NuvaRing and depression

OMG i was thinking i'm just only one who is crazyyyyy.I've noticed horrible mood swing, depression, 0 deisre for sexual intercourse. I was thnking to go and see physologist.Glad i found this side.

Hello All,
I would like to Thank everyone so much! I thought I was really losing my mind. I started NR on Sept.27th. The nurse told me I could leave it in for four weeks if i wanted abd not have my cycle. And I did. The doc put me on NR due to the PH in my vagina off. He said it would help. While i think i has helped the PH it has caused: vagina dryness, headaches, nervousness, burning feeling, tiredness, depression, angry Bitchy attitude, low sex drive, paranoid, scared feelings, dont want anyone to talk to me, dont want to party or kick it with my friends, and a weird discharge thats kinda nasty. I also have freaked out on all my male friends. I feel like im somebody else. Some crazy woman. Im 34 years old. And i dont know who I am right now or what I want. I thought about taking this thing out tonight and throwing it in the trash compactor but i have one week to go till my cycle. I was on Desogen pill before and switched for the convience only. Darn NR. Well Thanks ladies this is it for me. And my OBGYN doctor will be having a serious talk next week. Shame on me for not doing more research before switching. And i have a pain in my side and very loose bowels. Run from NR ladies RUN!!!! clake1975@gmail.com

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

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

What should I do?

I'm glad I have read this. My year appointment is next week and hopefully I can switch to something else and start feeling better! I have been on NuvaRing for about 3 years now. Yes it is convenient and I have never had any real issues. But here recently the noticeable lack of sex drive and tiredness is beginning to take it's toll. It's like I have NO desire for anything sexual and I feel completely exhausted all of the time. I am a very active person, have a three year old and I do not want to continue feeling like this any longer - I'm 31 - I still have a lot of things I want to do! I also notice I wake up most mornings with a nasty headache. I even have bouts of depression from time to time. Thanks everyone! I'm definitely ready for a change! Any suggestions for new b/c would be greatly appreciated!

I am much like the rest of you and have just finished talking about this with friends at work....
1. no sex drive - used to be twice a week and sometimes more, but now just after one month with the ring, this has decreased to almost non-existent!!!
2. Headaches that come out of nowhere
3. Hot flashes and low grade temp
4. Vaginal dryness
5. Depression and wanting to be alone and having difficulty in coping with tasks at work.
6. weight gain

I too much like all of you here, am taking this as a mens stabilizer, offered by my OB/GYN which she raved about!!!

Taking this out and never using it again.

I am a healthy 38 year old woman. I started using the Nuvaring about 2 years ago. Ever since I have had a drastic decrease in my libido...and by drastic I mean virtually no desire to have sex at all. I've also had frequent headaches that last for days at times, leg cramps, depression, and I've gained almost 15 lbs that will not budge no matter what I do. I work out five or six days a week with absolutely no decrease in weight or increase in muscle tone. I am so glad I found this site!! I've been thinking that something is wrong with me and I've been really down on myself. The lack of sex drive has been very difficult for my fiance'. He can't help but take it personally that I NEVER want to have sex. This has been a tremendous eye opener for me. I'm going home tonight to take this thing out and I'm never going back on hormonal birth control again! Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their experiences!

I am 19 yrs old. I started NuvaRing about 12 days ago. I was hesitant to start with but my OB/GYN said it was the last thing to try to suppress my endometriosis. He assured me that the side effects were minimal and I'd feel like I did on the pill without having to pop a pill every day. After being on Depo Lupron for 6 months that sounded pretty good.
The first couple of days were fine, I just was a little tired but I thought that was from the surgery I had a week before. Then on the 5th or 6th day I started getting down for what seemed like no reason. Then I got this debilitating sharp pain in my lower left side. Not to mention heavy pressure. By the 7th day my depression was worse than it had been in about 6 months. My boyfriend told me that I seemed very much on edge and down. That upset me and I seem to be getting worse instead of better.. I started crying when a friend just said hi. I've only been on it for about two weeks now and I really don't think I can continue to be on NR.

There are so many of us with depression/emotional issues from the NuvaRing.

For me, the NuvaRing saved me, only by revealing the MESS it created.

I was diagnosed bipolar in 2000 and spent 5 years on heavy medication in an attempt to manage it. In 2005 I went off the medication and my oral contraceptives in order to become pregnant. Following the birth of my son, I never returned to oral contraceptives AND never followed the typical path of a bipolar mother. There were no PPD issues, and I ended up not returning to the bipolar medication. I was symptom free without an explanation.

In May 2009, after years without anxiety symptoms, I went on the Nuva Ring. Within 12 hours, all of my old symptoms had returned. Within 5 days, I realized there could be a correlation and removed the ring. By the next day, I returned to myself.

With a call to my psychiatrist, who I hadn't seen in over a year, I described what had happened. She explained that the hormones do not process through the liver with the NuvaRing, unlike the oral contraceptives. This direct route into the body made the effects of the LOW dose hormones that more apparent. Thankfully, I learned that my issue all along was the hormonal birth control, and not my mental health.

My option is now a non-hormonal IUD, which has it's own messy issues, but I embrace fully in exchange for the emotional instability.

I feel that I have one of those stories that women need to hear. I do believe we are not realizing the full effects of these hormones. I took it as far as one can take it, with a full diagnosis and years of medication. I have to wonder how many women are experiencing milder effects and just don't realize that it could be the hormones.

