Lubrication symptoms and conditions

I was on the pill for years and eventually decided to have a break from pumping hormones into my body... After about a year my boyfriend and I were getting sick of condoms so I decided to ask my gp about other possible options as i didn't want to go back on the pill due to the weight gain I had experienced previously. I started on Nuvaring about 6 months ago and originally loved it. No weight gain (except for my boobs which wasn't something i was going to complain about!) and no crazy mood swings etc. But about a month ago I realized that my sex drive was COMPLETELY GONE! I had always had a really high libido and was constantly pestering my man about how we needed to have more sex! Now I have no desire for sex whatsoever. I just cant be bothered at all. and when we do have sex im so dry, even when I feel turned on I have no lubrication down there at all. Also over the past 3 months i have developed really really dry itchy skin on my face that is only getting worse and nothing i do seems to help, so Im wondering if this could have something to do with the nuvaring...?
Im taking it out tonight because i cant stand my total lack of interest for sex and am also hoping it has been causing the problem with my skin... fingers crossed!

I am not on it for BC, but to help with my severe cramping during my period. I had only been taking this for one week when I started experiencing chest pains, horrible cramping as if I have my period, extreme breast tenderness, sinus problems (nose is constantly running - almost instantly after I take the pill), lack of lubrication and drive, extreme fatigue, vision problems and leg cramping. I'm glad that I now realize that it must have been Yasmin, as everyone is experiencing the same problems. I stuck with it for 2 more weeks thinking it would subside, but it has only gotten worse. I am calling my doctor today to get something else.

OMG!!!! I've suffered all these side effects and just didn't realize it was this damned pill. I even visited by OBGYN about the lack of lubrication and pain during intercourse and we have not been able to come up with an explanation until now. Even my eyes were affected and my optometrists could not explain the vast changes. lets not even talk about the depression, i made some one else's life a total misery with my emotional swings . OMG!!!!!!! I
ve been off it for a few months and i actually started having feelings again and my emotions have been so much more stable.........I'm forwarding this site to all my gfs ................

I have been on Yasmin for two and a half months now. It was prescribed to me by my doctor as a means of treating 2 cyst that developed because of my endometriosis as a means of avoiding surgery. He put me on it for 3 months but because I forgot to start the second pack for 2 weeks I had to start the 3 month period all over. The first month I took Yasmin the side effects were minimal but since I started taking it in May I have gotten a constant vaginal itch and pain, my eye sight is blurry, stomach feels sick and I get stomach pains, neck pains, shoulder pains, leg pains and hip pains, pains in my face, little or no lubrication during intercourse, constantly have to urinate, stomach feels like its tightening and has gotten really big, gets short of breathe easily, bad headaches, I feel as though I would pass out any minute when I am standing or walking, I am disinterested in everything, I get nausea, I have lost all interest in sex, I feel bloated all the time, I have lost all taste in my mouth, feels very tired and fatigued all the time, I feel very sad for no reason. I keep feeling sick all the time and have lost interest in food. When I am sitting I feel the pains in my legs and hip even more. I am falling into a state of depression and it is beginning to show at work. I am also gaining a lot of weight, rapidly, and really don't know what to do about it because I am very careful with the things I eat, how they are cooked and the time I eat also and I do exercise. I really don't know if I should continue until I finish the 3 months to see if it works for me or if I should stop taking the Yasmin and ask my doctor to try something else. I just don't feel altogether right now.

hey everyone,

Im so glad that I found this forum and that im not the only one feeling like this. I have been on Yasmin now for about 3 years and am coming off it immediately after reading that so many people are having the same side effects. I initially began Yasmin after I had found fibroadenomas in my breast and had to have them removed, and also bad stomach cramps. Taking Yasmin was to regulate my hormones and stop the lumps and cramps. It began really good for me, skin cleared up, no weight gain, and no other side effects. But in the last year it has been a real problem for me and there is nothing else in my lifestyle that would suggests otherwise. I have always had really thick hair and I have lost an incredible amount to the point people are noticing (im so devastated bout this particular side effect as every knew me for my thick straight hair), my heart has irregular palpitations, im badly short of breathe all the time to the point im gasping for air with an open mouth and puffed out just climbing stairs when im not even a smoker, I have a lowered sex drive and really bad lubrication which is a real problem. My attitude has changed and im not my usual easy going self and always looking for an issue to pick at.
I have another month and a half worth but im not going to continue with it. I should have listened to my body earlier or at least known how it has effected so many other people.

