NuvaRing and convenience

You have no idea how happy I was when I found this site. I went through a TERRIBLE experience with NuvaRing for almost four months. And for me, it progressively got worse...which made it harder to pinpoint what was going on with me.

In June, I went to my annual checkup and just asked my doc what my other options were regarding birth control. There was nothing really wrong with the current one I was on...I just was interested in hearing what else was out there. He mentioned the NuvaRing and I was intrigued by the convenience of it so I decided to give it a shot.

Everything seemed fine at first. But it was hard to tell because I was going through some changes in my life and had a sinus infection the first week...so that overshadowed anything I may have normally noticed in a switch. So, I was loving the convenience of not having to worry about a pill each day and just going about my business.

As I mentioned, I was going through some changes and had a lot on my mind, but then I started to notice how I would dwell on the negative things. And by dwell, I mean they were starting to consume me. It was all I could think about. I started questioning my friendships and my marriage...and I have WONDERFUL friends and an AMAZING husband...the thought of this now is absurd to me.

I found myself getting upset at the drop of a hat. I was extremely sensitive to anything slightly off that my husband would say. Toward the end of this, I was crying pretty much every day. And I kept saying, "I don't know what's wrong with me...I'm trying to get over this, but I don't know what's wrong." Which caused me to be even more confused and contributed to more sadness.

I am a person who loves working out. Many days, I was so tired and unmotivated...all I wanted to do was lay around and watch TV. I also now realize that the reason I was feeling short of breath and anxious was because of the ring. One thing that really scares me...there was a point where my hand felt asleep/numb and it lasted for two full days. After reading other posts, I'm thinking it might have all been related. Truly scary. I also experienced the dryness and itching as well. Horrible.

I really feel sorry for anyone who has had this type of experience. To question your relationships, to put the people you love most through this...it was a really sad time for me. I feel for any of you that have had to deal with this.

For reference: I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen for probably 6-7 years, and then Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo for the few years before the ring. I really had no issues with either. I thought this was supposed to have even lower hormone levels, so I thought it would be fine. Not the case.

Please pay attention and if you experience symptoms like many reported on this site, take it out! I took it out before bed, once I realized it might be the problem...and I felt way better even the next morning. It's now been a week and I haven't cried since. :) Good sign. I feel like myself again.

Good luck to you, ladies. :)

I have been reading all of your posts and I am surprised by what I am hearing. Especially the depression, loss of sex drive, and hair loss. I did check out their website (http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/aboutNuvaRing/possibleSideEffects/index.asp) and it seems they are actually pretty honest about the possible side effects. HOWEVER... although I checked the site before I started taking the ring 2 years ago, I kind of ignored the "possible" side effects as just that, "possible." Because I've never had any problems with medications or birth control before I didn't think they would happen to me.

Last week I 2 days late in putting in the ring and since then my breasts have been SO tender I can barely walk. Seriously, it's awful and I know it is the hormones from the ring. Until this point, I have had no problems with it, in fact I have really enjoyed its convenience and effectiveness. But after reading all of your posts I am wondering if I should rethink using it... I have been feeling really down, angry and anxious over the last few months and not really craving sex with my boyfriend like a 22 year old women should!! I don't want to over react and blame it on the NuvaRing if it could be other things in my life, but I also don't want to ignore it either because if taking the ring out would make me feel better, more healthy, less angry, etc...

What should I do?

I started taking NuvaRing after my son was born, 15 months ago. I loved the relief of not having to take a pill at the same time every day, I had a hard time remembering. I had no problem with the NuvaRing, I loved it! I don't have medical insurance, so i switched to a cheaper option. I had been rapidly losing my sex drive when I was on the NuvaRing, but i had just assumed that it was due to the lack of sleep from having a toddler. Within one week of taking the NuvaRing out, I had regained all of my sex drive. It has been AMAZING. I truly loved the NuvaRing, but this is a side effect that was just not worth the convenience of the NuvaRing.

I have been on the nuvaring for a little over 3 years now and have never thought to search for possible side effects until now.
I am constantly tired, I never want to do anything, My body aches. I have NO sex drive. I'm always dealing with depression. I randomly cry for no reason. I've ruptured a cyst on my ovaries which landed me in the ER...
Finding this site is making me really rethink my bc choice. I love the convenience of the Nuvaring, but I miss having energy :(
Any suggestions on what i should switch to?

I just had a baby about 8 weeks ago and started nuvaring and have only been on it for 2 days and i am already feeling nausea, headaches and severe cramps. i took it out and felt a relief of pressure immediately. i don't know if it is just because i just had a baby but it was not fun and i don't think i will use it again, it is not worth the effects you get from it.

