NuvaRing and 5 months

I used NuvaRing for 1 year and 5 months before I threw in the towel. At first it was great. No weight gain, no change in my cycles, no problem during intercourse, everything was perfect... a great alternative to a pill. Until I started taking NuvaRing in 2008 I had not been on any birth control. The last time I was on anything was in 2000 after the birth of my only daughter. In 2000 I used Depo Provera (spelling?) and had horrible side effects from that. I had extreme hair loss & the worst mood swings you could imagine. I knew that his time around I didn't want the Depo shot & I can't remember to take a pill everyday. I struggle to take a full round of antibiotics without accidentally forgetting a dose. After talking to my Gyno in 08 I decided to try NuvaR. After getting my 6 mo. checkup with my doctor we decided to keep me on it since I was pleased with the results. So months went by, still no problem. Then one afternoon I started getting a pain in my left side that was the worst achey/uncomfortable nagging pain I had ever felt. I started to keep a log of when my pain would come & how long it lasted before it finally subsided. After a few weeks I began looking through the internet to find out more of my anatomy & try to come up with an idea of what was causing my strange pain. As it turns out the pain was in the same area as my spleen & a little piece of the liver comes across to the left side as well. I knew that this was not a kidney issue since I am prone to kidney infections at least 3 times a year. I know kidney pain & this was not it. My boyfriend started complaining about how I was always complaining about not feeling well. When we started dating in July of 08 I was somewhat outgoing, always going here or there for any get together-friends from work, daughters cheer stuff, jazz shows, beach etc. He was tired of me being tired. That is when we started wondering if I had anemia. The spleen pain could have been explained by that. Or maybe it was my gall blader we thought. I started looking for signs & symptoms but nothing was obvious. I just dealt with the pain in my side and wondered too if I was developing a stomach ulcer. Then one day my shins started hurting for no apparent reason. Then it was the forearm bones. I literally hurt inside my bones. The shins were the most painful of all. It hurt to walk, I couldn't get comfortable sitting, lying, standing, sleeping & I was at my whitts end. After talking about it with my boyfriend he said that I needed to go ahead & make an appointment because my quality of life has been reduced to zilch. I was always uncomfortable with pain or aches or moody. I went to see my doctor. Of course when I went I had a UTI, as usual-nothing abnormal about that. I told him about all my pain so we ran some tests. He did some blood work & saw that my white blood cells were through the roof. We decided to culture my urine specimen & a few days later we found I had a MRSA staff UTI. Typically you get these if you are catheterized but I fell into the unlucky 5% that just get it w/o any reason. (In the back of my mind I still wonder if NuvaRing had anything to do with it.) So, I took all the antibiotics making sure not to miss a dose. 14 days later at a check up I still had a little bit of bacteria in my urine & we ran more blood tests. My white count was even higher. Now my doctor takes my bone pain & side pain more seriously. The infection was getting better but my body was fighting something else or was it? He decided to check my kidneys by ultrasound to make sure there were no cycts. They also did a full abdominal ultrasound to look at the spleen & liver for enlargement. No enlargement but possibly a little kidney stone. Then I had an appointment with an infectious disease/internal medicine Dr. He made sure my infection was gone. I told him about all my weird pain & he ran a lot of blood work. White count still high, did a lap stain to look for leukosytes for leukemia, all was clear. So, after a week, off for a CT I went to check on the stone. Of course no stone on CT. Finally my boyfriend said hey, don't put a ring in this month & see if that's the problem. Sure enough after spending soooo much on all the tests after I took it out I was back to my old self in about a months time. I still had a pain in my side once in a while for the first 2-3 months but I have been completely symptom free now for 4 mos! The only worry I have now is that I started gaining weight after I stopped taking it. I have gained 20 lbs (some of that is because I got lazy & lethargic for so long) and my hair is beginning to come out more often in clumps again. I have an area thinning in my eyebrow & my nails are breaking more easily. I think I need to go get my thyroid checked. Yet again, I can't help but wonder- was it caused by the NuvaRing? Have I damaged myself thanks to what was supposed to be a great easy alternative to a pill? I guess we'll see how it goes. Never again will I use it, nor will I recommend it to anyone. Oh, and my love life is great again, I go places & do things again now. It's amazing how far I spiraled down before we realized it was preventable. DON'T USE THE RING!