I have been on Nuvaring for 2 months now and after the first month I went back to the doctor and she said that the side effects were normal and would go away after a few months. I don't think I believe that, cause I just feel so bad. I use to never fight with my boyfriend and now it is an every day occurrence. I get headaches all the time now it seems almost everyday. I feel so depressed and before I got on it I was happy go lucky and the peaceful one and now I am just on edge all the time and I hate it. I get nausea and for a moment i was thinking maybe I am pregnant but I am not and it is just frustrating and irritating. The best things about the ring is I don't really get cramps and no period pimples and no weight gain and no pill everyday. I never had there problems on the pill lo overall or on the patch. I must say though that it feels great to know I am not alone cause I was beginning to think it was just me and also i don't know if anyone has this but does your chest or heart feel tight at time like a palpitation? I am 24 and I never had this until now and I am so tired that all I want to do is sleep and I feel faint from time to time. I feel like i have all the bad symptoms except a few and no yeast. I honestly think this is my last month on this and thank you all so much it is such a relief to know I am not alone. Oh and I do get hot too and everything.

Thank God I'm not alone. I have been on NuvaRing for ten days and life is aweful, I'm exhausted all the time, which I thought was due to having an 18month old. I wake up in the middle of the night with my heart racing, but so tired I can't fall back asleep, I want to nap during the day but my body wants to keep going but I'm so tired, plus I have severe mood swings. I yell at my son and take it out on my husband life in my house is terrible right, now and after I scream and yell, I cry. I had severe depression in life before and this is what it felt like, I never wanted to be in this state again, and here I am with a family like this and my poor family is taking it all. I called my doctor to see what to do and they told me this is actually supposed to have reverse effects because its low hormone and to stick to it for another month. I'm just scared that the depression will get worse or I will lose control.

Wow, what a relief!
I am 24 years old and am almost finished my 4th month with the NUVARING. I WILL NOT be putting another one back in! I have had such horrible depression that I find myself crying ALL of the time. I am a full time mom of two beautiful children (6 and 2) and I find that they are bearing the brunt of my depression. I also have a very LOW sex drive which is making my husband feel slightly inadequate since we usually have a very good sex life.
Also, I used to have a very regular menstrual cycle and having a plastic ring determine my cycle is wreaking havoc on my body. I know one week in advance that my cycle is going to start because I am in such pain for the week before, and the week of that I can barely get out of bed. I am completely exhausted and have also gained 15 lbs in the 4 months alone. Which makes the depression and sex drive worse. It keeps a very vicious cycle going and I can't take it anymore. I would not recommend this to anyone... it is painful during sex, when I can actually force myself to engage in it. It is a little ring of HORROR!

I had just gotten married and never been on any type of birth control. i decided that since i was a forgetful person the best option was the nuvaring and my husband agreed. my gyno gave me the script and i swear not 8 hours after i put the thing in i was more sensitive. i stayed on the nuvaring for 8 months. i had serious depression, i slept the majority of the day, i'd even sleep at work. i had no sex drive, which doesn't make since, b/c i was a newly wed. i would be angry with my husband if he didn't say i love you in the right way. i had never had any problems in the vag department, and then all of a sudden i had cramps that you couldn't imagine, yeast and bacterial infections and itching that could not go away. i thought my body was just transitioning or something. i had to eat like 24/7... i was always snacking and i have hyperthyroidism so its hard to gain weight but i gained like 15 pounds one week then dropped 20 the next. i hated my life and my family. when my husband would ask me what was wrong i just couldn't tell him b/c i barely knew who i was.

ive been on sronyx for about 3 weeks, and besides forgetting to take it here and there, i am back to my old self, i can have fun and i don't cry if someone tells me i look nice. lol i would definitely caution anyone who is even thinking about the nuvaring, to really do your research!

Hi, I am 28yrs old. I tried the nuvaring for the first time 1 month ago. After 2.5weeks I noticed I had shortness of breath (before i would normally bike about 30 mins three times a week), my heart was racing, chest pains, leg pain mainly in my left calve, depression, a rash on my arm, yeast infection, body aches and flu like symptoms (I went to the emergency room this weekend and they told me I had sinucitis) , when I breathe in my chest hurts. Also this past weekend my period started and I am bleeding so so heavy and the pain is unbelievable ( I am thinking about going back to the emergency room as I type this). Basically I have almost every side effect that could lead possible stroke, blood clots or death. I need help. I am so scared right now, but i am not going to use it anymore. When I asked my ob/gyn about my symptoms she said "the nuvaring does not have side effects.

I've been only a week with NuvaRing. I've experienced depression, vaginal dryness, vaginal itching, after only 3 days of using it I got a nasty yeast infection, I didn't find my boyfriend attractive anymore, I got offended easily, Also I got this BAD headaches, and cramps "down there" very frequently. Also I got a strange rash on my vag, accompanied with the itching. I don't like NuvaRing at all. I took it out today, since I couldn't sleep because of the itching and the cramps. Bad experience. When is my boyfriend going to get fixed... Back to condoms it is.

