NuvaRing and doctors

I am so relieved to read all of your posts knowing that i am not the only one who becomes an entirely new, sad, pained person when i tamper with BC. I have been on the Nuvaring for 2 weeks now and am experiencing some weird chest pains. at times it feels like i'm being kicked or squeezed in the heart, and other times it feels like i have air blocked in my chest. i am so fed up with this toxic ring already i just threw it out 5 minutes ago. is it bad to stop a birth control mid-cycle? i hope not, i really wanted to wait the next 8 days to end the 21 day cycle, but i cannot wait that long. i am miserable. what bothered me the most about reading all these posts, aside from the fact that so many females are suffering due to excessive hormones, is that it seems to be a common thing for doctors to write these problems/complications off so damn quickly! there is enough evidence on this page alone to suggest that nuvaring has serious negative side effects, and yet when i went to urgent care today, none of the doctors seemed to be concerned with my chest pain and possible relation to the new birth control. our medical field is fucked up.

Hi
I first used the ring 3 years ago when i got married. ever since then, I've had extreme pain upon penetration. Basically, we haven't had intercourse for 3 years. My vagina burns like crazy, like sand paper every time my husband penetrates. I also haven't menstruated in 3 years. So far, doctors have not been able to treat the problem. I am going to an endocrinologist now who will prescribe hormones short term for my period. Has anyone had a similar experience? I would appreciate any feedback, advice, doctors, etc.

Ok, so I was on NuvaRing fro five years.I stopped taking it just recently hoping to get pregnant.But in meantime i ended up in a hospital with terrible stomach issues, vomiting(every day for good year),IBS like symptoms.The doctors checked every possibility ,did scans and all that jazz, hover none of them asked me about my birth control.Well once i took it out i stopped throwing up,i want to have sex for a change, no stomach issues,no chest tightness,and probably more.I cant believe that i feel like a new person.This
bc is the worst thing that happened in my life, caused a lot of mental and physical harm.BUTR NOW IT'S OVER :))

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

I been using NuvaRing for the first time from July 25 and I took it out on the 28 of July.Why? Because I had big blood clots. These clots really scared me. I am not use to anything like that. My periods are very light and normal, so when I seen this I said no way. I have low blood anyway and I felt very very light headed. I also felt tightness in my legs. I could not sleep at all. I wake up in the middle of night.
I believe the FDA need to do more study on this birth control. Doctors don't really know much about this NuvaRing.

I am 21 years old and I switched from Seasonal to the NuvaRing I have been on the ring since May 14 and have gained 10 pounds in two months. I went from 104 to 114 and I am 5.0'. I also have been walking 3 days a week for an hour or more. I also got married a month ago and have been snacking less than what I did when I lived at home so I know it's not my eating habits. I have never experienced this much weight gain with any birth control the most I have ever gained was 5 pounds. I am going off of it in a week and cannot wait!!

Hmm, after reading all of this ive decided that my decision after medicaid declined my ring for 3 more days to finally get off of it was right. Ive noticed that within the past 2 weeks ive had more energy, my headaches are not as bad, and ive not been having the crippling stomach pain i have after i eat some foods. Ive been on it for about a year and a half, i tried depo but i gained 40pds while on it, so i moved to the nuvaring, as i had it 3 years ago right after i had my daughter. While on it and it still hasn't went away, i have pain during sex, burning after sex, stomach cramps, lower stomach cramps, headaches, Ive had 2 bouts of chest pain that made me freak out because i about went to the hospital, I am overweight, i was only 215 when i had my daughter, and was healthy and played basket ball, and now im 265. The doctors complain at me, but i did remodel for 2 months and lost ONE pound. All while taking care of a two year old. I got two yeast infections within 6 months and id never had one ever before (im 22 this month)All these problems combined with my back pain from my accident, Ive decided, im going to use other methods like condoms and spermicide. i cant take the hormonal crap.

I started on the NuvaRing in April of this year, so this is my 4th month on it. The first month was great! I loved that I didn't have to think about it daily and my libido was through the roof! The only side effects: I noticed immediately that it increased my discharge, which was a little uncomfortable on a day-to-day basis but was very nice for making love. The discharge was also a whitish color, which threw me off because I'm used to it being clear but my doctor assured me that all was normal. Also, it would occasionally fall out during more passionate sex, which wasn't a big deal. I just washed it off with cold water and reinserted it. The second month, things seemed great until the last half of the month. I noticed that there wasn't as much discharge and I would get a slight burning sensation after sex. About a week later, I came down with a full blown yeast infection. I hadn't had a yeast infection in 10 years! I treated it with an OTC 3 day suppository, which seemed to help it a little. I removed the NuvaRing like normal and a few days later I started my period. Things seemed to go back to normal and a week went by without much problem. The middle of the 3rd month I was slammed full force with yet another (or the same) yeast infection, plus bacterial vaginosis as well. I asked the doctor about the NuvaRing and it possibly causing/aiding yeast infections. She assured me that it wasn't possible for the ring to cause infection. She gave me instructions on how to properly rinse it off in case it ever fell out again. She prescribed me 2 doses of Diflucan for the yeast and an antibiotic for the BV. I took both and afterward things seemed fine for another 2 weeks. This week, I noticed that I had a weird itchy feeling down there before bed and sure enough when I woke up in the morning it appeared I had another yeast infection. I called to make an appointment but the nurse just called back and prescribed me 2 more Diflucan pills and told me to give one to my partner. I asked again about the NuvaRing perhaps being an aid in the appearance of these infections and again she told me that it wasn't possible. At this point I am really confused. I don't know if I have a really bad yeast infection due to the ring or if my boyfriend and I are simply reinfecting each other. I also asked about whether I should discard this NuvaRing and start a new one after the infection clears up and got a very vague response of "it's your call". I really don't know whether to can the NuvaRing or keep going a little longer to see if this is all a big coincidence. I just think there isn't enough known about the NuvaRing...by my physician anyway. More side effects to note in the fourth month: weight gain, loss of sexual desire, vaginal dryness (the discharge was short-lived), irritability, crying fits. I'm just at a loss...I really wanted this to work for me...

