NuvaRing Loss of Sex Drive, Lack of Concentration, Anxious Person, Weeper, Coping Mechanism

Posted over a year ago

Thank GOD for this forum. I have been a wreck. I'm supposed to put in my 2nd month of NuvaRing today but I felt like I needed to get some answers before I do.. ... more »

Thank GOD for this forum. I have been a wreck. I'm supposed to put in my 2nd month of NuvaRing today but I felt like I needed to get some answers before I do..

I took mine out a week ago while I was in the middle of a very complicated and painful break up. I thought that was the reason I became like a completely different person. I couldn't eat for 3 days because of my anxiety. I have been crying all week and have had to leave work early at least 4 days because of my lack of concentration. My anxiety is so bad that I have caused myself physical pain. I had to take Xanax to control my "panic attacks" during a family reunion.

On top of all that, I couldn't sleep more that 3 or 4 hours a night. When I did sleep I sweat uncontrollably and had to change clothes during the night. I've never been a very anxious person (any more than normal) and I can usually control my emotions in public. I have never been a public weeper!

I am distressed and know that this could also be attributed to the personal situation I'm going through (break-up, international move) but this coping mechanism doesn't feel like me. I'm freaked out now because I love the ease of the NR...I'm so bad at taking the pill at the same time every day.

I don't know whether to put it in for the next month (I go back to the gyno next month) and try it out, or just to leave it out and wait for the loss of sex drive, hair loss, weight gain...what do I do?

4 Replies

Lorlor48 - I actually have had the same effects from the NR. I feel depressed all the time and I cry uncontrollibly, however I never know why um crying about or why I'm sad. The problem is I can't tell if it's the BC that's causing the depression. I'm so sick of being uninterested in everything and sad all the time. I wish I knew what to do!

Posted over a year ago - Reply

Hypochondriachicago - I think a huge part of the issue is exactly that. Its scary to think that doctors don't tell us these types of side effects. What has helped me (I did finally decide to use it for another month) handle the effects is to be aware of them. I'm careful to understand that I'm actually not the person I became, and it has helped me keep the irritability and sadness a little more in check. The things I still can't control is the constant anxiety and the 0 sex drive. My doc will be hearing about this!!!

Posted over a year ago - Reply

Cityglamorous - I stopped using NuvaRing in December of 2009. While I was on it, my relationship was pretty much falling apart. I was highly irritable and complained about everything. Everything between me and my boyfriend became the BIGGEST argument (like throwing things and trying to fight him arguments over how I "felt" in a situation. And my boyfriend is like 6'6, 280pds so you know it was making my 5'6 little self crazy!). My sex drive was non-existent. And I don't mean the "I-dont-really-want-to-have-sex" non-existent. I'm talking the "we-haven't-had-sex-in-19-days" non-existent. I was a complete monster for the year and 2 months that I was on the NuvaRing. Doctor's continued to reassure me that the NuvaRing had nothing to do with my change in attitude or my massive weight gain (I've always been a thick girl but I went from 170 to 215 during this period of time. Once I hit 190, I tried to take control of the weight issue. It didn't matter. I continued to gain regardless of if I worked out and ate better or not). After much crying about my weight and ridiculous arguments with everyone I loved, I finally took it out for good and switched to a pill called Junel with much less hormones. Immediately, I felt soooo much better - like within 3 days. My weight was a lot more stabilized. I lost like 5 pounds just by switching and then working out and dieting became much more effective. My biggest point of advice: if you feel AT ALL as if these things are beginning to happen to you, weight gain, mood swings etc., GET OFF! Seriously, my best friend was telling me not to take it anymore and I never listened. I wish I hadn't had been so stubborn as to not want to change BC or give up the convenience of this little ring. But truly, evaluate things with a clear head (or at least the clearest head you can muster on this horrid ring ;). I went through a lot as the weight came on and the moods went crazy. I didn't wanna get off because I was afraid that my boyfriend wasn't going happy to have to go back to condoms usage and I didn't know if I was responsible enough to take the pill everyday. But I realized this: (1) if you're fat and bitching all the time, you're boyfriend's not gonna wanna do it anyhow and he might not even wanna be with you, (2) if I'm not responsible enough to take the right precautions (ie. take that damn pill everyday) then I don't need to be having sex, and (3) and possibly most importantly, who cares what anyone else (my boyfriend) thinks?! I HAVE TO BE HAPPY AGAIN! hope this helps (I realize that I am just babbling on. I just wish someone would have told me all of this when I was going through it ;)

Posted over a year ago - Reply

Helpjenny - I have been on NR for 2 weeks and already I can tell that some of the symptoms are affecting me. I am very moody, increase in appetite, my breasts hurt to the touch, I'm also wake up in cold sweats in the middle of the night. Although, I have more of a sex drive than I ever have. If it wasn't for the fact that it is helping me with my menstrual cycle I probably wouldn't use it anymore after this first month is up and I would more than likely go back on the pill (which I frequently forget to take, and that is also one of the reasons that I will more than likely continue to use it) Now that I am noticing my increase in appetite, I am trying to take control of it and I have found that when I get that urge to snack that if I find something to get my mind off of it, it helps, also, I have to tell myself no. Although one flaw is that even though I do have a sex drive, my boyfriend can fill it and it irritates him and it has slit a few condoms, with that going on it makes me not want to do it. I'm just glad that I have an understanding boyfriend. He's been very supportive, and encouraging me that if it helps that he'll learn to deal with it, and he's also helping me find ways to cope with my mood swings. I know that it has only been a few weeks since I've began using this BC, but a little information is better than none in my eyes. I have been very curious myself when it comes to NR, and knowing that other people are going through some of the same things that I am helps me as well. Also, if you go to the website www.nuvaring.com it will give you information as well. That was where I started, and it has helped me understand it a little better. I don't know if this helped you or not, but I just wanted to share.

Posted over a year ago - Reply

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