NuvaRing and depression

I have experienced most of the side affects that have been posted on here. The burning during and after sex, the depression, the decrease in libido.I am the happiest person right now knowing that there are other people like me out there! I hate having sex at this point, I know that I will feel the vaginal burning during and after. It has taken it's toll on my relationship with my boyfriend, he believes that I am no longer attracted to him which is far from the truth. I cry for anything and everything which is not like me. I have been researching my symptoms thinking about discontinuing the Nuva Ring, and now I believe I have made my choice. I'm going A DIFFERENT ROUTE. I am glad that I am not alone and appreciate all the comments that have been posted. I am looking for any responses with advise, possible birth control methods, and just the support. PLEASE HELP!

I just started the Nuvaring last Sunday and have been having some strange symptoms that I did not know that could have been associated with the NR, until now.
Since I've been using it, I have noticed that I'm bloated (but I dismissed it as possible water retention), mild cramping, and HORRIFIC sex!
I noticed this last night after having sex for the first time after inserting the ring. Upon insertion, my vagina burned horrifically. I told him it burned and he asked me if he should stop, but I felt bad and let him finish. The sex was miserable! Painful and burning! Then afterwords, holy crap! My vagina felt like it was on fire! I went to go pee and it hurt like a son of a bitch. Then this morning, my vagina itched like there was no tomorrow!! I had to shower and friggin give it a major scrub down! Not to mention, having to put hydrocortisone and vagisil on it!
Also, I've experienced some pretty nasty depression. Before reading this, I thought I was just depressed cuz Im going through a hard time right now, but its strange cuz I've been going through a hard time for a few months now, and haven't felt like this! I have been known to have depression in the past though, but since I've been going to the gym, its helped. But all of a sudden, the gym doesn't work anymore! I feel hopeless, I'm sensitive and crying for everything, I feel miserable with low self-esteem and self worth. I wanna sleep all the time and I'm just pissed off at the world. I'm worried about how far this depression may take me!
Not to mention, now, I dont know if anyone else has experienced this, but I have noticed hard bumps on myself. 2 in the back of my head, and one on the side of my neck. What the hell are these? Cuz these just appeared out of no where! The two on my head are painful to touch and the one on my neck is painless. Could these be swollen lymph nodes?
Oh, and I'm also thirsty all the time! I cant stop drinking water!
Now, this is all the stuff I have been experiencing so far, but after reading all these other testimonials, I'm afraid to start my period or even remove the damn thing! I thought this thing was supposed to be awesome! It sucks ass!! I think I may end up going back to the pill...I've never had crazy side effects like this before!

I have been on the nuva ring for about 5 years and I seriously thought it was the best thing ever. I think i just started getting side effects that were bad enough to notice. I kept trying to place them with other reasons like stress. The vaginal dryness,the burning, the itching the spotting and that brown discharge. I have been steadily getting more depressed and anxious, i feel sad constantly and FREAK out on my boyfriend. I also want to sleep, i just feel wore down that could also be contributed to the depression. I did gain about 15 lbs when i first started taking it but have since then lost it. I started when i was 16 and now im 21. My boyfriend thinks i like someone else or im with someone else cause i just dont seem very turned on by him. It sucks. I am very certian switching is a great idea for me, it just sucks cause i can be very unsteady with pills. your not going crazy. ha. i need suggestions on a good pill.

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

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

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!

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!!

I am on my 3rd NuvaRing, and my last NuvaRing. This thing has cause me more pain and problems than anything I have ever used! The first time around the only problem I had was an increase in UTI's and extreme discomfort in my vagina and urethra, especially during and days after sex. I was told these side effects would go away within the next trial of the NuvaRing. Boy, were they wrong. After Taking out my second NuvaRing my period lasted from JULY 5TH to JULY 18TH! I also had to face the heaviest period of my life. I would go through a super plus absorbency tampon and panty liner in less than an hour. How embarrassing, inconvenient, and uncomfortable! I have had two ultrasounds, and 3 pelvic exams since starting the NuvaRing just 3 months ago. I have also had to face headaches, stomach pains, MOOD SWINGS, IRRITABILITY, and depression. This thing has put a damper on my sex drive and my relationship with everyone around me including my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years. I would not recommend the NuvaRing to anyone!!!!!!!!

