NuvaRing and dizziness

Okay Ladies! I haven't been on BC for 15 years because I didn't want to deal with the side effects or popping a pill, however this little ring I am not so sure of. My side effects are as follows and are due to the ring. I have been on it exactly 2 weeks and 1 day. I have had:

ACNE on the face!!! I have great skin....now I have small acne rashes from ear to ear-forehead to chin! Unbelievable- that start within the first week!
Constant Nausea (mild-not enough to vomit)
Dizziness
cramping
Lack of motivation (yes getting up at 415 to go workout sucks, but I do it and the past few days I haven't wanted to)
Tiredness
Appetite changes....food doesn't interest me.
Some sexual side effects...lack of libo.

I am a healthy 34 yr old sexually active woman- I love working out- there is not a reason I can think of other than this ring for these changes to have started.

Its coming out this afternoon....I should have just stayed off of it!

Well, I am so glad I found this website. I am 39 yrs old and my husband is fixed....so I have no reason or desire to take any form of hormonal birth control. I never liked the idea of inserting a ring or taking hormones after the many female issues I have endure. I only agreed to this because I have painful ovarian cysts chronically, at least 6/year and 3 or 4/year that take me into my OB/GYN for a scan. I have previously had a tubal pregnancy (tube was saved because my OB/GYNs also specialize in fertility) and have had endometriosis. I have had 3 laperoscopic surgeries and 3 miscarriages. First for the tubal, second for follow-up endometriosis and third to remove a GOLF ball sized ovarian cyst to prevent ovarian torsion. Finally, I agreed for the 4th time to take birth control (previous attempts were thwarted by side affect from oral products. I used the nuvaring for 3 weeks and removed it today. Five days into the use I started cramping and bleeding AGAIN (10th day of my cycle). I have been bleeding, heavily for 11 days now, suffered dizziness intermittantly, have had a headache for the last 6 days and been more anxious, moody and tearful. I removed the ring today! I see my gyno on Tuesday. My cycle was predictable before, albeit painful and with ovarian cyst. Just want to say to all who took the time to share. Now I know it isn't in my head.

Thanks ya'll,
~ Texas Pharmacist

i also have been having pains in my back, i just cant wait for the day to end, some days i feel like i worked out all day. The things that i used to i don't do anymore like dancing,exercising and being more energetic. I haven't had trouble with the sex drive actually i want sex more and i don't have drywall either. I really have a sexual drive the week i take out the ring. this past two months have been the worst the for me, i taking to my doctor soon but every time i tell my doctor and i get checked for the problem the results are always the same that nothing is wrong. so what can i do

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.

NuvaRing is HORRIBLE! I had my baby in February and decided to give NR a try. Since then the side effects I have experienced daily are: dizziness, nausea, constant bloated feeling, stomach pain, leg and joint pain, insomnia, extreme fatigue during the day, weight gain and hair loss. This is way to huge of a list to continue this medication. Too many of these side effects feel just like I did when I was pregnant, I am SOOO done with NuvaRing.

My experience with the NuvaRing thus far has been disastrous. I was prepared to put up with the ruined underwear from unexpected menstruation but today whilst sobbing uncontrollably on the freeway with my husband gasping at me helplessly was enough. He actually was the one who suggested that it may be the ring and after reading the accounts of other women I am glad it is not me (and so is he). I actually just read some accounts to him and he was looking at me with a "told you so" look on his face. I have been in remission from clinical depression for a year and a half now, and these feelings I am having whilst on the ring are those of depression. I was seriously scared that possibly I had slipped back into a depressive state, but only a few weeks ago I was happy with my life and safe and stable. I am also ANGRY at everything. Again, something I was really concerned about- that is totally not the person I am. I am also having periods of dizziness and loss of consciousness which I thought was dehydration, but I could not seem to fix it. I am sure this is an effective form of birth control for some women, but I would just like to let you all know that constant vaginal bleeding, depression and thoughts of no self worth, anger, dizziness and pain are not worth it. Not in my experience.

About 4 months ago, I decided it was time to try birth control for the first time. I am 23, and I'd been having terrible heavy periods, with cramps that were so bad I couldn't move or function at work. It felt like a little alien was trying to claw its way out of my uterus. I chose NuvaRing because I know I am terrible at remembering pills, and the doctor suggested this as an alternative to pills. The first 2 months on the ring, my period started and never stopped... for two months straight, every day. The third month it seemed to have leveled out, and my fourth month is going fine so far, as far as the period is going. I went from a 6-day heavy painful period to a 3-day light and easy period, which I love. I do not love, however, the other side effects.

The last month or two, I've been experiencing headaches almost every day, nausea, dizziness enough to where I have to steady myself, and some crazy roller-coaster emotions. The nausea I can deal with, as well as the dizziness (sometimes), because they only happen once in a while. The emotional roller-coaster I've been on is killing me though. I'm the kind of girl who normally shows emotions with crying - I can't help it. But lately, it's like anything and everything will set me off crying, and the more I try to stop myself, the more I cry. Then I hate myself for crying so much, especially when it makes my boyfriend cry to see me like that. Life has been good for me - not the best spot I want to be in right now (I hate my job and wonder whose life I'm living sometimes, because it sure as hell ain't the one I wanted), but lately it seems like everything is just horrible and I'm feeling so depressed and I just want to get out of here and leave it all behind, including the birth control. And to make things worse, it feels like my sex drive has just suddenly *poof* gone away. It makes me feel terrible and wonder what's wrong with me. What's wrong with me that I'm crying all the time (damn near everyday, now) and get depressed about my life more than ever before, and am suddenly never in the mood anymore?

