years. I had it inserted about 3 months after I had my daughter. Initially I thought it was great, but in the past 12-18 months I have noticed so many negative side effects that I believe must be related to the hormones in the Mirena. My PCP ignored my complaints but I have experienced the following since having the Mirena inserted:
sore/tender breasts, pretty serious weight gain(I diet and exercise a lot and don't lose a pound), severe acne on the chin and jaw line, coarse/dark facial hairs on the jaw line, migraines in the right side of my head, lower back pain in the left side(almost like a sciatica) fatigue. low sex drive, some mood swings, and the expected spotting. Although my PCP dismisses my concerns I have made an appt. with a new gynecologist to discuss my concerns and possible removal of the Mirena. Although the prevention of pregnancy is great the side effects are becoming unbearable and seem to increase over time. I would think twice about opting for this method of birth control.

I started Femcon in March. I've had a horrible experience with it. Since taking this pill i've experienced fatigue, low sex drive, anxiety, mood swings and I just didn't feel like myself. I don't recommend this pill especially if you are an athlete or active woman. Get an IUD!!!!!! good luck

I am 21 and I was put on Loestrin 24 Fe for severe cramps and an irregular period. I was on it for a full year and had no major side effects... however I wasn't able to refill my prescription after the year was up until I went to see my gyno again... so I was off of it for two months. The doc put me back on loestrin as I requested since it helped A LOT with cramps and I had a very light period but since starting to retake it I haven't had a period since January of this year.. I am on my 5th pack for the year and called the gyno to make sure that everything was ok, and she said it was normal... I am not sexually active so I don't have to worry about being pregnant but not having a period when I had one every month for a year and then to not have any is just strange to me... so I am either lucky to not have one or hopefully it will figure things out sooner or later!

All in all its been a great bcp for me this is the only problem if it is even a problem I have had.

I had my Mirena for a little over a year. I started getting really bad acne approx. 4-5 months ago. I believe it was due to the hormones in the Mirena. I saw a dermatologist and she said that the hormone can make you more androgenic thus causing acne. I had my Mirena removed about 1 week ago and I am having really bad mood swings, loss of sex drive, tender breasts, and headaches. I also had a problem that started with my wrist back in December. Has anyone else had wrist pain or any joint pain?

I'm on aviane as well and during the summer i experience what looks like a heat rash when i'm out in the sun or in a tanning bed.. does anyone else get this? also i'm very moody, depressed sometimes, low sex drive, periods that last 2 days sometimes 3.. also i've notice that every since i've been taking aviane i'm always getting sick with sinus colds, and the flu? i would usually only get sick 1 to 2 times a year now this past year i've had strep throat twice, throwing up flu, at least 6 sinus colds..

Okay, I had to stop reading all these posts because it all makes sense now! Never even attributed half of my symptoms with NuvaRing and so I got up in the middle of this and took the thing out for good. I just started the NR about 1 week ago and I was joking with my boyfriend that my lack of sex drive but be how the birth control works. haha I haven't used anything besides condoms for about 6-7 years until now.

Lost all my sex drive
burning sensation the one time I had sex
Food cravings and weight gain
MOODY, I am such a light-hearted person and now everything ticks me off and trying not to be mean to my new boyfriend...but DON'T TOUCH ME
Breasts are so sore. Can't touch them at all.
Night sweats
Sleepiness
all day blahs and no desire to work or be productive
Stop wearing my contacts because of dryness.

All of this within a week. I thought I was crazy and got online to check low sex drive as a side effect for NR and found a lot of similar symptom with other people that I would have never put with the NR. I will wait a week or two and then come back and update to see if I go back to normal.

I think everyone has different reactions to different forms of birth control. I was on Alesse for 2 years with zero problems. Then one day my pharmacist offered me the generic form Aviane and told me it was the same. I decided to get it since its cheaper, but now I wish I hadn't. I had some of the same symptoms listed here on Aviane, like yeast infections, low sex drive and thinning hair. So I'm going back to Alesse which was always great for me. Everyone needs to listen to their bodies and make the best decision for themselves. Good luck!!!!!

I feel like such an idiot. I'm usually so careful about new things. When I was prescribed Alesse 3 years ago I researched all the side effects, but I never had a problem. About a year ago, my pharmacy offered me Aviane, and since the pharmacist told me it was exactly the same as Alesse I figured I might as well save a few bucks. I trusted the pharmacist, and never thought to research the side effects since I believed it was the same. Now I know I was so wrong. I never connected the side effects until recently. I have noticed thinning hair around my temples for about 6 months, and it wasn't until I googled that expecting to find that its a normal part of aging (even though I'm only 25) that I came across so much about Aviane. Then reading everyone else's experiences, I realized I hadn't connected all the other side effects to this generic brand. I had rapid weight gain the first 3 months and have been unable to lose it no matter what I do. The depression, low sex drive, acne, and practically constant yeast infections I think now are all connected to Aviane. After reading this yesterday, I went straight to my pharmacy and switched back to Alesse. Even though it cost me $25 with my health plan (2 years ago it only cost $6 so I wonder if my plan pays less because of the cheaper alternative) I don't care, I just want to be healthy and sane again. Thanks for sharing your stories, they made me realize there was a problem and I can't wait to start my new pack tomorrow and see what happens.

*JENN*

I got mirena implanted April 14. insertion was terrible- if having a baby hurts that much i think i will pass- and had cramping til the next day, but other than that it seems good so far. i was on depo provera for 8 years, was off birth control since my last shot in august until now, and don't feel significantly different on mirena. i am kind of tired and moody recently but am about due for my period so it could be because of that. i'm really surprised to see these kinds of terrible symptoms being described, but want to point out these symptoms can happen with most birth controls. i felt low sex drive and some depression on the shot, as well as experiencing weight gain, but i've lost about 15 lbs since stopping the shot and haven't gained any back so far.

i've been on the NuvaRing for over a year and i have a really low sex drive now, im on topamax for headaches from it, and im also having awful side effects from it too. i suck with medication i guess. haha

im on my third week of my first nuvaring and ive noticed a lot of changes. i get the mood swings, headache, low sex drive, but another symptom i was worried about is that after my last period it seems like ive been bleeding very minimally ever since and every time my boyfriend and i have sex i bleed a little. this has never happened before so if anyone else is experiencing this let me know.

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