Pain during intercourse symptoms and conditions

I was only on NuvaRing for a month and had/have experienced serious side effects. I am currently fighting a second ovarian cyst with severe abdominal tenderness. I know these are typical, however, my first one came one week after stopping NuvaRing. As did many others, I experienced a lot of pain during intercourse and my husband could feel the plastic rubbing him which caused quite a bit of discomfort. In addition to the side effects, insurance does not cover the product well and it cost me $47.50! I wouldn't recommend the product but I think it is necessary to keep in mind that all forms of birth control work differently for each individual. If it works for you great, but if you begin to see any signs or symptoms out of the ordinary, take it out and consult your physician. (Remember when you take it out to use a back up method.)

I've been on Nuva Ring for 4 months and I've been having terrible night sweats for about 3 months. I wake up soaked. It's so bad that I'm developing rashes from the sweat. Every morning I have diarrhea. I had pregnancy symptoms. I also get severe headaches and dizziness. The week that I take the ring out I feel nauseous. I do have pain during intercourse and low drive. I tried to find something on line too for night sweats as a side effect. I'm very worried now and will be contacting my GYN!

I had the mirena inserted in June 2007. It came highly recommended from a sexual health clinic, and they were keen for me to use it even though I have not had children. It was extremely painful during the first few months and I had a lot of spotting. As time progressed I became very depressed, irritable, I had frequent headaches, total loss of libido, nausea, some pain during intercourse and it has really taken a toll on my relationship with my boyfriend as well as other friendships. After doing some research online (and thank you to this website in particular) I had it removed 4 weeks ago. I feel a little better, but I think it will be a while before I feel myself again. In these last few weeks I have experienced dizziness, nausea, severe headaches and strong depression. I wish I had never had it inserted. Thank you to all the women who shared their stories and helped to convince me to get it removed. - Louise, 26

I am 36 years old and my OB thinks I may have endometriosis. For the last two years I have suffered from pain during intercourse heavy periods as well as sistitis in the bladder, I also have a grape size fibroid in my uterus and suffer from night sweats and hot flashes. My Dr. decided to put me on the nuvaring to treat what she thinks is a hormone imbalance. However since starting the ring two weeks ago I am having chest pain, racing heart, shortness of breath and severe mood swings including depression, anxiety and crying spells. Even when I am resting my heart is racing and I have chest pains. There have been some good side affects however such as I think that the sistitis is clearing up and my complexion is better but I do not think it is worth the risk of having a stroke or heart attack to stay on it. It amazes me what drug companies will push through all in the name of profit. Thanks to all of you who have posted your side effects on this site it gave me the courage to call up my Dr. to look into other options of treatment. Bless you all.
Miss S

I started dating my now husband over a year 1/2 ago & started taking Alesse for 6 months. I had no bad side effects & everything was great those 6 months but I didn't renew the prescription because remembering the pill everyday is a hassle... Dumb mistake! I got a 3 month trial of that new NuvaRing thinking it would be great not to worry about the pill. Wrong again, I had the worst breakouts. mood swings, numbness in my face/arms & total lack of sex drive brought on by constant pain during intercourse with painful tenderness lasting days after.... So I asked to be prescribed Alesse again but the pharmacy ended up giving me this Aviane since my coverage is for generic. I don't know how to explain it really, don't know if it's just the switch but I my period lasted about one day. First it was dark (nearly black) hardly blood at all but congealed! Than later that night I had some cramping & a flow of blood. That was it. The next morning I woke up to find my labia majora was painfully red and swollen. (Now I have never been sexually active before my husband and a few months after we started having intercourse I asked him to get checked with me & both came back clear so as far as I know there is nothing unknown that can be causing this!) I am going to call my doctors office today & hopefully speak with a nurse... In the meantime I refilled my prescription for Alesse & will dish out the extra money..

Mirena is the worst decision I have made as far as a contraceptive. I have been hospitalized because of heart pains assuming heartburn since all turned out fine) then one month exactly I had heart burns again. I have had the Mirena since 3/08 and have an appt tomorrow to have it removed. I'm going back to my birth control this is just awful. When I went to my doctor one month ago he felt the heart pains isn't related to the Mirena and suggest I keep it since I was at my 6 month stage. I said ok, and here it is approx 1 month later and I still HATE IT!!!. I have lower back pain, mood swings and awful pain during intercourse. One night I couldn't even move that's how bad my bu** was aching it felt like that little Mirena was coming out my bu**(sorry for being graphic). We all need to complain to this company and like another woman said print all of this for our doctor. I wish everyone the best of luck and I hope all is well w/ my uterus. I will keep you all informed.

