NuvaRing and blood clots

Hello. I am 25 years old and have been using the ring for about three months now. I just removed it today. I have also tried the patch, Yasmin, and yaz before switching to the ring. I am very sensitive and birth control has always seemed to make me sick. Although lately i have been having weird vision things like little flashes of light, or very quick dimming for like a 10th of a second. I also suffer from anxiety and have many physical symptoms of anxiety including headaches which seemed to have increased since starting the ring. Has anyone else heard of weird vision changes. I saw my doctor today and she wasn't sure, she wants me to come back tomorrow morning. My blood pressure is also elevated. I also have chest pains which are due to anxiety but seem worse with the ring. And it takes me a long time to have an orgasm with the ring. I feel scared lately and man my husband and i hate using condoms but i don't know what else to do! Ahhh it sux being a woman. Why cant they hurry up and make a birth control for men huh? any responses would be really appreciated.

I have been on the Ring for 4 years. I have had minimal side effects compared to other birth control (BC). IT IS A HORMONE. The nausea, tiredness, weight gain, moodiness is because we are elevating the hormones in our bodies to make our bodies THINK its pregnant. All BC have these effects to some degree. If the Ring doesn't work, try a different kind of BC and then different levels of hormones, or types of hormones. You have to "shop around" to find the BC that gives you the least side effects for your body.

I have had weight gain and a reduced libido but that is nothing compared to the side effects I had with pills (crazy nuts, sore breasts, pain with sex, constant periods). And I am getting older (now 33) so I expect some of the changes are likely part of me aging and if not they do not out way how easy the Ring is to use and my assurance I am protected ea. month. I have been very happy with the Ring.

Now to my problem. My husband and I decided the possibility of blood clots (I am a smoker over 30) is not worth the risk to be on BC at all. So, after my last cycle I stopped the Ring after 4 good years.
I am soooo sore now. I feel like someone punched me in my ovaries and uterus. I hurt so much I can't hold in my stomach. Is this common when you stop BC or just the Ring?

Hi, I am 28yrs old. I tried the nuvaring for the first time 1 month ago. After 2.5weeks I noticed I had shortness of breath (before i would normally bike about 30 mins three times a week), my heart was racing, chest pains, leg pain mainly in my left calve, depression, a rash on my arm, yeast infection, body aches and flu like symptoms (I went to the emergency room this weekend and they told me I had sinucitis) , when I breathe in my chest hurts. Also this past weekend my period started and I am bleeding so so heavy and the pain is unbelievable ( I am thinking about going back to the emergency room as I type this). Basically I have almost every side effect that could lead possible stroke, blood clots or death. I need help. I am so scared right now, but i am not going to use it anymore. When I asked my ob/gyn about my symptoms she said "the nuvaring does not have side effects.

I'm 21 and I have never been on any kind of birth control method. I decided to get on the Nuvaring because I had a pregnancy scare. My boyfriend and I have only ever used condoms, but one broke and that was enough for me. I've been on the Nuvaring for about 2 weeks. I normally get my period every 35 days and the only cramping I ever experience is the first and second day of my period. After the first week I noticed I had some light cramping and thought nothing of it, but as time went on the cramping only seemed to be getting worse. I told my doctor about it and she advised me that it was probably my body trying to get used to the ring. Never having used birth control before, I tried not to worry. Then, I noticed some other changes that concerned me since it wasn't like me to feel that way. Aside from the cramping, I had been feeling very depressed about my life and where I was headed for some reason, and my sex drive was depreciating. My boyfriend noticed of course and I had no idea why I was feeling that way. It wasn't until I came across this website that everything started to make sense. I thought I was the only one experiencing these changes. I'm definitely going to change birth control methods. I just don't know what is the best out there. Can anyone help me?

I been using NuvaRing for the first time from July 25 and I took it out on the 28 of July.Why? Because I had big blood clots. These clots really scared me. I am not use to anything like that. My periods are very light and normal, so when I seen this I said no way. I have low blood anyway and I felt very very light headed. I also felt tightness in my legs. I could not sleep at all. I wake up in the middle of night.
I believe the FDA need to do more study on this birth control. Doctors don't really know much about this NuvaRing.

I was on the Nuvaring for about 2 1/2 months. In that time, I put on about 5 lbs around my midsection. I am very critical with weight gain so I went off of it. I also had some other issues such as a little dizziness and waking up with night sweats.
Since I've been off of it for two months, I feel like I am going crazy because of 3 things. I am SO hoping they are all related to going off of this ring! First, I have severe edema (water retention). I am 39 yrs old and normally 136, so I don't have a big weight issue, but each morning I wake up and my fingers feel like sausages. Well, this Sunday I noticed my ankles and feet were very swollen, so called my doctor. He prescribed me triamterene.
Within one night I had lost 5 pounds. The next night, 3 pounds. I was finally back in the mid one thirtys. Well, I go off of it for two days, and the water comes right back on. Along with HBP which I've NEVER had.
Then, as I was doing my 3 mile walk the other night, my chest felt like something was squeezing and crushing it. I was very scared and had to take many breaks for it to calm down.
I am so scared that there is something terribly wrong with me! I am giving it one more week to see if my body regulates itself. I am like an elderly person eating all low sodium, etc. My whole life is being turned upside down and I am afraid I am about to have a heart attack or have diabetes or both. This is insane.