Well I thought I was going crazy and needed to see a Psychiatrist but after reading all these other side effects that NuvaRing does not list on their label I know I am not going crazy. My side effects are as follow: extreme headaches at times, one was so severe I seeked medical attention because it felt like a stroke; stomach pains, depression, INSOMNIA (Tylenol PM helps; but who wants to become addicted to sleep meds), decrease sexual drive, and crying for no reason. So after all of this I have one more week until my cycle and I am retiring the NR. After all, I can find something more economical like the pill to cope with rather than that $35.00 I was spending on my Rx.

PUSS LIKE BUMPS/PIMPLES, HAIR LOSS, WEIGHT LOSS, DEPRESSION, NO ENERGY, NO SEX DRIVE, MOODY, HEADACHES, PAIN IN MY LEGS, VOMITTING, NIGHT SWEATS, CRYING AND CHANGE IN THE TEXTURE OF MY HAIR, CYSTS...

I have only tried the pill a couple of times in my life and the side effects were too much for me to handle. My OB suggested the nuvaring. I've been on it for a year and a half and I'm glad I found this sight. I've experienced the 2 week heavy periods, fatigue, weight gain, the headaches, I had unexplained swelling in my groin area, severe depression and anxiety (which my doctor dismissed as she stated she never heard of anxiety being associated with the ring). I'm glad that I'm not the only one. I'm getting married in November and plan to stop using it then. My general practioner put me on prozac because the anxiety got so bad. I'm lucky that my fiance is a patient and loving person and that this craziness hasn't driven him away.

I have been on the NuvaRing for about two years. It has been better then the patch because it has not caused me to have depression. But, the only problem I have now is a decreased sex drive so, I'm going to have to change to the pill.

I am thinking about going on NuvaRing. But after reading these posts i am very scared to do so. But i really need to get on birth control, i am 17 and i already have a one year old daughter and i don't need any more babies until after high school. I really don't know what to do guys! There are so many more cons than pros with the NR or that is what it sounds like, but maybe the women who use it and have little to no side effects just don't come on this site. Wow I'm so confused! Help!!

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.

Terrible headaches, depression.

Im 17, nuvaring was suggested to me as my first form of contraception. Since then (6 months now) it has been a downward spiral into depression, suicidal thoughts and actions, clingy, agoraphobic,extreme panic attacks, being miserable, crying every day, being completely immobilized, no sex drive, pain during and after sex. I was tested for STi's etc... nothing. Told my doctor, who forwarded me on to a gyno... nothing. Complained of panic attacks (asked if they could be related to nuvaring to which she scoffed)... sent me to a psychiatrist. Psychiatrist... nothing. I thought i'd end up dead or in a looney bin.

Found this website! Bingo! Time of use and symptoms correlates perfectly. My god, i am so angry, i feel like ive lost 6months of my life. No hormones for me ever again... IUD time.

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 love you, I love you, I love you ALL!! I have been having the worst time since I started NuvaRing it's almost two months now but since I've used it I've been a nervous WRECK. I don't know if I would describe it as depression because I don't know what that's like but I have just been out of my head. I can't focus much, I've been fatigued, unmotivated and an insomniac since I started this pill. I've also had physical issues, NO sex drive (which I don't mind since I'm single), some cramping, a terrible amount of what I suppose it a 'normal' discharge, and recently nausea (which I've taken to blame on the ring as well). Thank God I found this page!! I'm NOT crazy!! I loved NuvaRing for the convenience because I regularly forget the pill and I have PCOS but I'm going to get some new BC and get off of this QUICK!!

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've decided to go off NuvaRing because I don't want to be on birth control if I don't have to be (no longer with the man I was dating). I decided to see if there were any side effects to coming off of the ring and after reading these comments SO MANY THINGS MAKE SENSE!

I've only been on it for two months, but I have been a lot more emotional and depressed. I get bouts of depression here and there and since I'm a college student I figure it's been stress, but it's been WORSE than normal! I cry ten times more often and I HAVE NO SEX DRIVE anymore. I literally have not had any desire to have sex as of lately. Also, I've been getting acne which I rarely do--only a zit here or there when I'm about to get my period.

