NuvaRing side effects

I used the NuvaRing for 2 and half years. I developed terrible burning during intercourse making it impossible and on top of that, I had no desire at all. I never knew that it was the NuvaRing doing these things to me because they did not happen right away, it took a yea maybe for me to feel the full blown affects. I had constant headaches and everything. I was diagnosed with vulvar vestibulitis and everything and all I had to do was take the ring out and I felt great. It's been 3 months since I've taken the ring out and I finally have my sex drive back, I have hardly any pain involving intercourse and I overall, generally feel happier with life! NuvaRing has scared me so bad I'm now afraid to try any type of hormonal birth control! I never again want to be the person that I was on the ring.

I'm so glad that I found this site because I was beginning to think that something was seriously wrong with me. I started taking Nuvaring almost 2 months ago. 5 more days and I can take it out...FOREVER!!!!

At first, I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread...and then the weight gain began. My husband said maybe it was just that I was eating junk. Maybe...so I started back on Weight Watchers. I can not lose a single pound, and when I have counted points in the past the pounds fell off the first week or two. I've gained 15 lbs since I started Nuvaring. The strange thing is that it is all just around my stomach. It is like a big spare tire. I've gained very little in the rest of my body.

I also noticed pretty bad cramping after I put it in. It was pretty much all the time, not just during certain parts of my cycle.

Then I started to get headaches. Not little headaches, but debilitating migraine headaches. The sensitivity to light is almost unbearable when I have one of these. Many times I find myself going to bed at 8 pm when I put my son to bed. Pretty much all I ever want to do is sleep. Sex? Nope, not interested. (Very different from how I was in the past.) Huh, I guess it works as birth control because it promotes abstinence!

The worst part is that I am soooooo depressed. Like major depression. I have usually been a pretty even keel personality, but since starting Nuvaring I find myself wondering what I have to live for. I've come to the conclusion that if it weren't for my husband or son, I'd rather just be dead. I've even found myself thinking about how I would want to die. It has gotten so bad that I haven't been to work in almost 2 weeks. I have so much anxiety that I actually feel scared to go. My husband finally called a doctor for me on Wednesday and I start therapy on Monday. I hope that the side effects will go away soon after I take the ring out, but I am very afraid that I might be like this for a while.

I question how so many of us have these HORRIBLE side effects and yet no one in the medical profession has even questioned whether something is amiss. It seems to me that I better just have another child and then have my tubes tied so I don't ever have to mess with all this awful birth control stuff again. (I was bad about taking pills on time, so I ended up having spotting most of the month, which kind of defeated the purpose.)

I'm thankful that I found this site and now I know that I am not alone!

This is the first time I have actually looked up side effects to NuvaRing. I have been on it since March of 2006, so about 2.5 years. I never really noticed side effects, and I have been to the doctor more than once and told them about the same side effects that have been discussed here. They blamed it on lack of vitamins, lifestyle changes and other random facts of life. Maybe that is the cause of my problems, however, why would they all happen at once???

Until today, I was soooo happy with NuvaRing, and I still am. I am just more aware of why I feel the way I do....It is soo easy to use!! I would NEVER remember to take a pill everyday, I would not like the patch, and the shot wouldn't go with me very well either.

Seems as if every birth control has side effects...here are mine from NR

EXTREME fatigue..
I asked my doctor about this. It has been going on since January. I sleep for 13 hours a day and am still exhausted. I cannot get enough sleep. I am a 20 year old that used to lead a pretty active lifestyle, but it seems the last few months that I have slowed waaaaaaay down. It isn't like me. I usually stay busy

Weight gain
I can accurately say that I have not been as active as I was in the past...but in one year I have put on about 17 lbs, and no matter what I do, the scale keeps climbing....I joined a gym for about 4 months, and I didn't lose a single pound. Before, I was able to LOOK at a treadmill and get in shape, now I spend an hour a day on it, and it does nothing for me.

SEVERE Headaches...with sensitivity to light and sound
I have not had this bad of headaches. EVER. It usually starts in the back of my head and moves to only one side. My doctor told me to wean off the caffeine. I did and they are still there. I drink no caffeine daily and I still am getting these terrible headaches. I work at a casino, so sometimes it really interrupts my daily life, with the lights and sounds and everything.

I AM ALWAYS THIRSTY!!!!!

I have NO sex drive
My boyfriend and I used to have sex every single day when I just started the NR, but now I NEVER want to. I have to pretend that I want to have sex, just so his feelings are not hurt. Sometimes I even catch myself thinking "is it over yet??" That is SOOOO not like me. I was an animal the first few months I was on NR. Now I have no desire.

I feel as if I am just living the motions of life sometimes instead of participating in it. Like I am just here everyday, not always feeling what is going on around me. I am semi moody, but nothing out of the ordinary. Week 3 of the ring is ALWAYS emotional, but the week before my period has ALWAYS been like that. I find it very normal.

My periods are WONDERFUL. I used to have a full 7 day period from hell. Now they last only 3-4 days, and I can basically tell you when I am going to start to the hour. It is AMAZING.

All in all, I love NR still. I am not going to stop taking it yet. I am just glad I found this site so I know the reason behind all of these changes in me. I have never put two and two together....that NR was causing all of these things...but now I know it could be. Or maybe it isn't. Who knows, but as long as I keep an eye on symptoms, I think I will be okay...