Hi I'm 19 years old, I've been on the NuvaRing for about 4 months now and I'm taking it out this weekend to switch to the pill. I loved the convenience of it and not having to worry about taking a pill everyday and it was always comfortable. But I've noticed in the past 3 months or so that all I do is sleep! I've experienced the worst fatigue of my life and I've been really depressed for no reason and have no interest in doing anything which is not myself at all. I've had crazy mood swings where I'll be screaming or crying one second then laughing the next, absolutely no sex drive and always dry during sex, every little thing irritates me, i'm always hungry but have only gained about 5-10 lbs, I'm bloated, my skin is always itchy and extreme vaginal itching, I've had a yeast infection, a urinary tract infection and bacterial vaginosis all in one month of using NR, and I've noticed I've been stuttering here and there as well? I was always recommending the NR to my friends because of it's convenience but after reading this I realize that all of my symptoms are due to NR and I do not recommend this anymore!

My doctor put me on Nuvaring about four months ago to prevent my rupturing ovarian cysts and to prevent pregnancy. I love the convenience of the ring, although I have experienced several side effects I contribute to being on the ring. First of all, my sex drive is now non existent, which is a large change for me. Also, my periods have become worse since starting, I have very heavy bleeding, primarily dark brown clotted blood and severe cramps which travel to my back and down my legs. I have also had three yeast infections in four months, which before the ring, I had one my entire life. The worst of the symptoms, which if anyone else is having this, PLEASE share with me, is I am leaking a small amount of urine. It doesn;t matter if I have to go to the bathroom or not, I just leak a few drops an hour. This has started a few weeks ago and I am not sure how or why. I do have to say, since starting the ring, I have not had any ovarian cysts rupture, which the several birth control pills I have been on for the past 12 years have not been able to stop. I am open to suggestions!!

I’ve been on the ring for a year now. I loved the convenience of not having to take a pill every day. But I’ve gained 13 lbs over the past year and now I’m convinced it had to be the ring. I had asked my doctor before going on any birth control if there was a risk of gaining weight but she told me that was a myth and not to worry about it. So when I gained about 10 lbs the first 4 months I was on the ring I just chocked it up to being a newlywed, turning 29 and just over all weight gain. Then about 6 months after being on the ring I realized I looked and felt bloated all the time. It was like PMS bloating but it never went away. So for the past two months, I’ve been watching what I eat and working out. I had noticed that I seemed less bloated but to my surprise this week when I went to the doctor I hadn’t lost a single pound. I’ve decided I’m going to switch to the pill and hope I’m able to lose the weight. So I’d tell anyone that’s going on the ring, if you notice ANY weight gain don’t make excuses and get off the ring ASAP before you gain more. I’d love to hear from anyone that had success in losing the weight after getting off the ring but you probably aren’t online looking up the ring once you’re off…

With my NuvaRing experience, at first it was all great! I was loving the convenience, it seemed perfect for me and then the side effects started. At first it was nausea. Then came the vomiting. NOW I am experiencing back pain, abdominal pain, severe fatigue, vaginal discharge, tingling in my finger tips and toes. I have only been on the Ring for 2 months but KNOW I have already gained weight. My mid-section is bloated and I FEEL pregnant but no that I am not. Mine is coming out tonight.

I can not say that NuvaRing is the reason for my illnesses but I am a fitness competitor and athlete and have always been very healthy with the exception of IBS that was diagnosed 5 or 6 years ago.
I am 37 years old and started using NR in August of 2008. In late August I went to emergency for extreme pain in my back and stomach. They put me in surgery to remove what turned out to be healthy appendix. Since then I have been to the Dr constantly with fevers, sinus infections, ear infection, bronchitis and most recently am undergoing tests to find out why my kidneys and pancreas are infected. I have been on antibiotics 4 times since January.
I started putting time lines together and decided to research the NR further. After looking at many symptoms, I opted to take the NR out in April of this year and go back to the pill.
I go back for another set of tests on my kidneys and pancreas next week and hope to find all is well. I have been off antibiotics now for 3 weeks and no sinus, ear or upper respiratory infections for the first time in month.
This is all unfortunate because I did appreciate the convenience of the NR but I am not willing to risk my health.

I last posted here that I started the ring March 6, 2008 that everything was going so far so good with the NuvaRing and its now April 5, 2009 and I'm getting off of the ring in one week and never putting in another one. In the past 6 months I have had no sex drive, few orgasms, a sharp pain underneath my left breast that comes and goes, and a 10 lb weight gain. I'm a 24 year old professional figure skater and should not be going through those side effects. I'm in excellent health and active daily. I have not had any headaches, no nausea, no depression, no fatigue, no acne problems, or spotting. I did not get on the NuvaRing to help my acne nor my periods, I got on the ring because I got into a relationship where I was having sex. I'm still in the relationship and its ruined our sex life. Not to mention I was paying $25 dollars for every ring and now its gone up to $54. I thought it was a smart idea to get on the ring because of the convenience but now I can do without it. Everyone should try the ring once to see how you react to it because EVERYONE is different. I'm just not interested in the aggravation anymore.