I am 34 years old and I used the NuvaRing for about a year and it was the absolute worst year ever! I experienced weight gain, dizziness, depression, I was always angry with my husband and kids and I was extremely emotional. Another side effect I experienced was stuttering. I have never had a problem with stuttering in my life. It wasn't a constant stuttering but it was very embarrassing. And the depression and mood swings were absolutely horrible. I would loose my balance just walking because the dizziness was so bad. Eventually I decided to stop using the NuvaRing and my depression, dizziness, mood swings and stuttering stopped. I have been off for over a year now and my life is back to normal. I have actually never had a good experience with any type of birth control so my husband decided to get a vasectomy. I can honestly say that I have never experienced anything like it in my life.

I have been on NuvaRing for many years and have been in an on-again off-again relationship for 6 years. I have been experiencing head aches, heavy depression, NO sex drive, no motivation to do anything. Like many others, I have stressful things happening in my life that I was blaming for the depression, etc. I cry---easily. I have panic attacks. I overreact to small things. Recently is has been worse than ever. I decided to skip my period by using NR back-to-back, I think that has put me over the top. Um going to remove my ring and keep it out to evaluate for improvement. I am nervous though since reading others posts regarding bad cramps post NR.

I had been on BCP a couple of years ago but was really terrible about remembering to take a pill every day. I went off of those because I was no longer sexually active, and I didn't see any reason for it. When i met the man of my dreams and became active again I wend to my Dr. to go back on Birth Control I told her about my previous lack of ability in the pill-taking department and she prescribed the NuvaRing for me. At first I thought it would be great! I couldn't ever feel it, I never had the problems with slippage that other people seemed to complain about, and it didn't even bother my boyfriend or I during sex. After 2 months on the ring though, last night was my day to put it back in, and I didn't. My libido wained to absolute zilch (in talking with my BF about this last night, we realized that we had only made love 3 times in the past 2 months) I just never wanted it. The times that we had made love, I suffered from extreme dryness, to the point where it really hurt a lot, even using lube. I also suffered through 2 UTIs and a Yeast infection in the last 2 months. (not to mention the 10 lbs I've gained, and the crazy irritabless/depression that the poor guy has had to put up with for the last 2 months... best described by me as "a boat load of crazy")

My BF and I discussed it last night and we decided it was best for me to stop using the NR to see if my libido comes back (it seems to be on its way already) and see if the dryness improves. I think my boyfriend put it best when he said "if it makes it so that you never want sex, and when you do - it hurts, that's one hell of a birth control. Can't make babies if you never make love!"

We decided to just continue using condoms as we have even with the BC. (I know they're not perfect) We realize that there's a risk of getting pregnant, but like he said "We'll cross that bridge if we come to it."

I'll see how this next month or two goes... if I am back to normal, it's got to be the NR.

This is the biggest relief. I am sure you can all relate finding this website. I started using the nuvaring back in February and the side effects started soon after, I just haven't tied it to the birth control until now. The first month I started using it I was planning to move from my home in boise to Orlando Florida to live with my boyfriend.. which is very stressful so needless to say my high anxiety stress irritability and anger all seemed to be pointing to the stress of moving from my home although it is what i wanted it was still scary. I have been here in Florida for 3 months now and still experience the same things adding one to the mix as living with your boyfriend should spark an instant sex drive when you haven't been living in the same city for a year. NOPE no sex drive at all. Maybe once in a blue moon i get in the mood but i literally have to talk myself into it which is pathetic. There are times when i am laying next to him and i have to tell myself if he wants i should go along with it. but though of sex just drives me away. Also the depression is unbearable I am a very happy goofy person and it is a struggle to keep my temper in check or to try and work up motivation to leave bed. I am constantly tired and have no drive to accomplish anything anymore which is out of my character.
Headaches I have always had and migraines i have had before the nuvaring about once a week now i have migraines at least 3 times a week and a headache every day in between. My breasts have been extremely sore so much that i thought maybe i was pregnant in combination with my extreme mood swings. I have thick hair and i shed a lot never thought that it may be due to the birth control. I am getting somewhat angry that this is the way we all have to find out. It is frustrating to feel like a crazy person and wonder what happened to the person i use to be. I have not experience any weight gain fortunately, but since have no motivation i am not in the shape i once was because i have no desire to go to the gym.
The itching sensation i didn't realize as a symptom before reading others stories. Now it is so clear how aggravating. One month my cramps were so bad and a couple of months in a row i felt so nauseous that i would get sick. One time i was driving to a friends house when all of the sudden i knew i was going to be sick and ended up vomiting all over myself... so embarrassing and i couldn't figure out what happened. Tomorrow morning im calling my doctor to see what we can do. This is my last day with the Nuvaring Thank god for this site and thanks to you all sharing your stories it brought me peace of mind knowing ill be myself again soon.

I am 24 years old. I started using the Nuvaring about 9 months ago, back in November shortly after my youngest son was born. In January, only two months after starting it, I was beginning to have severe stomach pains and a lot of nausea that would come and go throughout the day. I went into the emergency room one night because it got so bad and they told me that I was going to have to have my gallbladder removed due to large stones. I'm trying to figure out whether anyone else has had any similar issues with the ring. I have read here and there that gallbladder disease is a side effect but I also have issues with it in my family. Has anyone else had a problem with this? I have also dealt with a lot of depression, headaches, slight weight gain, mood changes (just as bad, if not worse then while I was pregnant) and I am going to have to schedule an eye exam because it seems like the past few months, my eye sight has just gone down hill fast. I have never had to wear glasses or contacts.

