Pain during sex symptoms and conditions

I have been on the NuvaRing for a little less than 2 years now. Everything seemed fine until four months ago when I started to get very intense "irritations" in my vaginal area. I thought I was inflicting this upon myself because I switched to boy shorts underwear and a little tighter jeans. My ob/gyn attributed my problem to using a new brand of soap and a new brand of pantiliner, and she simply suggested I "soak my bum" in the tub 1-2 times a day to reduce the irritation. (She's British.) She also suggested I use as much A&D diaper rash ointment (which is mainly petroleum jelly) as I wanted or needed. After 2 months of continued vaginal irritation, my ob/gyn simply said that what I had can take a while to clear up, and that I should just continue to soak my bottom and use as much A&D ointment as I needed.

After reading everyone's postings, I've learned that it's not unheard-of for one's body to take several months to show NuvaRing side effects. I share the same symptoms of complete loss of sex drive, vaginal dryness and intense pain during sex that many of you have described. I went through so many months of accepting these conditions because I thought all of those things were happening because I was nearing my 40th birthday and simply getting older. Those of you in your 20's that described similar symptoms helped me realize that what I was experiencing wasn't natural.

I've decided to take my NuvaRing out and stay birth control free for a couple of months to see the irritability goes away. I am very eager and hopeful to lose my dependency on A&D ointment, to want to have sex again, and to wear boy shorts and tight jeans again.

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.

I've been on the NuvaRing for 2 years now. I think it reacts differently to everyone. It has made my life much better. My periods are shorter, lighter and less painful. I used to get sore muscles and sore breasts a few days before I started now I have none of that. I'm not moody and for the first time in my life I don't have to spend the first day of my period in bed. My body adjusted to it quickly and I didn't have any spotting. I still have my sex drive and there is no pain during sex. I have a lot of stomach problems (bad gallbladder) and if I were on an oral contraceptive I would likely be pregnant because my body wouldn't absorb the pill properly. This has been a lifesaver for me.

i would not recommend this to anyone. I am 43 with four kids. I was strongly advised to try this method of contraception but only 2 weeks in i was having horrible side effects. Mainly crabby moods but constant pelvic pain and lower back pain and sore breasts and to add to that constant discharge. So much so that i was having to wear a pad every day. due to go on holiday this week there was no way i was going feeling this way and also feeling paranoid in a bikin with the discharge so i had the thing out.Felt it could only get worse. this thing should not be on the market.Isn't it about time something was invented for men!!!! side effects aren't worth it for your health and well being.

Hmm, after reading all of this ive decided that my decision after medicaid declined my ring for 3 more days to finally get off of it was right. Ive noticed that within the past 2 weeks ive had more energy, my headaches are not as bad, and ive not been having the crippling stomach pain i have after i eat some foods. Ive been on it for about a year and a half, i tried depo but i gained 40pds while on it, so i moved to the nuvaring, as i had it 3 years ago right after i had my daughter. While on it and it still hasn't went away, i have pain during sex, burning after sex, stomach cramps, lower stomach cramps, headaches, Ive had 2 bouts of chest pain that made me freak out because i about went to the hospital, I am overweight, i was only 215 when i had my daughter, and was healthy and played basket ball, and now im 265. The doctors complain at me, but i did remodel for 2 months and lost ONE pound. All while taking care of a two year old. I got two yeast infections within 6 months and id never had one ever before (im 22 this month)All these problems combined with my back pain from my accident, Ive decided, im going to use other methods like condoms and spermicide. i cant take the hormonal crap.

I have had mine since oct 06, I immediately started to have unusual discharge, so much that I have to wear panty liners or a lite tampon, It's extremely embarrassing to have to go through with it everyday, especially in the summer, when i wanna wear a bathing suit. I also hate to have sex, it hurts so much, I can barely take it. I have been oody and miserable, around the time I do get my period I have very tender breasts. My period is lite and only lasts a few days, so no complaint there. I have enlarged cysts now, and they also contribute to my pain during sex. I have no sex drive whatsoever. Could care less. And I use to have sex on a regular basis.