I really wonder if the benefits of the ring are worth all those side effects I'm experiencing. Though, it seems with any birth control you run the risk of those side effects, so I guess I'm just at a loss as to what to do.

I have been on the NuvaRing for a year now and this was the first month I skipped by my own fault in forgetfulness. I went on the ring to regulate my hormones and thought it was useful to have a birth control method that overcame my pill-taking forgetfulness. It has worked really well not only in the hormonal department, but with period regulation and cramps. So many have had adverse reactions with their sex drive and emotions, but I was a lucky consumer. BUT THEN I forgot to insert the ring this past month; I was traveling and one day led to the next and you know how it goes. I brushed it off as a "medication free" month and proceeded with making my plans to move from the West Coast to the East Coast.

Last week was the week before my period and I began to experience HEAVY anxiety. Though I was happy and life was great (even with the large change in my life) my body was reacting in distress. At first I dismissed it as anxiety from moving, but then when I got my period it dawned on me. Usually I would experience heavy cramps before my period but the anxiety replaced it. I didn't even know my period was coming. My regular body clues were off base and this anxiety lead to a heavy chest feeling, short breaths, dizziness, headaches, breast soreness and general feelings of depression. As a woman I can be perfectly honest and say this is entirely hormonal because

Today I went online to research and was more than happy to see that I am not alone in the symptoms this birth control has caused me. Oh my goodness, I am almost excited to get back on it after my period to see if it dramatically changes on the flip side. I cannot continue feelings like this.

Glad I stumbled on this website. I started NR in April. All seemed well. I spotted most of the 1st month pretty heavily but that's not unusual for me starting BC. A number of vague symptoms began creeping up on me and I decided to stop it last week to see if it could be related to NR since many of the symptoms appeared or worsened after starting it. Sudden hot flashes that lead to panic attacks, feeling like I was as close to fainting you can get without hitting the floor. At first that was once a month but then became more frequent until lately it's been everyday! No fun to say the least! vision changes, waves of severe nausea and dizziness in the past week...I've had it. And it's even been out for a week. I hope the effects wear off ASAP. appreciate all the comments on this forum. makes me feel less alone

Started Nuvaring last month..figured I would give it some time to work out the side effects I was having...leg cramps, backache, dizziness ( I am a phlebotomist and almost fainted 3 times at work), I got so hot and had to take clothes off, I was so irritable I would cry for no reason. I just didn't feel like myself...I found this site thank God and I took the ring out tonight. Since I have taken it out just 5 hrs ago I now have no headache anymore and my leg cramps are gone. This just did not work for me. Thank you everyone for posting your issues, it good to know I wasn't going crazy & am not alone. Best to all of you :)

I was on the Nuvaring for about 2 1/2 months. In that time, I put on about 5 lbs around my midsection. I am very critical with weight gain so I went off of it. I also had some other issues such as a little dizziness and waking up with night sweats.
Since I've been off of it for two months, I feel like I am going crazy because of 3 things. I am SO hoping they are all related to going off of this ring! First, I have severe edema (water retention). I am 39 yrs old and normally 136, so I don't have a big weight issue, but each morning I wake up and my fingers feel like sausages. Well, this Sunday I noticed my ankles and feet were very swollen, so called my doctor. He prescribed me triamterene.
Within one night I had lost 5 pounds. The next night, 3 pounds. I was finally back in the mid one thirtys. Well, I go off of it for two days, and the water comes right back on. Along with HBP which I've NEVER had.
Then, as I was doing my 3 mile walk the other night, my chest felt like something was squeezing and crushing it. I was very scared and had to take many breaks for it to calm down.
I am so scared that there is something terribly wrong with me! I am giving it one more week to see if my body regulates itself. I am like an elderly person eating all low sodium, etc. My whole life is being turned upside down and I am afraid I am about to have a heart attack or have diabetes or both. This is insane.

I am 25 years old and have been on nuvaring since July of 2007 (so 2 full years now). I didn't really start to notice any symptoms until June of 2008. I didn't have any of the weight gain (I actually lost weight--probably due to a battery of other side effects I'm now noticing-- I was 125 in college and am 114 today).

In June 2008 my periods started to get REALLY BAD! I mean I would put a tampon in and an hour later be leaking like a river. I was at a movie one night and actually had to tie my sweatshirt around my waist and run to the bathroom because I had bleed through my jeans SOOOOOOO bad. For the last year I've had to change my tampon every 2-3 hours and always, always, always use super sized pads to make sure I don't bleed through any more clothes! I've noticed clotting the past few months as well. Before that I had NEVER passed clots during my period.

Since April of 2008 I've been in a serious relationship with a loving man who recently became my fiance. We are deeply in love, but I have ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE to have sex, none. This is worsened by the fact that sex causes me UNIMAGINABLE pain and burning to the point I try to avoid it at all costs (we've tried condoms, water based lubes, silicon lubes, gels, you name it, all to no avail!). I went to the OB/GYN in February of this year (2009) to tell her about my painful sex experience, because this was something completely new to me. She said I had vestibulitis (very similar to vaginitis) and gave me pills and creams to take everyday twice a day for the rest of like forever to try and help me. From reading some of these posts I'm thinking that getting rid of the nuvaring might just help more than those pills and creams (and the nuvaring probably gave me the damn vestibulitis to begin with!). I am also hoping to get any of my sex drive back at all. Please!!