Hi I am 21 years old and have been on the Nuvaring for about a year now. I have experienced many of the symptoms you have all spoken about. Hair loss, decreased sex drive( which scares me because i am so young and i am in a serious relationship in which my boyfriend has a high sex drive ( he 22) and he noticed my sex drive dwindling and wanted to know what changed. It has been a huge problem in our relationship.) I have not experienced weight gain that i have noticed. But i experience extreme pain/burning during and after sex. One of the side effects of the nuvaring is vaginitis which has pain n burning as its side effects. I have been to several doctors for the pain as it is disrupting my sex life and making sex unbearable at times. However they all dismissed the nuvaring as the cause and suggested that it may just be a mindset and i need to get into sex more. Which i think is bull im 21 and very much in love with my boyfriend and have a healthy sexual relationship so having a negative mental state word that seems ludacris to me. I have had std sti blood tests and been tested for yeast and blatter infections. Nothing seems to be wrong with me but i know i have never experienced this before and the nuvaring has been a constant through the pain. If anyone has experienced anything like this please let me know.

So I decided to stop my nuvaring this week, and while I do agree that every person has a different experience with hormonal birth control, this route was just not for me. I have been on BC since I was 15 and have had mixed experiences. Started with Ortho-Tri Cyclin which made me crazy, went to orthocyclin which was great until my insurance stopped covering it, did lo dose Apri for 6 years and found that it made me very lethargic and moody with use over time and i think caused me migraines, switched to the patch and ended up in the hospital with elevated blood pressure during the first week (I was 23 and 130lbs), then tried nuvaring for the last 6 months. Started off well, my period became predictable to the hour and my migraines disappeared. However, I gained 15lbs! I am 5'3" and I know it is the nuvaring because I have been training for a marathon, running 4 days a week, 2 days of weight lifting and eating perfectly! Also, my sex drive is gone, like non-existent until my no ring week when I have my period. I am tired all the time and even though I sleep 8-10 hours a night. I also seem to be waking up once or twice a night. Worst of all, I am depressed and moody for no reason, all the time. I feel so bad for my poor boyfriend who has been walking on egg shells around me because he knows I cry and snap at anything. So I am stopping for a few months to see what will happen, and then maybe consider a copper IUD. I will update this post in a few months and let everyone know what happens.

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'm 17 years old and I started nuvaring in October 2008. It didn't occur to me that I wasn't myself until February 2009, and I honestly believed I was going crazy. I became so anxious and depressed about everything, especially my loved ones. My boyfriend is my best friend and my biggest support alongside my parents. I've been reevaluating every friendship/relationship i've been in. I've lost interest in my hobbies and passions. I've felt indifferent about everything, not to mention I have absolutely no sex drive. And I'm devastated that I did not enjoy my senior year of high school. I didn't think about the nuvaring until 2 weeks ago. I came on this website and read all of the stories of depression, mood swings, anxiety, etc. You have no idea how relieved I felt. I took out the ring on Saturday as usual and got my period today. However, I will not be continuing nuvaring. I still feel anxious, irritable, and I'm even second guessing that the ring is the cause, however I very much hope that it is and that I feel like my carefree outgoing self again soon. I'm angry that I didn't make the connection sooner because it made my senior year very upsetting and has slowly been hurting my friendship/relationship with my boyfriend.

I wasn't to sure if the symptoms I was experiencing was from the ring or if I am pregnant and before I go out and spend 20 dollars on a test I wanted to check out the web..Thank god for the internet Thanks ladies for your info. I have been on the ring for 2 months now, and I have to say the first week I experienced major DISCHARGE!!! and still to this day I experience it I shower twice a day just because I feel so dirty down there. But just recently I have started experiencing breast tenderness and I have to say Ouch! and they also look and feel bigger which I don't mind that part just the tenderness needs to go way, I have not experienced weight gain, but I am experiencing cravings for food I wouldn't normally want to eat. I have been extremely moody and I have no explanation for it since I am in a new relationship I am trying really hard not to show my extreme moody side but it isn't working and I feel sometimes I just want to scream at him. After reading all this informative blogs I feel that my next step would be to go to doctors and talk about my other options.