I was on Nuvaring for close to four years and all was fine up until about 5 months ago - lots of bad moods, anxiety and just an overall feeling of sadness that I just couldn't kick. THEN I started to notice some hair loss. The hair loss reminded me of the post-baby hair loss I'd experienced three times, but it was much worse. I did some research on side effects and found only one medical website that listed hair loss. I read these posts and immediately removed the ring. I would never use it again, would not recommend it to anyone. I also find it deplorable that this side effect is not listed anywhere on any warning label!

Oh my goodness, I have been having these very symptoms and I never related it to the NuvaRing, at least not until my fiance mentioned my birth control and I started researching it. I gave birth 5 months ago and have been on the ring since May 2009 and it was wonderful at first. No worries, just pop it in and I'm good. But this past month has been hell. I have had countless migraines so bad that I was unable to walk because every step made it worse. Yesterday I was so depressed that I was washing dishes and started to cry uncontrollably. I didn't want to be bothered with at all. Today I am so tired and weak and feel as if I am going to pass out. My body aches and I feel as if I've worked out but haven't. All of this PLUS the weight gain. I'm 5 foot 9 and weighed 130 lbs and I have gained so much weight that I feel horrible and I have absolutely no motivation to workout. I also have NO sex drive what so ever. My life sucks and I can't wait to get it back under control.

I though that it was just me but apparently it's not. I just called my gyn and can't wait to tell her what's wrong with me.

I am 40 yrs. old and have been on nuvaring for almost 3 years for treatment of PCOS & endrometriosis. Unfortunately, I had to go off the pill after experiencing a number of migraines w/an aura. The first year was great, no pills to remember, but then I started to have discharge and slight yeast infections on occasion. As we were experimenting with replacing the ring 2 months at a time to lessen the migraines, I thought it just may be my hormones adjusting. About 5 months ago, I was placed on Inderal LA to help with the migraines and started to notice hair loss. I instantly thought it was the Inderal and have been off it now for 6 weeks & still have hair falling out - more than before. I'm wondering if perhaps it could be the nuvaring, after reading all these entries. It will be interesting to see if it continues. I don't think that nuvaring has had any worse side effects then any other BC I've been on....it's just what your body can handle.

I have been on the NuvaRing for over 2 years. At first it was great! I loved not having to take the pill everyday. Im so happy I found this wedsite and read everyones stories. I thought that I was not having any side effects until now. For the past couple years I have had an uncountable amount of UTI's. I also experience painful burning and redness after having sex for a short period of time. I would even have swelling. Its horrible. I didn't think these things were related to the NuvaRing, but now its all making sense. Even though I have been on the ring for 2 years it seems like more side effects have popped up in the past 6 months. I have felt more moody since iv been on the ring but im now having crazy mood swings that are totally out of character for me. I have also gained 20 lbs in 5 months. I didn't think that the ring had anything to do with this until last night after having sex with my boyfriend he told me that his penis burned. When we turned on the light he had a red rash right under the head of his penis. This redness looked like the same thing that would happen to me. After reading everyone eles storied Im going to get off this ****** ring as soon as I can. Im sick of the pain and I hate that its effecting my boyfriend too.

I decided to google "nuvaring side effects" after putting two and two together today...

Due to some complications, I switched from OrthoTriCyclen Lo to NuvaRing about 5 months ago. Having been on OrthLo for so many years (about 4, and Ortho regular for about 5 years), my uterline lining was shedding, which in turn caused bleeding in between my periods. I had heard good things about NR, so I asked about switching to that. First month seemed good... then I started noticing changes in my body and emotional state of mind.
Started with nausea, then I ran the gamut - headaches, back pain, fatigue, mood swings, LOSS OF SEX DRIVE & WEIGHT LOSS (the worst two).