The past two weeks is where the headaches, neck pain, dizziness, fatigue, nausea have really started to become noticeable. I almost couldn't finish making the bed yesterday and I've had a headache and neck pain for the past 8 days straight! I am constantly tired and have realized looking back that I've been constantly tired for pretty much the past two years. I've also realized that I've had some mild depression for the past two years as well. I pretty much haven't wanted to get out of bed or eat anything for the past few months and have no desire or energy to do pretty much anything.

I also think I have the mood swing issue. I cry, and I mean to the point I can't speak, over the stupidest things. And the crying comes on with no warning. I can be talking and fine one minute and a sobbing mess the next. I get really angry with my fiance for what seems like trivial things a lot lately. I get very irritable really easily and it seems. This is strange for me because in the past I have normally been able to stay pretty stable and even keel emotionally.

I took my ring out today, even though I really have like 10 days left for this month. Back when I was 19 and started on the Pill I did so because my cramps and periods were so bad I missed class or work. I am hoping that the next couple months aren't quite that bad, but I'm hoping to detox my system of this ring and start over. AND GET MY LIFE BACK!

I started the ring because of it's easy "put it in and forget about it for three weeks" convenience. When I was younger I was always forgetting to take the pill. I am not sure what kind of birth control I'll go back to when in a couple months, but I know it isn't going to be this EVIL RING!!!

I'm grateful to see others have the same experience with the ring. I started it last month. I had told my doctor that oral BC made me sick. She recommended the ring since "it rarely has side effects". I had it in for 10 days and couldn't take it anymore. I was having hot flashes, headaches daily with nausea and bouts of dizziness. I was also moody and extremely fatigued. I call the office last week and doctor wasn't in, but the nurse said to take it out. Doctor called yesterday and said she felt it was just the flu going around and wanted me to try it again. So I put a new one in yesterday and 2 hours later started with headache. I've been tired and today I'm already having hot flashes. I had my period 6/25, and 7/9 (since I took the ring out). It sucks because I don't think I can handle the ring and when I take it out, I'll have another period. I feel awful on it and my friends say it's "in your head" but reading these validate my symptoms.

NuvaRing is horrible!! I was on it for about 6 months. The only positives were that my period came like clockwork 3 days after I would remove it and the fact that I only had to deal with inserting it once per month compared to taking a pill every day. The Nuvaring totally killed my sex drive, caused me to be very irritated all the time, depressed, extremely tired, huge increase in underarm sweating (i've never been one to sweat), tingling in my hands/feet, frequent pain in the left side of my chest, and frequent dizziness. I seriously thought I was going crazy until I started finding out a lot of other people were having problems. I just switched to Ortho-Tricylen a little less than three weeks ago and it is just as bad. Now I'm extremely moody, sensitive, my boobs hurt, i'm SO tired and sick to my stomach. After this week I'm going to find a non-hormonal method because this is ridiculous.

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 have been on the nuvaring for almost 3 years.
The first year was great! I hated taking a pill everyday, so at first i opted for the Depo, which was great for a year, but i really didn't trust it and not having periods made me uneasy.

The nuvaring seemed like a blessing! I had no trouble for the first year and a half. I recommended it to all my friends. I didn't have any side effects, and I loved the convenience!

However, now i am experiencing some serious side effects, and thanks to this website I realize I am not the only one. I have two concerns that i link to the BC: depression and no sex drive. Some days I just want to lay in bed, and sleep. I do not want to leave the house, or see anyone. I have told my BF (of 3 years) that i just need some "me time". I am fatigued and show many symptoms of depression.
I am only 24 years old, and i have NO sex drive. It has taken a tole on the relationship with my boyfriend. Many nights i try to get in bed before him, so i can appear asleep. There have been so many nights where i would tell him "i'm sick", "i have cramps"... sooo many excuses. When we do have sex it is usually forced, and i do it because i haven't in a week!

This past year I have also had digestive problems, which seemed to have appeared out of no where. Im not sure if I blame them on the nuvaring, but I've noticed a few other people have mentioned it as well.

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 had vaginal dryness, and a heavy period and when I say heavy I mean have to get up in the night 3-4 times, blood clotting mess going through a package of pads in a day.... I absolutely loved how convenient the ring was and I always had problems forgetting my pill, but I couldn't take these periods for the most part, and the stomach pain when I was on my period was gut turning.!!! Now I'm on Yasmin, and though many women complain of severe effects of Yasmin, I believe its with any birth control really Ive been through the patch, 4 types of pills, the needle and the ring, and so far Ive had no side effects with Yasmin and it has been the best!!

Just started with Nuvaring a week ago. Haven't been on any birth control in over 5 years. I don't know if these are common to all hormonal birth control methods but have been experiencing nausea, dizziness, anxiety, mood swings, pelvic soreness, and I can feel the ring; in general and during intercourse. My boyfriend can feel it, too. Also, there is some vaginal discharge that smells funny. Not strong, just funny. The mood swings are intense, from crying for almost no reason, to a strong sense of anxiety. My sleep has been disturbed due to a general sense of nervousness. I think after this month, I will switch to the pill.

