NuvaRing and breast tenderness

I have used the NuvaRing for about 3.5 years, starting after my 6 week check up when my daughter was born in 2004. In the beginning I felt like it decreased my sex drive but also that maybe post baby body that caused that too. For three years I had no problems. I had noticed breast tenderness throughout but other than that no side effects. About 8 months ago it began with a missed period, then two periods in one month. My OBGYN recommended 'resetting' my body by taking out the ring until my next cycle and starting it up again. I followed his directions but the next cycle came along with a bladder infection followed by a yeast infection. Over the next 4 months I either had one or the other, continually visiting my doctor I didn't make any connection to the two. Stomach pain, chronic fatigue and kidney pain also added to the list. My doctor prescribed a series of medications followed by blood tests and a referral to a specialist. Over the summer my husband asked that I stop using the ring because my sex drive had hit rock bottom. After a few weeks of taking out the ring, the burning sensation during urination has gone away. Stomach cramps and back pain has ceased and no infection to date. I am in my early thirties and after a week off the ring I realized what they mean by 30's sex drive. My husband and I are both happy with the changes. I visit my OBGYN again in a few weeks to revisit non-hormone options for BC

I have been on nuvaring for about a year now. I am 23 and have used probably 4 diff types of BC. All of them start out great, including nuvaring. I loved it at first and did not have any bad side effects until about a month or two ago. I have had zero energy, a definite decrease in pleasure from life, i have no desire to even leave my house and when i do the smallest task becomes exhausting. I just feel apathetic towards everything. Nuvaring has also KILLED my sex drive. I don't even think about it, i have no desire ever, and it hurts when my bf and i try to have sex. The scariest part for me is that it has also taken away any desire to be touched at all by him. Even when he tried to cuddle me i would push him away. It also changed my feelings about him, i started to think i didn't like him anymore. Other side effects include: breast tenderness and swelling, irritability, moodiness, decrease in self esteem, change in self image, random vague lower abdominal pains, vaginal burning, swelling and discomfort. I took out the ring 3 days ago, i am done with it for good. Already i feel so much better! I feel lighter and happier, and i can already feel my sex drive coming back! I also am done with hormonal BC and am going to get a diaphragm, if that doesn't work than it is back to a copper iud for me!

I am 44, have had an endometrial ablation surgery to try to put a stop to heavy, ridiculous, debilitating periods (I also have a tipped uterus...) and had very intermittent periods for a couple of years after surgery. Now they're back on a 28 day cycle and I reluctantly went back on birth control. Since on nuvaring two weeks I've had a heavy discharge, low back pain-- and the worst of it is breast tenderness, moodiness and tiredness that mimic the symptoms of pregnancy. I, like many contributors here, feel like condoms and spermicides are a better option. My GYN whom I trust a great deal is a big fan of NuvaRing

I've been using NuvaRing for over a year. It's very convenient, but I have continued to experience extreme breast tenderness (this is much reduced during the week of my period after I remove the ring). When I get up to go to the bathroom at night (when I'm not wearing a bra), I actually hold my breasts up with my hands because they hurt from the movement of walking around. The nurse practitioner at Planned Parenthood told me she'd never heard anyone mention this symptom and it was probably not related to the ring, so I ignored it for a long time. However, after finally doing some online research, I'm switching back to the pill.

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

Has anyone had vaginal bleeding because the NuvaRing irritated your vagina? I had a little bit of break-thru bleeding earlier in my cycle but now the blood looks more like it is coming from something else...I have used a diaphram before and that would really irritate my vagina during sex, I would lightly bleed for the next day or two. My bleeding now looks a lot like my vagina is really irritated similar to using the diaphram. I've had some mood swings--mostly deep lows and being incredibly impatient/irritable which I'm normally not like. Lots of breast tenderness, too. My gyno swore that the NuvaRing with finally be the BC that would work for me (I've been a numerous types of pills) but I've been on it for two months and so far things are not looking too promising...