If any of you have any questions I have been on NR for quite a while, so feel free to email me at ******

I have been using the nuvaring for about 2 years now and have LOVED it. Especially not having to worry about taking a pill everyday. It is very convenient. I have however had problems with the nuvaring irritating the inside of my vagina. I was concerned about bleeding during intercourse and after seeing numerous doctors, discovered that the ring has been causing it all along. It is unfortunate because I have found a convenient form of birth control that I love. Has anyone else had this problem?

Is there anyone out there that has had severe chest pains, particularly in the sternum region, on the ring? I've had mine out for two days after weeks of RAGE and back pain...along with chest pains and heart palpitations. Just hoping the chest pain and pressure will subside.
Thank you.

It will be a year next month since I have been on the NuvaRing. Overall I enjoyed the ease of use and not having to worry about taking a pill every day. HOWEVER I have gained almost 20 pounds and I cannot get it off for anything. I was supposed to put another ring in yesterday but I am done with it. I look at myself in the mirror and I cannot stand the weight. I just hope it comes off quick. I have gained it everywhere. I have always been a tall fairly slim girl, until I started using birth control. The depo shot made me gain weight as well...UGH!

IN RESPONSE TO THE PREVIOUS POST:

STAND UP FOR FELLOW WOMEN

Because this is exactly the type of thing M.D.s will feed you as they're pushing pills. "I used it myself, it worked great for me... it must be something with your lifestyle change... it can't possibly be the hormones!"

Isn't it lovely, how even female doctors can so inadvertently seek to compartmentalize what should be a free-thinking, myriad of personalities and body types?

Here is my reply:

"you: "...I have not gained any weight...of course I diet & exercise about 5 days a week....do those of you who have experienced weight gain exercise regularly?..."

The NuvaRing does not cause weight gain. That's absurd. There's only one way to gain weight (as your self proclaimed fit self must agree) and that is to take in more calories than you burn.

But, the hormones in the NuvaRing, however, DO cause appetite change, and DO cause dizziness associated with these changes if the "food" (for lack of a better word) the hormones causes one to "crave" is not consumed. As you can imagine, this messes with a work out routine.

Which leads me to this, SWEETHEART... I DO exercise regularly. I'm a healthy size 6, 140 lbs, 5' 8" I am 21 years old and graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. I have helped my friends and family with diet and exercise plans since I made the goal to become fit (I was not a healthy weight in high school). I run a mile every week, and work out at the gym every other day with a trainer.

First of all, why are you even on the "side effects" page if you're so happy with the product? There are ongoing investigations as we speak concerning NuvaRing related stroke and death, and incident reports are on the rise. I have always been a stickler for healthy sex lives, hormonal birth control that works in conjunction with a woman's body, and safe sex practices. Let me just give you my two cents: I assure you, I am as in touch with my body as I am in touch with my inner self. And I will not hesitate to let you know... that I KNOW when something's off. NuvaRing was great for me for a while (we're talking a good 8 months... how long have you had yours?)... but then it took over my life. I am not young and naive, I am not unfit or unhealthy, I don't smoke or mess with drugs and rarely drink, I am a not mentally unstable, nor do I have any unmentioned medical conditions. I'm glad that the NuvaRing works for you, but to begin a post so cheeky as to assume that those of us who have posted here are unnecessarily blaming hormones for our own unhealthy lifestyles is infuriating. You think everyone here hasn't considered that it may be "something else"? Something eating at us?

you: "ALL birth control effects everyone differently. I'm not saying this for everyone, but sometimes a lot of people like to blame certain actions & physical changes on something & maybe this is the case...for some people. I've been on the pill before & I always got off it b/c of weight gain....well, it was b/c I wasn't eating properly or exercising. I liked to blame my mood swings on the pill as well, but once I thought about it, I still had those before & after taking the pill."

The above paragraph you have written may have redeemed the post, were it not for your still underhanded tone in relation to the "healthy lifestyle" aspect or - as it seems - "theme" of your post. And, yes, I too know and understand depression and anxiety as it has personally affected me through its looming presence in and around immediate family members. Hormones can affect seratonin reuptake and such and do very much affect the mood in many instances.

So, if you are so certain that "some" of the women here blame their sorry unexercised asses on hormones, I will return the favor and say that perhaps it may be a good idea for YOU to look into cases of depression and anxiety as you are so SURE that the nervous system of your brain has not in any way been affected by hormones.

Thank you for placing the women here in such a pigeon hole! This is so easily a perfect example of something I'd hoped our society would work on... All of us are built differently, of different ages and gene pools... how can one expect a mass-produced commercial drug to work "as directed" to a world of unknowns?

It might be a good idea to examine your female conscience. But, I suppose that might be hard to do from the point of view of the interior of your ass."

I cannot disagree with these negative postings more. I absolutely love the nuvaring. I have not gained any weight...of course I diet & exercise about 5 days a week....do those of you who have experienced weight gain exercise regularly? I have also had an INCREASE in my sex drive...I have been with my fiance for 5 years, and for the past 3 of those, I have had no sex drive whatsoever. I got on the ring & bam, it's there with a vengence...the only problem with that is that we're getting married in 2 weeks & I wanted to make it special & stop having sex a couple of months before the wedding...but I just can't get enough of it. I have dealt with depression & anxiety my entire 27 years of life, so if the nuvaring is causing that...it's not any worse than normal. The only side effects I've had is the discharge, (which yes, is very annoying) and tender breasts...but I can deal with that. Although I have noticed that I cry a bit easier...but I was always a crier as well. I cry when I'm mad, sad, happy...always have, so nope...guess that's not from the ring either. ALL birth control effects everyone differently. I'm not saying this for everyone, but sometimes a lot of people like to blame certain actions & physical changes on something & maybe this is the case...for some people. I've been on the pill before & I always got off it b/c of weight gain....well, it was b/c I wasn't eating properly or exercising. I liked to blame my mood swings on the pill as well, but once I thought about it, I still had those before & after taking the pill. The only reason I quit the pill was b/c it did give me acne. Anyway, just my thoughts....& I wanted to post something positive for the ring.