I was on the pill for about five or six months (mircette). I quit taking it for about a month and was told to start the nuvaring after my febuary period. I had my period off birth control starting the 8th. Usually they're very short but this one was long and endd about the 13th. I put my first nuvaring in Saturday about 1145pm on the 14th. I couldn't get it situated or comfortable and it was burning. I left it in and after two days I took it out Monday and decided it wasn't for me. That the the 16th. I took a pregnancy test the day two days before I started my period and it was negative. But since taking the nuvaring out after only TWO DAYS I've had horrible headaches, dizziness, I'm tired and moody. I woke up this morning with bleeding. Only two weeks after my period. I called my gyno and she acted like i was silly for calling and asking and said its probably only breakthrough bleeding. Is this normal? has anyone ever experienced this, because I'm panicing?

Positive: Lighter periods and little or no cramping; less depression and less weight gain than the pill
Negative: Numbness in hands and feet, leg pain, COUGHING UP BLOOD, dizziness and FAINTING, low to no sex drive, vaginal dryness and itching, shortness of breath, MEMORY PROBLEMS, LACK OF CONCENTRATION, MIGRAINE HEADACHES, SKIN RASH, COMPLETE INTOLERANCE TO CONTACT LENSES

Does this sound like something I should voluntarily do to myself?! NO WAY!!!

it didn't appear up there but my side effects in less than 2 weeks were, Nausea, Dizziness, Cramps, Mood swims, Spotting, Vaginal Discharged, headaches (almost daily!) and irritation down south.

I've been on NuvaRing for 3-4 months now. Before using the ring I'd tried the pill, which made me horribly sick, and the patch, which gave me rashes and clots. My doctor recommended the ring and raved about it (as they all do) so I figured I'd give it a shot. The first month was fine. But since the second month I've experienced the following: dizziness, nausea, migraines, increased discharge (so much so I have to wear pantiliners EVERY day) swelling in my ankles, weight gain, and decreased sex drive...wait, let me correct that-no sex drive.
Im so jumpy and irritable my boyfriend is scared to try to touch me or say the wrong thing. I'm not sure what to do. I need to use some type of birth control and I don't trust just condoms alone but I'm scared this damn thing is going to kill me.

I have been on Nuvaring for almost 3 years now since I had my second child. I haven't had many issues with it and actually really enjoy not having to remember to take a pill every day. However, in the past few months out of nowhere I am now experiencing extreme dizziness, which I've never experienced before. I am not sick nor have a cold or sinus infection. I have not changed my eating habits and work out regularly. Now after reading this I am really tempted to take the ring out and look into other options. Since the birth of my second child my sex drive has been nothing - so I don't even really need it because I don't even have sex because I don't want to. I've always had mild depression but I am definitely more irritable and depressed now - of course I also have an extra kid and more stress in my life - so I'm definitely not blaming my mood on the ring. However, the dizziness is just strange! I think I'll definitely talk to my doc after reading these posts!

I started using Nuvaring 4 months ago. Im 26 years old. Nausea started like 2 weeks after I started using the ring, but I never related it to the ring since my GYN didn't tell me about possible side effects. The first 2 weeks the ring slipped out until it became really uncomfortable to the point that I thought it would come out when I sat on the toilet. So, I developed my anti-slip technique after reading the leaflet (that says it doesn't matter the shape inside), to fold it in two rings like an eight, so when it gets in, it would be open like butterfly and it wouldn't slip out. It worked out great and didn't slip out. I wasn't aware of the ring at all, not even when I had sex. It didn't bother my husband or me. However, the nausea got worse and worse with the time. There is nothing in the world that I hate the
most than to vomit and I try very hard to avoid it.

Also, I start getting really nervous for everything, first I thought it was because of the nausea, but then I started getting paranoid about vomiting in front of everyone or on the street. Then it started developing more and more to the point where I was so nauseous I couldn't be 15 feet away from a bathroom. The nausea was permanent, so I couldn't ride the subway. I also got subway-phobic, more like a claustrophobia mixed with nerves, and I felt I was about to lose my mind. I couldn't be around masses of people or the subway and that is kind of impossible in New York City. I has horrible panic attacks, e.g, fast heart beat, crazy sweating, nausea, dizziness and shortness of breath. I feel every time I was riding or underground with a bunch of people that I was running out of air. I cried all the time because of my subway phobia and felt it was nonsense, since I have been living in New York for a while and using the subway all the time. I barely went out of my apartment for almost three months and at some point I was really afraid of going outside just to my doctor appointments.

The paranoia, anxiety and nervousness was out of control. So anxious that I complained to myself about how slow I walked, even though I was almost running to get to places. I wanted everything to be fast with no reason. Not to mention that in addition I had some capillaries or broken little blood vessels in my legs they were blue and purple. I was previously been using Ortho Evra, which I stopped taking because I felt lots of pressure in my legs and when I was lying down or sleeping I felt like pins or needles in different parts of my legs. And I also broken capillaries. I was really concerned with my use of Ortho Evra.

The worst part of my situation was the severe depression I experienced with Nuvaring. I am a very positive woman. I love nature and being outdoors. I have always considered myself strong and I rarely if ever cry. Well these three nightmare months were all about crying. Once I was in a ballgame with my husband, we both love baseball. I start feeling so nauseous and bad that I start crying but trying hard to contain myself of expressing because i didn't want to make my husband upset. Thank god my husband is a understanding and patient person.

