NuvaRing and breakthrough bleeding

I have been on the NR for almost 2 years. I hate taking pills b/c I would forget to take them on a regular basis and trying to play catch up in just crazy. But I also suffered from chronic yeast infection so my OB suggested the NR and since I have been on it I have not had anymore YI's. However, I have experienced more vaginal secretions than normal; but it has not alarmed. About 2 weeks after inserting NR ..I experienced breakthrough bleeding and I have been since being on NR and it does not alarm me. I suffer from Hot Flashes and night sweats; but that is from my Thyroid Gland. For those of you experiencing Hot Flashes and Night Sweats..have your PCP do a blood test and check your thyroid hormones. The biggest thing that I have noticed is that while on the NR my YI have virtually gone to 0...I have had more Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) than you can shake a stick at. Has anyone else experienced this and if so what are you doing about it?

I started NuvaRing just like the directions stated. I have never taken any birth control ever in my life. I am 30 yrs old and me & my husband have always used condoms. A few hours after inserting it, I had horrible cramps all night. I started feeling different emotionally and physically (bloated). I completely lost my usually high sex drive. I HATE NUVARING!!! I hung in there for the full three weeks, trying to give it a chance. I started having horrible headaches, and I became the biggest bitch in the world. My husband even begged me to take it out. After taking it out, I could tell w/in 24 hours that I was already getting back to the "old me". I am supposed to start my period now, but instead have some funky dark brown discharge and there doesn't seem to be any blood...could this really go on for weeks...any advice???? ~Very Concerned

I have been experiencing problems with the NuvaRing as well. After having my first ring in for just shy of two weeks, my hands and feet started itching a LOT. I just thought it was the change in weather and started lathering them with lotion thinking it would help. It didn't, and in fact, my symptoms worsened to hives on my butt, knees, and hands. My fingers swelled, along with my toes, making it painful to walk. I started researching side effects of NR and found several people having similar symptoms as me. At first I was worried that I was having an allergic reaction to the Gardasil (HPV) shot, which I got on Monday (the 15th), but my skin was starting to itch prior to my shot. After reading up on the NR, I'm starting to think that is what's causing my hives/welts and swelling! I already called my doctor about the swelling, because I thought it was from the Gardasil, but now that I'm almost certain that it's from the NR, I'm going to call them on Monday and tell them I need to stop using it. This is the 5th birth control I've been on in two years...it's getting ridiculous! They can't find one that works for me...the oral pills work for a month or two, and then I start breakthrough bleeding because the hormone levels are too low! I'm starting to think that my body rejects birth control, and that it's not for me! Is this possible?!

I was on the ring for about 10 months. I experianced: headaches, breast tenderness, fibroadenomas & cysts " detected on ultrasound ", mood swings, & irregular periods with constant breakthrough bleeding. I have had trouble ever since. I was taken off the ring in late summer of last year and I have had problems with every other birth control pill since. I have tryed 2, including the one I was on for years before starting the ring. Now, over a month since I stop the last one, I am still having symptoms. I don't have to be on birth control to experiance systems of PMS/Pregnant anymore. The difference between what is going on with me and pms is that it never goes away! It never stops.

I have read these posts and others re: the Nuva Ring and I am pretty convinced that my side effects are from this. i originally started taking BC a yr ago due to abnormal bleeding ie 4 week periods. Before that it was nine years ago the last time I took BC (Depo shot). I bled for a year and my doctor said that no one else was having those problems so she cont to give me the shot. I tried to make an appt after a year of bleeding and the first one available would have been 6 months! Well quit that doctor and quit BC until the bleeding got out of hand. Now with Keriva just felt sick nauseous and tired, still bleeding. With NR no bleeding until this month a whole month of breakthrough bleeding, and I went to take the ring out and it is not there?? I have not been sleeping, it is difficult to wear my contacts, diarrhea, moodiness, weight gain, always hungry, and have increased from 34d to 34dd which is painful, to the point i have to wear a bra to bed.Sex is painful, really dry and I start to cramp, not that it happens that often I have no sex drive and it is impossible to have an orgasm. Still concerned about the missing ring. I did not feel it slip out and I know it can't get "lost", but it is concerning that it could fall out and someone not be able to feel it. I am going to the dr this week...cannot be on NR any longer...

Thank you God! I thought i was loosing my mind....