For the past year I have been struggling with acne, I have never had pimples in my life, so now having the right side of my face full of acne and nothing, nothing will treat it. I didn't have much weight gain at all. Im back to my regular size, but I do workout now, and haven't lost anything either.

I thought for the past 3 years I've been crazy, Im depressed, but nothing to be depressed about, I dont have a stressful job, Im healthy, taken care of. But I can cry over nothing, literally, I cry everyday, and lately its getting worse, I thought I was pregnant, because I felt so emotional, I was feeling flutters in my stomach. Things that I felt the first itme.

I don't have insurance, and make to much to get medicare. I really want to get it taken out. This has affected my life so much, that its ruining my relationship with my boyfriend.

I cant believe how many others are having same symptoms, I should have looked into this a long long time ago. Hopefully I can have planned parenthood take it out.

I'm still in my first month of Loestrin 24 and I've only noticed a few side effects. My main concern is the pain during sex. I wondered if I had some sort of infection or if I was allergic to the lubricant from condoms, also the spotting. Which is quite embarrassing and bothersome! But I have not experienced any weight gain, which I was very worried about. My skin is clearing up and I hope it continues to do so. Overall, if it keeps me not pregnant, I'll deal with whatever.

Ok I got the Mirena about 2 years ago, and its been hell from the moment I got the thing put in. Ive never been that much of a bitch but once I had the Mirena put in, i started constantly bitching. I ended up thinking I fell out of love with my daughters father, left him, and screwed things up all because of my hormone levels right after I got the mirena put in. Finally about a year after I had the mirena put in, my hormone levels finally started to go back to normal. But i still had about 10 pounds that I could not loose. Now its been two years and I have still not been able to get the weight off, and I also have a LOT of pain during sex. About three weeks ago I got my period (which is usually light and no more than 3 days long) and it lasted for NINE DAYS. Then I had sex about two weeks later, then the next day I got my period AGAIN for another FIVE days!After that period was finally over I felt so light headed and sick i almost passed out,I called my doctor.. She said that it sounded like the mirena was making me anemic. So im getting this damn thing taken out next week and I am SO excited not to have the bad cramps, no more mood swings, and to be able to loose the rest of this weight. THANK GOD. o btw if anybody's insurance doesn't cover taking the mirena out, go to planned parenthood. It only costs 85 dollars!

DO NOT GET MIRENA! I am only 24 and mother of a 16 month old beautiful baby girl. I decided to have Mirena put in 2 months ago. The insertion itself was extremely painful, after being told it wouldn't hurt. I bled for a couple weeks after. Everything seemed fairly normal according to symptoms of insertion. Then, a couple weeks ago, I noticed I was having a lot of pain during sex. This progressed into severe lower ab (mainly on the right side) and back pain. I was sent to ER by my OB. They did a pelvic exam and couldn't see the strings thus an ultrasound was ordered. The IUD was there but so was fluid within my pelvis. They told me I had Pelvic Inflammatory Disease PID. I was put on 2 antibiotics and vicodin and sent home. I made a follow up with an OB the next day (mine was on vaca.). I asked him if the IUD caused the PID and of course he said no. I also asked if he suggested I remove the IUD and again he said no. I opted to anyways. The removal was worse than delivering my 9lb 5oz baby. I was crying, screaming and shaking. The Doc kept asking "Oh, does that hurt?" Eventually I yelled "No, it feels good!" He finally removed it told me take my meds and left. I've been bleeding since (that was a week ago) Well I reported him. Either way, after 4 days of antibiotics i was still in severe pain, very very tired and nauseous. So I called my OB and they admitted me to the ER. I had to stay on IV antibiotics for two days. I left the hospital a little sensitive in the pelvis but for the most part pain free. I was and am still just soooo tired and have waves of nausea. I lasted two days pain free and last night the pain returned. I am still on a round of antibiotics which should be done in a few days. I also am very bloated, have sore breasts, increased appetite regardless of the nausea, and peeing a lot. Not sure if i now have a bladder infection but it sure feels like pregnancy symptoms. They did preg. test in ER but came out neg. i think its too soon to tell. nevertheless I am scared and traumatized! I don't know what to do. I have a follow up in 2 weeks with OB. hopefully pain will subside and symptoms are just from PID. Any insight would be helpful....but please don't get the mirena! I am now afraid of my future....i want another baby some day but am unsure of how much damage has really been done.