I spend almost all day at home waking up really late or sleeping all day, feeling nauseous but, don't get me wrong, I was really hungry. As soon as I ate I got nauseous. I felt in the top of my stomach really nauseous and in the bottom of my stomach really hungry. I became totally intolerant of wine or coffee, and eventually even water. I lost all interest in the gym, or making new friends or meeting my old friends, just crying and crying for no reason. I lost interest of everything, when I thought of something to do, 5 seconds later I was thinking of how negative that activity was even if my first thought was...this could be interesting. I lost interest in life, even though I love my life and love myself. I'm a newly wed, I didn't have problems of any kind. I'm a happy and positive person. My husband was looking at me weird at some point. When people were speaking to me I was like on Mars looking at the infinite. That is scary! I have never had mental problems or anything like that.

My husband told me I was completely another person and that he felt I wasn't the person he married. I consulted our family doctor who referred a gastro for my uncontrollable nausea. I was loosing weight really fast - 14 pounds in total - and I am very thin and that was concerning. The gastro prescribed some antibiotics, thinking was some kind of infection and
prescribed medicine for the acid, both of which made the situation even worse. I never talk to him about the depression because I couldn't identify my negativity and depressed feelings with my stomach. I got really constipated and even more depressed. Also I got night sweats that would wake me up. I didn't see anyway this would end.

The gastro told me that he couldn't figure it out and my lab test came out with good results. So his next step would be a endoscopy to see what was going on. Every day I was trying to return to normal activities like riding the subway, going shopping, walk some, etc. I went to a store one day. Like 10 minutes later, I felt really dizzy, couldn't see very well, sweating, nauseous and about to faint. I left the store really fast throught the elevator
(the fastest way to leave, so my problem wasn't quite claustrophobia) And I went home thinking of how miserable I have been these days and how much I hate it of course crying like a baby. I had to cancel at the last minute a wedding in the Caribbean of a friend that I really wanted to go. And the fact of missing the wedding was so sad that I started thinking of all the medications I was taking.

Of course the ring was not taken by mouth and I wasnt aware of it, just when it was time to change it. I start reading all the leaflets that comes with the medicines and voila the ring side effects are bloating, nauseas, vomit, depression, weight loose or weight gain, among other serious side
effects.

I took out the ring two Sundays ago, Oct 19, and the nausea considerably lowered down after a few hours after I took it out. It has been lowering down gradually since I took it out. The nausea comes like a wave, but is not constant as it had been, and is coming less often. I haven't feel depression since Wednesday, Oct 29. And I am getting better
every day. I don't know when all these symptoms will disappear, but I hope really soon. I just know that this hit me really strong and I don't wish this to anybody. Stay away from ,Nuvaring!! I know not all the bodies are the same or have the same reaction, but, If you have to choose, don't use hormonal contraceptives. Please look reviews before you try a medicine, so you are aware of the side effects. Make your family aware so that if you have strange behavior they could let you know. The doctor told me that it will take two weeks or more to get rid of the hormones in my body.

Looking for an alternative I found a natural way called cycle beads that I will try, and there is also the rhythm method. The only good thing about the ring it is that keeps you from getting pregnant and you just think of it once a month when you're taking it out. That's it! I felt I have wasted 3 months of my life, but I am willing to recover and enjoy my precious health these future months.

I've been on Nuva Ring for 4 months and I've been having terrible night sweats for about 3 months. I wake up soaked. It's so bad that I'm developing rashes from the sweat. Every morning I have diarrhea. I had pregnancy symptoms. I also get severe headaches and dizziness. The week that I take the ring out I feel nauseous. I do have pain during intercourse and low drive. I tried to find something on line too for night sweats as a side effect. I'm very worried now and will be contacting my GYN!

the day i take it out i start experiencing bloating so bad that i can't bear to wear underwear, cramps, back pain similar to early labor, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, constipation. i experience anxiety all the time on it. i have to figure out how to ease off of it, though, because the side effects are unbearable when the ring comes out. i just put a new on in to see if it would ease the symptoms.

I have been using the Nuvaring for about 3months. After my second child my doc put me on yaz and I was having really bad headaches and nausea. We thought it was b/c I was forgetting to take my pills so she put me on NR. My life has been a whirlwind since then. Migraine headaches once a week, extreme fatigue, extreme dizziness and nausea. I've had MRI's and catscans done and then they diagnosed me with Vertigo. I ended up going to therapy etc...Nothing works. After 3 months of being miserable I decided to take out the NR the day after it had been inserted because my symptoms were so bad. Sure enough, within hours I was feeling better. I will NEVER use this again!!

I was just put on the nuvaring and I am not so sure I like it. I suffer from mild depression, now that I am on this I am even more so... I am angry, agitated and yell at my kids often. I don't like this. I have also started to spot and feel crampy and bloated. My periods weren't bad before but is this a sign of bad times to come? I don't like feeling like this and my doctors says stay on it and to go on a antidepressant, not what I really want to do.

IN RESPONSE TO THE PREVIOUS POST:

STAND UP FOR FELLOW WOMEN

Because this is exactly the type of thing M.D.s will feed you as they're pushing pills. "I used it myself, it worked great for me... it must be something with your lifestyle change... it can't possibly be the hormones!"

Isn't it lovely, how even female doctors can so inadvertently seek to compartmentalize what should be a free-thinking, myriad of personalities and body types?