Has anyone else out there had issues with their gallbladder and eyesight? Most of the posts that I see are saying issues with hair loss and depression. I am seriously thinking about talking to my doctor about changing methods, I was just wondering if there are people having symptoms like mine or whether I need to attribute them to something else. Any information would be helpful, Thanks.

I'm seeing my OBGYN in a few days and will give him a laundry list of problems I've had with this bc. What a nightmare, and just now am I coming out of it. The worst anxiety and paranoia I've ever had, no sex drive, horrible neck aches and migraines, bladder control issues and depression are just some of the side effects. I hate taking anything at all, but was told this was an easy, and mild birth control. I'm never taking BC again after this experience. How this thing is still on the market, I dont know.

I have been off of the NuvaRing for about 2 years now. It caused serious depression!! It was absolutely horrible. Now my husband and I have been trying to conceive for the last 2 years and have been unsuccessful. I recently heard that there is a lawsuit in place stating that the NuvaRing has caused infertility but i have not been able to locate any info. Does anyone know about this or have any info?

I'm 21 and I have never been on any kind of birth control method. I decided to get on the Nuvaring because I had a pregnancy scare. My boyfriend and I have only ever used condoms, but one broke and that was enough for me. I've been on the Nuvaring for about 2 weeks. I normally get my period every 35 days and the only cramping I ever experience is the first and second day of my period. After the first week I noticed I had some light cramping and thought nothing of it, but as time went on the cramping only seemed to be getting worse. I told my doctor about it and she advised me that it was probably my body trying to get used to the ring. Never having used birth control before, I tried not to worry. Then, I noticed some other changes that concerned me since it wasn't like me to feel that way. Aside from the cramping, I had been feeling very depressed about my life and where I was headed for some reason, and my sex drive was depreciating. My boyfriend noticed of course and I had no idea why I was feeling that way. It wasn't until I came across this website that everything started to make sense. I thought I was the only one experiencing these changes. I'm definitely going to change birth control methods. I just don't know what is the best out there. Can anyone help me?

I'm grateful to have found this site. My doctor put me on the ring because I was having such intense premenstrual headaches on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo. The depression has been almost crippling since being on the ring. The first month was fine. The second month was bad. The third was so horrible I thought I was going to leave my husband because I felt so hopeless and alone. I took my ring out on Sunday. I don't think I'll be putting a new one in next Sunday. Doesn't seem worth it. The depression isn't even premenstrual anymore; I have it during my period too. Oh, and the periods are SO heavy. The first three days, I'm changing my tampon every couple of hours and have to wear back-up panty liners. And, I got a migraine this month right before my period.

Question to the others: Does anyone have neck pain? I had it on Mother's Day so bad and couldn't figure out what I'd done to injure it. Looking back at my calendar, I was premenstrual then. Now, I have the exact same neck pain, and I'm menstruating. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the ring.

I was on NuvaRing for 3 months, in that 3 months I got married and separated. I was so severely depressed my Dr. was asking me if I was going to hurt my self. He really thought I wanted to kill myself- I am a mother of 3 and was happily engaged when I started on NR after having an IUD (another devil bc) for 2 1/2 yrs. Within those 3 months of being on NR my life fell apart due to depression, manic mood swings, lack of sex drive, crazy irritability, no energy, 3-4 day migraines, weight gain oh my god it was horrible. My husband kept trying to suggest that it could be the new bc but I wouldn't listen (I should have listened). I have been off NR for 5 months and I have ME back and my Husband!!! We couldn't be happier, I wish I would have found this website 6 months ago!!!

I am 22, and a newly wed. I have been using NR since i was 18. I have been pretty happy with it until this last couple months when i have started to have some severe side effects. I actually ended up in the ER the 29th of may. i had some weight gain at the beginning but i figured that it was normal and didn't think too much of it. When i went to the ER it was because of how much pain i was in with my lower abdomen. They said they THOUGHT it MIGHT be a ruptured cyst. I went to the doctor the next day and she said that it wasn't. Since then i have noticed that my hair has been falling out, im a very thick haired blond. (not fair!!) the pain in my uterine area has been crippling. I ended up quitting my job due to nervous break down because of the pain and the not knowing why. I have abnormal pap smears the months that i used the nuvaring. Body aches, massive head aches, depression, moodiness, heavy excruciating periods, back aches, nausea, breast tenderness, and more and more weight gain. I have gained about 50 lbs since starting NR. I used it because i am AWFUL with pills. So that leaves me with nothing other than condoms, and they hurt me. When my husband and i have sex, WHEN we have sex, it hurts before, during and after. To the tune that my husband is afraid to have sex with me, for fear of causing me pain. So what to do?

I used NuvaRing for 6 months, and during that time i cried all the time. I was very depressed, I would get upset for every little thing, and i was not in the mood for sex. My boyfriend told me that i should take the NuvaRing out and i did. I felt better, but i gained weight while using NuvaRing, and even more after i stop. I always weight 120 pounds and right now i have 138. Its been 6 months since i stop and did not lose weight. While using NR i had painful periods, spotting between periods, headache, nausea, and depression, and i thought i was pregnant. I went to see a doctor and everything was just fine. The food i loved had different taste while using NR. I would get sick from some food that i loved before using NR. It felt like food poisoning. My doctor told me it is going to take some time until my body adjusts back to normal. I am afraid that my weight is not going to get back to normal. I look like during my period. I always had flat stomach, and now my stomach looks like i am 4-5 months pregnant. I would not recommend NuvaRing to anyone. I would recommend pills, my friends that are on the pill did not have bad experience that i did.I only hope my body is going to get back to normal.

