NuvaRing and 5 months

I have been on birth control for 11 years, never having any severe problems. I had a baby 3 years ago and was taking Yaz. With being on Yaz I had a migraine about every 3 months. My Dr. suggested me trying the NuvaRing. I was on it for 2 months and my bleeding was uncontrollable. During the time of switching bc, my grandmother got really sick and I lost my job. I was concerned about the heavy bleeding and clotting and questioned my dr. and they just told me to hold on for another month or so, it was probably from the stress. I changed from the NR to Seasonique, still the bleeding was uncontrollable. I never had menses like this in my life. Going back to the dr. I had a pelvic examine and they just gave me provera to help stop the bleeding. Well it worked for a week and then here we go again! After about 4-5 months of this cycle I decided to stop taking any bc and let my body try to get back to normal. About a month later I started hemoraging and had to go to the er. They kept me for 2 days and found that I have a fibroid on my uterus. I also had to get a blood transfusion. The fibroid is pushing on my uterus causing my uterus to be double in size. WTH? Where did this come from? I am now having to take the Lupron shot to help shrink the fibroid and hopefully in 3 months I can have it removed. I can only blame this on the NR. I NEVER had problems like this before. It is truly discouraging. I advise anyone thinking about the NR to clearly STAY AWAY!!! I know have several medical bills all from trying to stay away from migraines. I can deal with those much easier than what I have been thru.

I used the NUVARING for about a year before I noticed excessive discharge. After performing a pelvic exam, my doctor said that I had vaginitis and prescribed an antibiotic. When I asked her if the Nuvaring could be causing the symptoms, she told me that it wasn't the cause. The following 5 months, I did not have a period at all and started having pelvic pain. I decided to quit using the Nuvaring to see if that would make a difference, despite repeatedly being told by my physician that it was not the cause. After I stopped, my period returned to normal and the pain subsided. I have always hated taking the pill but my health is way more important than convenience.

Wow, reading all of this has got me kind of scared. I've been taking Ortho-Tri-Cyclin-Low for almost 3 years, my doctor put me on it, to help with my extremely painful periods, and it worked like a charm. I wasn't sexually active, so I never really worried much about taking it at the same time each day. Other the last several months my life has gotten pretty busy, and its become extremely hard to remember taking the pill each day. I started having sex with my boyfriend earlier this month, we've been using condoms, but they are uncomfortable for both of us, and we don't really want to use them (we were both virgins before this, so we're not worried about STDs). So Friday I went to see my doctor and she suggested Nuvaring, and gave me 5 months worth of samples to try.

I was supposed to have my period this week, I actually quit taking the pill last Tuesday or Wednesday (today is Sunday) because I kept forgetting. So my doctor told me to go ahead and have my period then put the first ring in next week. After reading the information packet and on the nuvaring website I decided to put the ring in last night (Saturday night), and skip my period this month.

I had a headache last night, and its still here (though not quite as bad) today. Today I also started having spotting and mild cramps.

The headache could be from me just getting over the flu (I had that Friday & Saturday), and being tired from the flu. And I'm sure the spotting is probably normal, considering I was supposed to start my period in the next few days, and I've only had the ring in for about 12 hours.

I'm going to be on the look out for side effects though. I sure hope it works for me, because I really am horrible about remembering the pill.

I came upon this site while trying to search about people's experiences with sex while using the ring, because I'm kinda nervous that it will be uncomfortable for my boyfriend and/or I. So if any of you have any input with that, please reply to this. Thank you

I have recently taken the NUVARING out this past Saturday...I WILL NEVER use it again. I've been on it for about 5 months...and I never had a regular period with it. This last period I had lasted 29 days...It ended finally after I took the ring out. I followed schedule like the doctor told me, but sometimes I still got a regular period even though the ring was in. The nuvaring completely killed my sex drive...I also experienced myself going crazy...I've been off the nuvaring for 5 days now...and I'm starting to feel like my old self again!

I thought the nr was the best think since sliced bread. I'm 22 years old and I've been on nuvaring for 3 or 4 months now and I haven't experienced any change in my mood swings or anything as far as depression goes. I can say that for the past two and half almost 3 weeks I've been breaking out in hives really bad like clockwork every night. I've gotten crushing chest pains 3 or 4 times last month and this month. A couple of days ago after I took out my nr for my nf free week I was doubled over with stomach pains. My abdomen was so swollen I looked as If I was 5 months prego. I have no idea what to do now

I have been on the NUVARing for 2 years and I'm 25. About 5 months ago I started having really really bad DRY EYE PROBLEMS. I have been to the ophthalmologist and I've been on restasis, refresh plus, Lotomax, and other ointment I put on my eyelids at night. The eye problem isn't getting much better. Has anyone else experienced this?

Also, I use to have super thick curly hair. I lose about a handful of hair a week and I don't think this is normal anymore.