Here is my reply:

"you: "...I have not gained any weight...of course I diet & exercise about 5 days a week....do those of you who have experienced weight gain exercise regularly?..."

The NuvaRing does not cause weight gain. That's absurd. There's only one way to gain weight (as your self proclaimed fit self must agree) and that is to take in more calories than you burn.

But, the hormones in the NuvaRing, however, DO cause appetite change, and DO cause dizziness associated with these changes if the "food" (for lack of a better word) the hormones causes one to "crave" is not consumed. As you can imagine, this messes with a work out routine.

Which leads me to this, SWEETHEART... I DO exercise regularly. I'm a healthy size 6, 140 lbs, 5' 8" I am 21 years old and graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. I have helped my friends and family with diet and exercise plans since I made the goal to become fit (I was not a healthy weight in high school). I run a mile every week, and work out at the gym every other day with a trainer.

First of all, why are you even on the "side effects" page if you're so happy with the product? There are ongoing investigations as we speak concerning NuvaRing related stroke and death, and incident reports are on the rise. I have always been a stickler for healthy sex lives, hormonal birth control that works in conjunction with a woman's body, and safe sex practices. Let me just give you my two cents: I assure you, I am as in touch with my body as I am in touch with my inner self. And I will not hesitate to let you know... that I KNOW when something's off. NuvaRing was great for me for a while (we're talking a good 8 months... how long have you had yours?)... but then it took over my life. I am not young and naive, I am not unfit or unhealthy, I don't smoke or mess with drugs and rarely drink, I am a not mentally unstable, nor do I have any unmentioned medical conditions. I'm glad that the NuvaRing works for you, but to begin a post so cheeky as to assume that those of us who have posted here are unnecessarily blaming hormones for our own unhealthy lifestyles is infuriating. You think everyone here hasn't considered that it may be "something else"? Something eating at us?

you: "ALL birth control effects everyone differently. I'm not saying this for everyone, but sometimes a lot of people like to blame certain actions & physical changes on something & maybe this is the case...for some people. I've been on the pill before & I always got off it b/c of weight gain....well, it was b/c I wasn't eating properly or exercising. I liked to blame my mood swings on the pill as well, but once I thought about it, I still had those before & after taking the pill."

The above paragraph you have written may have redeemed the post, were it not for your still underhanded tone in relation to the "healthy lifestyle" aspect or - as it seems - "theme" of your post. And, yes, I too know and understand depression and anxiety as it has personally affected me through its looming presence in and around immediate family members. Hormones can affect seratonin reuptake and such and do very much affect the mood in many instances.

So, if you are so certain that "some" of the women here blame their sorry unexercised asses on hormones, I will return the favor and say that perhaps it may be a good idea for YOU to look into cases of depression and anxiety as you are so SURE that the nervous system of your brain has not in any way been affected by hormones.

Thank you for placing the women here in such a pigeon hole! This is so easily a perfect example of something I'd hoped our society would work on... All of us are built differently, of different ages and gene pools... how can one expect a mass-produced commercial drug to work "as directed" to a world of unknowns?

It might be a good idea to examine your female conscience. But, I suppose that might be hard to do from the point of view of the interior of your ass."

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

Oh my HELL!

Here's my story...

Well, first of all I am SO happy to read all of these posts.

I have been on the NuvaRing for about 8 months now... At first, it was GREAT! I had no side effects, I could maintain my weight, even my skin cleared up... But I don't know what all the sudden triggered it but here goes the list...

Nausea
Heartburn
Diarrhea
Headaches
DIZZINESS - and this is scary people, especially for someone like me who's never experienced anything like it
light sensitivity
ANXIETY - this also freaked me out... I'm a singer, I do all kinds of stuff on stage, but I'm SCARED!? all the sudden??? this makes no sense!!!
loss of sex drive
mood swings
fatigue
dry mouth
sore joints
acne worse than when i was 18

And the thing is, it worked, WELL, for a long time. But now, I'm convinced. The NuvaRing is Satan... even if it seems to work in the beginning... don't be fooled... I won't use hormones ever again. Ever.

I'm going to be fitted for a diaphragm and that's that. I can't wait.

Thanks for all the support!

This is a weight of my shoulders.
I have been experiencing many of the symptoms that have been posted here and cannot begin to tell you what a relief it is that I'm not alone. I have been using the Nuvaring for 6 months. Some of the pros were convenience, larger breasts ( I went from a full C to a DD), and more lubrication. My side affects were extreme leg pain, excessive weight gain (about 30 pounds), increased appetite, fatigue, head aches, irritability, heart rate increase, dizziness, gas, bloating need I say more? Last night I took it out immediately because I finally put all the pieces together. It's amazing to know that I'm not alone in all of this. The weight gain was so fast that I have stretch marks that are extremely deep and I have belly fat for the first time in my life it has sprung right on my stomach. I'm only 19 so this is quit concerning for me... I went from 165 to 195. I have stayed around 165 for 5 years and the fact that I put on this thirty pounds was extremely concerning. I am grateful I know what's the issue, and hopefully with more energy and a decrease in appetite, I will be well on my way to my old self.

My profile: I'm 31. Asian. Never had BC before this. Have 1 5yr old son. The type of person that would 4get to take the pill if need to do so everyday. Been on Nuvaring for 6 months now.