I am so happy I came across this site! I have been experiencing all these symptoms as well. I am 22 years old and I have been on the ring about a year. I have noticed that I gained weight in the past year, but just attributed it to getting older. I have always been a petite woman, and so are all the women in my family, so the 8 pound weight gain in the first couple months was a huge shock. I have tried working out, and eating right, but the weight always comes back and my cravings are unlike anything I have ever experienced. I have also noticed extreme irritability and I seem to cry a lot more than I used to, over simple, stupid things. I am in the best relationship I have ever, I have a great job and school is going great, but I seem to get extremely sad and irritated sometimes, especially the week before I take it out and the week after I put it in. I have never been like this crazy, emotional person I seem to be now. I also seem to have no energy and being active is at times a lot harder than it should be, especially for me, as an active, on the go type of person. I also have noticed my leg is always numb, my doctor recommended a massage therapist, which helped, but it always comes back. After reading symptoms of leg pains, due to blood clots, I am even more skeptical.
I have read up on side effects on other websites, but like other readers, it says some women experience these signs. Maybe a lot of women are like me, and have never posted anything. I have not put the ring back in after my last period and I am not going to. I dread it every time I put it in, but until now I thought it was just in my head. I am not getting back on the ring, lets see if I can get rid of these horrible, hormonal symptoms.

I understand the frustrations of many of you who have posted. I have been on the Nuvaring for the past 2 years. It's the only medication I am on, and I think it's really starting to affect me adversely. Before the ring, I used Seasonale for 3 years, and before that a different low dose pill. It's great not having a period every month, or with NuvaRing less of a period, but I think the synthetic drugs are starting to cause problems with my emotions, or lack thereof, and weight, etc. I have no sex drive anymore, I gained about 20 lbs within 2 months of being on the ring, and haven't been able to lose any weight since, even with 2 medical diet programs. Now I'm starting to get scared of what the plastic ring is leeching into my body constantly. If the drugs are absorbing into my skin, what else is? It is still much better than Seasonale, which took 6 months of constant heavy bleeding till my body adjusted to it, but I'm 33 now, have 2 friends who had to be hospitalized because of blood clots from birth control in the past 3 years, (1 smoked, 1 never smoked) and I want to take care of myself more naturally. The only reason I am on birth control is because of ovarian cysts. I have been on/off birth control since I was 23 because of cysts, but I couldn't ever stand the side effects so I would go off them again after a year, then get cysts and start again. This time, I'm trying a proper diet, supplements, and avoiding xenoestrogens, such as those in plastic bottles and frozen food trays, etc. To me, after years of side effects, I'm ready to try to do something healthy for myself. I have a nutritionist/chiropractor friend to help me find the best way for me.
I have been off the ring for only 2 days now, but strangely feel less hungry, and I think I lost about 3 lbs. of water weight! It's crazy.
These system-altering drugs just cannot be good for you long term. My sister talked me into stopping as well, as she had terrible side effects from birth control for years. She would get migraines every month, out-of-control mood swings (I mean it- she was nuts!) and missed many days of work. She's a teacher and can't let these things happen. She's slim, but even she said she couldn't budge an inch off of her body even when going to the gym 4 or 5 days a week working out and doing dance classes when she was on the pill. Soon after she stopped the pill, she lost 10 lbs and no longer has crazy mood swings and migraines.
Stopping the pill/ring may not be an alternative for everyone, but for me it's not worth the possible lifelong effects just to prevent cysts that I could possibly get while using the NuvaRing anyway. I only had spotting if I forgot to put the ring in for a day or even just half a day if I took it out. As soon as I would remember, I'd put it back in. Then it would be weeks on end of constant spotting. I feel like my side effects were different in some ways. Instead of mood swings, I have no mood. Everything is kind of, well, blah. Even sex is very blah. I feel bad for my boyfriend, but I told him it's really not his fault! I love him and he's a great lover, but wow did I turn lousy! I heard that the reduced sex drive can be irreversible for some people as well. I don't think I'm that far gone yet!
I'm just happy that I'm already feeling better. I even felt happy going to work today just knowing that I'm doing something better for myself. I don't want to feel this way anymore, and I want to try a healthier way to help prevent cysts, without unnaturally altering my whole body.

I was put on the NuvaRing by my OBGYN to fix endometriosis... that was 5 1/2 years ago... I'm now 26 and I have been having dizzy spells for a while... actually passed out twice while living in New York for the past 4 years... not fun when you're on the Subway! Recently - the back of my legs started hurting! Then my calves swelled up! All these new veins appeared and I rushed to my general physician! The first thing out of her mouth was are you on birth control... GET OFF! When i told her it was NuvaRing - she was 99% sure it was it! I had an ultrasound to make sure it wasn't blood clots and it's not... so I went to nuvaring website and one of their symptoms is pain in back of knees and swelling! RIDICULOUS!!!! I took it out immediately! Even the 32 year old who did my ultrasounds said she voluntarily got off all BC because of everyone she has come in there with liver, blood, heart problems!

I am twenty one years old and I started Nuvaring when I was nineteen and at first experience only one side effect, nausea. In the past two years, I have gained about 15 pounds, despite the t fact that I've been eating less and working out more than I ever have. But perhaps the worst side effect for me is migraines. I have had migraines since I was a kid but I would get maybe 4 a year. Since I have been on NR I get about two a week and the longer I've been on it, the more often I get them. I've had a migraine for the past four days. My main concern is that I love having my period regulated. Before I was on BC I worried constantly about when I would start my period. I never wanted to wear white or a bathing suit in case I would start my period randomly, which happened often. Now I am at a loss of what to do. I have to stop the NR because the migraines are making it impossible for me to function at school or work, but what about the periods?
In response to people's questions about IUDS, I have never used one but I do know people who have. At first it can be nerve racking because it has been known to fall out, but if you are using NR, you know it too can fall out. I'm going to try an IUD and look for a more natural way to regulate my periods. I encourage women to stay away from BC that is hormone based. It's very bad for your body, causing not only these side effects, but blood clots, tumors and cysts. There are other ways and I think we all need to look into them.