I'm wondering if it is time to take out the ring. Any advice?

Hi, I have been on nuvaring for 5 months and I have had some side effects but none of them out weigh the feeling of not knowing wether or not I could be pregnant bc of a missed pill or something. Recently I have had mild problems with pain during and After intercourse.Lub and removing the ring usually helps. My sex drive has dropped drastically and vaginal discharge sucks because you cant always pin point the problem! For me NuvaRing is too convenient for me to even think about switching bc i am a full time student and the mother of a 20 month old!

I am 25 and all of the stories sound so similar on here...just like mine. Love the NuvaRing or at least I did. My sex drive has gone down, and now when I have sex I seem to get asked "What's wrong? Are you okay?" because I have such dryness that causes extreme itching and burning during intercourse. I have had yeast infections since 2 months after being on it (Been on it for about a year)...that never seem to go away. Just recently my breasts have been so swollen and sore, and suddenly I have this brown discharge (no odor) its just as though I have been on the end of my period for two weeks now...not fun!...sound familiar at all? I understand so many people can react so differently, so for those of you who have not been on it, try it, it may not effect you in such a negative manor, but for me I have got to find something else...I have my appt in two weeks...having tried so many other forms of BC this is a real disappointment to me because remembering to take a pill is not my style...=) Let me know if this sounds familiar to anyone else...Thanks!

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.

Glad to hear I'm not alone. After being off birth control for three months (to regulate my cycle after missing pills, etc), my doc started me on NuvaRing since I had trouble remembering to take the pill. I noticed that since I've had the ring in (1.5 months), I have been the Grouch. Moody, excessively whiny, and a very bleak outlook - despite a very pleasant and fortunate future ahead of me. My boss noticed it at work and I have since noticed, after taking a step back to evaluate, that I have been utterly irrational, to the point of b**chy.

Over the last week, I've noticed that the second ring that I put in has been sliding out. Not all the way out - but to the point of where it's uncomfortable and slightly painful - almost as if my body won't accept it and is, in way, trying to purge it from my body. Sorry to be graphic, but has this happened to anyone else?

I took it out yesterday and am experiencing major discomfort (dryness?) and UTI like symptoms. The nurse practioner gave me two new NuvaRing's to try. However, after reading this page, I'm questioning whether I should just buck up and force myself to remember to take the pill everyday.

Other side-effects include increased acne (when I was on the pill I noticed decreased acne - not increased!).

Thanks for your posts - very insightful.

what a relief to read all your experiences! I too have been on the ring for about 5 months, while my sex drive was not totally shot - i too get these insane cramps in my calf muscles that wake me up at night on a regular predictable basis. to cure those i started taking vitamins and eating bananas more. weight-wise, i'm sure i gained ten pounds since i started but was too depressed to check so i waited until i knew i lost a few and now i'm 7 pounds heavier than when i started. of course I tell this all to my doctor and she's like "That's strange, it's such a low dose of hormones that shouldn't happen." FINALLY the worst of it is the first week I put it in I'm INSANELY emotional. crying hourly. today's been such a hard day - worsened by the fact that it was my birthday two days ago and one of the most pathetic birthday's of my life so i just keep thinking about it and crying. so i wonder if it's the ring thats exaggerating my emotions or if i'm really feeling depressed about having a lame birthday. does anyone else have this first-week slump? i hate it. i want to go off the ring now but i hate taking the pill and i feel like any BC has some hideous undesirable side effect. PLUS when having sex, it's popped out 3 times and i haven't been able to find it after!!! so annoying. what to do what to do...

Hello!!! I feel like you people are reading my mail! I have an appt with my doc tomorrow. I've been on the nuvaring for 5 months & have gained 10 pounds (seems to be the magic number!) & have TOTALLY lost my sex drive. And I used to be like Samantha on Sex And The City! I'm praying that as soon as I get off this thing, I'll be back to previously fabulous self! I've also experienced fatigue. Anyone else? What gives?!?!

i am 14, and i have never use a nuvaring before but wanting to look for an easy to use contraceptive method, i had been doing it with the withdrawal method for 5 months now and wanting to consider using some sort of contraception... but i also want to know what food i can eat to reduce the risk of getting pregnant?

I have been on Nuvaring for almost 4 years and the pill for 6 years prior. I am 25 and now for the past 5 months not on any form of BC. I am having serious acne problems and my period has only come once in the past 5 months. I am wondering if anyone else is or has experienced coming off of Nuvaring and what I can expect and is there something I can take to get me back to normal. Thanks

I have been on BC for almost 10 years, I am 24, and decided to stop taking BC this past December. Since then I have noticed that my acne is getting worse and worse. I am losing weight, finally which I couldn't on the pill. But I have only had 2 periods in the past 5 months. I am wondering when my cycle will be normal?