Being that I am generally a pretty stable 27 year old woman, all of these little things stood out but I couldn't figure out what was going on. The weight gain got me good... I gained about 8 lbs - which is A LOT for me. I work out 6 days a week and have a very healthy diet - nothing had changed except my birth control, i.e. the ring. I even started up'ing my cardio 30 more minutes a day to get back to normal, but to no avail. Traumatizing. And the no yearning for sex thing is horrible too... my poor fiance.

While there is no way to tell for sure that NR is the cause of all these side effects, it only seems rationale. It would be too much of a coincidence that so many of us women have these neg effects - all similar.

After reading most of these reviews, I got on the phone and called my gyno. Plan is to stay off everything for one full period (plus the withdrawal period), then to switch back to an oral contraceptive. Just have to use condoms in the meantime - small price to pay to avoid all the nasty sides effects.

NR has already been removed. Thank you all for sharing... this made me want to share, as well.

Now I am personally freaking out. I went to see my gyn this morning because I have had terrible anxiety and depression (I suffer from anxiety and depression anyway). I was hoping that it was due to a hormonal imbalance. Well..we didn't do any tests. She put me on the nuvaring to balance out any hormones...to give me a constant flow of hormones.
I am freaking out. I don't feel bad right now. I want this to help not hinder me.
Does anyone have anything good to say about it? I can't take any more anxiety or depression.

I was on NuvaRing for 3 months, in that 3 months I got married and separated. I was so severely depressed my Dr. was asking me if I was going to hurt my self. He really thought I wanted to kill myself- I am a mother of 3 and was happily engaged when I started on NR after having an IUD (another devil bc) for 2 1/2 yrs. Within those 3 months of being on NR my life fell apart due to depression, manic mood swings, lack of sex drive, crazy irritability, no energy, 3-4 day migraines, weight gain oh my god it was horrible. My husband kept trying to suggest that it could be the new bc but I wouldn't listen (I should have listened). I have been off NR for 5 months and I have ME back and my Husband!!! We couldn't be happier, I wish I would have found this website 6 months ago!!!

I used NuvaRing for 6 months, and during that time i cried all the time. I was very depressed, I would get upset for every little thing, and i was not in the mood for sex. My boyfriend told me that i should take the NuvaRing out and i did. I felt better, but i gained weight while using NuvaRing, and even more after i stop. I always weight 120 pounds and right now i have 138. Its been 6 months since i stop and did not lose weight. While using NR i had painful periods, spotting between periods, headache, nausea, and depression, and i thought i was pregnant. I went to see a doctor and everything was just fine. The food i loved had different taste while using NR. I would get sick from some food that i loved before using NR. It felt like food poisoning. My doctor told me it is going to take some time until my body adjusts back to normal. I am afraid that my weight is not going to get back to normal. I look like during my period. I always had flat stomach, and now my stomach looks like i am 4-5 months pregnant. I would not recommend NuvaRing to anyone. I would recommend pills, my friends that are on the pill did not have bad experience that i did.I only hope my body is going to get back to normal.

I am 17 years old and have been on NuvaRing for about 5 months. My doctor put me on birth control because i have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and would not be able to get my periods on my own. I've noticed that ive been much more tired and can sleep longer but that isn't what bothers me. PCOS made me have severe cystic acne but after being on the NuvaRing for a few months my skin is completely clear. Also, I find it convenient not to have to take a pill every day. The side effect that really bothers me is the weight gain. I have gained 10 pounds over the past 5 months and being 5'2 I really can't handle it. None of my clothes fit, my face looks fatter, and I am completely insecure. My boobs went up a cup size which is always a plus, but I really can't deal with the weight gain. I've been on birth control before and it made me gain 10 pounds also, and I was wondering if anyone has seen the weight gain disappear after using the NuvaRing for longer periods of time. If not, I plan on switching to a low-dose birth control this week but if the side effects of weight gain start to go away I would like to stay on the NuvaRing.