I had tried the ring back in august or September of 2008 for less than a week. I went without a period and a pregnancy till March of 2009. No dr knew why on either. I bled for 3 months. I kid you not. I have finally started to taper off and was diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis, cervicitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. (PID) Up until the other day, I was still throwing clots. Luckily, they were much smaller than when it all started because those clots were as big as my fist. (About the size of a baseball, maybe a little smaller) But the last few days I was hurting so badly I had to go to the ER today. I was also having horrible depression to the point of wondering why I was even with my husband! I love him with all my heart and our daughter as well, why would I want to leave them?

I have a 2 yr old and I could not function enough for my husband to be able to leave the house because of the pain. I was put on two antibiotics and an anti nausea pill because the antibiotics prescribed are known for that side effect. But better nauseated than sterile since mu husband and I are wanting more kids. I don't suggest the ring for anyone because it's played hell with me especially knowing that the ring has even caused menopause and sterility as well as other worse issues.

I forgot to mention I've been experiencing cramps, like i would with pms, and discharge. It's just so weird b/c the first 2 months I didn't experience any of this. The only I had was my period started 2 days early while the ring was still in. I'm already on meds for depression - I seriously hope this doesn't make it worse :(

Does anyone have any thoughts on after stopping the nuvaring. I was only on it for 2 months but the extreme moods and depression made me stop and never look back. Its been 6 months since I stopped, I have not used any birth control since. My hair started falling out when I was on it, but it never stopped and is now getting worse. I am not feeling well and seem to have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism, I just had a blood test today and am waiting on the results. I am 25 yrs old and otherwise healthy besides this. I feel like all my symptoms, physical and emotional started with the nuvaring, I am wondering if anyone else has developed hypothyroidism after being on and stopping the nuvaring???

After all the bad ratings on the nuvaring, I am suprised it is still recommended for use. My doctor told me to try the nuvaring because I have a history of having break through bleeding every day and he didn't want to put me on the medicine (northindrone) that will stop it and straighten me out quickly. Not sure why but I might have to switch doctors. The first month I had break through bleeding every day during the 2nd and 3rd week. When I took it out for the 4th week, the break through bleeding stopped which I find weird. My cycle didn't start until 3 days later. I'm currently on the 2nd month and I experienced large amounts of discharge the first week and just moving into my 3rd week I am starting to experience break through bleeding, cramps, and bloating. I have never bloated before in my life. During these past two months I have also experienced episodes of extreme hunger and then episodes where even the thought of food makes me sick. I have ZERO sex drive, am extremely dry (doesn't make sense with the increased discharge?), and there are times when it is too painful to even have intercourse. I have not experienced the real bad mood changes/ depression but I am tired all the time. The tiredness gets to the point where I can barely stay awake and I always get more than 7 hrs of sleep a night. I'm going to give nuvaring one more month and if it straightens out my breakthrough bleeding I will stick with it because bleeding every day is the most frusterating and depressing thing I can think of. It doesn't even compare to the side effects I experience while on the ring. I have tried 6 different forms of BC with no avail and bled for a year straight once before.

I took the Nuvaring for 3 years. I switched to it from the pill because of the side effects I was having from that, and the nuvaring supposedly has a lower dose of hormones (plus I thought it would be nice to not have to remember to take it). On the pill I was an emotional wreck (I'm normally a very easy-going/happy person), which did get a little better on the ring. When I went on the ring, my libido completely disappeared, and every time my husband and I had sex, it was extremely dry and painful for me. I got frequent splitting headaches, and had several stomach problems (constant cramping and bloating). I still had some small bouts of depression and frequent mood swings. I went off the NuvaRing in Nov. '08. My last period lasted 2 weeks, and was very heavy and painful. I am very happy to not be on the ring any more, and all of the symptoms I have listed here have gone away since I took my last ring out.

I started the ring and about a week later got intense itchiness and break through bleeding. It was supposed to be time for my period, and I thought since I timed it wrong possibly I was going to have it anyways. So I took the ring out. The itchiness went away immediately. Also, I could NEVER get the ring all the way in. It dropped down considerably, and I made many attempts to move it. Two days after I took the ring out I had HORRIBLE depression, thoughts of suicide and self harm. Also I was exhausted but unable to sleep. I feel a bit better, and I have no idea what it's half life is and if it will wear off, or if a new medication is needed to rebalanced the hormones. I hope not, as I had a bad experience with hormone balancing medications in the past.

I have been using nuvaring since 2004. I am basically healthy but over the last year i have developed a series of symptoms.

1. Decreased sex drive and cannot orgasm
2. Increase Sed rate
3. Positive C reactive protein
4. Fatigue
5. Anemia
6. Aches in my legs and lower back
7. Depression
8. IBS

They have ruled out lupus and RA even though i seem to show those symptoms.

Wondering if anyone else has experienced these. I'm especially curious about Sed Rate and C-Reactive Protein.