After reading these comments, when I go back on birth control, I'm definitely thinking twice about going back to the ring.

i started nuvaring just over a week ago (may 15th) and since then, i've cried or felt like crying nearly everyday. I'm an emotional TRAIN WRECK!! i just spent the past two hours sobbing in bed and lashing out at my boyfriend for no reason at all.. but it's beginning to make sense now that i've found this page!

i'm a typical 19 year old college student with a loving, supportive boyfriend and no history of mental illness, depression, or anything serious like that.. just ADHD/ADD, which i've got under control (no meds.. just good habits). i've always been very energetic, cheerful and spirited.. but with nuvaring i feel like I'm becoming some kind of monster that's completely opposite of who i am "( i really hope there's a way to fix this...

I am soooo glad I found this website!! Please read further!!!! I had a horrible experience on the NuvaRing. Can't even begging to explain, but I want to express my knowledge to anyone that is on this site. I think doctors should ask every patient that requests the NR if they have had or have symptoms or have been diagnosed with depression, or at that, any mental illness. With women most mood disorders are somewhat hormonally linked along with some kind of chemical imbalance. The ring has a very strong hormone in it that can cause all sorts of problems for women in this category. However, it is probably great for some people. I was only on it for 2.5 weeks and I was screaming at my fiance for no reason then I would lay in bed and just feel hopeless and cry for hours. I know I have suffered from depression for a great deal of my whole life, but I had it under control until I put that little devil inside my vagina. We, my finance and I, thought it would be great to not have to keep forgetting pills and having a pregnancy scare once a month. We didn't link the two together until I told my therapist that I started the ring and he told me to immediately take it out!!! He said DEPO and NuvaRing are a big "no-no" with mentally frustrated patients. So, to all you ladies out there, the ring is good if you have never been to a psychiatrist!!! If you are on any type of SSRI or Benzo's then you obviously have a mental thing going on....stay away from these type of BC's because they are just simply toooooo strong. I hope this helps doctors and patients.

Like many others who have posted here, many symptoms have been present, but I failed to recognize that NuvaRing may be the cause. After another restless night, lying awake at 3 a.m. and considering seeking help for my increasingly unpredictable mood swings and depression, I had an epiphany, which led me here.
I’ve long suffered headaches, so I won’t pin that on NuvaRing, but I used to be one who rarely cried. I’ve felt absolutely crazy lately, both crying and being openly hostile to my husband. It’s a relief to think there may be a cause I can do something about. Now I can’t decide if I should remove it now and risk having my period while on vacation next week or leave it in and be miserable.
I’d finally been able to lose a few pounds, but only two months after beginning NuvaRing, it was all back, plus a few more. I hadn’t thought to connect it to the new birth control, as I’ve been on various pills since 1999.
Stomach problems are another issue I was already dealing with, but the possibility that they've been compounded by this birth control is frustrating.
Another symptom that I’m not sure is related: raised bumps on my upper arms and thighs, dry and slightly itchy. Has anyone else experienced skin-related symptoms with NR?
Many thanks to all who have shared their experiences.

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.

Hey all,
I am meant to be starting the Nuvaring on Sunday. I was on Ortho Lo for about a year but gained significant weight on it and could not take the bloating so my Dr. switched me to Yasmin last month. I have been an emotional mess all month so we have decided to try another delivery method, the ring now and see if side effects are less for me. I am scared though in case I gain even more weight or have another month of depression. Has anyone had positive experiences switching?

I was on NuvaRing for 3 yrs. I lived with a CONSTANT headache, had MRIs and brain scans done, nothing was found. I finally googled tha ring and found out that headaches are a bigggg side effect. I also had 4 abnormal paps, 2 cryosurgeries, weight loss, hair loss, 9 yeast infections, vaginal itching, extreme moodiness, depression, pre-cancerous cells on ma cervix x 2 and almost anything else u can think of. NuvaRing is a nightmare!!!! the minute i decided i was done with it and popped it out, the headache went away, never had an abnormal pap since and every other thing that was wrong immediately righted itself. NEVER NEVER again!!