I have been on the NuvaRing for exactly a week and I can already feel the side effects. The biggest problem has been insomnia. For the past 3 days I have been waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to sleep until the morning, when I need to get up anyway. So for the rest of the day I'm tired, and unproductive. Second, I have not been able to deal with my regular problems, as I normally would. I'm sensitive, and have cried more the past 2-3 days than in the past few months. I have had a amazing increase in appetite, (and therefore probably weight gain, but have not checked), have breast tenderness, and absolutely NO SEX DRIVE as I normally do. Strangely, I've had this itching sensation everywhere when I wake up at night, specially in the genital area. I feel like I wanna get off of it immediately, specially after reading all your posts girls. What do you suggest???

has anyone noticed excessive breast tenderness with the NuvaRing. my boobs have always been a little sore the week before my period, but now they start feeling sore, and even aching, up to two weeks before. it freaks me out monthly as breast tenderness is a sign of pregnancy.

My experience with NuvaRing is very similar. I got on the ring last April after being on Depo for seven years. I loved the shot and I loved not having to deal with periods or cramps or emotional issues, but my doctor was concerned about my bone density and took me off of it.

My side effects with NuvaRing are as follows:
- EXTREME irritability and emotional distress to the point where I feel completely out of control.
- Zero sex drive.
- Pain during sex (which on top of the lack of a sex drive makes for a very sad sex life with my fiance).
- Constant yeast infections.
- Odor.
- The type of cramping that keeps you from going to work.
- Extreme breast tenderness.

I have my annual exam next month and will definitely be getting off NuvaRing. I want my life back!

I started the NuvaRing in October..since then I have constant breast tenderness and pains in my pelvic region. After inserting a new one each month I feel a burning sensation inside. I wear contacts daily and since starting the NuvaRing they have become intolerable to wear. The first month I used the ring, I bled for 4 weeks straight. I have also gotten nauseous in the morning when I'm working out. Have thought several times I was pregnant and taken tests that have all come up negative.

Has anyone else experienced the discomfort and eye irritations?

I have been on the ring for two weeks today. At first I thought it was great...but the past few days I have had horrible headaches, breast tenderness, and nausea. These headaches are so bad even my migraine meds do not help! I did just get the Gardasil shot on the 26th of Dec. The breast tenderness and the headaches are going to cause me to remove the ring. At first I was worried that maybe these were symptoms of being pregnant... I don't think that is the case (hoping it isn't the case!) Does anyone know the effects of taking the ring out a week early? Any advice would be great!

I hate the NuvaRing! it has done nothing but make me depressed , nauseas and give me bad mood swings! I only been on it for a week but I am not willing to wait and see if the side effects go away!

Okay soo... I have said before that I liked it... well my mind might be changing. I had a bladder infection last month and after using antibiotics to get rid of it got a yeast infection which is not abnormal, when I use antibiotics I normally get a yeast infection. Well this month around the same time I got a slight yeast infection. I have also had breast tenderness the last week or so, I had a weird discharge on saturday but it only lasted one day and I was very emotional last week. So... here is my dilemma is this because of the ring or am I pregnant? (we did have sex while I was on antibiotics which does counter-act birth controll) I took a in home pregnancy test two weeks ago and it came up negative. But I had a friend who was on birth control and her in home tests came up negative when she was pregnant(with twins even). Can anyone help me out here, let me know what you guys think? Or have any of you had negative pregnancy tests on the ring and actually been pregnant? Or has anyone gotten pregnant on the ring? Just some questions I've been having. Thanks!

