NuvaRing and cramps

So i told you I would post an update from my gyno... so here it is (below is my original post)

I went to the doctor and her nurse asked me if i had a little bit of cramping and i said yeah its actually off to the side, and she said that i might have some sort of blockage by my ovaries.... well then my doctor came in and she said that everything was perfectly normal. and decided to put me onto yaz... well i'm not going to take it. and it worries me that i might have a blockage. I took out the ring last night and it is gone for good! I can't wait to get back to my normal self. i am going to see how i do this month without the ring and still see if i have the cramps if i do i will go back if not then we can just assume it was caused from nuva....

August 15th
2008
12:14 AM

So I got on NuvaRing because I needed something with low hormones that wouldn't make me crazy like other BC's. I've been on it for almost 3 years now and didn't start having problems until recently. Now I get night sweats... i wake up and i am soaking wet from sweat, depressed, cry and get angry for no reason. Like the other night I was in the middle of eating dinner and i just started balling uncontrollably for no reason. My sex drive really hasn't decreased all that much it's still there; but i have discharge like there is no tomorrow and sometimes it smells. I figured if i douched that would help the situation but apparently not. I also haven't had a "period" in like 4 months and i'm not pregnant. I say "period" because NuvaRing doesn't allow your ovaries to ovulate so it's not really a period but withdrawal blood because your not shedding any uterine lining.I also recently have had bad migraines... thinking that having my wisdom teeth finally removed would take care of that issue but it's been 3 months since that and the answer is no. I have no energy to do anything all i want to do is sleep but i hate sleeping because i wake up soaking wet from sweat. It bothers me when my husband and I have sex and hurts. I also can not go a day without taking pepto; my stomach hurts even if i drink water. don't get me wrong i love the fact that i've lost weight but not because my stomach hurts too much to eat. I know if your looking for something to help you pin point what it is i'm sorry that you're not getting it from me. But I can tell you this after a while you get tired of it. I am going to talk to my gyno to see what my other options are. I can't take it any longer and neither can my husband. I have never PMSed as bad as I have been lately. If you're experiencing any of these I would recommend you call your gyno/dr and let them know; there could be something better for you out there. Sometimes I wonder why we woman put our bodies through these things. If all else fails looks like we'll just be going back to the old school days of condoms and spermicide lube. i'll post in a few days after my gyno apt to let you know what she said about my symptoms... but you'll know when you've had enough.

I was placed on Birth control pills around 16 because i have elevated hormones, and Birth control helped bring them back to normal, and regular my wacky cycles. Lately i just can never remember to take my pill, i have alarms on my cell phone and i still forget. I started Nuvaring last month and i have 1 more week on it and I've been having pains like needles in my ovaries and random cramps everyday. Also I've noticed my left kidney has been aching. My sex drive has because non existent. I can't believe have had these complications just on the first dose. I've noticed a lot of you are just now having the problems with the nuvaring, i wonder if they changed the formula?

I started using the nuvaring on August 24 for the first time. That was the first day of my period. My periods usually last four days but I have bad cramps. My gyno prescribed the nuvaring to stop the cramps. Well this month I had the worse cramps that I have ever had. My period lasted for six days and then started the brown smelly discharge, headaches, lower back pain, tiredness and irritability. I got on the internet to research the side effects of the ring and could not find my symptoms on any of the medical sites. I found this site and found that my symptoms have been experienced by most women using the ring. It has been years, approximately 9, since I used any kind of birth control and I know my body well so I know that the nuvaring is causing these problems. I am going to talk to my gyno about it and will probably seek some other method of relieving the extreme cramping that does not cause other problems. I do not see the sense in stopping one problem but causing 10 others.