I began NuvaRing about 2 weeks and today I had to take it bc I could not stand another day- I was on it about a year ago and my body seemed to tolerate it better then with fewer side effects.
2 days after being on it i experienced sudden sharp pain in my upper back- i couldn't even carry my power book. For the rest of the week I experienced extreme fatigue and serious depression. I am generally a very positive person and I haven't experienced something as intense as this. By the end of the weekend I was having period like feelings in my pelvic area and EXTREME breast/nipple soreness. My breasts seem to be firmer and a little larger, but the pain was so intense. My appetite seems to have decrease, but I am bloated and still so sluggish.
I felt slightly anxious as well.
The worst part was the lower back pain. It was so uncomfortable that I couldn't sleep well and haven't for about 5 days. I took the ring out this am and within an hour the back pain had subsided.
I am not sure how this will effect my period- that is- if it will come early- or if it will disrupt my cycle. Any experience with this anyone?

I started the nuvaring three years ago because of a hormone in-balance causing me to go off the wall with anger, a blood condition that had me bleeding for 7-11 days losing a lot of blood, and the fact that I was having serious relations with men. Since I started the ring, my outgoing, enthusiastic attitude disappeared, I became a blah to society. My anger went through the roof where I would be in violent moods, and my mood swings were to the extremes. I was emotional almost all the time, and had depression like nothing before. Thoughts and actions went across my mind that I would have never thought in a million years would occur. The sex in my life went down the tube, and it caused my to break up with my boyfriend at least two to three times a week just because I became irritated with him for absolutely no reason. I also wanted to sleep all the time and awoke with many headaches. Along with painful headaches, around the middle of each month, my breasts began to hurt or my side felt like it was being pierced.

The NuvaRing both had positive side effects and negative effects. Besides the negative effects of boosting my emotional self, mood swings, and anger, it also caused a poor sex drive, itchiness cause from yeast infections(which were constant), burning during sex, sleepiness, and all and all blahness. The positive, my 7-11 day period where I was in bed went down to 2-3 days of a light period which I thoroughly enjoy. I also didn't have to remember to take a pill, a godsend.

I stopped using the nuvaring a few days ago because my anger finally got out of control to the point I was almost arrested, and I feel better and more active for life than before. I was always like this before I started, looks like I'm going to need a different BC with either a lower dosage of the hormone in the NuvaRing or another hormone that does what it does best for me.

I hope this helps anyone looking for side effects of this form of birth control. It wasn't the best for me, but it may be for others.

Death. A 30 year-old Visalia CA mom of three (one is eight weeks old) started having side effects just after she started using the NR. She stopped and got pregnant. During her pregnancy, her side effects returned for about three months. Later in her pregnancy, she seemed to improve. Her baby was born March 8 and both were healthy. She was suffering from headache, nausea, stomach pains, depression, throat constriction (she could no longer eat solid food). She died May 1. The coroner hasn't been able to determine a cause of death. Every medical "professional" she saw told her she was "just depressed" and "there's nothing wrong with you." Now, she's dead.

I have been on the NuvaRing just over a year and didn't realize it was causing a lot of problems for me. I just went to see an new GYN after watching a Doctor Phil episode on hormones, and he's going to test me for imbalances. However, he did tell me that the NuvaRing is an estrogen based birth control, so for many women, it's too much estrogen. He said NuvaRing is a good birth control and that he likes it, but some woman's bodies just don't deal well with the extra estrogen. I had made my appointment with him because after watching the episode where Robin talks about hormones, I thought I might have an estrogen imbalance. After he told me NuvaRing was estrogen based, I thought about the timing of my problems, and they all fit perfectly around the start of NuvaRing. I started on it last March, and by July I was on Lexapro for depression. I've been gaining weight, getting headaches (which I never ever got before), been incredibly moody and forgetful, and had no sex drive. If you research estrogen dominance, you'll find those exact symptoms. So for those of you who haven't tried it, it's not that it is a horrible medication. It's just that some women may already have a little higher level of estrogen to begin with, and using the NuvaRing tips the scales too much and causes these problems.

Hi everyone. I am a medical professional and former user of the nuvaring. It is true, birth control as well as most medicines does affect everyone differently. However, I was an absolute emotional disaster (frequently contemplating self-harm) while I was on this medication. I initially attributed the mood swings to my then current stressful situation. When I finally graduated from NP school and my stressors were alleviated, my depression persisted. Within a week of stopping the NuvaRing, I was back to my old self and have not had any of those symptoms since. It is a rather large dose of hormones so if you're feeling these symptoms as well, perhaps you should contact your provider about a more appropriate method of bc.

I have been using the NuvaRing for about 6 months now. I thought it would be a blessing because I would not have to take a pill everyday. I am 23 years old. Have a fantastic serious boyfriend. and NO sex drive. I have always been a happy person, so this behavior has been obvious to not only me, but others. I have been considering going to see a therapist because i just can't seem to get out of this "funk". And thanks to all of the posts, I now think I have a legit answer to my behavior. Besides having little, to no, sex drive.. I have been having waves of depression, headaches, moodiness, feeling anxious, fatigue, weight gain, (looks like someone put an air pump in my face, ugh.) and plain weird thoughts. I really just feel out of my body, just not with it at all. I have tried diet changes, regular exercise, etc. Basically, trying to fix my depressed feelings/anxiety without having to see a doctor or get on another medication. Does anyone know how long it takes to get the NR out of your system. Just ready to get back to normal!!!