I had an abortion Nov,3 2007 and inserted the NuvaRing within five days and still have not had a period 5 months i have had two PG test and both were Neg now what oh i have a doctor's appt this week to see whats wrong.

I have been on Nuvaring for 11months and wasn't on any birth control previously. I was prone to migraines before going on Nuvaring and they worsened to the point of 3 days straight in bed, but my doctor told me it wasnt because of the ring. And I'd never had a UTI before and had a LOT of them in the first 5 months. I also got depressed and really emotional, and I am not usually very emotional or moody. If I skipped a period, I would get period pain and symptoms but no bleeding anyways, and when I didn't skip them, I had crippling period pain, and have also gone up a clothing size since being on it. Lately I realised I had a really decreased libido, so I removed the ring and got the mother of all UTIs. Now 3 weeks off it, I'm getting headaches and absolutely no libido so I'm not sure if it is still the effects of Nuvaring, but I'm defiantely going to try something else

I am so glad I found this website. I have used the Ring for 5 months now and felt so depressed and tired for the past 3 months. I didn't want to get out of bed and isolated myself from my friends. I have been snappy and nasty to my co-workers because I just felt so irritable - like I wanted to crawl out of my skin! I now realize why I have gained weight even though I have tried diet and exercise for the past few months. My skin has broken out with acne which I have never had, even as a teenager. (I am 33) It was nice to forget about taking a pill every day and actually the ring increased my sex drive. But now I'm getting yeast infections and feel like my entire vaginal area is swollen and itchy when I take the ring out for a period. I won't be renewing this prescription!

I'm 33 and have been on the ring for about six months now, until last night when I yanked the blasted thing out for good. I'm bipolar so I already knew I was crazy (lol), but over the past few months my symptoms peaked then flew right past the 10 on the 1 to 10 scale. Severe depression accompanied by headaches with suicidal thoughts that simply would not go away. I'm familiar with depression, but the thoughts of suicide are NOT normal for me. Also, I was massively tired and could sleep for days at time. I missed work and even checked myself into the loony bin (lol) because I could not get a handle on things. My doctors adjusted my meds and with the proactive steps I was taking on my own, I should have started feeling better, when in fact, I felt worse. I was beginning to feel like a hopeless cause when I decided to research side effects for the NuvaRing. To describe how I felt when I saw that I wasn't alone and that I might not be dealing with the "normal" symptoms of bipolar disorder: shock, anger, and then hope! I'm always forthcoming with doctors when discussing the meds I take, but there was never a question raised about the Ring so I disregarded it as a contributing factor as well. After reading so many posts detailing side effects that were so familiar I had to get that bad boy out and I'll be sure to post how I feel one way or the other. Either way, I'm grateful for the women who shared their feedback in such a candid way. It helps to know I'm not alone.

Dear friends,
After being on the NuvaRing for nearly two years, I just took my last one out two weeks ago and haven't replaced it. This site made me realize I wasn't going crazy and there wasn't something wrong with me. I really liked the Ring for the first year because it was easy, convenient, and maintained the secrecy of being unmarried in my culture and having sex. I'm 27 years old and am in an amazing relationship with a great man who is really understanding. This was my first form of birth control and maybe my last.

Here are some side effects I experienced:
Numbness in the legs
Loss in desire to have sex
Pain while having sex
Sinus issues
Feeling sleepy and tired all the time
Anxiety and emotional problems

I know people react differently to medication and I was fine until year 2 but if you're taking this or considering it, please do all the research you can and also pay attention to your body. You're not going crazy and you have to know that so you don't medicate for all the symptoms caused by the Ring.

I saw a Neurologist for the pain in my legs. I had an MRI taken. I never took the prescribed medication but there are women on the Ring going through surgery and countless medication treating the very things caused by the Ring. It's an endless cycle.

I don't think there is any form of hormonal birth control that is safe and symptom free. Just be careful because it's not worth losing your loved ones, your work, or your sanity over.

I'm Ring free for 2 weeks and I'm afraid of what that will cause but hopefully one day my body will be back to normal and hormone free.

I'm still tired all the time and am experiencing some spotting. I hope that's the worst of the after effects.

Take care of yourselves....

hair loss anyone??????????

I'm really scared now!!!

I've been on BC for about five months now but I've been incredibly "hormonal" as you girls can relate...except an extreme. So crazy. crying, no reason.

so i said...maybe the NuvaRing. my friends on it...I'll try it. i put it in and immediately inside my vagina started to feel irritated.

I don't want anything related to depression/weight gain/etc because i already have that shit going on.

I'm also worried to completely change personalities. Witch could be a good thing.

DOES ANYONE! have anything good to say about this thing?