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

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

I have been using NuvaRing since Aug. 4th and i have had very, very bad cramping and stomach pains that take my breath away. I have been experiencing discharge and just constantly tired. And my cramps hurt even worse when i have to go to the restroom. I cannot hold it for more than about five minutes because i really start to hurt. My sex drive has really changed. I went from wanting it everyday to "No lets wait til the weekend " but then i'm too tired. I have been so thirsty, it just seems like my mouth stays dry. I have even been getting tension headaches and that mouth watering nausea feeling. After two miscarriages I was really hoping to have found something that will work for me, but i don't think i can take this anymore.

i am older than most of the women here. I am 49 (yeah turning the big 50 soon) and was having very long and heavy periods with extreme irritability and moodiness. The worst symptom though, was the cramping. So my doctor suggested NV and gave me two free samples. I just came home from vacation and ripped the second damn thing out. I have been spotting non stop. My entire lower pelvic region feels like it has been invaded by a version of the alien (Sigourney Weaver style), the cramps are continuous and unrelenting. My libido has gone from "not now" to "don't even think about it....ever".
I have been trying to soldier on but I don't think we are supposed to suffer like this.
I am trying to accept that my period will come and never go away. I will have continuous cramps, will never want sex again and will be irritable and angry all the time. But I was doing that all by myself so who needs the damn Nuvaring?

Today was my first time taking NuvaRing out and about four hours after I did so, I got a horrible, stabbing pain in my vagina. It hurt so bad that I couldn't stop crying. The stabbing pain has stopped for now, but there's a constant burning sensation, discharge and stomach cramps. Has anyone else had this problem?

Where should I begin? Yes, as it has been said everyone reacts to hormones/medications differently but how is it that I am finding all my symptoms on this board and there's plenty of other women out there feeling the same thing? I am driving my friends/family insane telling them that I think I'm pregnant. It's been nearly 3 months. since I last had intercourse, I haven't missed a period and have had TWO pregnancy tests come out negative! I started Nuvaring the 2nd of July (1st day of my period) and pulled it out by the 13th because I was literally SICK of it! Three days later I started my period again, horrible cramps and all. I had hot flashes throughout the day and night sweats in my sleep. I have felt bloated constantly, today I just noticed a tiny amount of clear discharge from my nipple when I squeezed it, horrible headaches that don't go away, nausea. Anything you would link to pregnancy symptoms, I've felt all of it! And my friends are sick of hearing me think I am, hell! I'm sick of thinking it. But as I've read on here, it seems even weeks after the Nuvaring has been removed women are still feeling out of whack. My only other option is to take blood test to confirm that I'm going insane and that this birth control really threw my hormones off balance. Oh yeah, and did I mention I've been suicidal lately? And have random bouts of crying or depression? This is just the beginning...so if anyone out there has thought they're pregnant because of this thing, you're probably not, but please let me know if you've felt the same, thanks!

This is my second time on NuvaRing. The first time followed 6 years of pills. I first switched to NR because I always had breakthrough bleeding on the pill. I had no side effects. Loved it. I got off birth control because my husband and I wanted to try for our first child. I am now on the NR again. It is the 2nd ring since I started on it again. The first month I had some cramping..on and off and never bad enough for medication. I also had some vaginal irritation. During sex, the irritation caused some pain. But I was determined to see it out because I had loved it before. Well am I glad I did!! I have had no cramps, pain, irritation, no vaginal dryness, no mood swings, no weight gain...nothing except for not having to worry about taking that pill every night.

Birth control is like any other medication. Everyone reacts differently to each one. Look at codine...some people do great on it then you have people who are fatally allergic to it.

Dont go by what people say happened to them. You maybe completely different.

I am sooo glad I found this site; I have been thinking I am going crazy. For the last six months (since starting NuvaRing for the first time). I have had a mild case of depression (I am not one to struggle with depression , NO sex drive which is unusual for me, my boobs have gone up two sizes, I ma always tired and I am a fairly energetic person. My stomach is always bloated and I can not loose a single pound and I have been doing weight watchers and working out. I have one week left with the ring and I will NEVER use it again!!

Last year I was put on nuvaring after having breakthrough bleeding with SEVERAL birth control pills. I had no problems. I loved it! Well after 6 months of use in December 2007, my husband and I decided to have our first child. Well the beginning of June 2008, we decided it just wasn't the right time for a child, so I decided to get back on the ring. After a week, I started having burning, irritation, cramps, just a little increase of discharge, and decrease in lubrication with sex. The burning and irritation only got worse with sex. Well I called my OBGYN. She told me that these were very common problems/side effects and would normally subside after my first couple cycles and that if it did not I would need to come in for an exam and that she may need to change my birth control. Naturally I asked how I didn't have problems the first time around. She told me that the first time I went straight from the pill to the ring so I had estrogen in my system, so switching to another form of estrogen didn't bother me, but this time since I haven't been on the ring for 6 months so it was like starting on the ring from nothing, but again they should subside after a couple cycles and just let her know if they did not. She suggested that I could take it out during sex to avoid the burning and irritation from worsening as long as it was not left out longer than 2 hours.