Oh I also for got to mention that I have this thing since Jan 2008, and I also have the pain during sex, it is like a stabbing pain in my back on the right side every time he goes in...no bleeding though. I have also become a gym rat to get rid of the weight I had gained. I weighed 142 right after I had my daughter and then went up to 155 or so. I have been working out 4 to 5 time a week for about an hour plus, for the past 6 months, while eating a healthy diet and only lost about 9 lbs.

Hey I see Im not the only one with problems that the doctors blam on other things!! I have always been so healthy UNTIL I had twins in Feb 06 and had Mirena put in Oct 06 and almost immediately started having side effects.I started to read up and realized the ones I had were all listed as side effects with it.The first side effects weren't that bad but OMG now I am horrible.I have so many side effects and am wondering if anyone is in the same boat??Mine are:weight gain,hair loss,facial hair,migraines,irritability,fatigue,NO sex drive,anxiety,depression,fluttering in my stomach,back and joint pain,pain during sex,stomach spasms,the list goes ON and ON, oh and lets not forget they say I have PCOS!! Now I wish they could tell me how I went from perfectly healthy to THIS!! I have been to 3 different docs and asked to have it removed but surprise surprise they all did not want to remove it and now I have NO insurance..I am to the point if I could take the thing out myself I would!! I am SOOO miserable and if I say I want it out who are they to tell me no?? Can anyone else relate?? I AM GOING CRAZY!!!

I have been on Nuvaring for almost two months. At first I liked it and now I have noticed I am depressed and cry all the time and I am never depressed! I have read other posts that sex is painful with NuvaRing. I am getting married May 30th and have never had sex so I am worried NuvaRing might make it painful. Any suggestions should I switch birth controls before the wedding? I already tried the pill and it made me sick and I couldn't remember to take it.

I went on the nuvaring because I was having side effects from taking the pill, I was depressed and anxious all the time so my Dr. put me on the nuvaring... i put it in November 26, while i had it in i experienced cramping and pain during sex from time to time, the depression lifted, however, my period started on December 7th, after only 2weeks of having it in, it is now December 19th and it still hasn't stopped. its a lot heavier than normal with a lot of clotting. The last few days Ive been thinking that i was getting sick because Ive bee feeling so tired and weak, then today at work i got extremely dizzy and lightheaded,
So now i get to go back to my doctor and tell her that another BC isn't working for me.... *confused*
Is there any effective BC that doesn't come with unbearable side effects!?!?

Hey ladies! I am not shocked to hear all of this! I had the Mirena placed in me on July,10,2008. It is now October 27th, 2008. Almost 4 months with this in me and i feel like crap! I mean, i thought my headaches were from lack of sleep or something. Im cramping all the time, I have had sharp pains in either right or left side of my stomach but never both sides at the same time. I broke out with acne on my arms UGH and i have never had acne on my body. When i have a period, they are heavy, i fill the toilet up with blood, i fill up a pad in NO time, it lasts a lil over a week, and i have had meat like substances (looks like intestines, or chewed up hamburger *sorry*), and dime & nickle sized clots pass out of me! I have a picture of it and dated time of the passings. When i called a nurse about the passing of the meat and clots, all she had to tell me was "take a pregnancy test and if negative, then take Motrin tablets and see if that helps" WHAT?! I have noticed im a lot angrier now. Its not a pretty sight. =/ I have 1 child, my son (22mths old). I haven't noticed weight gain, maybe at the beginning but i figured it was bloating. When i talked to a different nurse about all of this a while ago, she had thought the mirena had fallen out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Uhm noone told me about this happening!!!!! All i heard was the best about it and not the worst! I havent taken a pregnancy test yet, im so scared to! I cant afford another little one right now! =/ I am going to weigh this out one more month, because they did tell me it takes 3 months to adjust. So after another month, by December, if its still the same. Im removing it.