I have been on NuvaRing for 2 years. At first I thought it was wonderful. But now two years later I am connecting all my health problems back to when i started taking this BC. For two years I have had horrible nausea and digestive problems and weight gain.I also have had horrible mood swings and emotional instability. And worstly I have had horrible sinus problems. In fact I had sinus surgery which did not help. I also got a therapist and started considering seeing a doctor about the digestive problems. But after some research and connected the dots on the time frame of all these sudden health problems.... I am pretty sure it is the BC. I stopped taking it yesterday. I hope I go back to my healthy self from2 yrs ago. Please do not ignore side effects of drugs.

I started NuvaRing almost a month ago....I thought it was going to be good for me because I didn't notice any side effects. I can't take the pill because after trying about five different ones I got discouraged....I was getting my period every day! So I thought the ring would be perfect.....and it WAS...at first! I took it out 6 days ago....today I woke up and I have mad upper leg pains. My doctor had told me that if I felt any leg pains I should call him right away...but he didn't tell me why....I researched it and it's because I could have a blood clot!!!! Thats SCARY!!!!!!! Then after reading all these blogs on here....I realized that I have been way more tired than normal. Ugh now I'm scared and I have to wait until tomorrow to go to the doctors. So much for my "PERFECT" birth control!!!

I started the Nuvaring 3 1/2 weeks ago. Within the first week and a half I broke out in a horrible rash on my hips and thighs. My doctor said that it is not a side effect of the ring but I have never had sensitive skin or been allergic to anything. She did prescribe me a topical to apply twice daily. By the end of the second week the rash has spread to everywhere except my face, hands and feet. On my chest it looks almost like a heat rash but everywhere else is painful red bumps. As a birth control it worked because my boyfriend would not go anywhere near me. I finally took it out middle through the 3rd week. It has almost been a full week since taking it out and the itching is completely gone and the rash is clearing up. I just have horrible scabbing from the rash and of course I have the longest period ever because I pulled it out. I WILL NEVER USE THE NUVARING AGAIN!!

Started NR three weeks ago and yesterday was the day to take it out and have decided I wont be replacing it. At first I noticed a lower sex drive. I am in a long distance relationship and typically when I have the odd weekend with my boyfriend I want to jump his bones at any moment possible but this last time I was just not interested.

And this last week has been the worst of my life. Incredibly depressed, irrational, unpredictable, irritable, no appetite, suicidal thoughts and for the first time in my life I self harmed. Granted I have had some stuff going on in my life as well but everyone I have spoken to has been confused that i have not been able to deal as I usually would. I doubt the depression was entirely the fault of NR but I strongly believe it contributed and i wont be risking having another week like that again.

I agree with the post on here that says that doctors prescribe things pushed by the reps. My OBGYN (first time of meeting him) was more interested in selling me NR than discussing my abnormal pap result.

I used the Nuvaring for about 5 yrs and loved it at first. It was not even being advertised when I began using it. I didn't have any problems for 5 years. Until one day my right eye began to be blurry. I had developed a blood clot in my eye. The doctors I have seen have not seen this in someone as young as me. I was only 25 at the time. They have ran every blood test possible to find out why I developed this blood clot and everything was fine. I am not a smoker and I am a very healthy person. We couldn't find anything to link it to, except for the birth control and they took me off of it asap. Two years later I am still dealing with all of this and I will have to for the rest of my life. I get shots/injections in my eye and I see a specialist for this. I have already had to have cataract surgery on my eye. This has be very hard for me and I didn't want it to be the Nuvaring, but it was. And now I have to deal with this the rest of my life. I am just lucky that the clot didn't form and travel somewhere else in my body. Just a warning and wanted to let you know to be very careful. I did use it for 5 yrs and it took 5 yrs for this to happen. So, just be careful.

I don't know how many of my problems are associated with NR, but after reading your posts, I am seriously wondering. Here's what I've got:

--tired all the time - no problem found with my thyroid, I've had it checked multiple times

--weight gain. I don't know how much of this is because I got married when I started NR and of course eat more complete meals rather than on-the-go kind of meals, or how much because I am so tired it is hard to make it to the gym. I will say, though, that for a couple of months I was really good (exercising for about an hour each day, four to six times a week, plus eating much better) and still gained weight. Disappointing. I don't try as hard now - what's the point if exercise and diet don't help?

--no sex drive or much enjoyment while having sex

--pain when having sex - not sure if that's cuz we only have it about once a week (I have to force myself for the sake of my husband). Now I take a bath after sex to alleviate some of the pain. Still annoying, though.

--nasal issues - I know someone mentioned having to take sudafed, I take it every day and also nasonex and mucinex... no apparent nasal problems to the doctors to explain this... I think it's overkill on the meds, but I take them because otherwise I am miserable with nasal problems

--headaches - I have never had headaches bad enough to take even tylenol or asprin before using NR, now I take ibuprofen about 5-6 times a week. I don't know if it is related to the stress of being married or not. I have graduated, so it is not related to stress at school, and stress has never given me bad headaches before. Basically unexplicable for me.

--problems with contacts

--pain in area right below breasts. Very tender. If I touch, it feels as though it will leave a bruise. It doesn't, but it hurts for about a minute before it goes away, just from pressing lightly.

--can't keep the nuvaring in. Not really a side effect, but very frustrating. I also have to keep pushing it in each time I use the restroom. I can't seem to get it in far enough, I guess.

