Painful sex symptoms and conditions

I love my NuvaRing. But don't get me wrong, I have had severe side affects (vaginal swelling tenderness, chronic yeast infections, Vaginitis, painful sex, gas, bloating, fatigue, anxiety, weight gain, no sex drive, engorged breasts, clear skin, leg cramping, you name it I have probably had it) with it some of the effects are just normal for birth control or my not so perfect lifestyle). I have been on NuvaRing for 2 and a half years. I have had many drastic changes in my life while on the medication. I will not blame it on the Ring, but I won't say it was something else.
I loved the NuvaRing when I first got on it. It was strictly for BC, not to regulate my cycle or bypass cramping or anything else. The first year I was on it, I was a sophomore in college. My stress level was normal for a college student on scholarship, I was anxious and sleepless even before starting the NuvaRing. So when I started it, I remained the same. The first few months were fine. After a while, I began to get easily irritated and snapped easily. Again I was a college student, handling more than I should have. I had 18 hrs. in courses, a full time job, and a part-time job. So I just thought it was me, it couldn't have been my BC. Again sleepless and anxiety were a way of life.
I have always struggled with weight. I'll admit I was 198 lbs. when I started NuvaRing. I am slightly ashamed to admit that I now weigh 255 lbs. Granted: I have poor eating habits and exercise for me is walking to my car.
But this year something changed. I graduated college (cum laude) and started my career. I don't feel the stress of college anymore and I thought I would have no anxiety, my sleeplessness would dissipate, my patience back, and frankly would return to what was normal for me
Now for some of the negativity.
My parents have noticed my irritability and my weight gain. (who hasn't its pretty obvious). They never said anything, until I one day just couldn't take it anymore. I yelled at my parents (I have never done anything like that before) and I cried all night. The next day, my boyfriend called and I for some odd reason did not want to talk to him, yelled at him, and hung up. Not really a nice way to treat someone you love so dearly.
I have been short tempered and honestly don't see why anyone puts up with me. After I yell at people (the anxiety and short temper) I always feel so bad and end up crying for hours. Even the little things will make me cry. I was always an emotional basket case, but I was never a crier. I now cry for no apparent reason at everything.
Because of my gift of forgetfulness: a few months ago (5 to be exact) I forgot to take my ring out for the one week. I put it in a week late. Ever since then my body has been out of whack. I have suffered major depression. I struggle to get out of bed in the mornings. I can't wait to get off work to come home and crawl back into bed. Not exactly the thoughts for a new college graduate doing her dream job. Some days my depression will control my life. Other days I feel like a normal person. If you ask anyone who knows me typically; I am a fun loving easy going patient person. I mean I gotta be: I became a special ed teacher. Lately I have suicide thoughts, as I lay awake for hours.When I fall asleep, I feel I could sleep for days. I attempt to get 8 hours of sleep a night, but usually end up with 2 maybe 3. Then there are days I will sleep all night, come home from work and go to bed at 4pm and sleep all night again.
I also have noticed that I crave food 24-7. I kept attributing it to my way of coping with everyday stress and my eating my emotions (emotional basket case, I know) I feel like I am constantly starving.
Why is it now that something has changed so dramatically. It is just me and my chaotic emotional basket case life or is it something directly linked to my method of BC? I have no honest idea, but I feel much better knowing that others out there have had great experiences with NuvaRing, and something then goes wonky. (for lack of a better word).

Does anyone know if maybe they changed the formula or something?

Ive been taking yaz for almost a year. I stopped taking the pill two days ago. I am currently on a heart monitor due to anxiety/panic attacks. I felt anxiety feelings soon after taking Yaz but it was not bad enough to stop. Now it is BAD! I am (was) very healthy (mentally and physically) and happy, and have never experienced anxiety until yaz. I also have a painful lump in my lower back. I have had a MRI which showed mild disc bulge. I felt the lump in April 2008, it is now 11/2008 and it is still there. I wake up stiff and in pain. Doc thinks its a muscle issue. I"m starting to think it is the Yaz. I also have had no sex drive, very dry and painful sex. Yeast infections and bacteria infection which I have never had. I cannot sleep. I am struggeling every day to be normal. I feel totaly out of control. I do not recommend Yaz. I cannot wait to be me again!