I just spent 8 days in the hospital (2 days in ICU) with multiple PEs (blood clots in my lungs) thanks to the NuvaRing. I had used it for 11 weeks and had symptoms of the blood clots for 6 weeks. My doctor was originally treating me for asthma because of my chest tightness and extreme shortness of breath. I do not smoke and am in great health otherwise. The ER physician instructed me to take the ring out immediately as I was being transported to ICU. Every MD that I saw at the hospital pointed to the Nuva Ring as the culprit. This thing is dangerous...don't ignore the symptoms!!!

Hello All! I started the NuvaRing May 2008. Like everyone else, I loved it at first. I was on the pill for about 4 years and liked it but I kept forgetting to take it on the dot every day. I was hesitant to jump on the NR bandwagon b/c it was so new and I did not trust it yet. NR was a great alternative and not much changed my first few months on it. I started to notice that my sex drive was slowly depleting. I am 22 and could not see why I was NEVER in the mood. I did not enjoy sex- how could this happen?! It wasn't until yesterday when I talked to a friend about some serious issues she had involving blood clots. That terrified me and I instantly took it out. I decided to check out some reviews from women out there and cannot believe I put up with that thing for almost a year. If you are looking through and considering switching to another bc- DO IT! Low sex drive, weight gain, risk of blood clots, migraines, and nasal congestion is not worth the "convenience". Good luck ladies!

My experience with NuvaRing

I started NuvaRing when I was 40 years old and got married not to long ago. I have two kids and they are in there late teens. My new husband does not want to have any kids, so I've been on NuvaRing for two years because I was always really bad about remembering to take the pill so the NuvaRing is GREAT for me and I love it!!! It's very convenient, being able to just forget about birth control for a month. But for some reason I think that I got a hold of a bad batch and I am having problem with them. If you have experienced the following symptoms, please consult with your doctor:
Depression: because I thought that I was pregnant, so I hit an extreme low.
The first time I used the ring I had itching, discharge, burning and yeast infection.
Headaches, Mood swings, bloating, gas, cramps, emotional, pelvis pain, hair loss, my vision has change, constant fatigue and lack of motivation and I have gained about 20 pounds. I get headaches all the time. I'm CONSTANTLY tired, but I do have to get up to go to work. My experience the first time using the ring was an infections and burning and it went away after the second time I used it. I didn’t know the ring was the cause of the infections it until now. After two years I have been passing blood clots and bleeding know for three weeks, I even thought that I was pregnent and I lost the baby and for three days and I was very diprest, afraid that I really miscarried a baby and on Friday I took a pregnancy test and it came negative. I made an appointment with my OB/GYM doctor and he also did a pregnancy test and it came negative and we didn’t know the reason why I was bleeding for so long and he also gave me medicine to stop the bleeding and also gave me iron pill for my anemic, since I lost so much blood. He told me he would do some test and find out why I am bleeding so much, so he did other test and schedule a Tran’s vaginal ultra sound sonogram test. The doctor found out that I have 3 fibroids in the uterus and the doctor suggested having D/C uterine scraping, so that I don’t get any cancer in my uterus. I talk with my husband and also decided to do a hysterectomy. Surgery went well, I am still here. I schedule the surgery on a Friday and back to work on Monday. Now I am concentrating on getting better and try to loose the weight. NOTE: I have read that soo many of you have problems in the libido or sex drive. I never had a problem in that department. I meet a great man and we both love having sex, before I started the NuvaRing and during using the ring and after the operation have not lost the edge of having sex two to three times a day. I think many of just don’t find the time, too busy with work or busy with the kids, lost that loving feeling. I am too in love and love doing it.
I hope this was helpful.

I am 24 and used the NuvaRing for almost 3 years. As I finished up college at 21 and directly afterwards I was becoming more and more depressed, which I first attributed to the transition. It was while I was still in college that I also noticed a change in my ability to concentrate and remember. Focus and decision-making were abnormally difficult. My moodiness and depression increased over the next two years, my sensitivity to other's comments became more acute and I constantly felt at the edge of tears. I had little to no enthusiasm for even my favorite activities, no energy for sports/physical exercise, and no interest in sex with my partner. I required more sleep, always feeling tired when I woke up. I also began to have headaches, which had never been a trouble before.
I have been off the NuvaRing for about 3 weeks. Like some have posted earlier, I feel like a dark cloud has lifted and I can enjoy life again. Notable changes over the last couple of weeks have included:

1. Waking up naturally in the morning, almost 2 hrs earlier than before
2. Dramatic increase in ability to focus and remember (effectively study)
3. Happy mood and few to no self-deprecating thoughts
4. Increased energy
5. Enjoyment of flavors
6. General clarity of thought
7. Return of interest/enthusiasm, competitive spirit
8. Interest in sex
9. Decrease in headaches

I am absolutely thrilled to have identified the NuvaRing as the source of these issues and having eliminated it from my routine. I feel like I have my life back.