I understand that it works really well for some people but it seems to not work for just as more people, which makes me wonder why it is so readily pushed onto patients by doctors when there should be clear warnings. The attractive point for me when my doctor suggested Yasmin was that it had been tested to have NO side effects......yeh ok!

Hi, i have 26 yo, im a doctor and my boyfriend too, i started to take Yasmin 3 months ago and ive never been a depressed girl, who cries with every tv show or even a commercial, now I AM, ive been from a funny girl who always had a big smile on the face and make jokes of everything (and thats why my boyfriend love me) but during this last couple of months i just don't know why im crying for every stupid thing..and then i go...why the heck did i cry for that?...im just waiting for my menses and then im switching to evra and see how it works,
Oh...plus i think i have IBS, migraine like headaches, almost no sexual drive and poor lubrication during intercourse, but ive not gain weight and my skin face is without black spots. thats the only good thing about Yasmin, but definitely i think my mood swings are because Yasmin and thats the worst thing.

Hi there. I was researching possible side effects with Nuvaring and found this board.

Lately, I've been irritable, I've been sleeping so much, I have no energy to do anything.. I went on Nuvaring due to my fiancee and I needing some kind of protection against pregnancy, since we're both in college and (well, you know the drill). I thought that my decreased sex drive was stress related.. until I found this board.

I love my fiancee. We make some great love together. Lately though, I haven't wanted him to touch me.. In fact there's been fights about it. It's only been since I got on Nuvaring. At first it was great.. the increased lubrication etc. But now, I really think this is more of a hassle than anything.. It hurts when we do have sex, it's decreasing my sex drive insanely.. I hate it.

I'm gaining weight.. I used to be 112 pounds, I am now 120 lbs. I have only been on this for two months.. I'm afraid on what could happen if I stay on it any longer.

I have mood swings, headaches, and sleep 12 hours even if I go to bed early.. The headaches are severe, and I have weird stomach pains.

My suggestion to anyone who comes to this board, is to forget about Nuvaring. It's a hassle; more of a hassle than it's worth. If you read up on google more, you'll find there is a lawsuit against the makers of Nuvaring as well.

Last year I was put on nuvaring after having breakthrough bleeding with SEVERAL birth control pills. I had no problems. I loved it! Well after 6 months of use in December 2007, my husband and I decided to have our first child. Well the beginning of June 2008, we decided it just wasn't the right time for a child, so I decided to get back on the ring. After a week, I started having burning, irritation, cramps, just a little increase of discharge, and decrease in lubrication with sex. The burning and irritation only got worse with sex. Well I called my OBGYN. She told me that these were very common problems/side effects and would normally subside after my first couple cycles and that if it did not I would need to come in for an exam and that she may need to change my birth control. Naturally I asked how I didn't have problems the first time around. She told me that the first time I went straight from the pill to the ring so I had estrogen in my system, so switching to another form of estrogen didn't bother me, but this time since I haven't been on the ring for 6 months so it was like starting on the ring from nothing, but again they should subside after a couple cycles and just let her know if they did not. She suggested that I could take it out during sex to avoid the burning and irritation from worsening as long as it was not left out longer than 2 hours.

I am now on the second ring and the burning and irritation has subsided. As well as the increase in discharge. After her suggestion, I started taking the ring out during sex and it helped a lot. Taking it out during sex also prevented a decrease in lubrication.

It really is great!

I’m at the end my 3rd month on Femcon Fe and I have to say that none of the side effects I’ve experienced have been too severe. My doctor put me on it after having a laparoscopy to treat endometriosis and in place of using harsher treatments such as Lupron. The 1st month I had some mild nausea, slight breast tenderness, and spotting for about 3 days. The second month the nausea increased greatly, I lost my appetite a little and I would even vomit sometimes. Fortunately the nausea was mostly in the early in the mornings and late at night when I would take it. My breasts also started to grow and were a little bit more tender. Now in my third month, the symptoms have finally started to subside. My breasts are still larger (which is nice hehe) but no longer hurt as much. I still have mild nausea from time to time but that’s also almost completely gone. It’s important to note that ALL birth control pills have side effects and you just need to find the one that is best for you. It is true that most side effects eventually go away once your body gets accustomed to the level of hormones but you have to give it a chance first. This pill isn’t for everyone but it doesn’t always have the harsh side effects that some women post here after using it for only two weeks. Some positives for me: my period is much lighter only lasting 3 days or so and with very little cramping (it used to be severe), my skin has cleared up and is less oily. No depression and my mood has actually improved. No change in sex drive either but I do need to use more lubrication now. Finally and most importantly (to me at least), I’ve had NO weight gain. Some bloating at times but no big deal. There have been times when I've felt hungrier than usual but you just have to have self control. Don’t eat more than you usual, only have healthy snacks and drinks lots of water.