Ever since I used the Nuvaring I have brown bleeding throughout my period, brown spotting before and after my periods, bladder pain, bowel immotility, pain during intercourse, uterine cramping throughout my cycle, etc, etc. I have been diagnosed with endometritis and I suspect it is related to use of the Nuvaring. Has anyone else experienced the above symptoms during or after using the Nuvaring?

I used the NuvaRing for maybe 5 or 6 months. While on it, I began having decreased libido and pelvic pain during intercourse. Soon I also developed intense vaginal burning after sex. I stopped it and hoped the symptoms would soon resolve, only it has been 2 years now. I have had pelvic ultrasounds, MRIs, CAT Scans all looking for alternative reasons why I am experiencing pain. Someone suggested it was bowel related so I went so far as having a colonoscopy, of course it was normal. My ob tried to convince me to have surgery to look around called an exploratory laparoscopy but the idea scared me. I feel like they just think I am nuts now and have just written me off but prior to using the NuvaRing I had a normal healthy sex life. I do believe my problems are all do to that ring and feel that it should be pulled from the market before it ruins other women's lives too.

I have had mirena since Mar 07 and I also have pain during intercourse, sharp pains in my pelvic area, my face started breaking out (never had ache) and horrible discharge gummy and clear. Has anyone else experienced the discharge. It is so uncomfortable for me I do not want to have intercourse with my husband of 6 years. I think I will have this removed on my 8/25 appointment. Any advice in regards to the discharge would be great. Thanks!

I had the Mirena put in in Feb 07 and while at first it was all great and a great thought of not having to take a daily pill and such a good form of bc I thought why not? I have adenomiosis which is in the inner lining of the uterus (like endometriosis but inside instead of outside) which causes many issues like extra pain/cramping, my body bloating even more during ovulation, and then irritating all of the other organs in there since the uterus is irritated which leads to more swelling and discomfort, as well as pain during intercourse. This was prior to my last pregnancy which was in May 06. I've been pregnant 6 times and have 4 children. We aren't in a position to have anymore right now. Since Oct/Nov 07 I have begun gaining weight - mainly at the times I am probably 'ovulating' and the bloat can last about 3 weeks out of the month - I'm talking 15+ pounds. Mood swings out that wazoo and pain during intercourse which I think is what has led to my very low sex drive. Also, and I don't know where this is coming from or if there is any normalcy to it, but my breasts are leaking (I haven't breastfed since Dec 06). My GP put me on Prozac and I tried them but didn't find myself any better, just more tired. Now I'm taking some vitamins, but don't know what else to do. I had an ultrasound last week that showed all is fine and that the Mirena is in its right position. I re-meet with my Ob/Gyn the 19th to see where to go next. This sucks.

I posted back in early March 2008 and figured I would update my experience with Mirena. I had many symptoms that most posted on here but not all. I figured I would give this option a few months and if the symptoms continued, I would have it removed. After a month, all symptoms have disappeared. Periods are lighter, no pain during intercourse and I can breathe a sigh of relief. No longer do I have to worry about pregnancy ( I always used natural planning going by my body cycle). I did have slight weight gain but started exercising more to offset the extra calories I was taking in with the sudden cravings for food. All and all, I am glad I stuck with it and let my body adjust to Mirena. Good luck to all of you.

i have been on the ring for a week now, i havent had any side effects, yet. I had to get on the ring because the high estrogen level of the pill was making my hormons go crazy and creating nuts in my breats. After reading all the side effects i dont know if i want to keep using the ring. I have not had intercorse with the ring on because im scared its going to hurt me or my partner.... any help on how to avoid pain during intercose while using the ring??? will my partner feel the ring ??

Thanks everyone for the info. I have had the Mirena in place since December 17, 2007. My side effects have not been too bad, just abnormal spotting and occasional crampiness. My husband recently told me that he has been having a pain during intercourse. He said it feel as though a needle is poking the head of his penis. I thought he was crazy and told him I would check into it. After reading the postings on this website it all kind of makes since. I cry and get upset for no reason, and I am not normally an emotion person. I have hot flashes and I am only 25 years old. I just had my second child and thought maybe it was just my hormones that haven't returned to normal yet, but after reading this information I am kind of freaked out. I think I will call my doctor right away. Why can't they make birth control for men?