I read thru the post here and was intimidated, but I have to say it's working out better than I thought. I didn't notice any serious side effects like blood clot, dizziness or weight gain. Though, I noticed now I have shorter and shorter period duration as the month passes. Now, it's just 1.5-2d where it used to last me 6d: 3 heavy, 3 light.

Another side effect is a decrease in sex drive and being dry... but since my husband is aware of that he help me be stimulated and give more fore-play time. Also, we make sure to stock up on lubricant.

Overall, I can compromise with the side effects that we observed so far, therefore it's not a big deal. The relief of having to worry about unexpected pregnancy is certainly outweight the little inconvenient side-effect that Nuvaring has on me.

Hello,
I've posted on this site before and wanted to give some updates. I had been on the Ring for 1.5 years and took my last one out in February. I feel much better. Some of my symptoms included:

Pain and discomfort in legs
Extreme fatigue
Coldness all the time
Loss in libido
Pain during sex
Dryness
Dizziness etc.

So, my boyfriend and I have been looking into other options and I wanted something nonhormonal because I don't think there's a hormonal BC out there without negatives effects.

Anyway, we went to the gynec at Planned Parenthood and it was so frustrating. Both the nurse and the doctor kept telling me that my symptoms were not related to the Ring and when I mentioned this site, the doctor said that on the Internet people can and will write anything.

I didn't understand why she was defending the NuvaRing and not validating my feelings. I don't think I'm ignorant or naive and I don't think any of you are either. If we did not have these effects prior to or after the NuvaRing, then it's safe to make the connection.

While I know sometimes people can make faulty causations, I don't think we're wrong on this one. Just because my doctor has not had any patients complain about these problems doesn't mean they don't exist.

I agree with the previous comment. Hormonal BC is dangerous even though everyone reacts differently, it doesn't mean it's completely safely.

My boyfriend are doing the condom and spermicide thing right now to give my body a break until we find a new method. My doctor recommended an IUD which I'm looking into. Please email me if you have experience with this.

I do feel better being NuvaRing free but I think it will be awhile until I'm back to normal. I can't wait to get my period. I hope the best for all of you.

I was on NuvaRing since 2003 due to non stop bleeding. My doctor at the time figured since this b/c worked, to use it for the 4 weeks rather than 3. I too started to have the dizziness, panic attacks, breast lactation, feeling of bewilderment, weight gain, lack of sex drive and the list goes on. I did not attribute any of this to the NuvaRing until last month. What made me put two and two together was not only this website but the fact that I noticed I felt better while I was on my period. Also, a cousin of mine as well as a co-worker suffered the same problems while on NuvaRing, they too have gotten off.

I had a copper wire IUD, but after having an ectopic pregnancy, likely caused by it, I had it removed. I tried condoms for a short while, but they are so inconvenient, so I went to the NuvaRing. I put in the NuvaRing and felt fine the first day, but by day two I started experiencing pain behind my knees, dizziness, headache, pain in my eyes, spaciness, nausea, lack of appetite, and weakness throughout my body. I didn't have any mood swings, in fact I felt quite good, mentally. However, by day three I couldn’t stand the headache and dizziness and took out the NuvaRing. I was skeptical in the first place to use a hormonal birth control, and this confirmed it. If any one has a suggestion for a non-hormonal birth control form that is convenient and safe, let me know.

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

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

Hello! I have been diagnosed with chronic daily migraines. Yes, a migraine everyday for 5 months straight. Next comes swelling of fingers, hands, arms, legs, ankles and feet with major pain for the last 5 weeks. I have gone to the neurologist, ob-gyn & family Dr. I had 4 Dr/ER visits of testing to see what the problem could be. Tested for heart failure, liver disease, kidney failure/disease, lung, lupus, ms, chest x-ray, ekg and a brain CT scan...all to be negative THANK GOD! All of my Dr's including the ER staff said....hmmmm I think its the NUVARING! After some research my symptoms matched the nuvaring side effects exactly...the part that says...if you have any of these...then call the Dr. immediately. It has been approx a week and 1/2 of the removal of the Nuvaring and the headaches are no longer everyday or a "10" in rating. I was so busy typing that I forgot to mention that I match quite a few of your symptons as well...like no sex drive, depression, nausea, dizziness etc. I'm not sure about what happened and if my symptoms will go away without the nuvaring. I can say that it is worth a try. I also want to tell you all that no, you are not crazy and please listen to your body. Nuvaring came along when I really needed to regulate my periods...so I know the feeling of being relieved, but I wish I had taken a break from a 3 year run with the "Nuvaring". Please take care!

I suffer from Endometriosis that alone is a horrible disease. I'm lso severly Anemic, with that alone my Gyn advised me to try the Nuvaring, Yes it has stopped my period. That part is Great ! I've had it for about 3 months.. once my third week came along where I rest for a week. I havent I'd place another sot hat I wont Menstrate. This time around, I've rested due to My husband and I wanting to concieve. The side effects have been the worst feeling ever !!!!!! I've had to miss about 1 week from work. I will never use or recommend this to anyone. I haven't been able to drive due to the DIZZINESS!!!