The gynecologist examined me and refused to insert a copper IUD because he said my uterus was too small. After I got dressed, he handed me a FREE SAMPLE of NuvaRing. I said : "But I don't want to use hormonal bc." He said : "This has less hormones and doesn't go through the liver." Well I guessed that was a GOOD thing, which he wanted me to believe of course. The mood swings, serious anxiety, irritability (I would go as far as to say, anger and impulse control problems) and burning vaginal pain during sex seriously affected my relationship with my boyfriend. We may even be broken up now and I blame it partly on NuvaRing and other hormonal bc I took after my 2 months on NuvaRing. I am so sad that I had to go through all that! I wonder how many gifts the doctors get for giving us the prescriptions of bc. Anyone interested in non hormonal bc? There is the cervical cap in many varieties and sizes. It doesn't affect sexual spontaneity because you can insert it several hours before sex and you can have intercourse several times with it on. You can even keep it in for up to 3 days.

Mirena lil bet hurting come out. Just like lil bet go in. I have a lot of mood swings,pain during sex ,weight gain,back pain,stress with two children and life,etc. I gain 47 lbs for 8/28/06 to 10/13/08. I weight 134lbs in 06 now 181lbs in 08.

IT IS GOOD TO KNOW I'M NOT ALONE, LIKE ALL OF YOU I THOUGHT I WAS GOING CRAZY AND SO DID EVERYONE AROUND ME. I'VE HAD MY IUC SINCE JUNE 3, 2008 AND I'M GETTING IT REMOVED IN 2 DAYS, AFTER SEEING THIS SITE. I GOT ON THIS SITE LAST NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE MOODS SWINGS AND DISCOVERED ALL MY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT WERE EVEN LINKED TO ONE THING LET ALONE MIRENA WERE THE SAME PROBLEMS I READ OVER AND OVER ON THIS SITE PLUS A FEW THAT WEREN'T ON HERE. I'VE BEEN HAVING PAINS IN MY FINGERS, TOES, AND BREASTS LIKE I'M BEING JABBED WITH NEEDLES, JOINT PAIN SO BAD I WOULD FREEZE UP, NAUSEA, FELT LIKE I WAS PREG. TOOK 3 TESTS ALL NEG., HEADACHES, SINUS TROUBLE, NERVOUSNESS SO BAD I FELT LIKE I WAS SHAKING ON THE INSIDE OUT, PELVIC PAIN, BACK PAIN, ITCHY SKIN AND MY SCALP ITCHES SO BAD I'VE HAD MY HUSBAND CHECK ME FOR LICE SEVERAL TIMES, IT'S HARD TO BREATH AT TIMES, HAIR LOSS, PAIN DURING SEX, AND NO DESIRE FOR SEX AT ALL. THE MOOD SWINGS ARE THE WORSE, I WAKE UP P-ED OFF BEFORE I EVEN OPEN MY EYES, I HAVE NO PATIENCE AT ALL, I DON'T CARE TO TALK TO ANYONE, I TREAT MY HUSBAND LIKE I HATE HIM. I HAVE A 17 MONTH OLD AND A 4 MONTH OLD THAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HAVE FOR 15 YRS., 10 YRS. OF NOTHING AND 7 MISCARRIAGES AND EVER SINCE I GOT MARENA I HAVE FOUND IT HARDER AND HARDER TO DEAL WITH THEM. BEFORE I GOT THE IUC MY YOUNGEST ONE CRIED ALMOST 24/7 AND I HAD NO PROBLEM DEALING WITH IT NOW SHE HARDLY EVER CRIES AND I GET FRUSTRATED THE MOMENT SHE STARTS. I HATE FEELING THIS WAY, I FEEL LIKE A TERRIBLE MOTHER, WIFE, DAUGHTER, AND FRIEND. I CAN'T WAITE TO HAVE IT REMOVED.