--periods seem to be getting later and later. At first they came like clock-work, the day I took the nuvaring out. But after a year, the period seems to come about the day I put it back in, which leaves me freaked out that I'm pregnant. And they aren't even lighter. They still last about five to six days and are just as heavy, just late.

--muscle stiffness. It is a little hard to walk sometimes.Not sure this is related, but quite a few of you have listed it. Not many cramps though, which is nice.

I have been on NR since a couple months before I got married (about 17 months ago), and hadn't had sex before NR, so I don't know how much NR has affected some of these things since I don't know any different, but as I said before, these are some of the symptoms I have had while on NR, things with no apparent other cause. I am seriously considering another BC option, since I don't really like having no energy and no desire for sex (biggest problems for me).

I have had I terrible live changing experience with Nuvaring. I experienced the a loss in sex drive and vaginal pains during intercourse. I was on the ring for over two years, and have been off it for almost a year now. I went off because my husband and I wanted to try to get pregnant. I knew that the drug can stay in your system for a while after it is removed, but nearly a year is impossible. I also know I wasn't infertile before the ring because I had been pregnant before. So I shouldn't be infertile now. I have seen numerous doctors and they can't find any thing wrong with me. I have never had any diseases and my husband hasn't either. We have always been completely monogamous healthy people. There is not outside reason we shouldn't be pregnant. I am going to a fertility specialist next week and I am very hopeful that I can still have children. I don't know for sure if my problems are from the ring, but it seems too likely. I highly suggest that anyone contemplating using the ring look for something else, and if you are on it get off as soon as possible. It's so much easier just to not have to deal with the problems.

Has everyone developed breast lumps. I have one removed already and diagnosed with fibroses of the beast. My doctor said it is normal for older women, well I am 25(an exception according to doctors). I have been on nuvaring for 7 years and have no family history of any breast issues. Every doctor advised to stay on the ring since they believe my breast lumps are not related.

I loved it for years! I went on the NuvaRing in late 2005 and I recently discontinued the use of it (Jan 2009). I was suffering from 3 periods a month for years and no pill or even the Depo shot helped me. The NuvaRing cleared it up beautifully! I had regular and relatively pain-free periods and I could not have been happier.

A few months ago I started experiencing some major PMS symptoms that I have never experienced before. I gained 15 pounds over the course of 5 months and by breasts were swollen to the point that my nipples were dry and cracking (and yes, 4 different pregnancy tests confirmed that I was NOT pregnant). I was going insane with mood swings and I just felt like a jittery crappy mess all the time. My body temperature also dropped a full degree on average from what it was a year ago and I am really sensitive to cold now.

So, I discontinued the use of the Ring and started taking a vitamin regiment that I found other Ring users found useful (B-Complex, zinc, selenium, Evening primrose, and a multi-vitamin).

I have not lost the weight yet, despite working out 3-4 times a week with weight-training and cardio. The doctors have told me to wait it out for a year. It bums me out, but it's worth it. I have been on hormones for 9 years and it is time to be natural again. Thanks for listening.

Well ladies let me tell you what... I must be super sensitive to this crap!! I started the ring because I had used it years ago and LOVED it!! I mean LOVED it! It WAS the only bc that didn't give me any issues... they really must have changed it... I'm gonna list my new symptoms and reasons for taking this crazy thing out...

Nausea,
Headaches,
Visual Migraines... spots in eyes
Dry Mouth
Breast Pain
ALL of my hair is FALLING OUT
in 3 days gained 10lbs!!
Mood swings
Think i'm pregnant every day!
Still get cysts (which was my need for the ring)
Horrible constipation/diarrhea... IBS like
Lack of energy
Itchy scalp
Leg pain
Hip pain
All the symptoms of thyroid issues!!
Circulation issues
Took Sudaphed and almost had a stroke!! BP was 180/110 WOW!!
normally is 117/67

My advise... GET OFF THE NEW RING... The old one was great...this new one is DANGEROUS!! I have worked with doctors for years... they prescribe things that the cute sales reps bring...

Contact me if you have felt the same... It's good to know there is someone out there that has been thought it too!!

To this day, I am not sure if Nuvaring is the cause of all my problems. But after reading about the side effects and finding many commonalities in my own experience, I took it out today and will not continue using it.

I've been on Nuvaring for the past year. Just before I started using it, I had an episode in the gym where my heart started racing very uncomfortably and I felt like i was going to faint after running. Two visits to the ER and numerous specialists' visits later, they concluded I have generalized anxiety disorder.

Over the past year since that incident, I've become much more anxious than I ever remember. I've gained about 20 pounds. I get headaches all the time. I'm CONSTANTLY tired, to the point where it doesn't matter how long I sleep, I still don't want to get out of bed. Most of the time, I don't want to have sex. I have spells where I feel like I'm about to faint (but never do). Of course, the doctors attribute this to my anxiety, and I'm pretty sure that's what it is since it doesn't seem to be anything else really serious.

Like I said, I don't know if the Nuvaring has had a hand in putting me through this ridiculousness, but I'm not taking any chances. I read somewhere the Nuvaring isn't good for people with anxiety problems because it just makes these problems worse.