I got on Nuvaring back in Nov., because I was getting married (I had not had sex prior to this). I liked the convenience of not having to take a pill daily (I'm very bad about remembering to take pills), and that it was a lower dose of hormones than pills, which to me made it seem safer.
Unfortunately, once I got married, I noticed I have no interest in sex w/ my husband, which stinks because I was really looking forward to it before. I thought something was wrong w/ me, because we've been married 3 weeks tomorrow & probably have had sex 10 times or less, which I discovered REALLY bothers my husband, but I hadn't given it much thought. The sex is ok (as far as I can tell) when we DO have it, although I do notice I'm drier "down there" than before, but I'm just not interested in it.
Other than that I've had no problems w/ Nuvaring. If they could work this one issue out I'd be sold on it!

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!

Hi Ladies! I'm soo glad to have found this site and to read others' feedback! Yay, I'm not going crazy! I am 37 and have been on NuvaRing on and off for about 5 years. Well, I loved it at first for the convenience as well as the fact that it relieved my sometimes unbearable PMS. I went back on the ring last April ( about a year ago) after taking a break from it for about 6 months. I don't know if they changed the formula in it or something, but I have had some changes for the worst that I was chalking up to stress. My weight was normally always consistent, but since last august I have gained around 10pds. I have also had a lot of emotional ups and downs and very irritable. Always tired as well and feel like I haven't had enough sleep. Sex drive?? What sex drive? My husband is not sure what to think of it all with my mood swings as well. Don't even get me started on the migraines I had out of nowhere! The last month and a half I have had pelvic discomfort and pain as well during sex. I'm suspicious of an infection or some sort of inflammation going on in there.Has anyone else experienced this? I did not bother putting my ring back in after my last period until I go to see my GYN next week to figure out my other options. I am gradually feeling better since removing the ring a week ago. I will update you all on my outcome in the next couple of weeks!

I started the Nuvaring just about 5 weeks ago. I thought everything was going well. Two days before the "4th week", I was put on antibiotics and despite the doctor's reassurance, I used additional bc while on the medication. On the 29TH day of the cycle, I spotted some, but never really had a "period." My body told me I was (normal lower back pain, light cramping etc) except this time, I experienced a piercing headache along with it. Less than 24 hours later, the spotting was done. I asked the nurse practioner what was going on and the response was "the nuvaring can make your periods lighter". I told her "it's not lighter, it's not there!" I followed the directions precisely, used back up protection while on other medication and to top it all off, I've had a headache for days. This is not a normal occurrence for me. I haven't been depressed in well over a decade and all of a sudden, I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. I've noticed a very pronounced drop in my libido, too. These side effects are not worth the "convenience" of this form of bc. I will be taking a pregnancy test (to make sure and for my own piece of mind) and then finding another type of protection. I can't believe a bc would LOWER my sex drive this much. Between the mood swings and the lowered libido, the Nuvaring seems to do more harm than good for me.

I really like the ring! I have been on it for almost three years now. At first I did have some vaginal discomfort and VERY frequent UTI/Yeast infection, but that all wore off.
One thing though it is imperative to keep your area VERY clean to avoid infection and a smelly discharge!
I have a very healthy sexual appetite, no headaches or nausea, ect. I do have "PMS" and pimples but until I read everyones comments I just assumed that was me.
when i first went on NR three years ago I didn't gain an ounce. However, I went off it all this past summer because i wasn't needing BC. When I went back on it I gradually put on 15 pounds which aren't coming off!
Other than that no complaints, I think all BC methods have their cons and ill take the convenience and the extra pounds! also I never get cramps on it!

This is my 4th month on Nuvaring. Luckily, I work in a clinic and have a pretty good gyn as well. The symptoms normally pass after the 2nd month. I developed a rash on my face, headaches, nausea, and lost about 5-7 lbs because I wouldn't eat due to the nausea. The discharge stays. Each time I have sex something new happens. I swell up, I itch, I get a bump, something. The last sexual encounter resulting in a watery discharge that lasted for 2 days. My partner doesn't seem to notice this. I too have had the night sweats. I do like the convenience. I began the nuvaring because of very bad periods, cramps, bleeding for 10 days. Month 3- I had so many clots I thought I was having a miscarriage. I wasn't. At this point, unless something severe happens, and I don't have sex 2 often, I may remain on the nuvaring. Without it, I am out of work at least 3 days of my, READ, 10 day cycle. I should mention that I have the beginnings of PCOS, and it has helped to reduce the hair on my face. I may consider the birth control pills. I just read today that inserting them would alleviate a lot of side effects. However, I don't feel like inserting them each day. Within the last month, I have become fatigued. Vitamins help some. Everyone is an individual. I am still evaluating if it's for me. I can't blame all of this on the Nuvaring, but let's just say, I couldn't report any of these symptoms prior to it's use.