I went on the ring about a year ago and I have loved it. I have been having a problem when I drink too much alcohol though and I am not sure if it has to do with the ring. Whenever I drink to the point where I don't feel good and I have a headache, I get really suicidal and freak out. My boyfriend noticed a few days ago that these episodes started around the same time I got the ring, but we aren't quite sure. Has anyone else ever had any experiences like these? I would like to know as soon as possible so I can take it out. Also, I would like to know if there are any other birth controls that people would recommend besides the pill. I don't like having to remember to take them every day.

Hello. My fiance was on nuvaring for nearly 2 years and gradually began experiencing many of the side effects listed here. The last 6 months were the worst in that the mood swings, anxiety and depression seemed to get out of control. She recently stopped using the ring about 6 weeks ago but it seems like the symptoms are still persistent. Does anyone have any experience with coming off of the ring and whether or not it could take longer than 2 months to get back to normal?

I have only been on using the NuvaRing for about 2 weeks now but I am already having mood swings and extreme irritability. I go to school with all men because I am trying to get into the aviation field and the guys I go to school with have informed me that I have become a super bitch. I did not attribute it to the ring until reading the other post's here. I usually ignore all the immature comments that the guys make but lately I have found myself bickering with them on a regular basis.

I have only had sex 3 times since I have been on the ring but each time I had an intense burning sensation on the exterior of my vagina, almost like a yeast infection. The reason that I decided to google the side effects of the ring is because ever since me period has ended I have had a think brownish discharge and cramps every day. I have been wearing panty liners for almost two weeks and this definitely needs to stop. The number one reason I decided to try birth control was because of my severe menstrual cramps, heavy periods and mid month spotting. Now I have all month spotting, what the hell!

By far the worst experience I have had since using the ring happened yesterday. As I mentioned before my irritability has definitely increased. That was very evident yesterday when while at work, of all places, I attacked a girl and beat her up. I was arrested and charged with battery. Granted the girl and I have been having an escalating fued for the last couple of months. My mother was also involved and she was more pissed with my mother than with me. But the fight had in no way been physical until yesterday when she began to curse at my mother. I lost it and swung her into the wall by her hair, she never even saw it coming. I sort of blacked out and cant even remember all the events. This whole thing was definitely out of character for me, especially since I was at work. I am fortunate to work at an office where we are all close enough to be called a family. My boss stood by me and did not fire me. He even bailed me out of jail but that is definitely one hell of a side effect

My body must not be shaped properly for this thing because even after 6 months it still slides out partway all the time. I had to tie it in a knot to get it to stay in for more than 2 minutes. that aside, I had many of the side effects everyone else is talking about:

extreme anxiety. weird tingling in my arms and feet and 'on edge' all the time. waking in the night with horrible panic attacks and feeling sick to my stomach. so bad that I'd be afraid to go back to sleep for fear I may not wake up. I can't even describe how anxious I was. It was like I was outside of my own body all the time. I'd have to wiggle my toes or pinch my arms at times to make sure they still moved. In the night I'd wake up and intentionally wake up hubby or a kid just to know that I still existed.

Total bitch. I even hated being around myself. the sound of someone eating would irritate me so bad I'd have to leave the room before i hit someone or broke something.

totally down in the dumps. not suicidal, but didn't find joy in anything. I didn't want to do anything, yet felt bored all the time.

headaches non stop. Literally had 2-4 headaches every single day for 3-4 months. Not one day without. went to bed with a headache, woke in the night with a headache, woke in the morning with one... painkillers would take off the edge, but not eliminate it.

I seriously was terrified I was going mentally insane.

I had used the pill years ago with no side effects. I've been off nuvaring for 6 months now and don't know what to do because I have problems with cysts (and possible endo.) and their 'solution' is hormonal contraceptives.

I was better almost immediately after stopping the nuvaring. the headaches lingered for a bit more, but the rest disappeared.

Eureka! My unexplained weight gain (10 lbs), moodiness, fatigue, acne, excessive white discharge, recurrent yeast infections, and clumpy periods are no longer such an enigma. I previously had some horrendous side effects from Depo Provera, to include severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and hair loss; I thought NuvaRing would work great for me due to the low dose of hormones. At first, the ring was fantastic....didn't have to remember to take a pill everyday and no downward spiral of depression. The first symptom I noticed was the excessive discharge and the clumpy periods. Next was the moodiness, anxiety, and bouts of crying during every week 3 (that the bf has patiently put up with!). I have been trying to ignore the fact that my jeans don't fit, I have turned into a TV watching zombie, and I have a burning sensation associated with my 2nd yeast infection in 3 months (ugh!!!!). I wish I would have found this website earlier; it would have helped me put two and two together, acknowledge the side effects, and quit the Ring much earlier (not 11 months later!). Yes, each woman's body reacts differently to hormonal birth control, but if you have undesirable side effects from the Pill or Depo, you'll most likely get them from the Ring plus a few fun extra ones:) The upside to this product: it is incredibly convenient and my small breasts filled out. So not worth it to me!!!!!