I just started the NuvaRing, and Everything seems to be going okay with an exception for the extreme breast tenderness. I put it in the day I started my period and, like clockwork, my period was gone, but still with some of the period pain such as ovary pain and breast swelling. I asked to be put on the ring because of my extremely painful periods and cramping and plus obviously I don't want to get pregnant. After being on it for something like..a week and a half, I've only noticed mood swings once, and that was last week during what should have been my period, and I think it's because my body is still working out the period symptoms that I should have been experiencing. I'm really worried about weight gain though. I'm not really that hungry unusually or anything.. just kind of normal but I've only been on this for a short time so I am fearful of increase in appetite and weight gain in the near future.. Has anyone had weight gain issues??

Holy Moly...Basically I think all birth control methods suck, especially hormone based ones. Women always bear the brunt of the hideous side effects.
Used rhythm method for years, no problem. Conceived 2 kids when I wanted to. Afterwards, I thought Mirena would be good idea. AWFUL! Stupid thing poked him and me. OUT! Started Nuvaring 2.5 months ago. Sound familiar: Great for first month...I thought. Didn't fall out which was the big thing I had heard about. Now, noticing 1) weight gain despite running, tennis, etc. and following weight watchers. 2) Thin, brittle hair. 3) knee and joint pain which makes exercise hard (thought it was my sneakers) in addition to upper-thigh soreness. 4) IBS symptoms for first time in 38 years! Bloating, diarrhea, gas, etc. 5) trouble staying asleep despite fatigue 6) new level of fatigue 7) vaginal dryness which never had EVER before hormones! 8) increasing disinterest in sex.
So, yup, took it out yesterday after finding this site. NO more hormones for me! Abstinence or condoms, I guess. Geesh.

I have been using the Nuvaring for about 5 months now and I can say that I wasn't a fan from day one.

I have been taking BC since the birth of my second child 6 years ago but I often forgot to take my pills and I wanted something easy. I thought the NR would be perfect until I got one.

I have been extremely moody, I have terrible headaches, occasionally the anxiety is so bad that I get nauseated, and all I want to do is sleep.

This site and you ladies saved me!!!!!! I thought I was going crazy! I am having so many side effects mentioned. I started the ring because I was on depo and was tired of gaining weight and breaking out, etc. In my earlier BC years I maintained 125lbs now thanks to depo and the ring I am 150lbs and it won't go away, even while exercising 4 days per week. Anyways, I also had a sinus infection that I was treated for 2x's during my ring bout. While this was going on I started having panic attacks, then I had a couple bacteria infections(BV) followed by YI's which of the 5-6 diflucans I took none worked. I have been on the ring for 5 months and last week I started my sixth ring. Over the last month I have experienced intense burning, irritation, raw feeling, NO SEX DRIVE, (It hurts too bad) it had been going on for some time but this month had been the worst. I went to DR. and they diagnosed me with cervicitis. WTF??? I had no idea what it was! I had never heard of it.. I assume after researching the causes of cervicitis that the Nuvaring put pressure on my cervex and caused the inflammation b/c I do not have STD"s. My boyfriend had to also be treated along with me by antibiotics b/c its considered an STI.Last night I threw the ring I had in away after reading the postings of this site and I"M DONE with this torture device... I know that had I not got rid of it I would keep feeling all the wonderful symptoms i had been rewarded with! Now I am looking forward to a long nasty painful heavy period after being on BC for 10+yrs.. I am done with all BC!!!! TOO MANY side effects, and I am ready to let my hormones return to normal. Guess its back to condoms and puling out in the hopes they work.. Could anyone tell me how long until this burning and irritation goes away that has discontinued use of the ring??? I would greatly appreciate any comments or answers.

I have been going crazy the last 4-5 months due to nasal congestion and what feels like a thick mucus in the back of my throat, that will not go away...no matter how hard/often I swallow. This is an all day, every day problem. I am so grateful for reading the other postings that state similar situations. I have also seen a huge decline in my sex drive. I was recently at the Dr. and have just put on amoxicillin, thinking it may be some type of atypical sinus infection. Thank God for these postings. Now I know I am not going crazy!

I loved it for years! I went on the NuvaRing in late 2005 and I recently discontinued the use of it (Jan 2009). I was suffering from 3 periods a month for years and no pill or even the Depo shot helped me. The NuvaRing cleared it up beautifully! I had regular and relatively pain-free periods and I could not have been happier.