Hey everyone. Well I have found this blog to be pretty helpful at least to make me feel like I'm not the only one w/ these odd side effects. I have been on NuvaRing for 3 months now. I chose to do the "3 months" continuous ring and with this being the 3rd month to remove the ring, I had the WORST cramps in my life. I felt like I was having labor pains. For the most part NuvaRing has been good. I like that I don't have to remember to take a pill everyday and freak out if I forget. My main symptoms are constant discharge with some what of an odd smell, earlier this week I experienced intense breast tenderness and some discharge from my nipple(which I did freak out about, thinking I was pregnant),I noticed some dizzy spells and head aches here and there but for the most part those are gone. My boobs seem to have gotten bigger, probably half a cup size (yea).
Over all I am pleased with NuvaRing, I think I will just have to monitor my side effects to see if they are constant problem.

I've been on NuvaRing for two months now. at first I thought it was great. I had been on 6 other birth controls over the past 6 or 7 years, and I had horrible side effects from the other bc . the first month I used NuvaRing I felt sooo sick I thought I caught the flu and no meds worked to help my flu, I was also very depressed and really anti social which pissed my boyfriend off a lot. I also had absolutely no sex drive ( that pissed him off even more... pissed me off too) I started to have breast tenderness and vaginal discharge the second week I was on the NuvaRing. it got progressively worse as I started to get my period I had heavy bleeding and even more cramps than normal ( usually I am curled up in bed wishing that I could just die the cramps are that bad. they were worse on the NuvaRing) than the second month I started to have weird thoughts and grew even more depressed to the point that it was effecting my life in a serious way I spent two weeks in bed it was horrible. so today I decided to stop NuvaRing I had horrid cramps so bad that I fell on the floor at work from the pain. a warning to all of you ladies that think this is great plz read up on it and be careful.

I just want to mention that for those of you who react poorly to hormonal birth control, as I do, it is worth considering a non-hormonal IUD if you are in a monogamous relationship. For me, it was a godsend. Although most often given to women that have had children already, plenty of Dr's will consider if your experience with hormonal BC forms has been bad. Every pill, ring, patch, etc, I tried caused bad side effects, all of which have been listed and discussed already. The copper IUD, on the other hand, does not interfere with your body's natural hormonal cycle. There can be some cramping (sometimes severe, especially directly after insertion) and heavier flow, but to me, these are worth it. I take ibuprofen a day or two each month for the cramps but nausea, lack of sex drive, mood swings, anxiety/depression, breast tenderness, etc etc are a thing of the past! And it's good for 10 years! Good luck ladies.

I have been on the NuvaRing for about 6 months now. I have endometriosis and I'm anemic both run in my family on both sides. I went to my doctor to ask what birth control method would be better for me than the pill because my hectic life doesn't have a set schedule and she recommended the depo shot or the NuvaRing. After hearing about the pros and cons of both forms of birth control I opted for the NuvaRing.
I love it! I don't have to worry about taking a pill every day and I don't have to worry about getting a shot every 3 months. I use the NuvaRing to stop my periods, which stops the progression of the endometriosis, which will lessen my chances of becoming infertile by the time I want to have children.
I have had no negative side affects from the NuvaRing. I have had some breast tenderness but I'm only 19 and I think it is due to my breasts growing and not the NuvaRing. My mother's breasts grew until she was about 21 or 22.
My sex drive is actually greater than it was before because I don't have to worry and my long term boyfriend loves it! Neither one of us have to worry about an unwanted pregnancy and I would recommend this method of birth control to anyone, especially someone who's life is as hectic as mine!

Been on this thing about 10 months, recently have been having blurred vision and 2 days ago passed out, thankfully not while driving with my two children in the car. Decided to see if this was what was causing all these problems. Other side effects have been no sex drive, cranky, anxiety, mood swings, eating all the time, breast tenderness, excessive discharge-usually about a week after inserting a new ring- but to the point of changing panties 2-3 times daily and then before bed, headache, back ache- upper and lower. Obviously I think this may be what is causing all of this due to the many of other women that are experiencing the same things, and also that a few of the serious symptoms are listed on the official web site. I have every form of birth control other than the IUD and of course having my tubes tied. I am at the point that I want to try the IUD, but am tired of all the side effects from every one I have ever tried.