I have been on the NR for about 6 months now. at first it was great! i didnt have really any problem at all. (I have had issues with Depression in the past and i had been doing better but i found on the pill i had some mood swings so i changed to the NR to try and fix that. BAD CHOICE.) About 2 days before i was supposed to take it out the first time I had horrible cramps and headaches and i thought it was normal. But since then my moods have been INSANE. I am on my "off" week and so far i havent started my period. I am NOT gunna put it back in this month. it just doesnt seem to be worth it. I am terrible to people that i really love and i dont know why. I have gained about 20lbs and im working out more than i ever have. I cry all the time. I get sick all the time. I just called my dr. and set up an appointment. now that i know im not alone, something definitely is gunna change.

Has anyone else completely skipped a period due to the NR? As of today i have skipped and while i dont see how i could be pregnant (only had sex once this month due to my complete lack of wanting too which im realizing now could be contributed to the NR) I am still a little worried.

Thank you so much ladies!

I began using the Nuva Ring four years ago after deciding I was too irresponsible to remember to take The Pill every day. 3 years ago, I started began getting the worst headaches I have ever had in my life, and my sex drive became non-existent. At the time, I decided it was stress-related. I had started school full-time, after taking three years off. In addition to the above side effects I was also slightly emotional and depressed. This continued for three years before I started to notice more changes.

Last December, I realized I had gained 15 lbs. Someone told me they saw it happen over a period of three months. I didn't really notice because I never weigh myself, I have been consistently the same weight for the past 10 years. When my clothes started getting really tight I got on the scale and was shocked. In February, my breasts started swelling to the point that I could not even hug someone without falling over in pain. In addition to this, I was experiencing breakthrough bleeding, which I have never had before. And once again, my sex drive hit the floor.

At the time, I figured it was because I had an impacted wisdom tooth pulled. It started with a tooth infection and then I had it removed, so I was on anti-biotics and pain killers for about 3 weeks. Combined with lack of good nutrition (I could only eat soup and milkshakes), I figured my body was having a hard time adjusting to the change in diet and the sudden surge of medication.

However, this continued the following month, and the one after that, and the one after that...... then I noticed that the breast swelling started about 5-7 days after inserting the Nuva Ring. Followed by that was the breakthrough bleeding. Coincidence? I think not. I then started thinking that maybe all the years of migraines may very well be related to the Nuva Ring.

I decided I was going to consider getting off birth control. I paid a visit to my GYN, and told her about my symptoms. What was her response? "Well, that is so strange, for this to happen 4 years later!" Really? I could have guessed that myself, don't you think? So what was her answer? "You might want to try a different birth control. Have you thought about the patch?" Actually, I'd rather be free of all of this stuff. So I guess what really pissed me off, was that she had no solid answer for me, and just wanted to throw me on something else. Thanks, Doc.

My plan was to continue BC until September, since I am taking a vacation in August and don't want any unpleasant changes in my cycle to ruin my trip. I picked up my new ring on Saturday, and brought it to work with me on Sunday since I had been running late. On the way to work, I get a call from my boyfriend. "Go pick up the New York Post and read the article called Birth Control Killed My Beloved."

So I pick up the paper and read the article. I was in complete shock. These women, young, healthy, and look what happened. I am 24, a smoker, a drinker, and rarely exercise. The only thought going through my head is how lucky I am to be alive and in decent health.

So I made the decision right then and there not to put my ring in. However, still being nervous about my vacation, I thought I would give a call to my GYN to see if she could prescribe me the patch until after my vacation. Before I did this, I googled this event, along with the 37 lawsuits that were filed against Nuva Ring two weeks ago, and found out THEY ARE ALL THE SAME. All of the birth controls. I am now officially off birth control, for the rest of my life. How I could be so oblivious to this, I have no idea.

It is now Monday, the day after I should have started my new cycle. I was hoping to feel like a million dollars, like I have read some women do, but instead I feel like crap. I am extremely moody and have a bad headache. I am hoping I will return to normal soon.

I have one thing to say to all of you: Every woman is different, and every BC is different, but if I were any of you, I would get off whatever you are taking NOW. It's too risky, and who knows what kind of side effects we may have down the road? It's not worth it!