I'm so glad that I found this site and know that I'm not going through this alone. I started the NuvaRing after not being on birth control for 2 years. Previously I've been on the pill and the patch. I'd heard great things about the ring and thought I'd give it a try. The first three months I loved it. Around month four, I started having pain during sex. It felt like I wasn't getting lubricated enough. Then on top of the pain during sex, I would have a burning sensation after sex when I went to the bathroom. I've also been experiencing a lot of hunger and weight gain around my stomach, which hasn't ever been an issue before. The past month I've had little to no sex drive, and have to wait at least a day after sex before I can attempt to do it again. I'm only 27 and know this isn't normal. Last week I had my period for only 2 days. I thought there was something psychologically wrong with me, especially having no sex drive when I'm with someone that I'm incredibly attracted to. After reading everyone else's similar experiences, I'm taking this ring today and voicing my concern to my doctor first thing tomorrow. Best of luck to everyone in getting back to how we were before the ring.

I began taking Yasmin January 2007, and my previous mood swings greatly improved. However, I have now been on Yasmin for over a year and have recently been experiencing some side effects. For instance, I suddenly have no desire to have sex, and when I do, I experience pain on the left side of my ovaries. I have also been experiencing increased dryness, and loss of appetite/ nausea. Is it possible to develop symptoms after being on Yasmin for an extended period of time, or are the symptoms prominent at the beginning? I had no complaints about this birth control up to this point. Now, I have reason to believe that my pill may be the culprit of my changes. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, please contact me.

I'm glad to know that there are other women out there with similar problems as me. I recently became engaged, sexually active and with that, became a new user of the Ring. It was reccomended to me by two family member s who love it and would never go back to all the other methods they'd tried in the past. I, however, am not as lucky as they are. I put it in on the first day of my period, as directed. My period lasted about 8 days when it usually lasts five and I had brown spotting for the rest of the month. Intercourse became very painful for me from the get-go. It was like a burning sensation and it was horrible enough that my fiance and I have not done it for two weeks. I went in to my gyno and she said I had a yeast infection and that the Ring was healthy for the vagina because the vagina LIKES the hormones in it and that the Ring should improve the atmosphere in the vagina, if anything. So, I've had two UTI's and a yeast infection since putting it in, bleeding after intercourse, maddening headaches, cramps, ACNE (which it is suppose to clear up), and severe mood swings. But, my doc won't switch me to the pill because she thinks that my body will adjust. I guess I'll just give it some more time and, if it doesn't straighten up within another couple of weeks, I'll demand something else because this just is not working for me as I had hoped it would!

I had no pain during insertion, only some mild cramping afterward. My periods were really crazy for several months and then they just stopped, but I had discharge all the time. I had to constantly wear a light day pad and I hated that. I had a major decrease in sex drive and pain during intercourse which I never had before, I decided to have it out two weeks ago and since then I have been bleeding very heavily with a lot of clotting. I defintiely don't like that, but I have noticed an increase in sex drive almost right away.

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'm so glad I found this sight!! I knew the ring wasn't for me, but my OB said I was crazy, and that my experiences were more stress based rather than birth control based. My sex drive has diminished, I experience pain during intercourse, I've had 5 UTIs this year, I have extreme mood swings - especially the week before my period, and I can not lose any weight - no matter how much I exercise or how healthy I eat.

I KNOW that the Nuva Ring is the cause of this and I won't stay on for another month. I will be giving up convenience, but my marriage and family is more important.

multiple yeast infections (when I had never had them before)
gardnerella infection (also never had before)
pain during intercourse

I have had a noticable increase of dryness of my skin and vaginal dryness to the point of pain during intercourse. I also seem to run a little hotter, feeling the heat greatly. I am small, so that is not the reason the heat is getting to me.

My muscles also ache and I am now taking Taurine (from the health food store) and that seems to be helping. My blood pressure also seems to be going up. No hair loss, no weight gain. Guess there is something good here.

Question for All: I Worry that my cardiovascular system may be affected by this continued blockage of estrogen in my body. The heart is a muscle, therefore how do the muscle aches, my increased blood pressure and the health of my heart implicate femara and is it doing more harm to my body than the femara is helping me stop any cancer. I Was on Tamoxifen for almost 5 years. Now have been on Femara since Mar. 06

It's me again - I don't know who really keeps up with reading this site, but I know I do because it is very informative.

My most recent post was around V-Day, I think - and it was complaints of vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse - whether it was related to Yasmin or not. Anyway, the most bizarre thing has been happening for the past few nights. I take my pill at 8AM everyday, never late because my OB told me it was super important (plus it is kind of a test to see what happens because I had problems with Alesse) - besides the point... The past few nights I have had spotting between 7-8PM, and it goes away by the morning, and I'm fine all day long, until mid-evening, and it is very, physically irritating. I don't know what to do. I feel like my OB thinks I bother her all the time, I always feel like I have a yeast infection, and I am very down about this whole situation.

Everyone always says to take it at least 1-3months, so I think I will continue one more month to see if my body is strong enough to take over the weirdness. Other than kind of odd vaginal issues - I've been okay.

I'm get down because I'm frustrated.