I had used NR for 2 months and decided that I couldnt afford the cost each month. I took my ring out 20 days ago, and for the past few days have been experiencing pretty painful breast tenderness and swelling. I took a pregnancy test and it was negative, but the symptoms feel like they did when I was pregnant. I have also been having a hard time sleeping. I didnt know if these were normal symptoms after taking the ring out.

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 started Nuvaring in March 2007 after a hospital stint due to my IUD. I had the IUD for several years after the birth of my last child and then I developed PID and it had to be removed. I had always been against hormonal birth control for a few reasons. 1. My mother died of breast cancer and 2. I had a strong reaction to the Pill. But, feeling desperate for a reliable form of birth control left me with very little to choose from. My family was complete so Nuvaring was the next best thing to the IUD. Big Mistake! I should have followed my instinct because for the 6 months on it, my life was a nightmare. I had terrible mood swings, nausea, breast tenderness, pain in my pelvic region, numbness and tingling in my arms and legs, zero sex drive, headaches, sleeplessnes, cold sweats, hypertension, elevated pulse, sleepiness, and 15 lbs of weight gain. There are more side effects, but these were the most dominant and I had had enough. I took it out 2 weeks ago, before my period was scheduled to start, but I just couldn't take how I felt anymore. I am starting to feel more like myself again but I am really frustrated about the weight gain and wonder if it will drop off or if I am going to have to work twice as hard as before to watch my weight. I would love to hear anyone else's experiences once off of Nuvaring. All I can say is 6 months was much too long. It just wasn't worth the side effects.

I am just about to finish my 3rd month of nuvaring. I have never been able to take the pill (I either vomit, or bleed non-stop). I have been having side effects that are increasing daily. I have a bit of lower back pain, started bleeding the day before I took it out on the 2nd month. I have been spotting this month since Thursday of last week, and have 3 more days before I am supposed to take it out. I am using a tampon today because it is so heavy.
I have nausea that comes in waves for the first 10 days. I also have severe breast tenderness.
I have minor headaches in the early evenings. I am not a headache person; never really have them.
The worst part is is the panic attacks (which I have never had). It starts with me holding my breath, tightness in my chest, and severe anxiety. I have felt weepy and out of control. It is getting worse the longer I am on it. It feels like someone else is driving my feelings. I don't recognize myself, nor my reactions to things. I feel a bit paranoid about things. My fears have been irrational. I feel sad, and cry for no reason at some point every day. On the 6th day after I put it in, each month, I have cried the entire day. I am taking it out tomorrow after I speak to my doctor, and getting an IUD. This is a nightmare. I also have night sweats. I also think it is pushing on my bladder. I feel like I have to urinate all the time, and then I sit down to pee the tiniest amount imaginable, and I do not have the ability to push my urine out quickly, which I could do before the ring was in. I had my doctor check me for a UTI, or any other problem like that, but I was "fine."

Right now, I'm in shock of all the reviews because I started the Nuvaring 08/17. By 08/19 when I checked the ring..a glump of white discharge came out. I thought then.. wow it's really starting to protect me. By 08/21 I had irritation down their and called the doctor...which was yeast infection. I ignored and took the medicine and thought maybe my body just trying to get used to it. By a week later... I was a walking nightmare. I would be mad at the world. I had all the systems of pregnancy. Breast tenderness, nausea 4 times a day, constant eating. I had lost 68 lbs in a year before I got on this thing and due to this ring in me I gained 8 lbs. and that's with me lifting weights 4 times a week and cardio 11/2 - 2hours a day everyday ...although I was eating for possible 4 people. I constantly slept my days away. You would've thought I should had been the most well rested person after all the sleep I did. When I came to this site... and read everything....I immediately ran to the bathroom and ripped it out. After 1 1/2 weeks.. was enough for me to see what it could've done. I want to say thank you to each and every one of you that typed a review because now... I don't have to walk around mad with the world. I'm sure when I walked out of stores and etc... people were calling me every name in the book due to my attitude and my co workers looking at me like...she's going to gain every bit of weight she lost if she keeps eating 3 separate meals just for breakfast not including lunch and dinner. GOOD LOOKING OUT... LADIES.. THANKS SO MUCH.