Hi,
I have been on the NR for a little over a year. After hearing about the latest death and the 37 other lawsuits against the company, I started getting worried and want to discontinue the use. After reading everyone elses blogs, I realize I share similar symptons. For the past few months, I have had nausea, especially at night and very bad itching down there. I feel like my sex drive has gone down the tubes as well. I am not sure what else to use. The pills I have used in the past have given me breakthrough bleeding problems. I am 31 years old and don't want to start trying new pills at this stage. Hopefully in the next year my husband and I will become pregnant. What else is out there that we can use aside from condoms? Also, has anyone had problems trying to get pregnant after using the NR?

I have been on NR for several years. I wanted a hassle free birth control. The first side effect I experienced was breakthrough bleeding. I never linked my mood swings, emotions, tiredness to the NR because it releases a low dosage of estrogen. After reading these blogs it completely dawned on me. My boyfriend of four years gets overly frustrated w/ me each month. Sometimes sex would be extremely painful and my body would not work properly. I did not re-insert the NR because I thought that my body needed a break. It has been about two weeks now and my nipples are extremely sore. It hurts to wear a bra and the shower water just kills them. Hopefully my body, my relationship, my sexlife and myself will get back to normal soon. The only thing great about the NR was you did not need to worry about it for three weeks.

I just wanted to add my experience for everyone looking just like me. I started using the Nuva Ring after having a scare with the pill in November. For a while I felt pretty good but I think thing are getting progressively worse. I've had extremely intense headaches at least once a month that are completely debilitating. I have also started having intense emotional swings every month since i've been on the pill. I just changed jobs recently and thought that a lot of my moods were due to that but now I'm realizing that the mood swings start 1-1 1/2 weeks before my period is supposed to start, lasting until my period is done. During the rest of the month I feel relatively normal. The mood swings include everything from spur of the moment crying, to anxiousness, to anger, apathy etc. I've been thinking that the ring was why but I really hadn't been sure until I started reading other people's experiences. I did experience itching although not every month, and more during the 1st week of having it in. I did not experience breakthrough bleeding. Also, I have experienced a delayed period every month, (taking it out Sun. and not bleeding till Thurs.). I would appreciate any feedback from anyone on here with opinions or experiences. Thanks!

I have been taking NR for 6 months now. It was great at first. I didn't realize some of the symptoms I was having were even related to the ring:
severe headaches
nausea
swelling of hands and face to the point of severe pain
breakthrough bleeding
severe mood swings

I took the ring out last night and don't expect to feel better for awhile. I seriously thought I had something wrong with me I didn't put it all together until I didn't have a period this time and then last month I had a really bad one a week before I was supposed to. My family thinks i am insane. I have really depressing thoughts. Before I took it out yesterday I was crying one minute then in a rage the next. My husband said to take it out right now because he couldn't take dealing with me anymore. I woke up this morning bloated and tired but a little better.

I am so glad that I looked up this site. I am not crazy or dying of some uncurable disease. It was just my hormones and whatever else is in that stupid ring.

They told me I had to refrigerate the ring because it releases the hormones by the heat in your body, well what if it doesn't work right. How do they know that it releases the same amount daily like it is supposed to?. I truly feel poisoned and imbalanced.

PROLONGED PERIOD:
(Previously posted erroneously on the Loestrin FE24 page, but this relates to Nuvaring)

I have had a nonstop, heavy period for 9 straight days since using nuvaring. There is next to nothing in the materials they give with the product that warns of this, so I have spent the last two days reading all kinds of stuff on the web trying to figure out what is going on. They mention possible "breakthrough bleeding" which anyone other than a doctor would think of as spotting between periods. But this has been heavy bleeding for 9 straight days with no apparent "end" in sight.

I used nuvaring once about 3 years ago and did not have this problem. In fact, then it viirtually stopped my period. That concerned me, so I stopped taking it. I went back on after my doctor assured me the reduced bleeding was not a concern, and the main PURPOSE for my using it was to reduce my heavy periods and related anemia, Apparently they have changed (lowered) the hormone dose in the nuvaring, and for some of us it is insufficient, causing the "breakthourgh bleeding." (It has taken EXTENSIVE web searching to glean this information.)

I finally removed the nuvaring last night, and while I guess it may take some time, I want my body to normalize from this shock. I've had nausea, and now I am very fatigued from the extended heavy bleeding. This is NOT what I signed up for. Some responses out there suggest that this problem may "correct" itself in 1-3 months once the body adjusts to the hormone levels dispensed by the nuvaring, but personally I cannot endure this level of interference with my life that long, and the fatigue is becoming debilitating.