I stumbled upon this site looking for side effects of a new BC I am about to start called Loestrin and after reading the horror stories about it, I was about to throw it out. I decided to look at the Nuvaring board because I was on it for 2 1/2 years and was curious to see what was said about it. Had I read this prior to starting the Nuvaring I probably wouldn't have given it a chance. I loved Nuvaring. It was so convenient and I had no side effects at all from it and my cycle was so regular and predictable. I had a yeast infection and vaginitis in the 2 1/2 year period but I don't think it was due to the ring. Unfortunately, I have to change BC to Loestrin due to Endometriosis symptoms that the ring wont help with so I searched it and was discouraged by the reports but now I feel better giving it a try after seeing these posts because I had no problems at all with Nuvaring. I would recommend trying it if you are looking for convenience and regulation.

I was on nuvaring for 4 days and began experiencing bad headaches (i rarely get headaches) followed by nausea and severe cramps that would literally double me over. Then began the worst thing, the mood swings!! I was not capable of speaking to people anymore, if something set me off I had one tone, LOUD!!!!!! I was yelling, screaming, wanting to kill myself, I felt like such a failure and was constantly fighting with my boyfriend over nothing. I could feel when the mood was coming on but I couldn't stop it then I'd sink into a bad depression. I will not recommend this to anyone, though it does work well for some, the risks of the nuva ring and the side effects are not worth the convenience.

Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences- I should have done a search on Nuvaring long ago. I have been using it for almost a year. At first I loved it but now the bouts of itching have become unbearable and embarrassing. No one wants to be caught scratching herself! I have also had lots of watery discharge- my underwear always feels damp. Not comfortable and certainly not helping the itch. I also often have thick white discharge (but smooth and without odor and so not exactly like I understand a yeast infection to be). I say "understand" because I have never had anything remotely like a yeast infection up til now (34), which is another reason that I suspect the ring. My sex drive is also nonexistent, a problem I have had with oral contraceptives too- I feel bad for my husband. I didn't connect it all at first because the itching is external, but then I noticed that I felt better when I took it out for my period and even better still when I stopped using it for three months due to other health issues. I hate to admit it because I loved the convenience of the ring but I took it out an hour ago and think I already feel better. Now I'm wondering if it was the cause of any of my other health issues but will have to wait and see. Can anyone recommend any non hormonal methods of birth control (other than condoms) or at least any oral contraceptives with less sexual side effects?

ive been on birth control for almost 6 years now and i just started on nuvaring 3 1/2 weeks ago and it wasn't until the 4th ring free week that my bf said that i was not being me, which i proceeded to cry about. I DONT CRY about anything so im glad to know that im not crazy and that other people have had emotional issues. I will just go back to my loestrin fe. i was fine with that. like everyone else has said, COMFORT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN CONVENIENCE.

Hello ladies....I had taken Nuvaring for a little over a year and removed it in August to get pregnant. I too, had the extreme low sex-drive and extreme dryness as well as some initial vaginal discharge, but I had to deal with it until my wedding. It's now the end of September and I am noticing feelings of pregnancy...ie: sore breasts, extreme hunger and my hair is falling out like crazy....in the shower, every time I brush, it's all over the back of my clothes and several times throughout the day I can see my hair just hanging off the bottom of my ends. My hair is fine and thin to begin with and I'm a hair stylist so I am freaking out a bit. I read on another Nuvaring website that anyone who has diagnosed Bipolarism, Depression and other Mental issues should not take Nuvaring because it intensifies feelings of suicide. I will say that taking Nuvaring was very convenient and I inserted the ring after my period and took it out in between and it sounds like for those of you who are keeping it in during your period and/or starting it on the first day of your period are experiencing the worst of the side effects. I hope someone comes up with something someday equivalent to the convenience of Nuvaring without all of the nasty side effects.

Has anyone had worse symptoms with the NR than with the pill? I was experiencing terrible migraines two days a month, right before my period started. I was also finding that my period was getting lighter and lighter as the months went by. I've been on some form of the pill for about 15 years off and on, this time for about 3 years straight. A doctor told me the NuvaRing might help with the headache...so I switched to it. the headaches are no better, I gained 11 lbs in two months and I have NO sex drive at ALL. I also get hardly any period at all. Anyone else having that problem? I got worried that I was entering early menopause, but they did a pelvic ultrasound and blood tests that were normal.

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

I am just started on NR 2 weeks ago. I have had many pregnancy symptoms since insertion of NR....sore breasts, nausea, exhaustion. I started the NR on the first day of my period, which was just starting and a little light, and used extra BC during the first 7 days. My period stopped immediately (has this happened to anyone else?) Of course I was worried when I started having these symptoms, so I took two morning HPTs which came out negative. As I read these posts I am wondering if the NR convenience is worth it. I can't stop thinking that I may be pregnant, when every test I take says that I am not. I am mentally exhausted.