I've been on NuvaRing for almost a year now and am I realizing my low sex drive and depression is the cause of the Ring.

Since starting the ring I've had the following symptoms:
- low sex drive
- leg cramp (restless leg)
- depression/moodiness
- lack of energy/sleepy
- breast/nipple tenderness

I also have a microscopic amount of blood in my urine and I'm being tested next week- but this could be unrelated.

The depression thing just hit me when I visited this site- for months I've been detached and in an emotional slump. I don't want to talk to anyone at work, and I'm dying to get home at the end of the day just to lock myself in my room and not answer the phone if anyone calls.

I also feel completely uninterested in my boyfriend of 8 years emotionally and sexually - this is unusual since our relationship has been getting better over time - because of the Ring I feel detached from him and sometimes feel like I could care less if I go weeks without seeing or talking to him which is very unusual for me.

I've also had about a 15 lb. weight gain in the past 5 years from using birth control- I'm nervous to stop NuvaRing because I've heard it actually helps with weightloss.

I've been on the NR for over a year now. When I first started I had some pretty severe breast tenderness but that was all. The only time I have any of these "side effects" is when I'm starting my period. And hello every women has mood swings and is overly emotional around that time of the month. My sex drive is as high as ever. I am only stopping it because my husband and I are trying to get pregnant. But as soon as we have a baby I plan to go right back on it.

This is my 3rd time around on the ring. The first time in college for almost 2 years, the second time for 5 months and this is my 2nd week for round three. However, this is the first time I have had side effects. I'm always hungry, I pee every hour on the hour, I have breast tenderness, and no matter how hard I work out through the week, my stomach is still bloated!! I'm hoping that it will pass after I take it out next week!

so i've been using NR for about 7 months now and up until this point I really didn't think much of it....I've recently (the past 3 weeks) began feeling nausea, dizziness, close to fainting, gas, slight cramps, breast tenderness, chest aches, constipation....all signs of pregnancy..its too soon to tell if i am or not, but regardless ...if i am..the ring didn't work because i did everything right...and if i'm not....then thats bad...i shouldn't be living my life feeling like this..

I've been on nuvaring for over a year. At first, after having kids, me and my husband decide to wait until we have more. My GYNO recommended NUVARING, I've never used any other birth controlls before, because of the side effects.
The thought of controlling ur own period and its 99.9% safe. We get started.
The first week of having it in, I felt like I was in another person's body. It felt so strange and unusual.
I called her to request something else, she said these side effects will go away after 3 months.
DID I MENTION ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR???? Still waiting for the side effects to go away.
BUT now that I'm reading these effects, I know I;m not crazy after all.
I'm always feeling DEPRESSED, suicidal thoughts.
Trouble sleeping, and when I gets up in the morning, I feel like I'm pregnant with MORNING SICKNESS.
UPPER RESP. INFECTION. (thick mucus off my chest in the mornings, alot of runny nose, flu like symptoms). My doctor prescribe antibiotics.
CRYING for no apparant reason.
SEVERE HEADACHES.
BREAST TENDERNESS.
SENSITIVE TO LIGHTS. My husband do all the driving at nights, just to be on the safe side.
MOOD SWINGS that I just cant control, and blaming my husband for everything. Which cause arguments and searartions.
Discomfort during and burning sensation after sex.
Me and my husband were very sexual, atleast 12 times a week, NOW he'll be very lucky if he gets it twice. This NR definately decrease your sexdrive by 100%.
I have severe cramping and burning sensation/indesgestion in my stomach. My doctor says I have ACID REFLUX, AND prescribe PREVACID.
And the main thing, is the yeast infestion. I'm 25yr and I've never had a burning itch or skin irritations in my groins until I went on NR.
I'm still having vaginal discharge and after removing the ring after having it in for 3weeks, on my fourth week, I have a brownish discharge before my period.