I would just like to let you all know that I posted on this website on February 16th and took the ring out the same day. Today, two and a half weeks later: 1) my libido has returned!! (I'm back to wanting it twice a day, not twice a month), 2) I am no longer weepy and cranky (and I just lost my job--so that's really saying something!), 3) I have lost A SIZE in the past two and a half weeks!!!!--one more reason #1 is great!, 4) I can now drink soda and beer and eat spicy foods without bloating, 5) all of my weird digestive issues are almost completely gone, 6) no more chest pains, 7) I sleep a full 8 hours a night with no problems. Please, please, PLEASE--to any woman who is reading this--GET OFF of the NuvaRing!!

I haven't actually started it yet but am seriously considering it. I been using normal pill BC and I have used the ortho evra patch before I got off BC to have a child. here is my story of why I want to try and for those who are still considering it.

First off, I usually get sick every month with the pill when I start a new pack, not all BC pill did it as I am on Loestrin now and on Yaz before that and they didn't make me sick, but they are lower doses. However, I loved ortho evra, it was great except for the sticky ring where lint get stuck on you from around the edges, but that was just a small negative for me. However, I got off it before all the controversy about how it has three times theh rate of blood clots forming than BC pills, so I am a little worried about going back on it and my docs don't really prescribe it either, and suggested the nuvaring.

Well I went on Yaz post birth and couldn't understand why I was so tired all the time, every one kept saying it is because you have a new baby but i don't believe it was that because my child is a really easy child who sleeps through the night and took her naps. i just wanted to sleep all the time and still feel this way even after switching to loestrin which is similar to Yaz. I wasn't tired like this on Ortho evra and my doc told me that the ring is similar in like the patch.

so I am sorry for all those of you who have had bad experiences and the only thing I think I can do is try it for myself cause, when something bad or negative happens everyone hears about it but that is not the case when something is good. Everyone's body is different and reacts differently to medication. So I am going to go ahead and try I think to see how it affects me cause I don't think I can get any worse and I am not ready to have another child yet. I am currently on an antidepressant for about 5 weeks now and still am having my constant tired wanting to sleep feeling, this is why I think it is the BC. Hopefully i won't have too many side effects but I am willing to give it a try as I do know women who have used it and said that they liked it.

i'm so glad i found this site. i've been using the nuvaring for around five years. i can't remember exactly. i thought it was great at first. i get really sick on other bc. but i started getting leg cramps recently and i also had a gallbladder attack and they found three small gallstones. i'm a very healthy person so i was concerned but i didn't relate these things to nuvaring. my boyfriend moved out of my apt. we had been together for 7 years and living together for almost 3. i'm starting to go back and realize the depressed feeling i've had for years now. i didn't realize it could be NR. i lost my motivation, i was performing terribly at my new job that i started 3 years ago (couldn't focus the way i should and i always do well at work) luckily, i still have my job but it's been a struggle emotionally. i wasn't' really interested in anything and couldn't get back into my own personal artwork. i thought i was depressed in my relationship and work but now i'm thinking again this might be the nuvaring. could all of the 'bad luck' i've had in these last couple of years be that? it's hard to blame it on that but reading everyone else's reviews is starting to really scare me. i knew something felt off but i didn't know what it was. as the years have gone on i have lost my excitement for things. arghhhhh! this is so frustrating. i only started looking up nuvaring side effects because i heard something about blood clots and i started getting bad leg cramps. i played competitive tennis when i was young through college and other players would get leg cramps but i never did. now i'm getting them and i work out a lot.

I am so glad I came across this website. I just saw a TV commercial today about a lawsuit against NuvaRing. I have been on NR for almost 3 years and am sick of feeling "crazy." I have no sex drive, I'm extremely nauseous all of the time, I can't sleep but am always really tired, I'm extremely emotional and sad and have frequent headaches (at times very severe). Last year, I had surgery for my endometriosis and my gyno prescribed 9 weeks of the nuvaring and one week off. Having monthly periods makes the endo grow back quicker. Ever since last year, I have gained 12 pounds, I'm hungry all of the time yet still nauseous, have frequent headaches, my sex drive is non-existent and I have been really depressed and extremely anxious. Now I'm thinking the NR is to blame! Not to mention the possible side effects of blood clots, stroke and heart attacks!! I'm taking the ring out and calling my gyno. Now I know I'm not crazy. Thank you for the information.

I just started the Nuvaring YESTERDAY after being off of all birth control for about 6 months. Within a couple hours of putting it in, I was anxious, had abdominal pain, tingling in my foot/leg, dryness. I couldn't tell if I was just paranoid about having side effects or not, but I'm sure it was directly related. I took it out, felt better... tried it again hours later and symptoms came back shortly after. Tried finding info online and came across this site.. I just took it out for good and will be switching back to the pill. It's too new, not enough is known about side effects and it seems like blood clots and heart attacks are fairly common with this form of BC.

I have been on the NuvaRing for 7 months and Thank YOU all for your helpful comments. The last 7 months I have been this crazy, emotional, roller coaster, just like the rest of you. I have made excuse after excuse for all my emotions and let it happen because I thought it was just me. I have recently started feeling the headaches about 2 months ago, I didn't even imagine it was because of the BC until I read this. I have never had headaches like this before, it was never a problem I had. This is the first BC I have ever taken and I mean it was crazy .. I started telling my boyfriend that i thought something was wrong with me and that I thought it was something serious but I even went to the doctor and he took all my blood work, we even did a pre diabetes test and it all came up normal and healthy, so I just thought it was me and I thought I was crazy. Another thing I had like the rest of you was NO SEX DRIVE, I mean once I got started, I liked it, but it was hard for him to get me started. Anyway, this website explains a lot, it just sucks that it took me 7 months to realize that all of this could possibly be my BC. I took it out 2 hours ago and I will post again to let you know what happens next. Note to all the women taking this Ring: If you have all these side effects then stop or at least try one month off of it because I have never had health issues and these side effects did not start until I started the NuvaRing, don't wait until it is too late because while I was looking for this website, I saw other websites about lawsuits against NuvaRing for blood clots, stokes, and heart attacks, and although that didn't happen to me (so far) I don't want it to happen to you.