I have to say I am so happy to have found this web site. I started taking the nuva ring November 2007 when I got pregnant and decided to terminate the pregnancy. My Dr. suggested the nuvaring. 2 months ago I would have totally recommended this to everyone. I love it. Well how times have changed. On June 21st I went to take out the ring and it wasn't there. No where to be found. My period started a few days later so that confirmed that the ring was out. Since then, I have had the worse period. I am still on my period. I went to put in a new ring on July 1st and I felt so sick. I took it out 2 days later. Everyday is hell. I have been extremely tied, sick, nauseous, etc.

After I found this site I started putting everything together. About 3 months ago I was super depressed. I had suicidal thoughts. It was awful. My boyfriend and I fought everyday. I literally lost my mind. I have been suffering awful leg and foot cramps at least once a week. Headaches all the time. I know a lot of people lost their sex drive but I never lost mine.

I am going to the Dr. next week and I really hope that the ring I thought I lost is really lost. I refuse to go back on Nova Ring. I don't want to get blood clots and I would like to get checked just in case I might have one already. Listen...if you are thinking about taking nuvaring, don’t do it. All the people that are saying they love it just haven't experienced the negative side effects...but they will. It's poison. Thanks for reading

Oh my HELL!

Here's my story...

Well, first of all I am SO happy to read all of these posts.

I have been on the NuvaRing for about 8 months now... At first, it was GREAT! I had no side effects, I could maintain my weight, even my skin cleared up... But I don't know what all the sudden triggered it but here goes the list...

Nausea
Heartburn
Diarrhea
Headaches
DIZZINESS - and this is scary people, especially for someone like me who's never experienced anything like it
light sensitivity
ANXIETY - this also freaked me out... I'm a singer, I do all kinds of stuff on stage, but I'm SCARED!? all the sudden??? this makes no sense!!!
loss of sex drive
mood swings
fatigue
dry mouth
sore joints
acne worse than when i was 18

And the thing is, it worked, WELL, for a long time. But now, I'm convinced. The NuvaRing is Satan... even if it seems to work in the beginning... don't be fooled... I won't use hormones ever again. Ever.

I'm going to be fitted for a diaphragm and that's that. I can't wait.

Thanks for all the support!

Well I've taken the Nuvaring for the last four months, 23 yrs old. I DO NOT RECOMMEND. I just recently woke up w/ a severe headache, numbness in hands and let side of my face and tongue. I went to the ER, which informed that it was a mild stroke. This was my 1st time on any contraceptive. I think I stick w/ the condoms. Due to the NR I've had vaginal infections, dryness, low sex drive, burning, and itching.

I am 31 yrs. old and this is month 4 on the NuvaRing. I have been on several different types of BC over the years the side effects had been so severe I decided to give up on BC all together. When my doctor recommended NuvaRing I was leary, but I tried it anyway and was quite pleased until recently. I am not experiencing head aches, nausea, or irregular periods, but I am experiencing problems with my moods. Most of the time I am sad or I get agitated very quickly for no reason. I was shocked to read about some of you experiencing loss of energy. I thought I was going crazy. I don't seem to have any energy...I am tired all the time. I have been taking vitamins, but they don't seem to be boosting my energy any. I have gained weight in my stomach and seem to be gasy and bloated. My jeans are so tight...It is depressing! In a matter of 2 weeks my breasts have grown in size...I am sure I have gone from a 36 C to a D! What I am most concerned about is the blisters that appeared about 2 1/2 weeks ago on the exterior of my vagina. They are very painful and over the counter creams are not working. I am not sure if this is due to the NuvaRing. I have my anual checkup with my OBGYNE tomorrow. I plan on getting all of my questions and concerns addressed. My delima is do I stay on NuvaRing...I like that I don't have to worry about popping any pills and I don't get any major side effects. What should I do?

PUSS LIKE BUMPS/PIMPLES, HAIR LOSS, WEIGHT LOSS, DEPRESSION, NO ENERGY, NO SEX DRIVE, MOODY, HEADACHES, PAIN IN MY LEGS, VOMITTING, NIGHT SWEATS, CRYING AND CHANGE IN THE TEXTURE OF MY HAIR, CYSTS...

Thank goodness for this sight. If you are thinking you're crazy and can't figure out what's wrong while you're on Nuva, scroll down, you will feel like you're getting a big hug!

I am 27 and have been on the NuvaRing for coming on 8 months and everything has changed. At first I had severe migraines with nausea, a day after starting, that kept going and still occur. They will last all day long and I can take 8 of my migraine medicine and nothing will help. The headaches ruin days, make work difficult, and ruin weekends.

Second: I gained weight around my middle, so perceptibly, I thought I was pregnant. The bloat and gas is constant, I'm always popping Gas-X extra strength but the gas doesn't quit. It was funny at first (yes, I'm immature) but now I'm so uncomfortable, and my pants are tight around the middle but nowhere else. Boo!