I am now on the second ring and the burning and irritation has subsided. As well as the increase in discharge. After her suggestion, I started taking the ring out during sex and it helped a lot. Taking it out during sex also prevented a decrease in lubrication.

It really is great!

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've been on the nuvaring for about a year now. I had been on the Nuvraring from November of 06 thru May of 07. When I broke up with my boyfriend, I stopped using it (giving my body a break) from May until August when I started seeing somebody seriously enough to consider having sex again. I love the ring because it just has to be inserted once a month (although I HATE the feeling I get taking it out...). My periods take almost 4 days to start once the ring is out and then it lasts for about 5 days. The cramps during the first day or two are almost unbearable, but the periods are light. SOOOO many pros and cons.

I have gained back the break up weight and then some. I was blaming it on being in the "comfy relationship" status where you eat out a lot and blah blah blah... my boyfriend and I started working out together and he was dropping pounds like it was his job and meanwhile I was working out with no results. I'm a solid 10lbs heavier than my normal "I'm not working out" weight. My breasts were always a full C now I'm a small D. The week before I take out my ring I'm ready to kill my boyfriend for not cleaning out the litter box or for leaving me dishes to wash when he's been home... normal things that I'd just make a comment about and move on become HUGE events (for example: eating my leftover burrito= WWIII).

I was on the pill (can't even remember the name) and spotted all the time. I found it hard to take it at the same time... and I spent more time not having sex because I was always bleeding. I'm only 24 so I won't use the "I'm not as young as I used to be" excuse.... I wish there was a way to prove it is the ring causing me to gain weight without having to stop using the ring,. I really don't feel like messing up my cycle only to find out I'm just chunky now-- nothing to do with the ring.

i am basically here for some help...i have been on the nuvaring since the 19th of june.things went fine for about two days.then i started bleeding heavy and having awful cramps.it has been like this EVERYDAY now.i am supposed to take is out on the july 3rd.did it do this to anyone else? or does anyone know why it is doing this? my menstrual bleeding has never been this heavy or have i ever had cramping this bad! and it most certainly hasn't lasted for almost three weeks! also i don't know if it has anything to do with the nuvaring or not but my knee's have been killing me! i have never had this problem before and i am a fairly active person and always have been.i also recently had a child.she is two months old now.i weighed 160 the day i went in to be induced,and i lost down to 125 within a matter of a month and a half.i was doing so good with my weight loss.i wasn't exercising or anything.i had just gotten into the groove of only eating one time a day and it was not bothering me or affecting my energy level.since being on the ring i am now up to 130 pounds and i am hungry ALL the time! after reading all of this i am seriously thinking about taking out my ring after i finish this post.i do need some form of birth control though...i am thinking an IUD???

I thought I was going out of my mind! I had been on NuvaRing for almost 1 year, then quit (b/c of insurance reasons), then went back on it in April. While off it for over 6 months, I noticed my sex drive increased and I lost some weight without even trying. I went back on it because I have severe cramps in the middle of the month, and NuvaRing really helped.

I had no problems (that I can recall) the first year except for slight weight gain, 8-10 pounds. But these last 3 months have been awful! I am short with my husband and kids, and I worry about things non-stop. I am SO tired, but I get in bed and cannot sleep. I lay awake worrying about things like car accidents. I am not normally a worrier. I also have felt very down and cry often. I was starting to think I had an anxiety disorder.

I have no reason to feel depressed, and have not struggled with depression in the past (I am a mental health professional, so work with mental illnesses on a daily basis; enough to know there was something not right with me!). I have also put on 10 pounds in the last 3 months. Partly due to low energy. My hands even get tired when I color with my 3 year old.

I have taken 1-2 Excedrin Migraine a day to ease (not cure) my headache that has lasted for over 30 days.