I'm so glad that I have read all of these. The last 3 days have been horrible. This is my second month using the NuvaRing. I put the 2nd ring in on Monday night and I starting throwing up Tuesday night and haven’t stopped. I can’t hold anything down (not even water). I drove to work on Wednesday morning, while throwing up and literally falling asleep at the wheel. I couldn’t see anything, my vision was awful. I had lost feeling in my arm earlier that day. I took an early lunch yesterday and fell asleep in my car. I fell asleep at my desk and couldn’t see my computer screen. I thought I was dying. A few girls looked up this website and told me to immediately take the ring out after lunch. I had become so dehydrated and weak I left work early and went to the doctor. The Doctor immediately referred me to ER. I have a horrible infection that has gone through my body. I am on strong antibiotics to get better.
Now that I read all of these stories; I realized that I have been extremely tired for the past month and would fall asleep anywhere all the time. Like mentioned from the other girl below it was like I was in a coma. I have lost all my energy. Others have noticed a change in my attitude. I’m usually really hyper and now I’m very quiet. This ring could have wrecked my new relationship. (He noticed my attitude change and that I couldn’t even stay awake to watch a movie) I had a rash on my forearm a few weeks ago that freaked me out. I started getting acne on my face and dark spots on my cheek. And now that I think about it I have thrown up many times in the past month for no apparent reason.
Now that I have read all of these and have went through this horrible experience; I have a much better understanding and will never use the ring again. I feel bad for the girls that are going through this horrible experience now and in the future.

I was on the Nuvaring for 6 months in 2006 but had to stop because I lost my insurance coverage. I had no side effects back then, except abnormal clots in my period.

I just started it again a month ago, I'm on my fourth week and have to put the new one on on Monday. I have no other side effects while the ring is in, but since I started my period yesterday I have had bad cramps and very bad lower back pain. I never usually get cramps during my period without birth control. I also have the blood clots again.
Is this a bad side effect that could be effecting the health of my body overall?

I started using the Ring 2yrs ago, and at age 38 thought it was the best birth control for me, however within 2 to 3 days after putting it in I had extreme low pelvic back pain,and then within the 1st month, mood changes, fatigue, depression, no sex drive at all But somehow 3 months after being on it I got pregnant. Now I am 40yrs and started the Nuvaring again about 4 months ago and have all the horrible side effects as before. I don't know why I let my Gyn talk me into again. I am now experiencing major pains in my left leg, which I have never had such pain in my leg before at all. And I believe it is the symptom of having blood clots. Which is one of the side effects that is listed. I will be going to the Doctor ASAP to check this out. So anyone else that is having any type of pain in the leg, even if it feels like a ingrown hair bothering you or a little pinch feeling or burning sensation here and there, Go have it checked out before its to late and it becomes painful and possibly a blood clot.

I've been using the Nuvaring off and on for almost six years. I started using it after I had my son in 2002, and I never had any problems with it. I used it for a couple years, had to stop b/c of my insurance. I went back to it after the birth of my daughter, in early 2006. I started having a lot of problems around December, 2007, but I didn't even think that it could be because of the nuvaring, since I had been on it for so long already. I was having stomach problems, awful headaches, horrible anxiety, depression, mood swings, had no energy at all, horrible burning pain after sex. I started having spotting and periods that lasted for up to a month, and would pass huge blood clots. I talked to my obgyn in February and she told me to just switch my rings right away instead of keeping it out for a week for my period. That stopped the bleeding for about two months, then my period came back with a vengeance. I bled for over a month, stopped for a week, bled for a few more weeks. It was ridiculous. I've finally given up on the ring after yet another month-long period. I took it out a week ago and I have finally stopped bleeding. I've noticed a difference with other symptoms as well and I really hope my body gets back to normal soon. I found this site last week when I was trying to decide if I should stop using the ring or not and I couldn't believe how many women had the same symptoms that I've been having. I never realized that all of the problems that I've had were all due to my birth control. Now I'm stumped as to what birth control to try next. I've been reading up on them and they all seem to have horrible side effects like the ring. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

I definitely could relate.
i like nuvaring. It is the first birth control i've ever been on. i started it when i was 28 - just gotten married..
the only thing recently that have made me doubt it is that i heard in the news that some young woman have suffered blood clots and just die.
But im also reading the other birth controls effects and they are pretty wild as well..
the only side effect so far after 2 yrs and a few month is about 10lbs heavier.., i had mood swings my first week of being on it., occasional headaches when my period is about to start which lasts up to 4 days, low sex drive ( but i still manage to have sex and enjoy it), some dry moments ( i use to be a fountain) so it is different but eventually it goes back to normal. ( harder to have orgasms.., )
so overall nuvaring has worked for me. I just pray it continues to do so.. now i feel like there's no point in switching right now especially - going through a career change.. now is not the time to try a new one just because i hear someone died ( although that 's a pretty good darn reason).
Eventually my goal is once i start having kids God willing.. that i can stay off all these darn drugs and either tell my husband to go tie his dingy or condom it is.. its so not fair that we have to put all that crap in our bodies.. and then we wonder why we have certain weird complications.. "Lord take care of all us..we are just not trying to have 15 little kids running around...".. the researcher..