Third: ANXIETY. I've been the most relaxed, calm person until I started on NuvaRing, and now I have a prescription for Valium just to keep me from having nervous butterflies all day. The anxiety goes hand in hand with depression, which sucks because I got engaged literally 2 weeks after starting NuvaRing and am always nervous, anxious and sad, and I'm so in love with my fiance but our home life is strained! I sometimes wonder if it's cold feet, but I know it's not. Which leads me to:

Fourth: NO SEX DRIVE. Gone. Dead. Zilch. Zero. I have been the horniest person I know my whole life. I love sex. But I am almost scared of it now. I have no desire to have sex, recoil when my fiance touches me, and get butterflies when I think he's going to try to have sex with me. I sleep as far away as possible, never masturbate anymore, never feel sexy and the idea of sex just doesn't even pop into my head. So unlike me. This causes anxiety, too.

Fifth: Yeast infections and pain during sex. I've never had either of these before. I'm extremely hygienic, and my underwear are constantly filled with discharge. So gross and painful.

I'm going off of it in 5 days and I cannot wait!

I've been on the nuvaring for about a year now. I had been on the Nuvraring from November of 06 thru May of 07. When I broke up with my boyfriend, I stopped using it (giving my body a break) from May until August when I started seeing somebody seriously enough to consider having sex again. I love the ring because it just has to be inserted once a month (although I HATE the feeling I get taking it out...). My periods take almost 4 days to start once the ring is out and then it lasts for about 5 days. The cramps during the first day or two are almost unbearable, but the periods are light. SOOOO many pros and cons.

I have gained back the break up weight and then some. I was blaming it on being in the "comfy relationship" status where you eat out a lot and blah blah blah... my boyfriend and I started working out together and he was dropping pounds like it was his job and meanwhile I was working out with no results. I'm a solid 10lbs heavier than my normal "I'm not working out" weight. My breasts were always a full C now I'm a small D. The week before I take out my ring I'm ready to kill my boyfriend for not cleaning out the litter box or for leaving me dishes to wash when he's been home... normal things that I'd just make a comment about and move on become HUGE events (for example: eating my leftover burrito= WWIII).

I was on the pill (can't even remember the name) and spotted all the time. I found it hard to take it at the same time... and I spent more time not having sex because I was always bleeding. I'm only 24 so I won't use the "I'm not as young as I used to be" excuse.... I wish there was a way to prove it is the ring causing me to gain weight without having to stop using the ring,. I really don't feel like messing up my cycle only to find out I'm just chunky now-- nothing to do with the ring.

I've been on the Nuvaring for a year now and love it but I have also had a loss of energy this whole year. I didn't put it together until last weekend that it was probably my B/C. Then after reading these side effects, I have noticed I get headaches more often and I do have a decreased sex drive, but my husband's makes up for mine so its not really a big deal. ;) All of these have not been severe enough for me to consider changing. You will have side effects with all birth control and everybody reacts differently to it. The worst one for me is lack of energy and now that I know what is doing it, I can try to work around it. Still more convenient than having a baby right now! And I still love the ring!

i am very surprised to see that some of you hated the Nuvaring, also. I had been on the pill for about a year and i absolutely hated it. It was to hard to remember to take the pill once i had missed only one pill, and i was always nauseous. I started using Nuvaring about six months ago, and i love it. It's so easy. I use a calendar to keep up with the schedule, and it is so much easier to put in a ring, leave it in for three weeks, and take it out. I take it out on Fridays, and my period starts on Mondays and ends the following Friday. I have had more bloating and mood swings while using the ring, but my Gyno says it's normal. I would highly recommend NuvaRing to anyone. It's great.

I put in the the Nuvaring and within the first 4 hours I started to have a terrible headache. I called my Doctor who said to keep on with it, it was probably not related to the NuvaRing. I continued to keep the ring in. By the second day, I became very nauseas. By the 4th day, the most horrible pitting acne began. I stuck it out for 2 weeks, then yank it out. It has been out for 4 weeks, and I am still struggling with headaches,nausea,and skin problems. Also, waiting for a period as well. I would not recommend the ring to anyone it was horrible. Now, I keep taking pregnancy tests in fear that I am pregnant, since I have not had a period yet. My breasts are still so sore I can barely touch them. Tests are all negative. I'm still waiting for the hormones to flush out of my system.

does anyone have excessive urination?i had my period 2 weeks ago and then had a little problem with my insurance and so I had my ring out longer than i was supposed to. Normally I pee an unbelievable amount at night-- sometime i will get up up to 8xs. But for the 1.5-2 weeks that my ring was out i didn't get up at night at all. Not once. Im really thinking about ditching this thing. any alternatives? (i cant take oral ones, i throw them right back up. ugh)

i am basically here for some help...i have been on the nuvaring since the 19th of june.things went fine for about two days.then i started bleeding heavy and having awful cramps.it has been like this EVERYDAY now.i am supposed to take is out on the july 3rd.did it do this to anyone else? or does anyone know why it is doing this? my menstrual bleeding has never been this heavy or have i ever had cramping this bad! and it most certainly hasn't lasted for almost three weeks! also i don't know if it has anything to do with the nuvaring or not but my knee's have been killing me! i have never had this problem before and i am a fairly active person and always have been.i also recently had a child.she is two months old now.i weighed 160 the day i went in to be induced,and i lost down to 125 within a matter of a month and a half.i was doing so good with my weight loss.i wasn't exercising or anything.i had just gotten into the groove of only eating one time a day and it was not bothering me or affecting my energy level.since being on the ring i am now up to 130 pounds and i am hungry ALL the time! after reading all of this i am seriously thinking about taking out my ring after i finish this post.i do need some form of birth control though...i am thinking an IUD???