I actually like the ring... I was on it for almost a year from last august to this may then I was not sexually active and could use the extra 25 dollars a month so I quit but then I started dating my current bf and got back on the ring. I don't think I have any bad side effects, I do tend to think I'm pregnant almost every month that could just be me wishing and hoping for an accident though. I don't feel crazy or paranoid, I'm not as hormonal as I used to be while I was on the pill or just naturally. I do not have cramps as bad as I used to actually I don't have them at all. Also my period is only 4 days when it used to be seven or eight days long. But I have gained weight. :( That is the only downfall. I have been drier during sex, but with the help of some lubrication there is no problem! I really like it because I was horrible at taking the pill but this works so well for me.

God bless you all for posting your experiences here.
Until now I was feeling like an alien or someone trying to find excuses.
I've had the device since 2004 and my life changed a lot since!
I had 1 month heavy bleeding, 1 month latter I got so constipated that I had to go to the doc. Now turns out that I developed IBS, the symptoms I began feeling since I put the Mirena.
My mood changed completely, I was full of joy, up for anything and I felt tired all the time, my libido decreased a lot as did my lubrication.
My face is now covered with acne and scars, the doctor denies that Mirena can be causing this but after lots of medication....nothing sorts it out!They will have to give up and do some more research about it.
I also lost my hair at the beginning and now it is growing everywhere - forehead, chin, cheeks, breasts!
I will visit my GP next week and ask to remove it. Even though I am very scared of the pain - as I had to have anaesthetic to put it on - I am now prepared to do it.
Only good things: I did not get pregnant and my horrendous periods have gone for 3 years now!

Hey ladies! I wanted to know if anyone else is experiencing one of the many systems that I'm experiencing. I started the Nuva ring a week ago and just yesterday I started breaking out in a rash all over my body. The rask on my hands is so severe it look like puss, rash on my neck, legs, forehead, and arms. This is terrible!! I looks like a desease. I never experience this before (It has to be the Nuva ring). I feel moody, sleepy no matter how many hours of sleep I have, and tightness on my chest. I've read that some of you ladies are experiencing lower sex drive, well I'm experience higher sex drive and extra lubrication since I went on it. No discharge or spotting yet.I hjaven't been able to go to the doctor due to my loaded schedule. Any advise or any one experiencing the same? Thank you all for posting your comments to share with the rest of us, it really helps to see we are not alone.

Thanks,

JD

I'm so glad I googled side effects of Yasmin and found this site. All of the sudden my mood swings for the past almost YEAR make sense. I started out fine. The pill was great, and I haven't had to worry about acne at all. Of course I gained a few pounds, but not too much. However, I'm a pre medical student trying to study for the MCAT this summer. I've been SO tired and drained and majorly depressed that I just can't seem to concentrate. I feel like I'm always crying over the stupidest stuff (AKA: no reason at ALL), and my grades are starting to suffer. Hopefully now that I've read this, I can stop taking this pill and see an improvement. It's just not worth the depression. I'm 22 right now, and until recently had never had a suicidal thought. I was starting to panic, because I couldn't identify the cause of my depression. I'm a good student, have lots of friends, and have the most amazing boyfriend and family. Life is good, I shouldn't feel this bad. Now that I have a clue as to what this may be, I can fix it.