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 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

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....

I have been on the NuvaRing for approx 3 years. In the past I have tried EVERY form of B/C and this is the only one that has kept me sane! With the recent reports of blood clots and heart concerns I have decided to remove it and see what happens. It has been 3 weeks and I have noticed all but abnormal things...I am a woman and on a regular basis my emotions get the best of me so can I really blame it on the ring??? Maybe it's just the men in our lives that are driving us crazy.........So with that said ring or no ring take a look around you...maybe it's your environment that is making you nuts!

I had used NR for six weeks when I woke up at 3 am with SEVERE chest pains. Went to the ER and was diagnosed with *substantial* pulmonary emboli (blood clots in the lungs). I was hospitalized for five days and am now under the direction of a pulmonologist and hematologist for the next six months while I'm on blood thinner therapy. I had to do injections into my abdomen twice a day to prevent further clotting until my blood reached a theraputic level with the Coumadin (blood thinning drug).

Usually, pulmonary embolism afflicts sedentary people or those who have recently had surgery or those who have cancer . .. etc etc etc. I am a 33 year old personal trainer. I have ZERO risk factors for this to have happened to me . .. other than the nuvaring. It was determined that it was the cause and I was told to remove it immediately and to never never never use it again.

Please be careful in your decisions to use this product. I used it for the convenience of not popping a pill daily as I would usually forget. Wish I would have just looked a bit further into the possible side effects before choosing to go ahead with it.

Hi! I have started the NuvaRing almost three weeks ago, and I have been feeling sooo tired that I have lost all my interest in everything-except sleep.Also-I have had these weird, charley-horse type cramps in my calfs which swing down and around the arch of my feet. The cramps started exclusively on my right side; but recently I have started feeling them on my left. I would wake up in the morning, get up and I could hardly walk until sometime in the early afternoon. Today, fed up with this crap, I took the damn thing out-and almost immediately the charley horse tightness and pain dropped off. I also knew it would not be long before I would start to gain weight, as I have slacked off my exercise program due to major fatigue. It has been only a day, but I am feeling great,knowing I made the right decision. I have varicose veins in my thigh and calf area-and I fear the blood clots that the ring would predispose me to. I don't need birth control as my husband is infertile; this was prescribed to clear up a cyst.

i have read almost all of peoples complaints and yes the side effects are horrible for most but the thing that gets me the most is how no realizes that these side effects (e.g. blood clots, mood swings, nausea, etc.) are in ALL birth controls and different people react differently to every medication some jus have worse than others as well as more than others. so if you are experiencing these problems severly and can't take it then u should consult your doctor about what might would be best for you. nuva ring does release a fairly big amount of hormones in your body and will cause nausea, etc. it's the same senario as being pregnant. i have been on nuva ring for almost 2 years and yes i have some side effects but it works for me and i can handle the few i have they're not severe.

I LOVE NUVARING!!! I've been using it for over a year, usually keeping it in for a month then replacing it with a new one to avoid having a period. I sometimes have some spotting at the end of the month; then I just take out the ring and have a full period and put in a new ring one week later. I have none of the problems with mood swings that others have posted - on the contrary, I no longer have PMS symptoms.

However, during those rare menstrual periods, I sometimes pass a few thumbprint-sized pieces of an unusual MEMBRANOUS BROWN TISSUE-LIKE SUBSTANCE (cap'd to draw attention). No other symptoms.

Has anyone else experienced this? My nurse practitioner hasn't had any other patients mention it and she can't think of what it could be (uterine lining??).

Crikey - I've been thinking about taking the NuvuRing on advice from the Family Planning Clinic. Thank you for everyone for sharing their experiences. I definitely won't now! While most people probably have great experiences, there are countless examples of side effects listed below that are too extreme to even risk having a good experience (blood clots, black outs, migraines, numbness, insomnia, lower sex drive, depression/suicidal thoughts, body swelling, painful sex/sexual organs, candida, weight gain and the list goes on and on). It's incredible that this is on the market and has gotten through the testing stages.

I took the pill for about a decade and went off it three years ago, mostly because I was over taking something every day and felt I was gaining a bit of weight and had a slightly lower sex drive. After going off it, sex changed (slightly elevated sex drive and easier organsms but less intense) but no change to weight (damn those extra three kilos!). I did lose the horrible brown pigmentation stain on my forehead (which was my initial only conern with the NuvaRing can you believe!) and my skin has remained clear. I have been much more sensitive to thrush/candida though since going off the pill, which my Dr said was due to changed hormonal levels due to such a prolonged time on the pill (10 yrs).

Since '05, I've been using a diaphram which has been fine. It's annoying to have to stop for that 60 seconds and put it in before sex, but I've had no major problems with vaginal skin irritations (very minor) and can feel it slightly during sex, but no where near the extent of condoms and the feeling is about 90%+ as good as without. Noting the issues raised on this site, I think I'll stick with the diaphram as I think I want to stay away from hormone options and the fiddliness before sex is a small price to pay by the sounds of things.

Sounds like the decision to take use the NuvaRing should be a carefully considered one.