I started using nuvaring 3 weeks ago. I have had no negative changes in my life... actually some positive one but I am an emotional wreck. I have contemplated suicide everyday for the last 2 weeks. My mom, sister, and friends have spent the night at my house bc I have been in such bad shape. I have had periodic bout of depression but nothing like this esp. Without any cause. I am removing the ring after I finish this post.

One thing I find interesting, I used the ring about 5 or 6 years ago without any problems. I was 26 or 27 at the time. I am 32 now. Really makes me wonder what age has 2 do with emotional side effects as it seems many other younger posters here don't complain of nearly the side effects those of us with a few years under our belt do. :)

I also had weight gain, big time increase in appetite, dryness\burning burn sex and foreplay. Also some headache and fatigue... but those maybe coincidence.

I am 24 years old and began the NuvaRing 3 months ago. Everything was fine the first month and the first week I took it out for my cycle I started thinking crazy crazy thoughts. I have been with my boyfriend for almost 5 years now and we are crazy happy in love, but after taking out the NuvaRing I had feelings that he was cheating on me for no reason at all. I had no reason to believe that anything like that would happen. He was always home with me or at work but I would come home during the day at work and just look to see if he was there with someone else. CRAZY!!! I am NOT this kind of a person. I didn't think it was the NuvaRing until this next month where I am just SAD soo soooo sad. Just crying about nothing at all. I'm nervous, stressed I have LOST 15 POUNDS UNHEALTHILY! I have unintentionally become anorexic b/c I just cannot eat b/c the depression is so severe right now. Thank you for all of your posts. I will definitely NOT be using the NuvaRing any longer.

Thank you to everyone who posted. I thought it was just me. I am 32 years old and have been using nuvaring for 2 months. The first month was horrible, I had severe night cramps everyday and was always in an increasing bad mood. I also had a bad cold and attributed it to the cold. My family and boyfriend noticed how miserable I was getting. So now I'm using it for a second month and keeping track of my mood swings. I feel like I am fighting the depression to stay positive. I believe it's definitely the nuvaring...and I'm taking it out for good at the end of the three weeks.

Okay well...i've been on the nuvaring since 2006 off an on...and i would definitely have to say that I have had similar symptoms but I never attributed them to the ring. I have had morning headaches (which I thought was from sleep apnea that i was just recently diagnosed with). I have been very tired and sleep...falling asleep while driving...which again I thought was to be my sleep apnea. Sooo now that I read all these stories about similar symptoms...I feel like the nuvaring may have some kind of effect to my headaches, sleepiness, depression, moodiness, low sex drive etc. I just finished my period when i take the ring out it usually doesn't come for a couple days. I didn't put it back in because i have gained a lot of weight since i started and I really want to try to loose it. I've gained about 30lbs... and it is making me miserable!! The last time I went off the nuvaring for a couple months and I never got my period...but I wasn't pregnant either..I'm really up in the air... I don't want another child (because I have 1) because I know I cannot afford it right not...but emotionally, I would love to have another baby. But, the constantly tearing up and crying over sad commercials or movies or just dumb stuff and the morning grump because I'm still tired or the headaches and laziness. I hope it stops soon so I can get back right with my life! So anyone who has gone off the ring and had problems with getting their period again or any positive stories after going off the ring would help.

okay, so i was just reading everyones posts on here, and everything on here i have been experiencing. I immediately took out the NR. The sex drive, actually the lack there of, was the thing that hit me the most. One of the posts read that she was avoiding her husband because of the fear that he might want to fool around, well i have done the same thing only not my husband but with my boyfriend. I had to pretend to fall asleep because i didn't want to have sex. And my boyfriend is gorgeous, and before the nuvaring we were having sex at least 2 times a day. But what was most concerning to me was bleeding. I started to bleed about a month ago and i am still bleeding now. The blood is not red though, it is brown. I looked this up and apparently it is blood that has been there for a while(old blood). Depression is also something that has been happening to me, crying, even sobbing, was something that was an everyday thing. I was over analyzing everything in my life to something negative. I am not this kind of person either, im positive and always smiling, and i didn't notice any of this until i red all of your blogs. So to finish this up, i want to thank you all for this, and i hope that we can help someone else too :)

I thought I was going crazy. I am engaged and so happy to be getting married! But since I started NuvaRing in November, lots of these symptoms listed in this blog have crept up on me. I too thought this was the most wonderful birth control... Put it in, take it out. So easy! But the past 2 months, I started having serious break through bleeding. To the extent I need to wear a tampon with it. I immediately figured it had to be because of the nuvaring, because in 31 years, I've NEVER had this. Well, the stupid ring fell out some how the beginning of this week. And I had kindof decided to change to a different method of birth control and just forget about it after that. So that whole bleeding, falling out episode led me to do a bit more research on the ring, rather than just reading their website. I came across this blog. I now looking back realize that I have been experiencing depression, crying, anger, all the emotional related side effects. I dismissed it as just extreme stress. Now, I realize that I think it was the ring because prior to getting on it in Nov. I wasn't feeling like that. I'm also an avid exerciser, gym lover, runner, biker... Not since November. I've just wanted to go to sleep. I just want to sit on the couch. Going to the gym is so hard! I gained about 8 lbs since Nov. too. I thought it was me going crazy. Now I've stopped the NuvaRing. Hopefully I can get back to my happy go-lucky self. Can anyone tell me how long it took them to feel better? If you had breakthrough bleeding, did it stop after you were off the ring? How long did that take?