I started looking for side effects on the nuvaring after I seen a lawsuit commercial on television today. I am on my third ring and this last time I didn’t even want to put another one in. Lately sex has been painful for me and the other day after my boyfriend and I had sex it fell out! From the beginning I knew I wasn’t going to like it but, I liked the thought of not having to take a pill everyday because I could never remember to take it. After reading all of these I realized that is why I have been having these horrible never-ending headaches. Here are some of the symptoms that I have been having:

Crazy dreams and I never dream
Terrible headaches that won’t go away
Painful sex where the ring is
Abdominal pain (worse than was already)
It falling out after sex
Chest pains
Mood changes (not a lot)
Acne
Boobs hurting (not a lot)
Hair falling out more than usual
Feeling just weird
Extremely tired (may not be nuvaring)
Last period was heavy and my periods are never heavy
Back pain (may not be nuvaring)
Legs hurting (may not be nuvaring)
Swelling of the groin area (I had it before I started using it)

What do you think I should do? If I stop taking it may be awhile before I can go back to the doctor, but I don't want the symptoms to get worse. A lot of the women have said that they eventually lost their sex drive…I don’t want to do that! Will it get better? I have already had problems with my stomach...could it just be that? I need some advice! I don’t want it to get worse.

Have been on Simvastatin since May 2007. Have experienced debilitating headaches every day for the first three months, neck and shoulder pain, lower back pain, tiredness to the point of having to stop what I am doing and go to bed and am wondering now whether any other female taking Simvastatin has experienced a burning sensation when passing very hot water and extremely uncomfortable and painful sex.

OMG! I cant believe this! And I even thought I was pregnant because of all the symptoms, these past 2 months I have been using the nuvaring and I have felt awful! I had headaches, many vaginal infections, painful sex and burning afterwards, vaginal dryness and all because of this NUVARING! I went to the doctor this morning and we decided that it is best to take it out, so I did and I have felt soooo different! I feel relieved!!!!! And I didn't even imagine that the ring was causing me all this, I thought I was sick!!! I have to see what I am going to do now....

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 had the Mirena put in May'08. I've noticed increased acne, cramping in my legs, and spotting. I am also dealing with symptoms of bladder infections, however, there is no infection. My OBGYN says there is no correlation between the Mirena and my bladder problems, however, the urologist said that the Mirena could cause problems to other organs around the uterus (including the bladder). He stated it could be traumatic to our bodies, causing muscles in our pelvic area to tighten, nerve damage, etc. My OB diagnosed me with Interstitial Cystitis, a disease of the bladder lining that is without a cure, but my urologist didn't buy off on this and so now I'm having other tests done to make sure it's not bladder cancer, etc. Again, my urologist believes it's related to the Mirena. All I know is that I didn't have bladder problems until I had the Mirena inserted, which was the most painful experience aside from giving birth to my children! After reading the postings on this website, I'm definitely removing this device from my body ASAP! Good luck to all of you women who have had similar experiences. I pray that our bodies will return to some sense of normalcy.

hi i had my mirena fitted in October 1999 extremely painful as i have a tilted womb apparently, and today i am having an ultrasound scan to find it.
i have been asking my gp to have it removed for past 3 years and have been fobbed off so many times, made to feel a time waster.
problems i have had are listed below
5 stone weight gain
IBS
GERD
PANIC ATTACKS
LOSS OF LIBIDO
PAINFUL SEX
CHEST PAIN
HEADACHES
DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS
MUSCLE PAIN AND FATIGUE
WEAK BLADDER
BLACK HAIRS ON CHIN
POOR FACIAL SKIN
BLOATED STOMACH (IBS)
MOOD SWINGS (PMT)
COSTOCHONDRITUS(inflammation of connective muscle tissue in chest wall)
and just recently diagnosed with diabetes 3 months now
on my last diabetic nurse check i asked her if she could check my coil for me as i hadn't been able to...... she couldn't find it ?
i have pain just from sitting and feel like something is pressing on my bladder.
reason for having it fitted was my very heavy periods with 1 week in between after having my only child in june 1998.
had no periods since dec 1999, but terrible pmt and mood swings am at wits end as i am so heavy do not think general anesthetic poss if coils embedded. very worried