Nuvaring, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
1) you keep me from getting pregnant
2) I ignore you all month long, no annoying pills
3) you have made my boobs bigger
4) my appetite is lessened
5) I've lost weight
6) my skin is clearer
For every Nuvaring hater out there, remember that there are LOTS of happy customers who are too busy to waste their time checking up on side effects online

I've also experienced many of the same side effects. I was on NuvaRing for 3 years and on the pill for 5 years before that. For me I found the changes very subtle. My sex drive was not effected right away, but it just kept getting lower and lower. I was doing grad school so I was getting more and more stressed and thought that that had something to do with it, so I ignored it. I was also much more anxious, depressed, short tempered, unmotivated, fatigued and oh, did I mention depressed! I honestly thought it was all due to the stress I was experiencing in grad school, but I did feel like something may be up. A lot of my symptoms were similar to hypothyroidism (oh yeah, I also gained 30 lbs after switching from the pill to NuvaRing) so I got tested, but my thyroid was fine. I had heard about the increased risk of blood clots for the patch, so I wanted to find out if the risk was also heightened for NuvaRing, so I googled a bit and came across some other sites like this one and saw how similar other peoples situations were to mine. I went off it 3 weeks ago (after only having a new ring in for one week) and I got a really long and heavy period right away. Since then I've been having mild cramps until today where they are the worst I've ever had. On the bright side, everyone has noticed how much happier I am - I really feel like my old self again. I haven't been depressed or stressed since I've been off NuvaRing!! It's so awesome. We've switched to non-hormonal contraceptive methods - I wanted to give my body a break and I may be trying for babies in the next year. Anyway - for those of you considering going off - TRY IT!! It can't hurt (except maybe for some cramping :D) If you don't start to feel better you can always go back on. It has made a huge difference in my life. I too was considering suicide at 26 when I'm normally a really happy person. My mom has also noticed that my moods are much more stable - apparently I was going a bit bipolar before!

Hello everyone!

In response to those wondering about lawsuits involving the NuvaRing, there are now a couple of law firms who are handling these types of cases across the nation for NuvaRing related blood clots. ]No one should have to suffer like this and it is up to us to hold these pharmaceutical companies responsible for not disclosing information regarding their products! You can email me for more information if you would like! :)

Katie

I am 17 and living in Oklahoma. Before NuvaRing I had tried everything. The pill gave me blood clots, constant bleeding for 6 months straight (even after I was off of it) and I didn't have my period for 2 years after. The patch gave me severe back pains, made me irritable and I had huge weight gain. and I'm so trypanophobic that the first time they tried giving me it in the shot form I hyperventilated so bad that they refuse to give it to me now.

My boyfriend and I found out about the NuvaRing about 9 months ago, we researched it to the best of our abilities and read and reread the symptoms and problems everyone was having with it. We even confirmed this at our local health department. We'd tried everything else that I was afraid to even try the ring, but I've successfully been on it for 9 months now and it hasn't changed anything. I've had the typical weight gain, breast increase and even small dozes of depression here and there, not to mention that now I only have cramps the day before my period, which is amazing considering i had them up to 2 weeks in advance before the NuvaRing. we've stayed on top of all the symptoms and I get regular checkups every 2 months, on top of the checkup that the heath department gives me when i go to get my new supply, in order to make sure everything still fine. I'm not saying that everyone else's problems with the rings are just in their heads, I'm just saying that I've personally been so happy to find a birth control that finally worked for me, after my failures with the other kinds.

I'm 22 years old... I'd been off of birth control for 2 years when I started NuvaRing in October. My gyno said it was great with very few side effects. I have always had really clear, pretty skin, but since I have started NuvaRing, I have had awful breakouts. I am constantly nauseated, have terrible headaches and the mood swings are unbearable. My fiance thought I was losing it - I'd be high as a kite one minute, then rock bottom the next.
Luckily I found this site... does anyone have any recommendations as far as other options? Is OrthoEvra (patch) worth it? Please reply... thanks, ladies!

Hi, I have been on NuvaRing since December of 2007. I have had head and back aches, I can't sleep, stomachaches, hunger around 10:00pm (that isn't normal for me) and I am tired during the day. I know that NuvaRing had some law cases against them for blood clots. If the pain in my stomach isn't from what I ate then could it be from the ring? When I took out the ring for the week, I didn't get my period, I only had discharge. is that normal? ok please help.

Hello! I have been diagnosed with chronic daily migraines. Yes, a migraine everyday for 5 months straight. Next comes swelling of fingers, hands, arms, legs, ankles and feet with major pain for the last 5 weeks. I have gone to the neurologist, ob-gyn & family Dr. I had 4 Dr/ER visits of testing to see what the problem could be. Tested for heart failure, liver disease, kidney failure/disease, lung, lupus, ms, chest x-ray, ekg and a brain CT scan...all to be negative THANK GOD! All of my Dr's including the ER staff said....hmmmm I think its the NUVARING! After some research my symptoms matched the nuvaring side effects exactly...the part that says...if you have any of these...then call the Dr. immediately. It has been approx a week and 1/2 of the removal of the Nuvaring and the headaches are no longer everyday or a "10" in rating. I was so busy typing that I forgot to mention that I match quite a few of your symptons as well...like no sex drive, depression, nausea, dizziness etc. I'm not sure about what happened and if my symptoms will go away without the nuvaring. I can say that it is worth a try. I also want to tell you all that no, you are not crazy and please listen to your body. Nuvaring came along when I really needed to regulate my periods...so I know the feeling of being relieved, but I wish I had taken a break from a 3 year run with the "Nuvaring". Please take care!

