All I can say is thank you ladies for posting all of this. I was ...

I removed the Nuvaring a few days ago after reading these post. I can't believe the difference! I have been on it for over 3 years and had no idea that all of the horrible things that were going on with my body could be related to birth control. I think you expect the usual side effects - migraines, weight gain, a little moody - what you don't expect is to turn into a completly different person - and not a very nice one at that. Not only was I angry, critical, and extremely depressed, but at times I was suicidal. Nothing made me happy, I was paranoid and dreaded having to socialize with anyone. I only looked forward to night time because I could go to sleep and have a few hours of peace. On top of all that, I have had a lot of the physical problems that a lot of you have mentioned as well. I've put on 20lbs., dizzy a lot, headaches, itchy, hair loss and of course the big one - NO sex drive at all! None of these things could describe me 3 and a half years ago. I was happy, outgoing, and healthy. Thank all of you for your stories - they very well could have saved my life.

I am glad to see someone else found these post useful. That was why I thought it was so important to stress the complications less common. All the "official" websites do not tell you that itching, burning, and painful sex are a side effect or complication. Yet how many women on here alone complained of this. I could have suffered a lot less if I would have looked up these posts sooner. 2 months of painful sex seemed to be forever and the idea of it coming back haunted me until last night. Not to mention, I still suffer from a complete loss of my sex drive. I am waiting for the day where I can be normal again. Im glad you are okay now and hope you have a good recovery. Seriously, its a recovery.

how long did it take for you to start feeling normal again? it seems women start to notice a change right away, but I still feel out of control after I take it out. I have been using it for 2 years now. Will it take awhile for my hormone levels to get back to normal?