Just this weekend, it occurred to me maybe it was the NuvaRing. After reading all these posts, I took it out a week early. I would rather live with some cramps instead of all of these side effects!

Wow! I'm not alone! I've been on the Nuvaring for about 8 months and have been miserable! I have had awful nausea on and off almost every day, gained about 8-10 pounds, constantly feel tired/unmotivated/fatigued, I get stressed out easily, have bad cramps and the worst of all- have NO sex drive. This has been a huge problem in my relationship! I kept trying to convince myself that it wasn't due to the ring because it's so convenient, but I finally went off it about a week ago. I still feel the side effects a bit, but hope they wear off soon. Thank God I found this site! Good luck to all!

I am so glad I ran into this website. Thanks ladies. I got on the NuvaRing last Tuesday (one week ago) and I already started feeling most of the side effects you all are explaining here. I got cramps in my calves, weight gain, my right breast got much larger than my left breast and is highly sensitive. It hurts when I lie on my belly. I have been sleeping a lot more too and feeling drained. 2 days ago i said forget this. I took it out and i feel so much better now - truly. it's amazing how quickly those hormones can get into your system and make you so different. It's not worth it. it's not natural and feels highly risky. I feel much better now after having read all of your side effects. Thank you.

what a relief to read all your experiences! I too have been on the ring for about 5 months, while my sex drive was not totally shot - i too get these insane cramps in my calf muscles that wake me up at night on a regular predictable basis. to cure those i started taking vitamins and eating bananas more. weight-wise, i'm sure i gained ten pounds since i started but was too depressed to check so i waited until i knew i lost a few and now i'm 7 pounds heavier than when i started. of course I tell this all to my doctor and she's like "That's strange, it's such a low dose of hormones that shouldn't happen." FINALLY the worst of it is the first week I put it in I'm INSANELY emotional. crying hourly. today's been such a hard day - worsened by the fact that it was my birthday two days ago and one of the most pathetic birthday's of my life so i just keep thinking about it and crying. so i wonder if it's the ring thats exaggerating my emotions or if i'm really feeling depressed about having a lame birthday. does anyone else have this first-week slump? i hate it. i want to go off the ring now but i hate taking the pill and i feel like any BC has some hideous undesirable side effect. PLUS when having sex, it's popped out 3 times and i haven't been able to find it after!!! so annoying. what to do what to do...

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

I love this thing! I am now on my third month of being on the ring and could not be more satisfied. The only side effect i have experienced was a little burning around my vagina when i insert it and then again when i take it out. It has also made it so that i have no cramps prior to my period and my breasts are no longer tender to the touch during that time. I have read so many negative comments that i was scared to try it, but after switching from the dreaded once a day pill, i have never taken a better risk!

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 decided to stop using the NuvaRing and removed it about 3 weeks ago. A very light period started about 4 days later, which was the norm while I had been on the ring. Starting about the day I would have normally put in a new ring, I started to get cramps and an unusual amount of discharge. I've never been one to suffer from bad menstrual cramps, so having cramps well after my light period ended and when I wasn't even using the ring was surprising to me. The pain has been fairly constant for two weeks now, although the discharge has diminished slightly in the past few days. I'm not uncomfortable when I'm sitting or laying down, but the second I stand up the abdominal/pelvic area pain occurs. Could this be my body adjusting to NOT having the ring (I had been on it consistently for over 2 years)? Or could the cramping by a sign of something unrelated to the ring like a pelvic infection, fibroids, etc.? Any ideas and thoughts are appreciated. Might have to take myself to the doctor about this soon.

I was on NUVARING for 4 months after being on Yasmin for almost 2 years. It was the worst mistake my doctor ever made. I had SEVERE bowel problems, to the point where i had to have a Colonoscopy and other various invasive tests. My cramps were horrible, and non-stop throughout my cycle. I was ALWAYS tired and never wanted to do anything. I gained 5 pounds in 3 months, after trying to conquer anorexia/bulimia (I was a normal weight at that point). Because of the NUVARING, I relapsed. I went back on Yasmin, and within one cycle, I was back to my normal, healthy weight I was after beating anorexia/bulimia and before using the NUVARING. I would not recommend this to ANYONE

i took nuvaring for about three months and one morning i woke up throwing up, sweating and chivering, i was constipated, had terrible cramps, spotting, couldnt feel my arms or legs, and was hurting like i got hit by a car. when i went to the doctor they said i had pelvic inflammatory disease and a low level of co2 in my blood.. i knew immediately it was nuvaring because i had been having headaches and pains ever since i started using it. i still suffer from the headaches and moodswings and i have been off a month.