Ok ladies, I'm not even sure where to start today. I posted earlier this month (June 8th) and finally got in for an appointment to get this thing removed 2 days ago. I refuse to refer to it by its name on this website anymore since whenever you do it is put in bold as if it is special so, from here on out I choose to call it that Evil Thing or ET. I have been so depressed since my appointment that I haven't felt like talking to anyone about anything much less about this, but I'm starting to come out of it today so, here goes. Things did not go well from the start since my doctor wasn't available for my appointment as she had been called away to the hospital to deliver a baby. Well, I'm a pretty flexible gal and I understand that although I don't want kids other people do so, I can share my doctor. I was OK with seeing someone else as long as they would remove this ET. Initially, it sounded like it would be no problem from what the nurse was saying, but then in walks this Mother Goose looking lady who starts in on me about how I haven't had it very long (3 months) and why would I want it out. So, I start to tell her all the problems I'm having. (Small recap: extreme daily cramps, increased appetite, decreased energy, significant mood changes, decrease interest in sex as well as uncomfortable/painful sex, acne, plus others) She proceeds to tell me how strange that it is that I'm having problems with cramps since this ET is supposed to make you have fewer cramps. So, I'm all well that's nice, but I never ever had cramps when I took pills (for 14 years) and I have literally had cramps every single day for the past 3 months. Based on that one thing alone I wanted the ET gone. Despite her skepticism she was agreeable to removing it, but then she asked me the question. The question I couldn't answer and the question that turned me upside down. Maybe I should have known this before going, but I didn't and certainly no one bothered to tell me. She asked when was the last time I'd had sex because it was very important that it had been more than a week ago due to the possibility of getting pregnant. Well despite my complete lack of interest in sex, at some point last week I threw my poor husband a bone and we had sex. Since I can no longer concentrate or focus or remember anything that goes on in my life because I have this ET in my body I couldn't remember exactly when that was. I even called my husband as sat there naked from the waist down and in a complete panic desperately hoping he could remember, but men don't remember ANYTHING!!!! Mother Goose said she thought I would be OK based on the time frame I had it narrowed down to, but tells me she had removed one before and a lady got pregnant who had had sex 3 days prior to removal. (I did know I was past 3 days, but the story did its job and scared me.) I asked her if she could give me a 100% certainty that I would not get pregnant if she removed it and she couldn't. Well, needless to say I still have the damn thing because I just can't take that risk. I have already had one accidental pregnancy while taking the pill and I just can't go through that again. I broke down. I had a complete meltdown in the office because it was supposed to be over. That day was supposed to be it. I was supposed to be rid of this ET and start to get on with my life and I felt like it was my fault because I couldn't remember, but NO it's not my fault because if it wasn't for the ET I would be able to remember things! Anyway, that's how my thoughts were going round and round. So, I start to explain more to Mother Goose about how this is a perfect example of how the ET has affected my moods. Well, once she sees this display she gets all concerned and starts asking me more questions and over and over again "so, this JUST started 3 months ago?" As if I was making it all up. As if I'm really depressed and have probably been so for some time and I'm using the ET as an excuse. WHATEVER!!! So, at this point I'm not sobbing anymore and I've flipped to really angry b****h mode because she was seriously pissing me off. She goes on and on with these depressive symptom questions and asking how stressed I am and finally I'm just like, look I'm a normal person with normal problems who knows how to deal with things, but I can't now because of this ET!!! She didn't say the word out loud, but I know she was on the verge of prescribing me an anti-depressant. She did say she had NEVER heard of the ET causing this (or any of the symptoms I listed for her) to happen but I could be her first. I was so worn out at this point I didn't even have the energy to educate her even though I felt like it was my job to do so for the sake of other women who might cross her path. She finally quit grilling me and then my absolute favorite part of the whole visit came when she leaned forward, patted my knee and said, "now, you know you're going to have to keep your sweetie off you for awhile." I'm 31 for goodness sake and married--I think my "sweetie" and I can abstain for a few more days. Plus, did you not just witness the meltdown I had when you told me you couldn't remove it today because we DID have sex--do I look like a moron to you? Good grief!!! Mother Goose lady had no idea how much danger she was in at that point, but I did well and restrained myself--mostly because I was just beat, I had nothing left. I go back for Take 2 on Monday. That appointment is again with my doctor--I hope she is actually available this time. Thanks for letting me vent--I needed it. Most importantly, if you are getting your IUD removed do not have sex a week prior to removal. Mother Goose says most doctors are good with no sex 5 days prior, but she feels safer with 7 days, personally I think they are all idiots! Take care everyone.