I started my NuvaRing on the 5th day of my period and noticed some changes that are going on with my body. It has only been 7 days, but I feel different. I noticed some white, sticky discharge that is not normal for me and bothers me. It has no smell though. I feel very dry inside.....and my sex drive is low. My breasts are tender. My mood is fine however. I am a little concerned with changes my body going through. When I contacted my doctor, she said everything im feeling is normal. But I wonder if those things will change once I get used to the ring and my hormones even out.
Did anybody felt the same way? Please share if you just waited out! I would love some input, cause I have no idea if I should just get off it or stick it out in hopes it will feel better........Confused ;(

Friends,
I've posted on this twice before. I was on the ring for nearly 2 years before I got off this past February when I discovered this site. I have to say I feel sooooo much better. Currently, I'm not on any birth control (we use condoms and spermicide) and I love being myself and being normal. While I gave up convenience and a relative peace of mind, I also gave up a decreased loss in sex, dryness, mood swings, fogginess, and putting my health at risk etc.

I still have numbness in my legs especially at night (RLS was ruled out) but it's much better than months ago. I never had this before I started the Ring.

I worry about others because I didn't know my side effects were caused by the Ring. And my obgyn made me feel like an idiot when I suggested it. But getting off the Ring was the best choice. I have my health, my sex drive, and natural lubrication not to mention a great relationship with my boyfriend (when you lose interest in sex obviously your partner is going to take it personally).

If you have NO side effects and are confident the Ring will not affect you then by all means go for it. But if you have doubts look into it. Trust your instinct and take care of your health. There's no point in taking birth control if it's going to kill you (figuratively or literally).

I'm looking forward to being healthy again and I hope that you all are safe.

This makes me feel a lot better too!! I had been on NuvaRing before and didn't even think that my symptoms had to do with it. My vagina was so irritated and sex hurt sometimes. The area was just so tender, I would get sore after a short time and then have to stop and let myself heal for a few days. My b/f felt bad and thought it was his fault. I wanted to have sex but my body just didn't seem to be into it....I would get dry quickly and it made things even worse. I thought there was something else seriously wrong with me. Well, I took a break for a little while from the NuvaRing and things have been great! But not realizing that could have been the cause, I went back on the NuvaRing a couple months ago because it is so convenient. I am beginning to have the same symptoms, plus symptoms of a yeast infection. I am really bad about taking a pill everyday I love the convenience of the NuvaRing but cannot be uncomfortable like this.

I started using the ring exactly two weeks ago. I started taking naps almost every day. Sleep during the day has NEVER been an option for me let alone a necessity. I decided to research the ring today when I noticed that my belly was extremely bloated. After reading some of the side effects, I can recall a strange feeling of hopelessness and sadness that I've had these last couple of weeks. (I've never been depressed in the past). I've also had very strange dreams. I should have known that an easy BC fix was too good to be true. I was on Depo before I had my daughter 5 years ago and it caused serious bone loss. I loved it because of the convenience and never had an indication that it was causing bone loss (thankfully a new GYN decided to take a bone scan as a precaution since I had been getting shots for 5 years. Luckily I was young enough that my bones are now normal.) Needless to day, I pulled the ring today!

Thank goodness for this site!

I have only been taking nuvaring for a month (just took it out two days ago for the first time) and I have already been experiencing some of the same side affects as many of the women here. For the last week and a half I have been in the biggest depression I've been in in years. I read an earlier post that said if you already have a predisposition to, say depression, the nuvaring side effects can hit you harder. I think I agree with that. I was crying, moody, hollow feeling, and everyone I crossed, whether friend, acquaintance, or stranger, asked me if I was "okay"... It was, shall we say, noticeable to others.

In fact, it was horrible. I just kept telling people, "I don't what's wrong with me but I'm not right." I was grumpy, tired, and had no zest for life. This depression was so pronounced, extreme, and out-of-character in just a month that I started researching and found this site. (I hope that helps for anyone reading this who is thinking about using the nuvaring and are prone to depression).

I also had extreme tenderness in my boobs about a week into putting it in...like so bad you have to gently glide down your stairs because any bobble will be painful...you know what I mean... :)

I had taken estrostep for a few years but I had gone off it for a year until I decided to try B/C again and my gyno recommended nuvaring for the convenience. I don't remember having any side effects with estrostep and I plan to go back to that immediately.

I started using NuvaRing because a couple of friends swore by it. I have had the same side-effects many of you other women have had while using the NuvaRing. I think it is a wonderful concept and would be perfect for me if I didn't feel sick all the time. I tried the patch 5 years ago and hated it. It left a scar for a year and it didn't seem hygienic. I haven't gained weight w/the Ring. I have lost 10 pounds and look a hell of a lot better- the only benefit. I am ALWAYS nauseated and dizzy and panicky. I have diarrhea every day (still) and vomited often the first 2 weeks. I couldn't hold anything down. Everyone kept saying I might be pregnant, but I had just had a negative pregnancy test. I even missed a couple days of work because I was that sick. I didn't quite contribute it to the Ring - it didn't cross my mind. I've had serious drama w/my bf of 5yrs at the same time. I attributed my symptoms to this shock... These side-effects are not worth the convenience. Unfortunately, I will have to d/c usage and move on back to "the pill" YUCK!

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

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

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

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

Thanks for your posts - very insightful.