I am so glad that I have found other women with the same side effects. I really thought i was going crazy. I became depressed, severe anxiety, mood swings, crying, really crazy thoughts my husband was gonna cheat, I just had a baby 8 weeks before and I wasn't sure if it was PPD or what! I felt fine though until a week after I got mirena. I am on meds now and I thought all of these side effects was from them, even though I had taken them in the past with no problems. I would suggest to all women who are the least bit sensitive to meds, have any history with anxiety or depression NOT to get mirena. The doctors say that my side effects aren't from it but I was fine until this. I was happy with my new baby and after I got it was so tired and mentally gone I couldn't take it. I have had headaches with loss of vision, I had a history of migraines four years ago....now there back. I have had panic attacks, yell at my family for little things, dry patches on my scalp, pain during sex and extreme bloating and weight gain. I can't wait to get it out!!! Good luck to you all!

I had the Mirena inserted last September. It was the most painful experience I have ever had! I bled for about 3 months straight, and have not bled at all since. For the first 6 months or so, my boyfriend experienced pain during sex. The wires were actually scraping him! I called the doctor and they said that the wires would soften with time - GEEZ! Since about January, I have been losing hair like crazy! I have to clean my brush every day and the bathroom floor is covered when I blow-dry my hair! I am also getting cystic acne, mostly on my chin. I have been severely depressed and angry all the time. I snap at everyone, and I don't know why. To add to the frustration, I am so bloated and I feel disgusting! As far as my sex drive, it has always been strong. However, half the time my body doesn't cooperate with proper lubrication. Anybody else have this problem? Let me know!

Can I first just say that I hope millions of women get to read this site and turn away from getting the Mirena, this thing is just plain horrible! I was well aware of all the side effects, but I convinced myself that those were just a few people with extreme circumstances. Boy was I wrong. I have only had this thing for 3 weeks and I am counting down the minutes for my Ob/Gyn office to open so i can get it taken out today. Yes, I have been bleeding since the day I had it put in, but in all fairness even the doctors warn you about that. What I was not ready for was the acne, the bloating, the weird pain during sex, my vision changing, losing over half my hair and one nasty yeast infection. My face within a few days broke out, and I have always had very nice skin. I am so bloated that it hurts to keep my pants buttoned sometimes. Sex just plain hurts, even my boyfriend says it hurts him, he says it is as if my vagina just swelled up and got so small that it hurts for him to have sex with me. I have had blurry vision lately and feel like my vision has gotten worse. I just started having sex again because the bleeding was so intense at first and the next day I got the worst yeast infection of my life. All of these things are horrible, but my last straw was when I lost my hair, so much hair that people have noticed, people that I barely know. I literally have a receding hairline, it is disgusting. i wish I went with my gut instinct which was to not get the Mirena put in, and now I can't wait to get it out. Please read all the information before you ever consider this, and if you have any doubts don't get it. I really wish I never did!

I got my mirena in April 2008 and loved it at first. Before getting mirena i tried the depo shot and had my period for the 3 months i was on it and became anemic so i was really happy when my period finally stopped after getting mirena. The insertion was extremely painful even though i was given pills the day before to dilate me. I vomited during the insertion and almost passed out but is probably just because i had never had a kid before so they had to dilate me a lot. I had severe cramping for the rest of the day and minor cramping for about a week after. After about two weeks i started getting some of the normal symptoms listed in the mirena information.. bloating, mood swings, depression. None of them were severe so it wasn't that big of a deal but i've also had a major lack of sex drive, some hair loss, and periods that last about 3 weeks. About 2 months ago i started having extreme pain during sex. Even if my boyfriend stops immediately i can't stand up straight for a couple days after and have to walk kind of hunched over and even that is terribly painful. I thinks it's time i look into getting it removed.