I am just turned 24 years old. I have done the ortho evra patch before and had no problems.. well two weeks ago i started the nuvaring.. i though it would be good as much as my doctor talked good about it and meaning it cost me 50 dollars for 1 ring.... well the first few days went okay i didnt have many symptoms.. well then i started noticing a yellowy discharge and had to wear panty liners and it made it feel like i was always wet there.. well then there ended up a smell there and yet i was washing the normal amount of times a day.. then i ended up with a uti that lasted a week.. as well as it was my birthday weekend and i spent most of it with mood swings.. mainly i was very depressed and spent alot of time crying or angry for no reason at all.. like every little thing got on my nerves.. i ended up feeling very tired and wanting to sleep alot but then would wake up in the middle of the night with cramps... Then ever since i started the ring my acne has been terrible.. i wash my face and use proactive but it didnt work.. well i had a pimple near my lower lip of my face and it hurt really badly well then this morning i woke up and the whole area around it was swollen and my lip was massive.. and right that moment i knew it was the ring.. so i took it out.. and since ive taken it out ive felt happier, still a bit tired but not as much, and the swelling in my face and lip finally went away.. and when i took the ring out i felt nausea and had a headache.. which was a typical ever day thing since i started the ring these werent like typical headaches they were very painful...

i do not recommend anyone to use the nuva ring no matter how good the doctors talk about it.. it causes depression and everything that everyone else puts out there.. i read this website after i had just put it in and i regret not listening to all the other woman on this site...

Found this site and read the postings for the first time today. I cried when I read the first posting because it was as though I had written it myself. I have experienced so many of the negative side effects such as, depression, apathy, loss of sex drive, crying almost every day, anger for no reason, pain, and more. I am 38 years old and have been using the ring for almost 2 years. I took it out today as soon as I finished reading other's experiences. I am looking forward to being my "old" self soon, and I know my husband and children are too.
Maybe the side effects are worse for women in their 30's and 40's versus 20's. Not everyone posted their age but I was curious regarding this possibility.

I started using NuvaRing last year in June. I have two girls age 5 and 3. I am 34 years old and dont want any children. The NuvaRing is actually my first time using birth control. My period was normal and no weight gain. But I notice that I am very moody, tired and very forgetful. I would black out for 5 seconds. My sex drive is normal. I should remove the ring this friday but starting last week I started to have brown spotting and feeling cramps. I am still cramping and spotting but not bleeding. Does anyone know what is wrong? I called the doctors office and they said I maybe going under a lot of stress and probably due to my age. I started my new job and I am under alot of stress. I work full-time and I take care of my kids after work. Can anyone tell me if this is normal?

This is my third month on Nuvaring. I haven't had any side effects except for this month. I got my dates wrong and took out the nuvaring a week earlier. I went the week and then inserted a new ring. After that I have been having cramps and feel like I'm on my period. Is this normal? Has anyone else done this before? And what are the chances of being pregnant?

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!

In order to counter some of the very negative postings regarding side effects of NuvaRing, I'd like to share my experience.

I had at, at one time or another, tried many different birth control options, all of which gave me terrible side effects. All variations of The Pill left me depressed, with heavy cramps and acne. The Depo-Provera shot made me gain a lot of weight and suffer through continuous spotting and cramping. The patch made me consistently nauseated.

NuvaRing has been the only method of birth control that has given absolutely no negative side effects! I have used it for over 2 years and I love it. My acne has cleared, my periods are shorter and lighter. I have not felt an ounce of depression or decreased sexual appetite, and my boyfriend doesn't feel it at all.

I post this only as a reminder that BIRTH CONTROL AFFECTS EVERYONE DIFFERENTLY. I would hate for anyone to read these postings and be frightened away from trying a medication that could be as helpful to them as it has been to me.