I have been experiencing a lot of numbness in my arms and hands over the last few months. I ignored it for awhile but decided I definitely should speak to my doctor about it so I am going this afternoon. It only just dawned on me a few days ago that the numbness might be related to the NuvaRing. I think I have been on it about 5 months.

Has anyone else experienced numbness in their arms and hands?

I've been on the NuvaRing for over two years- I thought I was the only one, but now I know it's the ring. I have felt more depressed than normal and it stings when I pee after sex and sometimes during it as well- I didn't know what was wrong with me. Plus now, I have absolutely no sex drive which is horrible. I need to go back to my normal self-- I was on OrthoEvra (the patch) before, but I changed to the ring because it started giving me horrible nausea. Now the nausea is gone, but all these other side effects are in play. Anybody have/had the same side effects as me? What birth control has worked for you?? Please help!

I was on the ring for about two months. It seemed great. My best friend had told me about it. We were loving it. Our boobs even went from a B cup to a C cup. I don't know about her but I know I took it the correct way. Then she came down with a "nasty flu" was what we had to tell her parents, but really, she was pregnant. She ended up terminating the pregnancy because the doctors said it was likely the child would have problems since she was 4 weeks pregnant and was still on the ring. I was a total different case though. I didn't even have any morning sickness until I was 6 weeks pregnant. I went to a specialist and they did an ultrasound and nothing seemed to be wrong so I became a single mother at 18. (I caught my boyfriend cheating 5 months into it). I have since then met at least a dozen other women that just so happened to be that one in a million percent with me.

It's been two weeks tomorrow since I got off the NuvaRing. I don't know what to think or say. I've traded in my symptoms for others. I guess I must continue waiting. I hate this. My legs ache so much, mostly at night. Did anyone else have a similar effect? I've also had numbness in my left leg for that last week. Whatever! I don't know what to do. Anyone out there who knows what it might be?!

So I'm on my second month of NuvaRing. I didn't have many problems the first month. I cried only once which was far far better than the pill I was on. I am slightly irritable and snappy. I got sick for the entire week that the ring was out with nothing more than cold/flu type illness, but it lasted for a week and a half. My biggest concern though, is that after sex my vagina is actually puffy and swollen as well as sore. It has to be the ring because this has never happened before the ring and now it's happened three or four times. Has this happened to anyone else on the ring? Should I take the ring out immediately or wait until the 21 days are up? I am currently on day number 9.

I'm so glad I found this site. I didn't realize all the problems I've been having were associated with the NuvaRing. I'm recently got married and quite frankly had no desire to have sex with my husband. When we do have sex I'm constantly dry, even when we use lubricant it really doesn't help, after sex I have this burning sensation with an itch. I've also noticed a very strong smelling discharge when the ring is in. I've been very moody and irritable. I took the ring out after 5 months of using the product. I hope my sex drive is back before my husband deploys!

How long does it take for the side effects to get out of my body??? I have been on the NuvaRing for 5 months. At first I did not have bad side effects, besides I didn't stop bleeding. Once that got better, horrible side effects began. I have headaches, lower back pain, bad leg aches, some abdominal pains at times, anxiety, and moodiness. It would suit me fine to stay in my pjs in bed and sleep all day!! I have no motivation or energy. This is NOT like me!! I feel like I have been living someone else life...my poor kids and husband!! So, after months of my Dr. telling me my body would adjust, I took the ring out yesterday!! I am so ready to be back to myself!!!

How long does it take for the side effects to get out of your system and go away??? I was on NuvaRing for the past 5 months. At first it seemed okay, besides the constant bleeding. That went away and then horrible side effects began. My Dr. told me it would just take a little while for my body to adjust. Well..finally after 5 months, I TOOK IT OUT yesterday for good. I have had very bad lower back aches, horrible leg cramps on and off, a yeast infection ( which is gone since i took it out yesterday), anxiety, and zero patience. I feel like I have been living in a different world for 5 months...my poor kids and husband!! I am so ready to be back to my laid back happy self!

What a relief to see all these new postings. I took out the NuvaRing after a month and a half. I'm still experiencing terrible anxiety, paranoia, and some depression, but I think I'm a little better. I'm not seeing weird/disturbing images anymore, and the all over breakouts and immediate weight gain have gone away. About a week after I took the NuvaRing out I couldn't sleep for like two weeks. Then I could sleep, but I was still extremely anxious and depressed... incessantly crying, feeling completely hopeless. Mainly I haven't felt in control of my thoughts or feelings since the NuvaRing. I still feel anxious and paranoid and I can't sleep again. Hopefully this will run its course and I'll go back to normal, but I've been scared shirtless for so long. Please sent me a message if you have words of consolation or any idea how long it will take to feel normal again. I'm still pretty miserable and it's been two months since I've discontinued NuvaRing :(
PS: I had a horrible (but not quite as bad) experience on the pill too, though I didn't know that was the cause at the time.