A few months ago I started experiencing some major PMS symptoms that I have never experienced before. I gained 15 pounds over the course of 5 months and by breasts were swollen to the point that my nipples were dry and cracking (and yes, 4 different pregnancy tests confirmed that I was NOT pregnant). I was going insane with mood swings and I just felt like a jittery crappy mess all the time. My body temperature also dropped a full degree on average from what it was a year ago and I am really sensitive to cold now.

So, I discontinued the use of the Ring and started taking a vitamin regiment that I found other Ring users found useful (B-Complex, zinc, selenium, Evening primrose, and a multi-vitamin).

I have not lost the weight yet, despite working out 3-4 times a week with weight-training and cardio. The doctors have told me to wait it out for a year. It bums me out, but it's worth it. I have been on hormones for 9 years and it is time to be natural again. Thanks for listening.

Hi Everyone,

I've been reading post after post on the side effects of the NuvaRing, and I am so glad that I found this site. Thank you all for sharing! I feel relieved to know I wasn't abnormal or plain crazy. Let me share my own experience.

I've been on the NuvaRing for 14 months, and before that for 5 months. At first, I absolutely loved it and didn't really feel any side effects. I had previously used the patch, and hated it because it made me extremely nauseous and dizzy. With the NuvaRing, I didn't have to worry about taking a daily pill which was great. However, over the past 6-8 months, I've experienced the following symptoms:
- weight gain (up to 8 pounds that I can't seem to shed off no matter what I do)
- slight hair loss and thinning (luckily, I have lots of hair but it's not as healthy and shiny as it used to be)
- extreme vaginal itchiness and also constant itch on newly shaved legs
- ZERO libido. This one started from the very beginning of nuvaring use. I make myself have sex with my partner to maintain a healthy sex life. I used to get easily aroused and would love to have sex with him. I miss that....
- excess weight around abdomen and breasts. Need I say more??
- constant fatigue and lack of motivation
- dryness (vagina)
- bloating and severe IBS symptoms (I can no longer drink coffee which I used to love, can't eat pasta, pizza or heavy breads)

Today in particular, after having the ring in for 24 hrs, I've been extremely nauseated, sleepy, and mildly dizzy. I slept a total of 16 hours! And no matter how much exercise I do, and how healthy and little I eat, the scale won't budge one pound.

I will definitely get off the ring for a couple of months and monitor any changes (hopefully lots of improvement). I'll keep you posted.

I started using the NuvaRing in 2003. I am still on it and now really having second thoughts. When I started usign the nuvaring I was already taking the anti-depressant Lexapro (not sure if it's spelled correctly). Since I started taking both of the medications around the same time, I could not decipher which symptom went with what medication. I was experiencing numbness in my face, hands and legs. I was also very fatigued, had a candida related rash for 6 months, and gained weight.

Yet, through these symptoms my period was easy, painless, and short. So I quickly assumed it was all related to my anti-depressant. My doctor prescribed me Prozac and most of the symptoms I had been experiencing went away. But for the next four years I had numbness in my face and hands the week after my period, the first week I had a new ring in. During that week my doctor prescribed me to double the amount of prozac and it cured most of the numbness and nausea. Yet taking more prozac seemed to really affect my short term memory.

Last November 2008, I decided to ween myself off of the anti-depressant. By January I was totally off of Prozac. It is now February 16th 2009 and it is the week after period and just got a new ring. Today I am experiencing major numbness in my face, hands, and legs. I am having terrible headaches, vision problems and have no energy. After reading all the posts tonight I realized that all these years I have been on the Nuvaring I have mistaken its side-effects for other medications side-effects. I am really trying to cleanse my body of medication b/c my stress level and lifestyle has changed.

I want to go to the doctor and discuss other alternatives since I feel terrible and have been on this for so long. If I hadn't had gone off the other medications I never would have associated my symptoms with the NuvaRing. But now it all makes sense.