Many of those who experienced severe depression on this message board also mentioned having been depressed and treated for depression before using NuvaRing, which to me indicates a clear connection between having an already existing mental condition and the increased occurrence of depression with the medication.

Again, I have been using NuvaRing for over 2 years and have not experienced any of the side effects listed here. The only way to know for sure how you will benefit or not from a medication is to try it for yourself.

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

I used the ring for five years and really didn't recognize the symptoms. I gained 9 pounds, got worse acne but it was really my happiness that suffered the most. My boyfriend broke up with me and so I stopped using the ring. Even while I was incredibly sad about the break-up, my mood improved so much I began to suspect the NuvaRing had been messing with me. The weight dropped off and I became way more recognizable to myself. I then tried it again. My appetite increased, I got really crabby and tired, I took it out after two weeks and the effects disappeared. I think I just have to realize these birth control options are serious medicine, and not built for everyone. I am thinking about getting a copper iud but am worried about that, too.

I have been on the NuvaRing since September. Not only have I lost any appeal to have my boyfriend touch me, I am an absolute bitch the majority of the time. I have horrible night sweats where I wake up soaked. I also have a lot of acne and random bumps all over my body. My cramps start about 1 week after I put the ring in and are sporadic over the menstrual cycle. Every time I put the ring in, I throw up for the first 24 hours.

I started taking this NuvaRing about a week ago and have been miserable ever since I put it in. I have had a constant headache, and horrible cramps in my stomach. I cant stay awake and I have cried three times this week for no reason! I feel like my head is disconnected from my body..kinda like I'm hung over or drunk. Its horrible and its coming out today.

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 have been on the NuvaRing for 3 weeks now. I have been having bad side effects, I am 14 years old and I highly recommend you do not use the NuvaRing it makes you a depressed person all the time it makes you have headaches and serious cramps and pains which i have had. It makes you mean which I was happy all the time before the Birth control method my doctor put me on. I am not satisfied, I have felt like vomiting and my NuvaRing comes out when I use tampons and it gets in the way it hurts... it is not good... I have been feeling dissy very tired.. feel like I never have enough sleep my parents been wondering whats wrong with me too its kind of like having a major bad hang over.. ( not that I know ) but I have heard what there like. I have been feeling really sick really hot.. and eat a lot I have had rashes as I would say because I just don't get break outs... which is weird I have gotten a break out on my forehead and on my chin..
I have been eating non-stop my apatite has changed.. and I am taking this method out as soon as i talk to my doctor and get switched to the pill the 6th.
So I HIGHLY recommend you do not use the NuvaRing.. but thats your decision just know the consequences that come with it.
oh and one last thing i have been having weird periods with a darkish brown colored period it has a weird odor too.. you might not take my advice because I'm young but I know what its like and if i would have known the effects I would have NEVER put my self through all this, so check into the side effects before you start a new birth control method if you have already used the nuvaring.. some people think the NuvaRing is good which to some people it is.. but for me it is horrible at first it was GREAT!!!
now its not so great .. =\ I personally think the pill will be best.. people say how its so bad to remember but its like this is you want to be protected and if you make the dicision you will remember.. I seriously am thinking about the pill i have heard its bad and i heard its good.
( Some of the same side effects come along with it tho )
Just know that.
So if you have experienced any of these please let me know.
I have had trouble breathing to.
or just write me back on here let me know if you have had the same symptoms I'm kinda worried.

THANX
Alicia-

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

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

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

I am wondering how old is everyone, I am 36, is possibly an age group issue? I began using the ring September 10, 2007 problems began almost immediately moodiness, depression, and sleepless nights, and that is just the beginning. I spotted for the first month with occasional heavier bleeding, on November 8 that all changed, from spotting to very heavy bleeding, today is January 3 and I am still bleeding the doctors can't tell me why or make it stop, even after a brief hospital stay. Extreme cramps it was worse than being in labor with my daughter, and passing something that appeared to be fleshy. I discontinued the ring almost a week ago and am hoping that things will start returning to normal soon.