THANK YOU JESUS! haha. I cannot describe how happy am I to have stumbled upon this site! I have been on NuvaRing for about 4 months and I have since then been an emotional WRECK. I'm moody, cry over ANYTHING, gained about 10lbs, have migraines about twice a week you name it from any of the below posts and Im right there with ya sisters! Today I was scheduled to take it out...and that baby is staying out. My poor boyfriend is such a trooper...putting up with all my dramatic outbursts and constant tudes! Convenience or not, the NR is totally not worth it. Good luck to the rest of you!

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.

I actually LOVED the convenience of the NuvaRing. However, I felt that over time, my sex drive had deteriated, I was getting more moody and irritable, and tired all the time. After talking to my Dr., she suggested that I try a low dose pill for a while and see if that helps. Regardless to taking any form of birth control, she told me, the female body will still have hormone changes and other body changes that are not controlled by or a side affect of your form of BC. It could very well have been that my body was changing on it's own, and due to that, I needed a BC change as well. I see some of you blame the Ring for some symptoms that could just be natural to your own specific body type. Talk to your Dr. to see if a switch would be the right thing for you. There may be other factors like stress, depression, anxiety and anemia that make your symptoms worse, not your NuvaRing.

Hello,
Just thought I would add some pro nuvaring commentary to the chorus of horror stories here. I've been on the nuvaring for about two years now and so far I have no babies (yay!) and no side effects I could confidently link to the ring. Like most women I get headaches (about once a week or so), experience pms, and my sex drive is not what it was in the first few weeks of my relationship but I'm unwilling to ascribe any of these 'side effects' soley to the ring. In particular I find it difficult to believe as some of your postings indicate that the side effects of the ring seem to be worse than the pill- depression, weight gain (in one post 40-50 lbs!), headaches, etc. when the dosage or hormones is lower. So I guess simply put, I am satisfied with the ring and although it's not my place to criticize another woman's choice of birth control, I wouldn't let these posts scare you away from what is, in my experience, the best form of hormonal birth control based on its user-friendliness and lower dosage of hormones.

I used the Nuvaring for over two years. I absolutely loved the convenience of it, and for a while, everything else. I had always had a little PMDD/PMS on hormonal BC, but over for the last 8 months or so I was on the NR it had gone from one or two days a month feeling a little wacky, to a week, to two weeks, then to feeling like that ALL the time. My self esteem was shot, I could rarely feel really happy or excited about anything, my sex drive had finally started to go, and it go so bad that one day I couldn't even get out of bed. I am pretty in-tune with my body and I knew this wasn't normal at all. It had started to affect my relationships with friends, and most importantly my wonderful boyfriend. I wasn't the confident, fun girl he fell in love with...I was a crybaby with self esteem issues and severe mood swings. So, I decided to stop using the Nuvaring for good about a month and a half ago. I have PCOS so it was "regulating" my cycles as well as preventing pregnancy, but I did a lot of research and decided to try and treat my PCOS with diet, exercise and supplements. I have already had one whole cycle off the ring, and I feel amazing. My body is doing what it is supposed to do, naturally, without synthetic hormones dictating what my female parts do. I am not depressed, my self esteem and motivation have returned and I feel HAPPY again. It's like a cloud was lifted from me or something. I can hardly describe the difference.

I know to some women, this may sound a little exaggerated, but the ring really was making me severely depressed. So, if you're one of the women who are affected this way, stopping it may help. I had my doc fit me for a diaphragm, and though it's a little weird at first, I love it and so far it works great for us. Hormonal BC only masks the symptoms of my PCOS, so I believe treating it the natural way will be a lot better for me.

This list of side effects helped me tremendously when I was researching my depression and going off the ring. Good luck to any of you other ladies who are going through that! It will get better :)

I absolutely love the convenience of the NuvaRing, and it has pretty much eliminated the mood swings I had on the Pill. Unfortunately, it has completely killed my sex drive, too. I want to go to bed around 9pm every night, and sleep for 12 hours, and I've noticed that I barely even feel affectionate toward my boyfriend any more. Now that I've read this, I think NR may also be the reason I can't get a good night's sleep -- I get very hot and restless all night! I don't know what to do. NR is so easy to use, but I'm way too young to give up on sex!

I am 22 years old and have been on the nuvaring for over a year and 8 months. As of today I am no longer using the NuvaRing.
A month after I started the ring I went to Hawaii and cried every single day for no reason at all. I was depressed for months after that and had many more "crying for no reason" episodes and now realize it had to have been because of the nuvaring. At first I loved the convenience and effectiveness of the ring but the side effects I've experienced because of it are no longer worth it. Since I started on the ring I have gained 20, TWENTY, pounds! My diet has improved and my physical activity has increased over the last year and I still can't seem to lose the weight. I experience major mood swings that I have never experienced before the ring and my sex drive has been extremely low ever since I started. What's the point of birth control if you never want to have sex?!