I just got back from an appt. to check my Mirena inserted almost 2 yrs ago
I mentioned some S/E's I thought could be from it & he said no possible way HUH????

I've had NO sex drive
poss. painful sex Can't 100% prove that yet though
vision-floaters
an attack of extreme muscle/joint aches in my legs that lasted 5 days (came out of Nowhere) assuming it's the mirena
also have anxiety seems to have gotten worse since being on the Mirena??
lazy feeling no energy

Crikey - I've been thinking about taking the NuvuRing on advice from the Family Planning Clinic. Thank you for everyone for sharing their experiences. I definitely won't now! While most people probably have great experiences, there are countless examples of side effects listed below that are too extreme to even risk having a good experience (blood clots, black outs, migraines, numbness, insomnia, lower sex drive, depression/suicidal thoughts, body swelling, painful sex/sexual organs, candida, weight gain and the list goes on and on). It's incredible that this is on the market and has gotten through the testing stages.

I took the pill for about a decade and went off it three years ago, mostly because I was over taking something every day and felt I was gaining a bit of weight and had a slightly lower sex drive. After going off it, sex changed (slightly elevated sex drive and easier organsms but less intense) but no change to weight (damn those extra three kilos!). I did lose the horrible brown pigmentation stain on my forehead (which was my initial only conern with the NuvaRing can you believe!) and my skin has remained clear. I have been much more sensitive to thrush/candida though since going off the pill, which my Dr said was due to changed hormonal levels due to such a prolonged time on the pill (10 yrs).

Since '05, I've been using a diaphram which has been fine. It's annoying to have to stop for that 60 seconds and put it in before sex, but I've had no major problems with vaginal skin irritations (very minor) and can feel it slightly during sex, but no where near the extent of condoms and the feeling is about 90%+ as good as without. Noting the issues raised on this site, I think I'll stick with the diaphram as I think I want to stay away from hormone options and the fiddliness before sex is a small price to pay by the sounds of things.

Sounds like the decision to take use the NuvaRing should be a carefully considered one.

I had miren inserted in August 2007....It was easy with no pain. I wasn't gaining weight..I had a flat stomach. I've noticed the entire time that it is painfull, or very sensitive to be on top during sex..I can't do it most of the time because of the pain. If my husband goes to deep or hard, normal sex, nothing crazy..it hurts in my adoman like never before. I've noticed I get the gas, painful cramps that travel through my thighs like I'm having contractions for real. I never know when my period will come, if at all. My abdomen swells like never before whenever it's around some time for a period. I am starting to have acne...I never blamed it on Mirena until I read this. I found this site because I had sex with my husband......afterwards I was having severe abdominal pain and pressure in my bottom as well. My butt was hurting and full of pressure..does anyone have that??? I got scared so I was looking up stuff on the internet. It hurts when I cough and there was just pain and pressure all over. It was hard for me to pee. I have noticed these symptoms before, but they seem to be getting worse or more noticeable like it's a problem. Sorry to get so graphic, but I would like to see if anyone else had or has the same problems. I used to really enjoy being on top and going deep and having my husband deep and having hard sex sometimes. Since I've had the IUD it is not pleasant and I can't do it, it hurts too much. I have always had a flat stomach and now mine is like swollen...I get the gas and I hate it. I switched to Mirena because I was having terrible mood swings on the pill and know I'm thinking I'll take the mood swings. I think I will have the IUD removed....I'm scared my husband will poke it into my stomach during sex. Whenever I have a flare up of pain it usually goes away. This time it took an hour for the pain to go away. That was the worst pain I've had yet that's why I'm on the computer making sure I don't have internal bleeding or something. Scarey.

I have been on Yasmin for 4 years. I switched from Ortho-Tri-Cyclin because the massive weight gain. I have had no visible problems with Yasmin until recently. I have not gained any weight, but I work out 5 times a week. Now, after reading other posts, I realize that I have had many of these problems. The past year or so, I have been crying for no reason at all. I have been extremely tired no matter how much sleep I get, a loss of sex drive ( which is hurting my relationship), very painful sex, and have had respiratory problems. Over the past couple of months, I have had severe gas, which has never been a problem before. It is painful. I have had very bad TMJ for about 2 years now. I have never had any problems with my jaw before then. The pain is on my left side. I just read some of the side effects of Yasmin, and left-sided jaw is one of them. I am going to talk to my Gyno about switching at my next visit. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know why this happens?