I used NuvaRing for about a year and a half before I stopped. At first, I thought it was great. It was discrete and worry free and cheaper then the pill. I also didn't seem to have any side effects. Until a few months later when I started getting headaches. Then sex began to be painful. The pain wasn't too bad at first and I thought maybe I just wasn't sufficiently aroused. I never thought to connect it with the Ring. Gradually, the pain got worse and worse to the point where I had to stop having sex at all. I thought there was something wrong with me and my body. I tried everything, condoms, lubrication, vibrators, anything that might make sex pleasurable, but it was useless. Finally, even touching the area became unbearable. One night my fiancee tried to touch me it felt like glass cutting my vagina. It was awful.
Until one night when I realized the Ring had fallen out. I always used to check the ring before engaging in any kind of sexual activity, just to make sure it was there, as I tend to be a little paranoid. Event though we couldn't have sex I checked the ring anyway, out of habit, and realized it was missing. Fortunately pregnancy was not a concern since I hadn't had sex in months but it was still a shock that it could fall out and I'd never even know. I went online to see what to do if the ring fell out and discovered the pain during intercourse is an UNLISTED side effect of the NuvaRing. I was outraged. I'd spent months thinking there was something wrong with my body and turns out it was the ring! I stopped using it immediately and two months later was able to engage in intercourse with minimal pain. This has been a huge ordeal and I'm glad it's finally ending. If you value your body, DON"T USE NUVARING! It breaks your body and takes all the pleasure out of sex. Also, had I been having sex I could have gotten pregnant without even realizing it. The fact that pain during intercourse is an unlisted side effect is unconscionable and outrageous! Don't support such an irresponsible company!

I HAVE BEEN USING NR FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS. I THOGHT EVERYTHING WAS SWEET. I HAD HEADACHES, BUT I DIDNT ASSOCIATE THEM WITH THE RING. JUST IN THE PAST WEEK I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. I KEEP HAVING A BROWN VAGINAL DISCHARGE. IT DOESNT SMELL FOUL. DISCHARGE SHOULDNT CARRY A SCENT AT ALL, BUT IT DOES. ALONG WITH THIS IS VAGINAL IRRITATION. SOMETIMES SEX DOES NOT INTEREST ME AND THERE IS A DECREASE IN LUBRICATION.

Day 11:
I did a full hour of extreme physical exercise. I thought I was gonna get a heart attack, but hey, haven't worked out since Aug, it's my own fault.

I think it's all going away.

Have not had any migraines, just chest pain today but that was for a reason. I also feel strangely aware of having a vagina. I know this sounds weird, but I think I had totally lost my libido (and lubrication) before. OK, too much info.

Hope it's going well for everyone else as well.

I'm also getting a grip on my life, don't feel so unable to do anything anymore :))!

I've been taking vitamin supplements and frozen fruit, yogurt, and wheat bran (can sub with flax seed, has omega acids) smoothies every day. Can't hurt to help out my bod a lil bit, right?

In response to the woman complaining about painful intercourse: I just went off Yasmin after about a year and a half. During that time, sex became so painful that I dreaded having it. The lack of lubrication left me always feeling raw and like I was developing a yeast infection. Store-bought lubricants didn't really help, either. I've been off the pill for 2 weeks now, and everything is TOTALLY back to normal. I was starting to despair, thinking there was something wrong with me, and that my sex life would never be the same. Now, I am SO RELEIVED. I also had some of the emotional side effects that others have mentioned here, and all of them are going away. I actually feel like me for the first time in a long time. I never suspected that my BCP was responsible --I'll definitely think twice about ever going on one again.

I took Levaquin 750mg 1 daily for 6 weeks for infected hip prosthesis in May & June '02 and had pain in both of my hands, especially in the finger joints. As of 1-30-03 I still have severe pain morning and evening in both hands (finger joints). Feels like there is no lubrication in the joints. And now am experiencing the same starting in both shoulders. Vioxx helps but does not eliminate the pain.

THEY SHOULD MAKE A PILL FOR MEN!!! I've been on Yasmin for 7 months now. I went from having sex 2 x a day to 1 x a week (if my husband's lucky). It has completely taken away my sex drive. I push my husband away if he comes near me. The sex is so painful due to decreased lubrication, and it burns alot to have sex. My moods are crazy. I cry all the time. And worse of all, it's not so much that it has made me gain weight, its this layer of extra fat that I just can't seem to get rid of. I work out 4 x a week and weight train, but the weight doesn't budge. My skin is really dry now and look patchy. Im getting off of Yasmin tomarrow. Id. By the way, does anywone know how long it takes to lose the weight after you get off the pill?