Been on Nuva Ring for about 1.5 years...just now starting to realize the potentially bad effects its having on me. 3 months ago i started having wierd issues going on with my body. Nervousness, shakes, racing heart, trouble breathing, FATIGUE, constant "floating" feeling/dizziness. I am in good/normal shape, exercise about 2 days a week, but have had no energy. I went to a dr and had some blood tests done. My Thyroid numbers came back unusually high. My Dr recommended an Endocronologist to check out the possibility of Hyperthyroidism (the Thyroid controls the metabolism and hormones in your body). Went to the Endocronologist and am waiting for test results to get back. She said that it is a big possiblity that Nuva Ring could be the cause but wanted me to do further blood tests. I am being opened minded to what the real reason to my symptoms are, but i know that putting any extra hormones in your body has an effect on you, regardless. I took the ring out about 45 min ago and i'm hoping for no bad side effects...cant be worse than what i've already had. I have a boyfriend and he was totally ok with it (encouraged me to take out the ring to see if it helps)....he doesn't like the thought of using condoms, but its a small price to pay to see if birth control with hormones (NR) are causing all these horrible symptoms. I'm going to look for other non-hormonal contraceptives to use!

Had been put on nuva ring as i get migranes from the pill and enormous breasts, i cant take the injections for the same reason so nuva ring being such a low dose seemed ok, but i only lasted i month i had a period the whole time my boobs went up at least one whole size, along with headaches, dizziness, terrible skin and nausea. i wonder has anyone had success with the coil or iud and which one as hormones do not agree with me and condoms are not an option for my boyfriend.

I tried the NR for 3 months like my doctor told me to. She painted this pretty picture of how it was so easy, and that's the birth control she takes, blah, blah. After reading the other comments I see some of the same things I experienced. Like sleeplessness. I have not really seen any other comments of digestive problems, but I'm sure it's because of the ring. It seems like the week before I'm supposed to take the ring out
I begin having digestive issues, throwing up, diahrea, nausea, dizziness. Pregnant symptoms. I got off the ring and got on a low dose pill. I can't have digestive issues every month for a whole week. I would rather set my alarm and remember to take the pill everyday. Also, the ring cost $50 and the pill $15.

I'm glad there is this site!
I started NuvaRing a month ago after having an abortion and feel like i've been going crazy.
All the side effects the ladies have mentioned i've experienced.
Dizziness, nausea, no sex drive, severe fluid retention in my legs, bloated, angry, really depressed, vagueness and really tired. I'm only 22 and apart from those symptoms i'm healthy. Its hard to concentrate at work and especially hard to exercise because of the pain in my legs.
I'd like to be on contraception.
Can anyone recommend a type of the pill that doesn't aggravate fluid retention especially? That's been the most unbearable out of all the symptoms. I feel like i'm pregnant again!
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

I've been alright while using Nuvaring but every time I try to get off Nuvaring, which I've been on for over 3 years, I experience something that feels like hormone withdrawal - nausea, dizziness, headaches, crying spells - for no reason at all. At first they feel like pregnancy symptoms but each time I've taken a test and not been pregnant. There's something really strange about this drug that makes me terrified of getting off it.

I started the NuvaRing 2 days ago and since reading this site I have just run to the bathroom and swiped the thing out as fast as I could.
I did not really want to go to another form of hormonal birth control as I have had some severe side effects in the past on the Pill (Loette 28), which I took for seven years. I had no idea that all the symptoms I was having had anything to do with the Pill until I decided to stop taking it about 8 months ago. Since then, I have been a new person, according to my boyfriend. I no longer feel depressed, sad, anxious, or have severe nausea and vomiting. It's sad to think that for seven years I was doing so much damage to my body and my mind because of this.
The one other thing I noticed being off the Pill was an increase in yeast and vaginal infections. I have also been having abnormal PAP smears and have since discovered that I have mild dysplaysia.
So I went to the doctor and he told me that if I go back on the Pill or the NuvaRing, he thinks it might help the yeast infections. I was really skeptical and have been putting it off for months, but finally, I inserted it 2 days ago. The very first day I was having symptoms: Severe headaches (I NEVER get headaches!), nausea, depression, and the worst heart palpitations and dizziness I have ever felt!! I felt weird, like something was taking control of my body. Anyway, after trying to eat something last night and feeling queasy throughout the meal and then vomiting for the first time in 8 months, I am convinced that this is not me!!! It is the NUVARING!!!
Two days was enough for me- I am not going to wait it out this time. I want to be hormone free! If you really think about it, how can putting your body in a constant state of pregnancy be healthy?? We are not made for that. It is completely unnatural!!! We are inevitably playing with fire here.
My advice to any women out there? Seriously watch for ALL symptoms you are having with the Ring or any Pill and if there are any that are similar to this site, then please try and go off it and see what you feel. You may feel like a different person, like I did!!
Good Luck

PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS POST IF YOU HAD THIS SYMPTOM!!!

I started the nuva ring a week ago and for the last two days I have had the craziest vertigo/dizziness in my life. Seriously, Dr's can't seem to tell me what it is- and I'm wondering if it's the ring... just respond with a "yes"

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that has been having side effects with the Nuvaring. My doctor put me on it to help with my Periods. I was going 4-5 months without a period and then getting a major one. I have been on the Nuvaring now for like 2 1/2 months. I have no sexual drive (poor hubby); depression; dizziness (no fainting though); major stomach pains/cramps; minor headaches and just feeling majorly crappy. As of right now on Wednesday I will have my Period for two weeks straight. I can't deal with this. I am calling the doctor either tomorrow or Wednesday and saying I would rather go back to the way I was then feel the way I do now. I am just oh so glad that I am not alone. Thanks for sharing your stories.

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