I was on NuvaRing for a year before experiencing any side effects. My January period was horrible -- it lasted 4 1/2 weeks with clots the size of a half dollar coming out -- my general doc thought it was some strange side effect of a back injury I was recovering from. February was fine. Then, the same thing happened in March, except I was going on week 5 of these clots with no end in sight. I happened upon this website and realized that the loss of sex drive, exhaustion, lack of sleep, and depression were possible side effects of the ring! I have been on antidepressants for over a year, and now believe I was medicating the wrong thing. I have had more headaches in the past six months than I have ever had in my whole life...and my husband and I were experiencing many issues over the lack of sex drive, which used to be very healthy until starting on the ring. Thank God I found this website! I have taken out the ring (my blood flow stopped in just a few hours after removing it), and have a call in to my doc to find a new birth control option!

I am in my 4th month of using Nuva Ring. I have loved it (and recommended it to everyone) until now. The past two weeks, I have felt like I am "high" or something. The only time I have gotten any sleep is when I was on my week off last week. Since I have started researching side effects and reading others' experiences, I didn't really realize some of my symptoms may be related to my birth control. The weird, almost drunk, feeling just started last week, but the sleeplessness, cold hands, bloating, weight gain, nausea have been going on for a while. I'm really not sure what I will do b/c I really love how easy it is to use, but if these symptoms do not go away, I can't handle feeling like this every day. I have NOT experienced depression, lower sex drive, or any vaginal issues like some of the other postings mentioned. I do remove the ring during sex, then wash it and insert again afterward. Has anyone who experienced these side effects ever had them lessen or go away.....or is this permanent for as long as you use the ring? I guess I will be making a phonecall to my doctor today. Now I feel a lot less crazy after reading everyone else's experiences. I am sooooo glad I started researching this topic!

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've been on Nuvaring for a year now. Since being on nuvaring, I've noticed alot of emotional changes....anxiety, depression, suddenly crying for no reason. It's like my moods are very distrinct thru the month.
I never put the two together, I just thought I was having emotional issues.
But the more I spoke to my doctor, we think they are related to Nuvaring.
I am supposed to start the ring again this Sunday and will not be...I'm going to see what happens being clear of it for 1 mth.
After reading the posts on here, I now believe it is the ring.
Does anyone else have these symptoms?

I have been on NuvaRing for a little less than a year. My OBGYN prescribed it. It was my first time using birth control. I noticed 2 things right away - I was a lot more calm/non-chalant and I had lessened sex drive. I thought the latter was due to my nervousness about my boyfriend pushing it up too far for me to fish it out again and maybe at first that was part of it. But it's gone from overactive to almost non-existent (little physical desire, mostly emotional & love desire). I think normally there such be a balance. Also it is difficult to have an orgasm now - I have to really concentrate. My calmness was great in that it balanced out my highs and lows, but now it's to the point that I mostly don't really care about anything one way or the other. Too non-chalant. I also am experiencing depression for no or irrelevant reasons - so bad that it's kept me out of work and even - yes - even the shopping mall! I have no desire to go outside and do anything - grocery shopping, shopping, shopping, walking around or anything - which I thought at first was a good thing for the shopping, shopping. Like most of the posters I could just lay around and sleep and eat all day. With the sleep - I can sleep, but I am NEVER tired. I can stay up until the wee hours of the morning without a yawn like it's the afternoon and I still wake up very early. With the food - I can eat multiple times in a row - full meals. I'm always hungry and never full/satisfied. I am constipated with hard stools. This was an issue until I got off of partially hydrogenated oils (about 2-3 years ago), however even with my altered diet I've still been having issues. My thighs have been falling asleep - weird. Also I can't remember anything from one moment to the next - which I blamed on stress and age. I discontinued NuvaRing as of today (the day I found these posts). Thank you for being so honest & for sharing your experiences. Hopefully these posts will help others in search of answers.