At least if these symptoms continue for a while after I've stopped the Nuvaring, I'll know it may not have been it. However, every month I feel my best the week of my period. Coincidence???

I am glad I read about all these women and the side effects of the nuvaring. I have been using the ring for around 7 months and even though I always suspected it had something to do with my mood swings, I never really knew for sure (at least to this extreme) until I read other girls explaining their situations. I have a strong character so It is hard for me to differentiate what is the hormones acting out or just my personality. I specially have fights with my boyfriend for no reason, feel sad and want to cry (I have never been a big crier), can't sleep parts of the night (I just lay in bed widely awake with my head going 1000 miles per hour as if I had done speed). Basically I was starting to think that I was loosing it and that it is my head (not the hormones). I considered therapy (which I haven't done) because I even had suicidal thoughts and this really scared me. I am really desperate for not being able to control my emotions. While using the ring I have felt misunderstood and blamed my boyfriend for not being empathetic of what I am going through. I want to break up with him all the time and then I regret it. At the same time it makes me really frustrated since I cannot explain when I am asked WHY acting like this? which also makes me insecure.
But this is not all. On top of all the mental issues I also experienced physical problems which are not caused by nuvaring directly. I think my emotional instability didn't help. I believe that your head controls all your body even the physical part. Years ago I had my first bartholine cyst in the vaginal area. This is a painful and depressing thing to go through as a woman. The cyst gets infected and grows to the size of an orange making it hard to sit or even walk. When infected you have to get it drained (cut it open basically). In the past 7 years this happened to me twice. Since I put the ring on (7 months) it has happened to me 3 times so I am finally getting surgery to remove the 2 bartholine cysts. All this has obviously affected my sexual life and my relationship with my boyfriend.
I am really disappointed with the fact that doctors don't inform you of all the terrible side effects. They just give you a leaflet but don't really talk about it. It seems like the nuvaring is a serious thing to be prescribing it that easily. Today I have decided I am not using the ring anymore. I hope this helps someone else like the stories I read helped me.

I am 29 and mother of a 5yr old Angel and 5 mth old Ayden. I started the NuvaRing after I had my son. I liked it for the first month, but the second month was not good at all! See, I was hoping to skip periods to avoid the pain that comes from my endometriosis, and PMS which seems I have had all my life! And of course, it came highly recommended from my doctor's office as well. I started to loose weight pretty steadily in the 6 weeks that followed the birth of my son, but all of a sudden the seventh or eighth week my weight remind stagnant and I actually gained 10 pounds since having it out for only 4 weeks! I have been putting on weight in my mid section and tummy area. It has become difficult to loose any weight even with working out, but the worse part has been the drastic mood changes, irritability, problems concentrating, migraines I don't wish upon anybody, acne, leg cramps, bloating, and horrible post partum depression that I think-now that I have read all your side effects that it wasn't the overwhelming feeling of having the now 2 children and having to return to work even after having 12 weeks of maternity leave after my son was born. I am relieved, and happy that I never put in the 3rd months ring. I think the NuvaRing has a lot to do with it all. I have been off the NuvaRing now for about three and a half-going on four weeks and the side effects have only seemed to become worse. It has put a strain on my marriage because my husband doesn't understand whats going on with me and I have refused to take my Lexapro because I am scared of what it may do to me with my hormones and mind all out of wack...I am desperate to find something that will make this STOP. I am not sure what my doctor may recommend, or if I would even take anymore recommendations from them. They must know that this is happening, right? I guess thats a question we should ask our doctors.

I was on NR for about a year. The past three months I haven't been able to get out of bed, I'm acting depressed, losing so much hair...my doctors thought it was attributed to my thyroid...I think its the ring. Not only that but sex became so painful even after several days I would still be hurting. I've had excessive amounts of discharge and it feels like my left ovary just got punched. I took the ring out a month ago after a week of having it in one I realized what was causing my problems. It gave me two more periods within several weeks and now nothing. I'm going back to the doctor.

I havent tried Nuvaring yet.... I just got back from the doctor with some free samples. I'm on the Ortho Evra patch currently and I have side effects that made me concerned enough to try something different. I was on the Depo shot for 4 years. I decided to get off of it after I had cycts removed from my ovaries and had pre cancerous cells removed. Which the doctors said would lower my chances of having children. I decided to take a whole year off of birth control. To give my body a chance to "recover". The only problem I had was my periods kept getting longer and longer and more frequent. Next thing I know the doctors tell me I have Polycystic Ovarian Disease. Which also lowers the chance of having children because of the irregular bleeding. The pill makes me so nautious I couldn't stand it so I thought I'd try the patch. Now I have menstrual cramps when I'm not ovulating, I'm so moody its not even funny, I'm eating all the time and tired 24/7. The only thing it did do was regulate my period. Which is what I wanted... But I've only been on it for two months. My doctor told me you cant even feel the Nuvaring and it has a low dose of estrogen so I wont be moody. But reading all of the comments and stories.... I think I'm just going to not be on any birth control and see if my body naturally regulates itself. If I was using the birth control just to avoid pregnancy it would be different, I would want to be on at least something. But I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that thinks birth control is evil and causes alot more problems than doctors tell you. So I think I'm just gonna toss my free samples of Nuvaring, get off the patch and see what my body does naturally.