I have only tried the pill a couple of times in my life and the side effects were too much for me to handle. My OB suggested the nuvaring. I've been on it for a year and a half and I'm glad I found this sight. I've experienced the 2 week heavy periods, fatigue, weight gain, the headaches, I had unexplained swelling in my groin area, severe depression and anxiety (which my doctor dismissed as she stated she never heard of anxiety being associated with the ring). I'm glad that I'm not the only one. I'm getting married in November and plan to stop using it then. My general practioner put me on prozac because the anxiety got so bad. I'm lucky that my fiance is a patient and loving person and that this craziness hasn't driven him away.

I have been using Nuvaring for about 5 years now and I'm surprised to see all these posts about people being very unhappy with the method. I have nothing but positive things to say about the ring, except that it's an annoyance to have to take it out during intercourse (not due to the ring itself, but I think b/c of the size of my bf). Of course, as long as it's back inside in s not fair to blame every crying spell or pounds gained on the method. Take a good look at your mental/emotional health, physical health, stress levels, stressful events, medicines you are taking...these can all effect our bodies just the same as any hormonal method!!!

I had started the nuvaring 4 years ago and had loved it! I had no side effects except tender, larger breasts. I am a natural 36 D so it is a pain for me to go up to a 36 DD. I stopped taking the nuvaring a year ago since I was not in a serious relationship anymore and I wanted to give my body a break from hormones. I just started nuvaring again almost 2 weeks ago. I find myself crying for no reason. I am moodier than I usually am. I find myself crying then laughing then being frustrated. I find myself not motivated to do anything but watch tv. As I do so, I find my thoughts wandering to pulling a trigger to my head. I have no stress or worries in my life, why would I feel this way? I just don't understand why nuvaring used to be the best birth control and now it is a nightmare.

I have been on the ring for 4 years now, and I haven't really experienced all these crazy side effects. I do have headaches, loss of energy, mood swings, decreased sex drive (which doesn't stop me anyway). Its all the same bull****. It really is true that everybody is different, but seriously, ALL forms of birth control WILL give you some kind of side effects. we are ruining our bodys natural order buy consuming these dangerous hormones. All because we want to have lots of sex without the troubles of a baby. Its a choice and a risk that we are taking. Now after reading all these scary things, its making me thing if I should switch. But how am i supposed to know if taking a different BC is going to make it better. its just going to be another batch of side effects. And is it really healthy to keep switching to diff BCs? A part of me wants to change BCs but another part of me loves it. I guess Im just scared of ALL birth control.

I am 41 and like another poster, I use the ring to help regulate my period as I am in perimenopause. I have had no sex drive, fatigue, extreme change in discharge and a lot of vaginal pain. This is my 4th ring to use, and I am considering taking it out and talking to my doctor about something else. Maybe I just need to deal with the side effect of extremely long amounts of time between periods, but it sure doesn't make me feel secure since I can still get pregnant!

I've been on the NuvaRing for 4yrs on and off. I NEVER gained any weight from it, I do get moody but then again whenever your taking B/C expect that, your messing with your hormones! My sex drive is the same I still want it every night, but I can also say it's better actually because when I do have sex and if he does hit the Ring that's a plus to me..Maybe that's just me. I tried Depo I didn't gain any weight from it, my sex drive was the same but I did get my period for a full month sometimes..wasn't too happy about that...and then I got pregnant...I have a Depo baby!!! Next I used the patch I had many problems with the patch it would dry me out down in my happy place...my doctor (who is not my doctor anymore) gave me another patch to increase my juices lol ...I had to have a patch for my patch... next was the NuvaRing I never had a problem till this last ring I put in I got this yeast infection. I haven't changed my diet or soap that I wash with so I think maybe I got a defective NuvaRing this time(this is what I'm telling myself).. I decided to take it out clear up my infection and then put another one in and go from there...but I do like the Ring. Depo gave me my daughter, the patch was a hassle, the pill I can't remember to take that darn thing everyday, and to me next in line is the NuvaRing and so far It's been good too me except this last one I put in..if it's the Ring I'm just gonna really cry...And ladies we have to remember EVERYBODY'S BODY IS DIFFERENT!! You have to do your own studies and make your own choices. With most of your b/c contraceptives your going to gain weight I've haven't gain anything from the Pill-Depo-Patch- to the NuvaRing. It's always 99.9 percent effective. That .1 is my daughter so..some people get every single side effect in the book some people like me don't.. make your own mind up!

I have been on the nuvaring for about 2 months now. I am noticing that I am a little down but mainly that when I am having intercourse, I am extremely irritated which interferes with my sex life. My ObGyn placed me on the nuvaring b/c of me being diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis. Since being on the nuvaring, I have not had any s/s of bacterial vaginosis but the side effects I am experiencing is very annoying and almost unbearable. Do they go away after a couple of months?

I have been on the Nuvaring for 7 weeks now and out of disgust and frustration I pulled it out. Will never take it again. I was supposed to have the Nuvaring in for 3 weeks then put another in for 3 weeks and then another 3 weeks after that THEN have my period. The dr. said you don't need your period soo often. Well I had my period every 19 days (instead of my 28 days) and the lasted 10 days!!! And very very very heavy with large clots. This ruined my vacation. I had to wear a pad and a tampon and change it every hour for 5 days. Horrible. Never again

I used the Nuvaring for 3 weeks while waiting for a tubal ligation. I am a single mom with 4 kids and was loving life until I used that ring. Two weeks after insertion, I was crying about everything and tired. I felt like I was 2 months pregnant except MUCH more emotional. The third week I was snapping at my kids and fighting with my boyfriend. 24 hours after taking it out, I felt like a new person. I will not use the Nuvaring again.