I have been on the NuvaRing for almost two years. I have had several of the side effects mentioned on this site to a lesser degree - anxiety, moodiness, depression, fatigue, etc. Lately, intercourse has been painful for me, and I have no sex drive at all. Reading this site makes me feel much better because I have been completely stressed out about my loss of sex drive. Four days ago, my boyfriend and I had sex, and I started bleeding afterwards. The bleeding was very light and lasted for two days. This was a week before I was supposed to remove the ring, so I started freaking out and assumed that I was pregnant and experiencing implantation bleeding. When I was still noticing a bit of blood a couple days later, I removed the NuvaRing and repositioned it, and the bleeding stopped. I am still worried about being pregnant, but I honestly think that the NuvaRing caused an abrasion to my vaginal wall, which is what caused the bleeding. Either way, I am seriously considering taking the NuvaRing out for good. I have been on other types of birth control, and the NuvaRing doesn't seem to be any worse than the others for me, but maybe being on birth control at all is a bad idea. I'm just terrified of resorting to condoms as my only form of birth control. Is it worth it?

Ive been on NuvaRing for the past 1 1/2 years. I was on the patch - or Orthro Evra. I had consistent vaginal problems including yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis (BV) - at least once every 2 months - not fun! Since starting the NR, I haven't had any bacterial problems or yeast infections, but I have noticed the lack of sex drive and depression. Once a month when my menstrual cycle comes around I'm like a loose canon. I could be very moody, snappy, or just down right sad - about nothing. I guess you have to sacrifice somethings to achieve others. I'm glad I don't have infections anymore, but is there something else I could do to help with the emotional side effect?

I just want to say that all the nuvaring is good for is regulating periods. I would not recommend using it if you are in a relationship. I have been using birth control since I was 16. I've been on ortho tri-cyclen and the low dose version before I switched to the ring only because I started to forget doses. I refused the patch because that is not cute on a black girl when she wants to wear a bikini. It's kinda hard coordinating a BC patch into your sexiest outfit. I've been using the ring on and off for five years. It's not until I got into a serious relationship that I noticed that I had no sex drive WHATSOEVER. I've been off the BC for a week after being on it for a year and have noticed that I'm horny as hell. My GYN and I have a lot to talk about. I haven't had any weight gain at all while on any BC, nor have I had to start anti-depressants. I should have though because I was having suicidal thoughts and moody as all hell and could sleep the entire day away and will be up all night wishing I could sleep. I know I have depression, just never found someone I trust enough to get help. Everything got worse these past few months. I'll say this though, I never had a day of nausea on the ring the whole time. I pray the depression and other things get better. No more hormones for me though. I'm DONE!

I am almost 23 and have been on different birth controls since I was 16. Almost every pill imaginable, and each either made me sick or very moody and depressed with no sex drive. I have depression already, so I then switched to the patch, but after all the lawsuits and still no sex drive I switched to the nuvaring. I have been on it for almost 2 years and loved it. NO moodiness that I can account to the nuvaring, have my sex drive, not sick, and didn't have to think of it all the time. well 2 months ago I missed a month and ever since then I have had non-stop cramping, the gyn. found a cyst on my fallopian tubes, but didn't relate that to the pain. She has now switched my birth control to see if that is it (i am very uncomfortable with birth control now). I started taking Femcon FE today and have been sick ALL DAY, I read about those side affects...and let's just say I think I will be switching. I miss my nuva! I am really wanting to stop taking birth control all together...it just cannot be good for you, but I cannot bc then I will not have a period...

I'm 33 and have been on the ring for about six months now, until last night when I yanked the blasted thing out for good. I'm bipolar so I already knew I was crazy (lol), but over the past few months my symptoms peaked then flew right past the 10 on the 1 to 10 scale. Severe depression accompanied by headaches with suicidal thoughts that simply would not go away. I'm familiar with depression, but the thoughts of suicide are NOT normal for me. Also, I was massively tired and could sleep for days at time. I missed work and even checked myself into the loony bin (lol) because I could not get a handle on things. My doctors adjusted my meds and with the proactive steps I was taking on my own, I should have started feeling better, when in fact, I felt worse. I was beginning to feel like a hopeless cause when I decided to research side effects for the NuvaRing. To describe how I felt when I saw that I wasn't alone and that I might not be dealing with the "normal" symptoms of bipolar disorder: shock, anger, and then hope! I'm always forthcoming with doctors when discussing the meds I take, but there was never a question raised about the Ring so I disregarded it as a contributing factor as well. After reading so many posts detailing side effects that were so familiar I had to get that bad boy out and I'll be sure to post how I feel one way or the other. Either way, I'm grateful for the women who shared their feedback in such a candid way. It helps to know I'm not alone.