I am not currently using nuvaring anymore because of a side effect I haven't really found anyone else experiencing. I would like to share my story and if anyone has had the same or similar symptoms please let me know because I am totally bewildered about it. I started using nuvaring after the birth of my daughter in December. I was on the ring for about one to two weeks. At first everything was fine but I started to experience very unique chest pains. The best way I can describe them is they felt like they were in the tissue and flesh in between my skin and my rib cage, and it felt like the area was being squished in a vice, and then my back would start to hurt alot. They first started about once every other day, but then got more frequent to the point when I stopped they were constant. I could not sleep because the only comfortable position was to sit down hunched over with a pillow on my stomach, with my back up against my headboard. My husband brought up the point that it could be the ring, and at that point I was willing to consider anything. I quit using the ring, and the pain stopped, for a little while. But it is still ongoing to this day. Although it only happens about once or twice a month, the pain is no less severe. I am sure it was the nuvaring or the ingredients in it that has triggered this because I have never had this problem before using it. Please if anyone has any advice or ideas, your help would be very much appreciated.

The gynecologist examined me and refused to insert a copper IUD because he said my uterus was too small. After I got dressed, he handed me a FREE SAMPLE of NuvaRing. I said : "But I don't want to use hormonal bc." He said : "This has less hormones and doesn't go through the liver." Well I guessed that was a GOOD thing, which he wanted me to believe of course. The mood swings, serious anxiety, irritability (I would go as far as to say, anger and impulse control problems) and burning vaginal pain during sex seriously affected my relationship with my boyfriend. We may even be broken up now and I blame it partly on NuvaRing and other hormonal bc I took after my 2 months on NuvaRing. I am so sad that I had to go through all that! I wonder how many gifts the doctors get for giving us the prescriptions of bc. Anyone interested in non hormonal bc? There is the cervical cap in many varieties and sizes. It doesn't affect sexual spontaneity because you can insert it several hours before sex and you can have intercourse several times with it on. You can even keep it in for up to 3 days.

I was on the NuvaRing for about a year, and in that time I had recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), one which developed into a kidney infection (this required taking antibiotics, which I generally avoid, because it's a rather dangerous infection). I had never had a UTI before, so I asked my doctor more than once if the near-chronic UTIs could be related to the Ring and she said that it was very unlikely; she wasn't aware of that ever being a problem. Shockingly enough, when I finally got fed up in May and threw my NuvaRing in the trash, my problems disappeared: I have had one very mild UTI since then. I'm mad at my doctor, and at the doctors of all the women who have responded to this site. I'm not so naive; I know doctors take money from pharmaceutical companies, but how could so many healthcare professionals ignore many repeated complaints of similar side effects?

Hi, For those who are wondering if you can experience sudden, intense emotional changes as soon as you begin using the NuvaRing, here is my story:

I was on NuvaRing for 2 months. I put the 1st one in on Friday and by the following Tuesday, I had severe irritability, anxiety, anger control problems. I blamed myself but looking back now, having found websites and forums where other people talk about going through the same thing, I know it was the ring. I remember that Tuesday, thinking I had gone too far with my boyfriend by blowing up at him and being extremely anxious, unable to deal witht he stress i was facing that day. After I blew up at him, I was so remorseful and I cried and cried. The following evening, the Wednesday, again I became frightingly aggressive toward him, followed by intense crying. I felt so bad, so angry with myself for treating him that way. These outbursts continued and I became increasingly tired. I ended up going on the pill because the Ring gave me intense burning during sex. it was very painful. 4 months later, I was diagnosed with major depression and put on antidepressants and work arrest.

I warn everybody not to use hormonal birth control. If you decide to use it, be aware of the signs if your mood changes. It is so easy to blame yourself when it comes to emotional problems, but they are related to physical health (brain chemistry). It's all a big whole which you cannot separate. So if you play with hormones, you can become very screwed up emotionally. And don't expect the doctors/pharmacists/psychiatrists to listen or to recommend you go off the pill. For me nobody listened. it was my own decision to stop everything.

my name is amber and i've been on nuvaring for almost 3 years. I took it out today, because i realized that it was ruining who i am. the doctors told me opposite but I've read all day about symptoms. It all started when my friend saw a commercial about a nuvaring lawsuit, and she called me to warn me. It is dangerous and can cause major problems. yes i'm young (19) it is more likely to cause harm to older women but i still don't want to take that chance. I've had horrible symptoms. I've been so depressed, I'm so mean to everyone ( I was never like that) My family suffers from my "snappiness" Before nuvaring i had an amazing sex life. now, i never have the desire, not to mention i'm dry, it hurts, and it burns afterwards. I've talked to my docs. but they never say anything... the worse part is Chest pains, i feel like i'm going to die sometimes, and the lower abdominal pains suck!! But one of the worse is WEIGHT GAIN.. the doc says it doesn't cause it but there is no other explanation for it. in 3 years of nuva ring i gained a whopping 60 lbs. i exercise everyday, i eat well, what the heck?? oh and don't forget the painstaking nausea!!! when i finally found out all signs point to nuvaring....i dumped it. because i choose to be happy skinny and chemical free, like i always was. nuvaring destroyed 3 years of my life, it was a major altercation. and I choose life over death. I choose to be responsible about sex and just be chemical free. it's been about 5 hours since i took it out and i feel a 100x's better!!!

the nuvaring is not right for me but always check with your doc before you do anything. I did. I called my nurse today to talk about it. They acted shocked but after reading this i realized i'm not alone. and i wanted to write this to you to let you know your not alone and if you feel it's not right for you then talk to your doc and get the poison out before it's too late.