I am so glad I found this website. I am on my 2nd month of Yasmin. Last month was great. This month I have experienced dizziness, being extremely tired, spotting, painful sex, no sex drive. I started taking it because my doctor recommended it for mood swings. The mood swings are still there, just not as bad. The dizziness makes me want to lay down all the time. My breasts are also very tender. I'm calling my doctor to switch my pills back to what I took for the last 7 years.

All I can say is thank you ladies for posting all of this. I was on Nuva ring for almost 2 years. my boyfriend complained I was getting worse and worse in terms of my anger and mood swings. He called me a monster. Then days after my 20th birthday I experienced lots of itchiness and pain after sex so I thought it was a yeast infection. When I did not respond to over the counter meds I went to the hospital to get testing for STDS. When all the test came back negative I went back to my regular doctor two weeks later. Again, I was tested and a month later tested again. No one could figure out why I was having burning and itchiness with no other symptoms and all my STD test negative. Finally I gave up the ring and have been symptom free now for nearly 6 months. To this day the situation plagued me because the doctor swore I couldn't experience this from the Nuva ring. I spent a whole summer in pain because of this. Now I am birth control free but my boyfriend of three years and I would love to add to our family.

I have had the mirena for two years and I hadn'd noticed anything major until reading this. I too have had a huge weight gain, I have gained about 25 lbs in 2 years, I am 39 years old and have weighed the same thing since middle school before mirena. I have had severe acne mostly on my forehead and sides of face and back, I had acne in high school but that was a little more than 20 years ago and I just thought it was returning, but didnt know why. I also have had lower back pain and some joint pain. my sex drive isnt that great either but I didnt think about mirena being the cause. I am not going to take it out yet because I dont want to get pregnant and dont know what else to use, I cant take birth control pills and I am allergic to so many things. I have not had any problems that I've noticed with bleeding or painful sex or some of the other things mentioned.

I was taking Aviane for the past three months and hated it. I was on Alesse previously and had no problems. Since the first pill I felt like I had a yeast infection. The yeast infection continued the whole three months. No matter what I did, yogurt, monistat, it persisted. I also had a strange uncomfortable feeling in my vagina - it was horrible. My skin cleared up the first two months, the last month I got a cystic pimple. The last month I got my period and it was really heavy and painful.

Been on NR for 10 months. I had been off the pill for a few years after being on it for 15 years straight. The 1st few months on NR I noticed the mood swings from the insertion and removal of the ring, otherwise it was ok. I also lost about 9 pounds. But it has stated to creep up on me that over the last 6 months I felt like I had to really work hard to focus on anything. Very spacy and possibly depressed, critical of myself and others and a bit obsessive about certain things. This was nothing like the laid back person my friends knew before. Then I got a urniary tract infection and a few months later, after very painful sex, I got a yeast infection. Since the yeast infection a week ago I have gained 5 lbs. I hope it is bloating and will go away after this period. It feels is like my body is completly out of synch. I have felt extreamly tired over the past 6 months. It wasent a constant tiredness, but when it came on it was very difficult to stay awake, at work, in meetings etc. I also could not get out of bed sometimes, I had the achy bones and sorness that others have experenced. I kept looking at my nutrition intake to make sure I was getting what I needed and I should have been fine. I keept wondering what is wrong with me...... Then one day I wonderd if the extreme need to sleep, and the general feeling of not beeing fully conected to my surroundings could be this ring and the hormones. I am thinking of going off it to see if my life, sleep, etc. improves. I also wanted to mention that the NR website does not address if there are any issues with using a yeast medication over the counter or the pill. I have seen on other websites that both can cause issues. When I called NR they could only comment on the Monistat, Miconazole-That it will increase the level of hormones-and it is safe to use. Now scientifically if the levels go high enough it can cause spontanious ovulation......but they could not comment on that. They had no information on Diflucan- the pill for yeast infections or its possible affect. How is it possible they do not know if common medications can cause you to potentially become pregenant or have other side affects. I now truly question if this company has did the research in shlud to be on the market.