My 20 year-old daughter was hospitalized for 6 days for Pulminary Embolisms as a result of being put on NUVARING 7 weeks after having a C-section. Her OB/GYN knew she was a smoker and prone to depression, but prescribed it anyway. The hospital staff didn't know if she'd survive long enough to thin her blood enough to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Thankfully she did, but she was in severe pain and had to quit nursing her newborn due to medications. She has been told she can no longer use any prescription birth control due to the possibility of recurrence. She also STILL has to take blood thinners, 2 years later. She was originally told it should only be necessary for 6 months.

I have also been on the NuvaRing, an option of birth control i thought i could easily like and adjust to.
I can't feel more depresses and angry. Every little thing my husband does makes me so mad at him and everyone else around. Lately I have been having flu like symptoms, but it's "nothing". DO NOT TAKE NUVARING EVER. I also cannot stop from crying, can't tell you how many times i cry per day. Doesn't matter what anyone does or says... So fatigued, depressed,suicidal x 23984390282390, emotional, sick feeling, everything is hopeless, I'm about to start college soon. My Husband and I argue NON STOP because of this and I can't even think most of the time.

THERE IS DEFFINITLEY A LOSS OF SELF ESTEEM AND SELF RESPECT W/ NR.
DEFFINITELY A LOSS OF FEELING SEXY/PRETTY.
MY HUSBAND AND I ALSO HAD TONS OF SEX, NOW HE THINKS IM CHEATING ON HIM OR SOMETHING BECAUSE I NEVER WANT IT AND IT REALLY EMOTIONALLY HURTS.
HE ALSO THOUGHT I DIDN'T LOVE HIM ANYMORE BECAUSE IM NEVER NICE TO HIM.
I CAN'T TAKE THIS.

To the girl who go bigger breasts out of NR- lucky.

Let me tell you how thankful I am to know there are others out there. I thought I was going crazy! Horrible depression (suicidal) less than 14 hours after insertion. My husband thought he was going to have to lock me up! I also am on Wellbutrin, but haven't been depressed for a long time! Actually, I would say before the ring, I was the least depressed I have been in years!!! I don't know. I also had extremely bad body aches and burning from the back of my legs up to my neck! Oh, and the headache! I took that thing out after about 20 hours!

really really bad arthritic-like symptoms in hands and digits... have had to take NSAIDS to reduce the pain which could be due to the swelling should this drug cause water retention...very odd though, had not experienced this with any other birth control. My depression seemed to worsen as well. or my emotionality was pretty off-keel,

I started on NuvaRing a week ago, and had to take it out because of the side effects with my contacts. My eyes have been very irritable and got extremely red. They constantly hurt. I experienced mood swings too with a touch of depression.

I have been using the NuvaRing since October 2005. I never had any problems with it. I thought it was great!! Unfortunately, I was dating this guy for the past two years that never wanted to have sex and all we would do is fight. I had no sex drive of course and I was always feeling depressed, anxious, or stressed out. However, we broke up in December, and now I have a new partner. I thought these symptoms would cease to exist now that the other guy is out of my life, but I am still feeling this way. And I thought my sex drive would return, but it has not. Well, last month I started bleeding out of nowhere, in the middle of my cycle, which had not occurred before and I became concerned. I went for a pap smear, and of course, the gynos are dying to get that ring off the shelves and into millions of healthy women, so she told me that my bleeding had nothing to do with NuvaRing (and then attempted to send me for an $1100 ultrasound). If something wasn't up, why would I need an ultrasound? I wasn't pregnant, at that point, which brings me to my next point. It was almost like a normal period when I bled out of nowhere, then my actual period was suppose to arrive 2 weeks later, and did not. But the gyno still said I was fine and there is nothing to worry about! So as far as I know, I'm not pregnant. I've just screwed up my reproductive system with this new BC.

Okay, after reading these blogs, I think it's time to trash the NuvaRing and go back to something else. Now that I think back on it, whether or not the NuvaRing has anything to do w/ these symptoms, either way I didn't have them before I started it: migraines, depression, weight gain, hair loss, anxiety, mood swings, loss of sex drive, and tiredness. I am 24 years old, and way too young to feel this way!