I have been using the ring for about a year. My boyfriend constantly complains about my moods. He claims that I don't ever get excited or happy about anything. I thought maybe, I was just depressed or something. Then I started to notice my hair falling out. Like tons of it in the shower and on the restroom floor. Has anyone else experienced this? I realize that hair shed is normal but not gobs of it at once. I have removed my ring. I am hoping that things go back to normal.

I thought I was crazy until I found this site... I've been toying with the idea of taking the nuvaring out because I've been so ridiculously depressed lately, exhausted for no reason, and my sex drive is basically at zero. I had almost convinced myself that I'm just depressed but started thinking about the nuvaring. I've been on it for almost 2 years now, and had minor problems at first but then after I got used to it, it seemed fine. Lately, it's been getting worse. Before I lived with my boyfriend (and in the same city), I worked at a horrible job that made me miserable and depressed and gave me horrible headaches... I thought it was just that, my job. But it's not any better, except the headaches are somewhat better... but I'm more depressed than ever, my sex drive is worsening, I'm crabbier than ever, all I want to do is sleep but when I do sleep it's not good sleep, I have zero energy, I can't bring myself to do the smallest tasks, and I'm so insecure and scared that my bf doesn't love me anymore. I even think I've developed anxiety. Sex hurts almost worse every time, I get that burning thing other people have been discussing, and it burns after sex when I urinate. I asked my gyno about the pain during sex and she almost acted like I was crazy. I think I'm ready to take this thing out. Condoms, here I come again. There were positives to the ring, like a way lighter period, I only have one sort of heavy day, and the rest are super light, and my cramps are nothing compared to what I used to experience. But those positive things do not outweigh my other experiences. The point of going on BC is so you can have sex without getting pregnant... well having sex once a month because I feel bad that my boyfriend isn't getting any is so NOT worth the money I spend on this thing and so not worth the side effects. It's so weird that for almost a year though I was fine on it, it almost makes me think that they changed something about it. And it's weird that the doctors seem almost brainwashed. I'm not the only one who had the gyno acting like they were crazy. I'm hesitant to take it out now, I still have 2 1/2 weeks until I'm supposed to take it out, but I don't want to wait another 2 1/2 weeks if I could start feeling better by then if I took it out now.

I had nuvaring in for two years, developed a blood clot in my lung, almost died, and the only trigger the doctors can come up with is the nuvaring.

I've got the NuvaRing today. I only inserted it a couple of hours ago, but I can't stop itching! I don't have a rash or hives, but I half expect to wake up tomorrow covered. I know none of the doctors have acknowledged itching as a side effect, but this seems to be a common problem. I was on depo for several years and loved it, but recently got married. I want to be able to have kids whenever I'm ready, however; it takes up to a year to get pregnant after the shot. Now I'm on the NuvaRing and the outlook isn't very promising.

Well, I have only been on the ring for about a month, and i just took it out four days ago. (with the intention of putting it back in) i have been struggling with depression for a few years now, but it seems to be much worse, especially in the past week. also, i've had body pains and im tired as all hell. i thought i had the flu or something! after reading all of these posts about depression in people who aren't even normally depressed, i'm definitely not going to put that thing back in! i don't need to be any more depressed than i already am. and also, my period took a while to come. i took it out four days ago and my period just came, but barely. i guess i'll go back to birth control :( jeez i wish the doctors would tell you this kind of stuff before your body gets used to the ring!!!!!

NuvaRing was great for me for years and then I began experiencing most of the symptoms noted by others. However, when my LYMPH NODES become ENLARGED AND PAINFUL I realized it was time for me to take out the ring and give my body a rest from the foreign substance. Once I removed the ring completely, within two-weeks my HAIR BEGAN TO FALL OUT each time I washed it. After weeks, my JOINTS became so INFLAMED I could not walk even though I had been working out four-days per week for many years prior. I also experienced HAIR AND SKIN TEXTURE CHANGES, and ONGOING FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS which included: BODY ACHES, SEVERE FATIGUE, NIGHT SWEATS (DRENCHING), HEADACHES AND WEIGHT LOSS. I saw numerous doctors to try to figure out what was happening to my body. After over a year, I was diagnosed with an AUTOIMMUNE condition (SLE). It has been two-years now, since permanently removing NuvaRing, and my condition has improved with time but my IMMUNE SYSTEM is still out of whack and my LYMPH NODES ARE STILL ENLARGED throughout my body. If anyone else has these systems and has been diagnosed with an AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER after using NuvaRing, please respond. CAUTION: please be careful young women as added hormones are not good for our bodies and really should not be pushed so readily by the health care profession. Also, keep in mind that your doctor will not back you when you are experiencing problems from medications that he/she prescribed. You will ultimately be told that the medication did not cause the problem in order for him/her to avoid becoming a party to a lawsuit.