Second Update.
Girls, something strange is going on with my body.
I'm due this week to change my ring for the Third cycle;
and i've been bleeding for a week or so already.
And not to seem graphic but the blood has been a
darker color. And there seems to be other things
in the toilet, dangly things. I hope its not blood clots.
Should I be worried about the blood color?
I'm about over this.

I switched my birth control from the pill to nuvaring a little over five months ago. I am a graduate student/research assistant and have been in a great relationship for 3 years. I know myself and I know my body, SOMETHING WAS SEVERELY WRONG. I knew there was something happening inside me. I have been off nuvaring for almost two weeks and I feel significantly better. These were my symptoms:

PHYSICAL:
-severe leg pains
-pains in my arms
-chest pains
-shortness of breath
-headaches
-blurred vision
-weight gain
-rapid heart beat

EMOTIONAL:
-depression
-anxiety
-feeling of hopelessness
-easily discouraged
-rapid mood swings
-withdrawl from talking to people
-feeling like a burden to others
-paranoia

I had never felt like this before, and I thought I was going crazy. I could not explain what was happening. If you feel any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor immediately! Physical symtoms could be signs of blood clots, which can result in death. And even more painful were the emotional side effects. If you are feeling any thing like this please talk to someone or even email me! Nothing will happen if you take the ring out early, but definitely consult a doctor. If you do take the ring out, please be safe and use a condom. You are not alone! Everyone's body is different and sometimes we need to listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us.

I am sooo relieved that I found this site. OMG. I was on the NR before for about a year and 3 months. I didn't have any side effects whatsoever. I went of the NR because my boyfriend and I broke-up and I wasn't having sex. About 4 months later, I developed 2 ovarian cysts that ended up rupturing in my right ovary. BTW, I turned 30 in the same month. I was in so much abdominal pain, hot flashes, painful menstrual cycle, passing huge blood clots, depression, crying all the time, thoughts of suicide, anxiety attacks, very irritable, easily frustrated, inability to concentrate, and nausea. I had NEVER had any bouts of depression, crying all the time, thoughts of suicide, anxiety attacks in my life before. NEVER! My OB/GYN told me my hormones were all out of wack and that I should go back on the NR to regulate my hormones. So, I went back on the NR, my cysts went away and I felt 100% better immediately. Now it's 2 months later and I'm having all the same symptoms I had before the NR, although, it’s not as bad as it was before. Apparently, I'm still ovulating while on the NR although the NR STOPS ovulation. I have developed more cyst(s), haven't gone for the ultrasound yet, in my right ovary, even though my last ultrasound showed that the last 2 cysts went away. Right now, I am emotionally drained and physically in a lot of pain. I think that if I get off the NR my symptoms would be a lot worst. I’m allergic to the patch because of the adhesive, coming off of depo caused too much pain, and I forget to take the pill. So I don't know what to do.

Hi guys, I've been using the NR for about 8 months and i am experiencing very painful leg crapms in my claves. It happenes once a month or so, but they seem to be getting more frequent. Is anybody else going through this too? please let me know/

I was hospitalized for 8 days due to having mulitple blood clots on my lung, caused by taking the birth control- Nuvaring.. Beware if you are taking this form of birth control. I'm only 32 years old and it's becoming more common that women are experiencing these life-threathing effects while taking Nuvaring.

I started on the NR on the 11th of this month, the first week was pretty good just a little cramping(I chalked it up to having to get used to a new drug) on the 20th I started getting severe lower back pains I could barely stand to do my filing at work. the back pains have continued, I went camping this weekend & could not even enjoy my weekend with my daughter Saturday afternoon I started to experience a severe headache, nausea, light headedness, blurry vision, not to mention that I could barely open my eyes due to such pain from my headache. I was going to go home that night because I was feeling so horrible but I knew that I would not be able to drive for 1 1/2 hours feeling like this. I tried tylenol, ibuprofen, & even a percocet to try to relieve the pain. nothing worked. I decided to drive home on Sunday morning & on the way home I had to pull over to vomit twice & the headache just got worse. I decided to research the side effects a little more thouroghly since trying the NR was the only thing that I had changing in this time & never having such severe pains & headache before. I was shocked that a drug with some of the side effects is on the market. I have also had an experience with blood clots in the past & now I am getting worried about the aches that I have been experiencing in my legs & arms. I have taken the NR out tonight & I will let you know if things improve. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS DRUG FOR ANYBODY!!!

I still think a class action lawsuit should be filed and this product taken off of the market, i felt like i lost 3 years of my life on this medication!! Not to mention i put my husband and daughter thru hell!!

I started having oily hair which is unusual for me, then I started crying everyday and became very lethargic. Then my scalp felt like it was on fire, and I noticed my hair falling out. I was also becoming really angry. I got so depressed that I felt I just couldn't live anymore. I was actually looking for a connection between scalp problems and the Nuvaring on the internet when I found out that many women experienced depression with the Nuva ring. I have had it in 5 months, and was going to leave it in until my period until I realized the increased risk for blood clots as well. So I took it out last night. I like the concept of it, but the hormones suck.

Guest #40983:

OMG if you are having leg cramps take the Nuva Ring out IMMEDIATELY and either visit the ER or call your doctor. I can't believe whoever gave you the prescription did not warn you that leg cramps are THE serious indicator of birth control-induced blood clots, which can and have killed young women on the Nuva Ring. The clots travel from your legs into your lungs and brain, causing a stroke. If one leg is swollen or red, or cramping severely, take the ring out!!!