This is my 1st month on the ring. No real problems except the headaches and had cramping in my legs. I'm 45 today and think this is the last time I'm using this. I notice most people say their cramps go away when they take the ring out...well that's when my started. I thought at first I had strained my lower back again...thanks to this site, I know it's the ring. + the fact that I had sex w/my b/f almost 4 days ago and his stuff was still on the ring when I took it out...that's not good folks.

I had to get off of the ring because it was terrible!!! The first month I used it, when i got my period it was like I was 13 years old again.. the cramps were unbearable, I felt like I had the flu, I was sore and so tired. I have also had frequent headaches ( and I never get headaches)... no sex drive!!! and once again had flu like symptoms before my second period.. I took it out the second month because I could not handle it anymore.. terrible!!! Being stuck home on a Saturday night because of the pain is not worth it.. and added vaginal discharge.. gross!!

I actually like the ring... I was on it for almost a year from last august to this may then I was not sexually active and could use the extra 25 dollars a month so I quit but then I started dating my current bf and got back on the ring. I don't think I have any bad side effects, I do tend to think I'm pregnant almost every month that could just be me wishing and hoping for an accident though. I don't feel crazy or paranoid, I'm not as hormonal as I used to be while I was on the pill or just naturally. I do not have cramps as bad as I used to actually I don't have them at all. Also my period is only 4 days when it used to be seven or eight days long. But I have gained weight. :( That is the only downfall. I have been drier during sex, but with the help of some lubrication there is no problem! I really like it because I was horrible at taking the pill but this works so well for me.

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 have been on this nr for 1 month now. this is my period week. I haven't gotten it yet which kinda worries me but I have all the signs of it coming. I have had nausea, headaches an dizziness and increased discharge but nothing to big.NO SPOTTING! the only thing is when I took the nr out I noticed yesterday that my discharge smelled a little different than usual, but today its better. I didn't think I have been irritable except last week which was my PMS week. it hasn't killed my sex drive. it is about the same. I have noticed my boobs getting a little bigger. my boyfriend has only felt the nr one time so thats great.Ii like the idea of only 1 thing every 3 weeks. hopefully these symptoms will go away except for the boob thing. I have had cramps but nothing I couldn't handle with a ill Advil.

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.

Well, I thought that I was really enjoying the NR until yesterday, there was a Lawyer from NY in the hotel that I work with a women. They were discussing a case against the new stop smoking drug and he said something about the Nuva Ring. I tuned in to hear that he has had cases over the NR as well as the patch. I thought that my dizziness was just because I hadn't ate anything in a while. I haven't gained weight. I have actually went down a pant size but I am really lazy and I do like to sleep a lot more now. I get dizzy and head aches. Sometimes I get the burning sensations like I am breast feeding. I have horrible mood swings. I feel really bad because I am so mean to my husband and kids. I get cramps and back pain. and I have no sex drive. Yeast infections and discharge. I feel like you name it I have the symptoms. I thought that I was going to have to have my blood sugar levels because the dizziness is getting so bad! I am about to call my DR.

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 was on Nuvaring for 5 months I thought it was the answer to my prayers and I was fine till last month when it got out of hand (or a least I noticed it) I was extremely paranoyed (still am), I had really bad headaches, cramps, wanted to eat everything, OH and I was depressed and wanted to cry all the time, the one that might cause me my relationship is not having trust. I explain it was having no control over my body and what I put in my body. Finally I broke down crying after telling my partner about the side effects and my pain, and agony. he made me take it out and it has been rough I am still not in contol of myself but with in a week I have lost two pounds because I do not have an erge, my partner can definatly tell a difference in me...but now we have to find a new birth contol :-S

I only had the ring in for 5 days and it was already messing up my system, i also think its been the reason why i've been depressed since the day i put it in. i kept getting upset and i cried atleast once each day for absolutely no reason everyday that thing was in my system, i recently took it out a little while ago and even though it wasn't in for even a week, i can feel the difference between having it in and not having it in. if you've been feeling cramps in your stomach lower or upper, and pains in your chest sometime after putting the ring in, pain like you haven't experienced before, even if its a little bit, i highly suggest getting that thing out of your system immediately, that's what helped me. i used to be skeptical about birth control methods they have for women, patches, pills, shots. each of them with severe side side effects that doctors avoid discussing in detail. i still can't believe i fell for this scam out of all the rest.

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

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

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

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