I love the ring, but the side effects are CRAZY and they don't just go away after 3 months, as what people would say. I have an appointment with my GYN to get off NR. I'm just gonna stick to non harmonal contraceptives. Hope it works for you.
The good thing is, it increases my bust size..:-).
Good Luck

I've been on NR for about 5 weeks now and think I might remove it after reading everyone's comments. Within the first 4 weeks I've packed on almost 8 lbs. (and I'm small-framed, under 100 lbs.). I also have intense breast tenderness and night sweats. I've felt much more depressed lately but didn't think it was a side effect until I started this research. Previously I was on the depo shot and loved it- but Dr. made me switch, I was on it for a few years. Has anyone tried the progestin only mini-pill?

I guess I have been lucky, I haven't experienced any vaginal pain, excessive discharge, emotional moodswings, or lack of sex drive while on this.

Actually....aside from my boyfriend saying he can feel it at times during sex....I've had no issues with it up until now.

But last night my bf playfully grabbed one of my boobs and I almost screamed from the pain. He commented on how they seemed swollen, and a bit stiff.

Now I am due to take the ring out today, so this may be a side effect that one might experience as it gets close to period time. I'm not sure. All I know is that breast tenderness and swelling is one of the few symptoms I have NEVER experienced. It have NEVER been a PMS symptom for me, nor have I ever experienced it while using other contraceptives.

Has anyone else experienced this while on the NuvaRing?

I am so depressed and sooooo sleepy. Breast tenderness, increased appetite, increased vaginal discharge which ITCHES LIKE HELL. And this thing is always sliding out. I am sick of sticking my hands up my vagina every day. I hate this thing. I am taking it for PMDD and all it is doing is giving me PMDD symptoms 24/7 instead of 2 weeks/month.

The doctor told me to take B vitamins to help eliminate side effects. The day I didn't take my B vitamins I was even more depressed, so maybe they can help you. But I think this Nuvaring is horrible and am really tempted to rip it out instead of waiting to see if the side effects go away.

I've been on the ring for about 3 months now and I enjoy it. I do have breast tenderness and on and off headaches. I thought I was pregnent at first but realized it was the ring's side affects. One thing I am concerned about is the moodiness I've been having. My life was fine before I tried the ring, now i'm at the point where I want to leave my 5 year relationship with my boyfriend and he can't stand me anymore. Whats even worse is I have a year lease on our apartment. He's thinks I'm cheating(which I'm not). I'm caring less and less about him and my love towards him is changing. Could this be the ring or something else? I'm at the point where I want to cry everyday because I hate my life and I want to see a therapist. I'm spilling my guts out but there it goes....my side effects.

I love the RING. I was on the pill FOREVER then I changed to Seasonal. I hated that because i ALWAYS had my period. Then I switched to the patch. I loved that but hated the tan lines (i know.... very vain). Also, the risks seemed MUCH higher than any other bc (health wise). So, I got on the ring. I love it love it love it! I don't have any breast tenderness before my period. I used to ALWAYS have breast soreness for about a week before my period.
The one drawback i have with the RING is the DISCHARGE!!!! It's pretty gross. I pretty much hate the constant discharge. But.... i fee like it's worth it.... not having to remember to take a pill, no breast tenderness, no severe moodswings.... I think it effects everyone differently. I think if you lead a fairly healthy life style, the side effects will be few to none. but i'm not a doctor. try it yourself to see....

I have been using Nuvaring for about 4 months and am experiencing dizziness at times, accompanied by mood swings, breast tenderness, and headaches (starting low in my neck and seemingly progressing into migraines). I have also experienced a decrease in my desire for intimacy. I am 25 years old and have tried many types of b.c. pills already. I'm very frustrated at how my body reacts to each type of contraceptive I try.