I write in a journal from time to time and a few days ago I was feeling so sad and teary that I sat down to write what was going through my head. Then I read the last entry I'd written, only a few months before, and it was like a different person wrote it... I was happy and excited about the future. And that’s when everything fell into place in my mind and I realized how all the sadness, random crying, self-doubt and constant anxiety I’ve been feeling began after using NuvaRing. My doctor has said that side effects usually settle after a few months… but I’m not sure I’m prepared to wait around to see if that’s true. I know depression could be caused by a range of different things but I guess NuvaRing is one variable I have control over… I’m tempted to take it out tonight and see whether I feel better.

I have had the worst case of severe tension headaches, I would classify them as migraines due to the sensitivity to light and feeling of such disorientation and nausea, followed by loss of appetite. So when I finally eat my stomach goes into shock and I have severe "stomach issues" to put it lightly.No matter what I do I cant shake this feeling of fatigued headaches and Nausea. I am tired of feeling like I am on this emotional rollercoaster. I always feel like I am drugged up and its an awful feeling. The ring is out and I will never go back to using it! I realize each person reacts differently to certain birth controls but I did my research prior to starting the NuvaRing and 8 out of 10 testimonials that I read said Severe headaches, nausea,stomach and bowel problems followed by depression. I would not recommend this to any of my girlfriends. Good luck I hope I can help some woman out there from my experience.

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!

It just occurred to me yesterday that the NuvaRing was probably causing me to go crazy...so I googled side effects and 800 results were found EXACTLY like mine!!!
I feel like it's my duty to warn people they if they are on the ring they aren't going crazy, and for people who are thinking about going on it--be warned! Pay attention to your body and emotions and if you think you are going crazy, it's probably the ring.
My experience is much like everyone else's here...I have always suffered from depression, so have been on meds for like 3 years and have been completely stable for about a year. Then I put in the ring and I literally thought I was going crazy. I would call my mom in the middle of the night telling her I wanted to kill myself I was so depressed. Seriously, this thing is crazy! I assume most people won't be as severe as I was unless you were depressed before (esp be warned if you are taking a combo of Wellbutrin and Lexapro), but if anyone feels a 10th of what I felt, you need to consider that it's the NuvaRing doing it to you.
I've had a headache for about three days straight and didn't connect it to the ring until I read it's common. I had my period for two weeks straight while the ring was in. I just now realized that I didn't even want to have sex with my boyfriend, which was the main reason I got the stupid thing in the first place.

I have been having problems here in the last 2 weeks, where my right side of my head feels very weird, i have like a numbing sometime tingling and a very sore head like when you take out a pony tail out of your hair. feels sore to the touch, and also I'm losing hair, and i have been feeling very depressed, I have been off the NuvaRing for about 2 months and have been wondering if this has anything to do with these feelings. also i have problems with anxiety attacks and bouts of depression anyway, and i take 10 milligrams of Lexapro daily. so please if any body has had these feelings before please let me know, because Thursday i am going to tell the Doctor i want a MRI.

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'm 24 and have been using the NuvaRing for 4 months now. I've been waking up to find myself drenched in sweat which I have never experienced before. I started looking at different web sites to see if that is a side effect (which I couldn't find anywhere) when I found this site and after reading everyone's comments, I realized how many side effects I am having. I have no sex drive at all, I am depressed and want to do nothing but sleep, and I find myself eating way more than I used to. If anyone else has been having night sweats, please let me know.

so yeah, I have been deciding whether or not i want to continue my use of the NuvaRing which I've been on since December... I've gained 10 pounds.. all i wanna do is Eat, which i NEVER have a weight gain problem, not since I've started NuvaRing. I always have had depression, so thats just blah, but I've noticed i have had extreme irritability. I have had heart palpitations, which is just WEIRD. I get sick feeling anytime i eat or don't eat. I always have had itchiness down there, and every time I go to the doctor they tell me i have a Yeast or bacterial vaginosis...which I've never had!! so idk but if NuvaRing causes these symptoms, BLAH to NuvaRing