I just read about the 50+ lawsuits being filed against the makers of the nuva ring (one of which is over the DEATH of a woman caused by the ring) and can't believe my doctor ever recommended it!

Are there any lower dosage birth controls that women recommend? Ones that don't threaten your health and make you gain tons of weight?

Also, is there hope of returning to normal (weight, mood, sex drive, etc.) after getting off the nuvaring? Thanks!

I must say I love the NuvaRing. I've been on it for almost 3 years. It is extremely convenient. I do have some issues with weight and depression, but I've had those for a while so I don't think I can blame them on NuvaRing. I was previously on Depo for 3 years, and before that various pills (which I could never remember to take). I loved the Depo for it's convenience, but I think it caused a lot more weight gain and loss of sex drive than any other birth control method I've tried. I also tri-cycle my rings (I only have my period after every third ring cycle). The less periods the better in my opinion. I have very very light bleeding during my period. The only drawback is I have one day of horrible cramps that I never used to have. I just take some Ibuprofen and remember that it's only one day every three months.

Unfortunately I have crappy health insurance that won't cover NuvaRing, so I'm thinking about switching to Mirena. I'll miss the Ring, but hopefully Mirena will be good to me.

I have been on NuvaRing for about 9 months now. I really love the convenience of it. I have had no complaints until now. About two months ago I was having some issues with insomnia. I tried a prescription sleeping pill (rozerem, I'm not sure how to spell it) for about a week and after I got off of it I was back to my usual sleeping habits. It didn't even cross my mind that it could be the ring. I thought it was just stress from school. I might have been that and not the ring.

I have put on about 15 pounds but again I attribute that to my eating habits, not the ring. However, the past month and a half I have been on a strict diet and meeting with a personal trainer 2-3 times a week. On top of meeting with the trainer I go to the gym for a least an hour everyday. In spite of all this, I gained 3 pounds (on top of the 15). My doctor said it could be my thyroid but I just got the results of my blood test and my thyroid is normal. So I think it must be the ring.

The problem is that I really like the ring and I don’t want to get off it. Has anyone gained weight from the ring but been able to lose it while staying on the ring?

Thanks to all of you who have posted your experience with the Nuva Ring. I have been on it about a year, and have had side effects that I never attributed to the Ring.

I have been trying to lose weight and have been unsuccessful, despite my best efforts. I have gained about 15 lbs. in the past year, though I eat well and work out often. I CAN'T lose a pound! Plus, I am tired all the time, have limited sex drive, and often feel seriously depressed. I even went to a general practitioner to have thyroid test done, and nothing is wrong with me at all. I am not anemic and my thyroid is just fine. So? What's the problem here?

I happened to glance at an article in my newspaper yesterday about a woman around my age (I am 28) who was on Nuva Ring. She began coughing up blood, and it turns out she had a few clots in her lungs that they said had to be caused by the ring, as the woman had NO history of this in her family. I know that this a severe possible side effect and doesn't happen to many people...so then I decided to do my OWN research. I found this page and realized that perhaps my symptoms are NOT caused by anything my body is doing wrong, but just from this birth control. I just put my new ring in yesterday, but now I think I should take it out and go back to the diaphragm, because it seems to me that if these symptoms came on around the time I started the Ring, maybe they will just go away after I am off it for a while.

Geez, and it's crappy because aside from the possible harm it's doing to my body, I LOVE the convenience of the Ring. I sure wish I could stay on it, but I am getting too old to be irresponsible about my health. I used to be able to ignore the side effects on the package, because I figured it would never happen to me. But it seems that it's happening to so many people, I just don't want to take the risk anymore.

Again, thanks to those that have posted. I appreciate knowing I am not alone here!

I started using the Nuvaring 6 months ago because my doctor didn't want me on the patch anymore due to the threat of stroke. I was on the patch for two years and had no problems (I was 5'9", about 180lbs, so the higher dose of hormone was fine for my size). Since I started the Nuvaring I've had excessive discharge (soaking onto my pants!), I'm tired all the time but can't sleep at night, I've gained a lot of unexplained weight (hence, I said I WAS about 180, I think now I'm up to 200) despite increasing workouts and no diet changes, and I have NO sex drive, which really freaked me out. At first I thought it had something to do with my boyfriend, like I had lost my attraction to him. Then I thought, "If Brad Pitt walked in my house right now, would I want to have sex with him?" and I realized the answer was no. Talk about freaked out! Also, during my period I had a day of intense cramps, which I've never had in my life! Something about that just isn't right.
After I found this site I realized all of these side effects are common, so I'm calling my doctor to go back on the patch and feel normal again! Tell me, though, ladies, if I take the ring out after only being in for 1.5 weeks, will I get my period after a couple days like I usually do or will it wait until the normal time?
To anyone wondering about the Nuvaring, you'd have to try it to see if it works for you. Some women love it, and I have to admit the convenience is the best I've had, but for others the side effects are life-altering. Everyone's different!