This is so interesting. I have been taking NuvaRing for over a year now, and for about a year I absolutely loved it. Recently, however, things have changed. In Feb. I accidentally left the ring in for one week too long and then put it in one day late... I didn't think much of it, but then in March my period was really light. In April, my breast began to swell and got very tender and I started having headaches and a lot of nausea and I started gaining weight. At the end of the month, my period was just spotting. I, of course, took a pregnancy test, which came out negative. In May and June things have continued to be bad...spotting periods, extreme fatigue, a lot of weight gain, constipation, bloating and pain in my abdomen during sex. I took two more home pregnancy tests and even went to my doctor for a blood test...all negative. Today, my family doctor suggested that it could be my nuvaring. I had no idea! That's why I googled NuvaRing side effects today and found this sight. I've scheduled an appointment with my OBGYN so I can change my BC method. Looking back, I have noticed that I am much more aggressive than I was 1.5 years ago. I used to have great relationships with my students and used to be such a patient person, but over last 1.5 years I have started to get aggravated really easily...I even honk my horn at people. That is really not who I am! So hopefully after I take the NuvaRing out, I'll go back to being myself and feeling healthy.

I have been on the NuvaRing for about two years. It has been better then the patch because it has not caused me to have depression. But, the only problem I have now is a decreased sex drive so, I'm going to have to change to the pill.

I am thinking about going on NuvaRing. But after reading these posts i am very scared to do so. But i really need to get on birth control, i am 17 and i already have a one year old daughter and i don't need any more babies until after high school. I really don't know what to do guys! There are so many more cons than pros with the NR or that is what it sounds like, but maybe the women who use it and have little to no side effects just don't come on this site. Wow I'm so confused! Help!!

I am happy I read these comments. I started the nuvaring two years ago and things have happened to me and ive been thinking I over react about everything. The big thing is that I've gained 65 lbs!! I couldn't figure this weight gain out. I went to the doctor over and over and she only could recommend working out. Which I did and no weight loss, not to mention I have never been overweight. The other thing is, I would take the nuvaring out during my 3rd week and would have such huge clots I would have to go to the emergency room. They said it was not from the nuvaring. Also, I have no sex drive and my boyfriend of 3 years and my family say that something is wrong with me because I am always high strung. I have noticed myself withdrawling from people but it's because I am constantly tired. I get nausea real easy and severe headaches. Since reading these I told my boyfriend and he completely agreed with me it's got to be the nuvaring. So, Yesterday night I took it out... I just really hope I don't have worse side effects from coming off it. Thanks guys!!

I have had the NuvaRing for now 4 weeks and I feel more tired than usual. I have to force myself to workout because I feel so sluggish. I actually thought I was doing good with my work out routine for the past couple of weeks until I weighed myself and found out today that I gained 7 POUNDS! I have crazy dreams at night dealing with just about anything. I always had a high sex drive now I don't even want my boyfriend of 2 yrs to touch me. Maybe it is the NR that is making me so aggravated. I might need to take this thing out!!!

I realize that I am in the minority with this, but I actually really like the NuvaRing. I had been on the pill for almost 11 years (I am 30) and was starting to feel that my hormones were changing and the pill was giving me some side effects. I felt very emotional all the time, began breaking out, and was having weird periods. My Dr recommended the Ring, and while it is fairly expensive, I have had near to no side effects. I did not experience any burning or change in my "insides" with the Ring in, I actually LOST 11 pounds in the last 3 months since I began using the Ring. While I still experience some pre-menstral cramps, they are nothing that 2 ibuprofen won't take care of.
Please everyone, keep in mind that everyones bodies are different. I read up on this site before trying the Ring, and was very hesitant to do so as there is mostly negative commentary on the site. Of course if one person has a bad experience they feel a need to share it as they do not want anyone else to suffer the same fate as them. However, just because one person has a bad reaction does not mean that everyone will, and I think it's important to keep that in mind. I would not recommend the Ring to everyone, because just like all other types of synthetic hormone birth control, peoples bodies are going to react VERY differently. I think that people should make informed decisions, and realize that you are taking a risk any time you try something new. Good luck, and I hope that more folks have good experiences over bad ones.

I, like every one else am so glad I found this site, I have been on the ring for about 5 months. I got on it after having a baby, but my husband was deployed so wasn't having sex. When he came home I had NO sex drive, and last month (after only a month of him being home) I became so depressed I could hardly function. I would cry everyday before my husband went to work, I would cry for EVERYTHING good or bad, I have been extremely bloated, sick and no appetite- to the point of taking pregnancy test over and over cause I was positive I was pregnant (I have had 3 children so I know what it's like) very dry no natural lubrication, I like others have no reason to be depressed and have always been a happy go lucky kinda girl so this was all so odd to me. I am also 25, so fairly young and not wanting to ever feel like this again. I was getting worried, so I looked up side effects this afternoon and found this, so like everyone else I have already pulled it out.

I thought I was going out of my mind! I had been on NuvaRing for almost 1 year, then quit (b/c of insurance reasons), then went back on it in April. While off it for over 6 months, I noticed my sex drive increased and I lost some weight without even trying. I went back on it because I have severe cramps in the middle of the month, and NuvaRing really helped.