I think there needs to be improved warnings and disclosures with this product. Hope this helps someone searching for answers as I was. KN

Although I am not a woman, my fiance is using nuvaring, and on her 2nd day, she's vomited 2 or 3 times. I went to a professional health web-site that listed the "COMMON" side effects of nuvaring, which are:

More common side effects may include:
Abdominal cramps, allergic rash, bloating, blood clots, breakthrough bleeding and spotting, breast secretions, change in menstrual flow, changes in the breast such as tenderness or enlargement, dark pigmentation of the skin, decreased milk production in nursing mothers, depression, emotional instability, gallbladder disease, headaches, heart attack, high blood pressure, intolerance to contact lenses, liver disease, liver tumors, migraine headaches, missed periods, nausea, problems with the ring, sinus inflammation, stroke, swelling, temporary infertility after discontinuing NuvaRing, upper respiratory tract infections, vaginal inflammation or discharge, vision problems, vomiting, weight gain or loss, yeast infections, yellow tint to the skin

These are DANGEROUS side effects. not to mention they're "common". i don't know what you girls must be going through, but I really don't want my fiance going through these things. she's always been really sensitive to medicine and changes in her medicine. I am not a gullible person and I'm usually pretty skeptical when it comes to things like this, but I honestly do not think that NuvaRing is a stable product. As one other girl on here mentioned, my fiance recieved a sample and prescription for it. we read through literally EVERYTHING she received, NO side effects listed *whatsoever* She's already had problems in the past with depression, this is really the last thing she needs.

This is more of a vent. sorry to waste space, but people need to know what they're putting in their bodies.

If this WAS a safe product, they would freely and openly tell the people they're handing these rings out to, the common side effects. BUT if they did that, no one would buy this thing. It seems more like quick release of a new product without proper testing.

Stay SAFE! just because a doctor gives it to you, doesn't mean its safe.

I know that many people come here because they have experienced problems with the Ring, so I don't know if the information here accurately represents the "common" side effects or not.

For me, I was on Ortho-Lo for the last year, and I just don't think it worked well with my body chemistry. I have always had problems with my BC, and with Ortho-Lo I experienced nausea, mood swings, and worst of all--severe depression.

Like many Ring users, I had never been depressed before in my life. I started questioning every decision I had made in life, and constantly felt homesick. I never thought that the Ortho-Lo could have been the cause until I started reading this.

My doctor just put me on the Ring a few days ago, but so far I have been very pleased. I always had a hard time remembering to take my pills, and one reason my doctor recommended the Ring is because I have breakthrough bleeding so much that she can never get a Pap from me.

Immediately after putting in the Ring, my breakthrough bleeding stopped. I have had no headaches, discharge, vaginal irritation or nausea. I have been a little irritable, but I assume it is because I just switched BC.

As far as sex drive, I hadn't thought about it because I am still not supposed to have sex for another few days (my doctor told me to leave it in for 7 days before having sex). BUT I have felt sexually attracted to my BF, I just know I can't get carried away with those thoughts until I am in the safe-zone with the Ring.

My body chemistry tends to be very different from most women I know, but I have a hopeful feeling that there are some women out there who will be greatly benefitted by the Ring...maybe I will be one of them!

Wow - I have been lucky on the ring. I've been on NuvaRing for over a year now. My side effects are recurring yeast infections, spotting, and increased discharge.

I was on daily pill BC for 10 years (4 months on, one week off). I switched to Seasonale for a few months and I had terrible depression, weight gain, etc. Then I moved on to NuvaRing. At first I had some cramping and diarrhea, but it resovled quickly. I never had depression or headaches on the ring. However, I have been battling yeast infections. My doctor suggested that I clean well after intercourse and sleep without panties to keep the area as dry as possible. I've gone for 3 months without a yeast infection so I hope it continues to work.

I'm using the ring continuous, but after about 3-4 rings (9-12 weeks) I have breakthrough bleeding. The only way to rid it is to go off the ring for a week, have a light period, and then start again.

Good luck to everyone in finding a BC that works for you!

I've been using the ring for barely more than a week and have had breakthrough bleeding and low energy. I had gone off the pill three months before and had adjusted to my normal cycles, so I am fully able to distinguish between 'normal' and 'hormonally-controlled'. This is similar to the pill for me. No difference. I'm not interested in an "adjustment period". I've NEVER adjusted to synthetic hormones and I don't expect to this time. May be my last month for the ring.