I thought I was crazy until I found this site... I've been toying with the idea of taking the nuvaring out because I've been so ridiculously depressed lately, exhausted for no reason, and my sex drive is basically at zero. I had almost convinced myself that I'm just depressed but started thinking about the nuvaring. I've been on it for almost 2 years now, and had minor problems at first but then after I got used to it, it seemed fine. Lately, it's been getting worse. Before I lived with my boyfriend (and in the same city), I worked at a horrible job that made me miserable and depressed and gave me horrible headaches... I thought it was just that, my job. But it's not any better, except the headaches are somewhat better... but I'm more depressed than ever, my sex drive is worsening, I'm crabbier than ever, all I want to do is sleep but when I do sleep it's not good sleep, I have zero energy, I can't bring myself to do the smallest tasks, and I'm so insecure and scared that my bf doesn't love me anymore. I even think I've developed anxiety. Sex hurts almost worse every time, I get that burning thing other people have been discussing, and it burns after sex when I urinate. I asked my gyno about the pain during sex and she almost acted like I was crazy. I think I'm ready to take this thing out. Condoms, here I come again. There were positives to the ring, like a way lighter period, I only have one sort of heavy day, and the rest are super light, and my cramps are nothing compared to what I used to experience. But those positive things do not outweigh my other experiences. The point of going on BC is so you can have sex without getting pregnant... well having sex once a month because I feel bad that my boyfriend isn't getting any is so NOT worth the money I spend on this thing and so not worth the side effects. It's so weird that for almost a year though I was fine on it, it almost makes me think that they changed something about it. And it's weird that the doctors seem almost brainwashed. I'm not the only one who had the gyno acting like they were crazy. I'm hesitant to take it out now, I still have 2 1/2 weeks until I'm supposed to take it out, but I don't want to wait another 2 1/2 weeks if I could start feeling better by then if I took it out now.

I am 30 yrs old and have been on NuvaRing for a year or so. When I first started the NV, I was healthy and had no health problems. Since then a gradual onset of multiple symptoms.

It started with pain during sex, then not wanting to have sex, and now I haven't had sex with my husband in a few months because it hurts and I have no drive. I have gained weight. I went to the doctor and they told me that my blood pressures were sky high.

I have never ever in my entire life been sad, depressed, or had any mental issues. I feel so depressed, sad, and tired all the time. This past month I have wanted to do nothing but lay around the house. I force myself to go to work and drag though workouts at the gym. I have no reason...my life is great! NuvaRing is the only thing that I could think of. My family MD conducted a physical on me and found no cause other than NR for these symptoms.

My hair is seriously falling out, I have nausea frequently in the morning, bad mood swings, feelings of rage, vaginal discharge, vaginal pain, painful urination, sex drive is totally dead, I hate sex, I'm tired all the time, I'm often constipated even though I eat a healthy diet, I have to take stool softeners, my stomach always feels swollen, I get TERRIBLE headaches 1-2 days before my period starts, cramps are worse, bleeding is worse, and I feel like crap physically/emotionally.

I am taking this out of my body next week. If you read this please spare yourself from the damage this medication can do to your body.

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 am 38 years old and was on Yasmin for 3 years to control ovarian cysts that kept bursting. It kept good control of my acne, but I had no sex drive, horrible facial hair, no vaginal lubrication, and extreme pain during sex especially climax. Finally, 2.5 years ago, I suffered from right-side paralysis which ended up sending me to the hospital. My potassium levels were so low that my I was suffering from neuorlogical problems that they initially thought I was having a stroke at the hospital. Taking potassium did not keep my potassium levels up while still taking Yasmin, so I finally went off it. The literature does mention that one may suffer from low potassium, but even taking supplements did not allow me to keep my potassium levels up enough. I am getting an IUD put in place on Thursday and hopefully this will take its place well enough!