I have been using the NR for about 2 years now. I absolutely loved it and haven't had any issues with it. No serious side effects. BUT I saw the ad on TV about the lawsuit and it made me put two and two together. And also to research it which has explained some depression and sexual side effects that I have realize I have been having. Most serious is I have been having unexplained heart issues as of the past 3 months and my doctor cannot seem to find a reason. It feels almost as though there is something blocking the blood flow to my heart about 2-3 hours out of the day at random times during diff activities to include just sitting at my desk at work.. It is very concerning and my doctor is even less concerned. I know my body and I know when something is wrong, and something is wrong with my heart/arteries/blood flow. I am 27 yrs old, I do not smoke and i am in good health. No reason for my heart to feel the way it feels and it is SCARY. I finally decided to research the NR to see IF it has anything to do with it and I was shocked to find some of my symptoms associated with the lawsuit being filed. I have put in an inquiry to see what can be done and hopefully get some answers and get my health back to normal.

At first, I lost about 10 pounds and was thrilled. Then after about 5 months, I slowly, but steadily started gaining weight. Nothing I do seems to help. I've been on NR for almost a year and have gained almost as much weight as I did when I was pregnant. My diet isn't perfect, but it's not that bad. Plus I work out fairly regularly, but it's like the more I exercise - the fatter I get. I'm having weight issues in areas of my body that have never gained weight previously, even when I would put on a few pounds. Before NR, I never gained weight in my butt and thighs - now they are the biggest they have ever been in my life!

Also, I have gotten the most ridiculous acne. Huge painful pimples that just keep popping up and take forever to heal. My aesthetician told me that my bad skin was the result of my NR, and begged me to talk to my doctor about it.

I'm taking this thing out before I turn into a big bloated scarface. Hope it works out.

So I have only been on the NuvaRing for about 3 weeks and just took it out. I feel SO down but I didn't feel down till about a week ago. Would the depression hit that fast? I keep getting in fights with my boyfriend and I'm feeling like we aren't going to last even though before this we've never had any real issues and I was positive he was the one I would marry. Now I feel like I'm doubting us but I have no reason at all to doubt us, nothing has happened except I started using the NR. I keep denying that it's the ring but the more I look back on it I feel like it could be since only a few days after I started using it I felt very irritable. I guess it's time to switch again? I don't like feeling like this and I don't want birth control of all things to be the reason our relationship fails. I feel so down and depressed but it isn't constantly, it just comes on randomly and stays till I go to sleep pretty much. Has this happened to anyone? Do you think that the effects would happen that soon after starting the NR? Any help would be great! Thanks!

I started using the NuvaRing 5 months ago. The first month I felt great. By the second to third month I was experiencing severe vaginal itching and soreness as well has vision problems. I kept thinking that my body needed to get used to it so I used it for 2 more months. The itching and soreness did not subside so i took it out about 45 days ago. These last 45 days have been crazy. I have been an emotional mess with crazy anxiety attacks. (I am typically an easy going calm person) I am experiencing hot flashes that start in my scalp and ears and continue to my extremities as well as itching all over my body and random intense pain in my arms. I have been to the doctor twice in two weeks because I thought something was seriously wrong with me. All of my labs came back normal so he keeps reassuring me that I am going through "hormone withdrawal" and it should get better within two months. This has been a horrible experience and I will never go on it again or refer it to anyone.

I have been on the NR for 5 months now. I have been so moody it is driving me and my boyfriend crazy. I talked to a friend that said she felt that way when she got on the pill but that after 4 or 5 months her moods evened out. I am wondering if I should try to stay on the NR for a little longer to see if my moods even out or if I should get off it? Is there any chance that the pill would work better for me? I would love any replies. Thanks

Ive been on the nuvaring for about four months and for three of those months everything was fine. my doctor told me that i could leave it in for 3 weeks and have a period for a week or three weeks and change to a new ring. well being that most women hate periods, i decided not to have one four four months. But now i am having this weird brown discharge(no smell) and i have had reoccurring yeast infections (white discharge, itching, burning). this skin around my vagina was raw for a week or so. gross i know. can anybody tell me whats up with this. i have been overly emotional because i thought something was wrong with me. is it?

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?!