I have been on the NuvaRing for 3 weeks now.... It is convenient but the entire time I was extremely queasy and nauseous with a little cramping almost every day. I just took the ring out three days ago for the "off week" and i am having extremely severe symptoms, such as nausea without vomiting, i cant smell some foods or i want to throw up, and cramping. i should have had my period today (it says 2-3 days) but i haven't yet. i am extremely anxious (more so than I've ever been) and my boyfriend is really worried about me right now. i feel pregnant, but i shouldn't be! it seems impossible because we've ALWAYS been safe.

i might not put it back in!!! it seems like this convenience isn't worth the suffering and panicking every month!

I'm really scared now!!!

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

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

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

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

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

I have gone to so many doctors to help me figure out what's been going on with my body the past 6 months, and now it all makes sense. I've had INTENSE pain in my right side that I had looked at, and northing's been found, been back to my gynecologist for the burning after and during sex, I've have NO sex drive for months and has almost cost me my relationship, I've been bloated every night, been depressed, lazy, school work and drive has deteriorated, my mind is so foggy, I've gained 10 LBS, had severe headaches, especially behind my right eye, been to an orthopedics for HORRIBLE back pain that I thought was hip pain- it paralyzes me twice a week to a point where I can't move for 10 minutes at a time, I've been irritable and just not myself ... I mean the list goes on and on--- and this all began, I recognize now, when I started using the ring. Every hell I have gone through since August, is due to this tiny convenience.
Thank you everyone for your comments- tomorrow I am making an appointment to have my liver checked out (cross my fingers)- I'm mad- I'm so upset. They should not have "safe" things like this on the market. I'm suing if I find something. I feel like I've been a test subject. I'm 21- I want my life back!

lower than low sex drive, occasional sharp pains in the uterus/ovaries... I'm actually considering going to the doctor pretty soon about it-- I mean, aside from the convenience of not having to worry about taking a daily pill, I don't feel as healthy as I did before starting the prescription. I'm still weighing the odds of whether or not I should stop using it. It's almost as if I feel swollen.

I'm glad I've stumbled across this site... now I know I'm not the only one dissatisfied with the product

Yuck. When I first put in NuvaRing, I experienced the severe nausea, but that only lasted for a day or so. I've been on it for almost 3 months now and have noticed that am not sleeping as well as I had in the past. I'm always feeling tired and slightly down. I try to lead a very healthy lifestyle; I exercise daily and eat a very healthy, balanced diet. Despite these facts, I seem to be slowly gaining weight. Don't get me wrong, I love the convenience of not having to take a pill everyday, and the NuvaRing has actually helped to clear up my skin. I'm not sure if the hormones are throwing my body out of whack or what. I don't think I'm willing to sacrifice feeling and looking good for the sake of convenience. I hope there are other options that don't screw with a person's lifestyle. I think I'm gonna check out IUD's...

I have used NuvaRing for over a year now and LOVE IT! I always forgot to take birth control pills, but it's so easy to use the NuvaRing. I've have had no side effects.It scares me to read these side effects that other women have had, but I would say unless you have issues with it or there are really bad statistics out there, the ring is much better.

Like most posts, I am happy that I found this site. I have been on one form of birth control or another for 11 years (16-27). I have been on the NuvaRing for almost 3 years. Loved the convenience and short periods! Didn't like the weird smelling discharge, but it seemed a small price to pay. Almost a year ago, I suddenly lost my sex drive and motivation, both of which were strong presences in my life. I attributed this decline to moving to a new area that lacked all of the things that I enjoyed. I forced my motivation back into gear, but I was just going through the motions. I tried to do the same with sex, and it worked during the off week of the ring. Still, I didn't attribute my symptoms to the ring. I lived with this until last month, when I started getting nosebleeds and the last bit of my sex drive left. The discharge was so bad I embarrassed myself. I was disgusted with any sort of sexual touch, although clothed-cuddling was fine. My mood declined and I actually thought I should go to a professional for depression. Finally, I called a friend crying about how horrible my life was, and how miserable i was and blah, blah, blah. She mentioned that it could be birth control. Since I had been on b/c for so long, and the ring for three years, I thought there was no way that these symptoms would just appear out of the blue. but i was desperate and didn't put the ring back in this month. i have been without the ring for a little over a week now, and I'm already noticing some differences. I don't have to force myself to get motivated, I am not as moody, i can think clearly without getting distracted easily and I'm not as hungry anymore. sex drive is still non-existent, but I'm no longer disgusted by the thought of sex. The discharge has vanished. I do have to mention that I did have some "withdrawal" symptoms. My breasts became so tender that I didn't want to wear a shirt or even move. I had some generalized cramping in my abdominal region for a couple of days that was pretty intense.

if all of these symptoms were caused by the NuvaRing, what am I supposed to do now? Pills made my breasts extremely tender all of the time. condoms are okay, but I'm anxious that they might break. and since I haven't given birth, the doctor isn't eager to put me on the IUD. and when am I going to get my sex drive back?