I had no problems (that I can recall) the first year except for slight weight gain, 8-10 pounds. But these last 3 months have been awful! I am short with my husband and kids, and I worry about things non-stop. I am SO tired, but I get in bed and cannot sleep. I lay awake worrying about things like car accidents. I am not normally a worrier. I also have felt very down and cry often. I was starting to think I had an anxiety disorder.

I have no reason to feel depressed, and have not struggled with depression in the past (I am a mental health professional, so work with mental illnesses on a daily basis; enough to know there was something not right with me!). I have also put on 10 pounds in the last 3 months. Partly due to low energy. My hands even get tired when I color with my 3 year old.

I have taken 1-2 Excedrin Migraine a day to ease (not cure) my headache that has lasted for over 30 days.

Just this weekend, it occurred to me maybe it was the NuvaRing. After reading all these posts, I took it out a week early. I would rather live with some cramps instead of all of these side effects!

I went on the ring a couple of years ago.I never had a problem with feeling it inside me or falling out. My boyfriend cant detect it either. It is convenient and easy to use. Around the same time of starting the Ring, I felt like I was starting to lose myself and sense of personality. I have experiences almost all of the above symptoms: major depression, acute anxiety, sleeplessness, weight gain, acne, fatigue, loss of sex drive, and now I'm learning that NuvaRing is linked to 12 deaths. Blood clots. Scary stuff. I am getting off this thing strait away and hopefully I can rediscover myself and my health. I guess I'm lucky my boyfriend stuck with me thru this. It can only get better from here....

This is my first month on the ring and Ive been good until this past week. This was the week before my period and I have had severe nausea, loss of appetite, food smells make me want to puke, tired......all the signs of pregnancy. I also woke up last night with severe cramping and sweating like crazy. I feel like Im having hot flashes all day! Im supposed to get my period tomorrow or Wednesday. Im just hoping this is a side effect of the ring and Im not pregnant.

I haven been on NuvaRing for exactly one week and the past 2 days I have had a weird sense of sadness>nothing is out of the ordinary in my life accept this ring... on top of that I have felt like i want to vomit everyday I even called out sick today at work... Im glad i saw this page.

Wow...
i have been on the nuvaring for about a week now AND AM SO GLAD I AM READING THESE I have had all the same side effects and was freaking out thinking am i pregnant or what ever..
i believe that the side effects everyone has been talking about are so true.
I am always a happy person..and since i got on the ring i have become depressed and my boobs have gotten bigger and fuller and very very sensitive..
and i'ts made me unreasonable and snappy.
and I feel like I have no life..
it's really awful.
I"M SO GLAD i came across this sight and have heard other womans opinions on the ring..
because i don't feel so alone.
it's just a relief to know i'm not the only one.
This has also caused a lot of tension with my boyfriend as well because I feel so different and weird and strange like I never have before..

I've been on NuvaRing for a year and I thought It was working great. After having two rings "disappear" I decided to talk to my doctor about a different form of b/c. I have not had a ring in this month and I cannot believe the sex drive I have now. I'm single so I hadn't really noticed it was gone but now that it's back I realize how much the NR had affected me. As I was reading posts here I was amazed at how many symptoms I share with others. I have always been prone to headaches but since starting this a year ago they got more frequent and more intense. I also had issues with fatigue, however, being a single parent of a one year old I just kept blaming the baby but so far this month without the ring I hardly ever need a nap anymore. I have also noticed my mood swings are not as severe...I won't blame NR for all my moodiness because I have always been a moody person but I can tell a difference. I never had problems with the nausea or charleyhorses or tender breasts but all hormones have a different effect on different people. NR may work well for some and to those I wish congrats. I am hoping that my new method of b/c works out for me but I will be paying attention this time to what the hormones are doing to my body.

I started using the ring exactly two weeks ago. I started taking naps almost every day. Sleep during the day has NEVER been an option for me let alone a necessity. I decided to research the ring today when I noticed that my belly was extremely bloated. After reading some of the side effects, I can recall a strange feeling of hopelessness and sadness that I've had these last couple of weeks. (I've never been depressed in the past). I've also had very strange dreams. I should have known that an easy BC fix was too good to be true. I was on Depo before I had my daughter 5 years ago and it caused serious bone loss. I loved it because of the convenience and never had an indication that it was causing bone loss (thankfully a new GYN decided to take a bone scan as a precaution since I had been getting shots for 5 years. Luckily I was young enough that my bones are now normal.) Needless to day, I pulled the ring today!

Thank goodness for this site!

I've been on nuvaring for 10 days. My mood and temperament has been fine, but I've experienced incredible breast pain as well as an unexplained rash that covers my legs. I found sex to be painful and there was an extreme increase in my facial hair.

Has anyone else noticed strange rashes?

By the way, I yanked the ring out last night after coming across this site!!!

I went on the NuvaRing because it would regulate my hormones- I have IBS and get sick a few days before my period. The NR was great for keeping my IBS at bay. However, I gained over 15 pounds while on it. I had not changed my eating habits or activity level. The only thing I could associate to the massive weight gain, enlarged, swollen, and sore breasts was the ring. Even after hiring a personal trainer, eating healthier, and working out multiple times a week, I couldn't lose weight. I finally decided to take the ring out. After two weeks of being "ring free", people can see a difference in my weight- and I haven't gone to the gym to work out in over 3 weeks. Now I have to suffer through painful periods and digestive problems because I can't bare the weight gain that comes with the ring. If anyone knows of another form of BC that does not cause weight gain, please let me know.