i love the internet. you can find so much on nuvaring effects it calms me down a bit.

im 21

so i started nuvaring on March 1st. sex a week later, and then the second week i started getting very sick, terrible nerves and stomach aches. i cried all the time so much that i was sent home from work almost everyday for 2 weeks. surprised i wasn't fired... goodness. i took the ring out the middle of the 3rd week it was in and debated using it again. i decided i would after reading all the other comments and reviews. i put the ring back in and all ive been experiencing this month are slight headaches and the brown discharge. the discharge freaked me out a little at first, but ive read that its normal and just your vagina cleansing due to the hormones? anyways. okay i haven't gotten my period yet and i took the ring out a few days ago. im a little worried, but i haven't shown any symptoms of pregnancy so i guess im okay. ive read it is also normal to be late or miss it while on it. i really like the nuvaring, but if it doesn't work out ill go on the pill. my love doesn't feel it during sex either. but he likes to play a little sometimes when he's fingering me.... silly boy. im also losing weight. ive lost 4 lbs since being on it. well i guess since i started having sex. haha. we don't use condoms during sex, just vaginal film sometimes. things have been great the past 3 weeks. im hoping this continues and no pregnancy occurs! hope this was helpful to others.

i recommend this to people under 180 lbs (due to it is more effective if under that weight) and as long as you can bear the terrible sickness for the first month you should be fine. take Vitamin B-complex, it helps to balance out the depression and stress. its like a natural anti-depressant. if you freak out a lot then use a second method when you are on it.

chest pains, severe anxiety, panic attacks, irregular heartbeats, upper leg pain, night sweats, dizziness, mood swings, muscle spasms, unexplained feeling of dread, fear and doom, depression

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

I am 19 years old and saw a gyno for the first time in October. He recommended NuvaRing to me, and I was very excited about using it to control my periods, during which I typically pass large clots, which makes them very painful. I started with the ring that day, and did not experience any noticeable side effects until I went home for Christmas. I began to become increasingly disillusioned with my life, which has absolutely nothing wrong with it. I have friends who love me, and a very intact and functional family, no man problems, and I am doing really well in school. When I went back to school in January, I immediately sank into a severe depression, probably paired with anxiety, in which I was afraid to leave my apartment and did not want contact with any other people in my life. The first morning of school, I called my mother and told her "I am not OK." I took the ring out, and the same day, my mom sent my father out to stay with me, and he did so for a week and a half without complaint. Eventually, though, he had to return to his life back home, and I was doing better and in the control of my friends, so he left. I struggled the first couple of days without him, then gradually got back to doing pretty well, but was not back to my previous self. I went home recently for Spring Break, and when I came back to school, I immediately had what I think was a panic attack (I've never had one before) and began to become depressed again. This time, however, its different. I hate being alone, and when I have down time, I start to think very profoundly about life and what it means...very philosophical and metaphysical thoughts. I only had the ring in for 2 and a half months, and I have had it out for about the same amount of time, but am still experiencing depression symptoms. I have never had problems with depression before, and am wondering if it has taken this long for anyone else's depression issues to work themselves out. Has anyone tried anti-depressants, or would you recommend them?

I am home right now (called into work) because of the severe abdominal cramps I am having since I stopped taking NuvaRing. It was so bad yesterday (sunday) my husband wanted to take me to the emergency room. I'm not currently menstruating, it's actually about a week before, though my periods have always been wonky, even with the birth control helping me tell it when to start, so I'm not really expecting it to show up. I seriously thought I was having a miscarriage last night, because I've had a child and labor pains didn't hurt as bad I hurt last night. The pain started at the top of my pelvic bone (around the ovaries) and moved up through my entire abdomen to my diaphragm. I'm so glad I found this webiste, because I actually thought something was really wrong with me. My belly feels swollen and walking is still a hassle through the soreness, but I think I can survive now. Also, the overeating - I was having that problem too right before my periods when I was on the ring, and while not a work out freak, I was always very conscious of maintaining my weight. It was like I was a bottomless Pit. I was on lexapro at the same time that I started the Nuvaring 2 1/2 years ago and between the two medicines, I gained 30 pounds. Now, since stopping the lexapro and starting the south beach diet, I've lost about 1/2 of that, so now that I've stopped the ring as well, I'm hoping I can lose the other 15, as easily as I lost weight before I started this medicine. All of the depression and moodiness - the loss of ability to concentrate. I thought all of that was just the PTSD I was experiencing (over something I won't go into here), but now I realize that if it was PTSD, then the NuvaRing wasn't helping. I hope this pain doesn't continue and I hope I can get back to normal. My problems with focusing have actually increased since I stopped, but I really hope that I can go back to normal soon. I'd rather have my irregular three or four day periods sometime between 28 and 37 days apart, and feel like I have my life back than the convenience that the NuvaRing presented. I think it's time to buy out some stock in Trojan. Thanks ladies for sharing your stories, I've really been helped here.