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.

I was on the Nuvaring for about a year, never had any problems with it until this last month. I started having spotting 3 weeks before I was supposed to get my period (which i actually wasn't supposed to get because i just switched rings instead of having my period) then that turned into break through bleeding, fairly heavy and I bled for the whole 3 weeks. I was worried that i may have been pregnant but after taking a test and finding out i wasn't, i talked to my gyno and said i wanted to switch to the pill. I have now been taking Loestrin 24Fe for 5 days and haven't had any side effects. But as far as side effects I did experience with NuvaRing, i would get terrible headaches when i did have my period that would last for the entire time i had my period (i'm talking about a constant headache for 5 days straight). I had absolutely NO sex drive what so ever, and sometimes would get slightly depressed. I always just thought that was the way I was but after reading these comments and comments on other birth controls it makes sense as to why I felt the way I did. I realized that I started having depression around the same time that I started taking birth control (15, i am now 20) ((how come the doctors would rather load you up on different medications for anxiety and depression and migraines, rather than link the problems to the birth control? hah)). Basically what I have collected is that, it doesn't matter which birth control you take, you're going to eventually run into some problem with it. Also, EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. we all react in different ways to different medications. many people forget that birth control IS a medication, sometimes you just have to give your body time to get used to it. if problems still persist after the 3rd month i would suggest switching.

I have been using the nuvaring for about 2 years now and have LOVED it. Especially not having to worry about taking a pill everyday. It is very convenient. I have however had problems with the nuvaring irritating the inside of my vagina. I was concerned about bleeding during intercourse and after seeing numerous doctors, discovered that the ring has been causing it all along. It is unfortunate because I have found a convenient form of birth control that I love. Has anyone else had this problem?

I went on the ring about a year ago and I have loved it. I have been having a problem when I drink too much alcohol though and I am not sure if it has to do with the ring. Whenever I drink to the point where I don't feel good and I have a headache, I get really suicidal and freak out. My boyfriend noticed a few days ago that these episodes started around the same time I got the ring, but we aren't quite sure. Has anyone else ever had any experiences like these? I would like to know as soon as possible so I can take it out. Also, I would like to know if there are any other birth controls that people would recommend besides the pill. I don't like having to remember to take them every day.

I began using the NuvaRing in January with no problems. In April I started having severe sweating and severe chills - nonstop. I could not figure out what was wrong - I never associated it with the NuvaRing. I went to the Dr. and they tested me for all kinds of things and found nothing. Over the course of a month I was constantly at my gynecologist, my general practitioner, the emergency room, or urgent care. I missed a TON of work. Always the tests came back negative - and that I was fine. Finally they came back with that I had parvovirus B19 - which is a blood test and they had to send it to the hospital so I suppose it was true, but I kept saying that can't be ALL I have - there must be something else here - and they kept saying no, it's all the parvovirus. I went online and looked up symptoms for parvovirus B19 and chills and sweats was not a symptom. Parvovirus takes 4-6 weeks to go away. At the end of that time I will STILL having these chills and sweats and I found this website and BINGO - it finally all clicked. I removed the NuvaRing 4 days ago and I have not had any problems since. It's ridiculous. You just always have to diagnose yourself, and the Doctors say don't do that but what the heck? If I hadn't diagnosed myself I would still be miserable! I do not intend to use the NuvaRing anymore.

I had used NR for six weeks when I woke up at 3 am with SEVERE chest pains. Went to the ER and was diagnosed with *substantial* pulmonary emboli (blood clots in the lungs). I was hospitalized for five days and am now under the direction of a pulmonologist and hematologist for the next six months while I'm on blood thinner therapy. I had to do injections into my abdomen twice a day to prevent further clotting until my blood reached a theraputic level with the Coumadin (blood thinning drug).

Usually, pulmonary embolism afflicts sedentary people or those who have recently had surgery or those who have cancer . .. etc etc etc. I am a 33 year old personal trainer. I have ZERO risk factors for this to have happened to me . .. other than the nuvaring. It was determined that it was the cause and I was told to remove it immediately and to never never never use it again.

Please be careful in your decisions to use this product. I used it for the convenience of not popping a pill daily as I would usually forget. Wish I would have just looked a bit further into the possible side effects before choosing to go ahead with it.

Just a follow up- I have been feeling sooo much better since I stopped NuvaRing. When you're on it, you think- "Can this really all be related to a little hormone ring?" The answer is yes! I was having sinus problems, respiratory infections galore, and crazy hormone stuff, the doctors had a hard time believing it was all relate- even though it's all listed as side effects and just as soon as I went off, I got better. You know yourself and your body and you know when things are not right. NuvaRing may be for some people, but it definitely was not for me!

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

I had been taking the ring for about a little over a month. I have tried every kind of pill and other birth controls for the last 6 years, but I kept getting severe migranes, so my doctor suggested I try the ring. I also can not be off birth control because I have endometreosus and birth control helps it. After about 3 weeks started feeling very sick. I thought I had a yeast infection so I took diflucan twice and it did not work. It became so swollen that I could barely walk. My boobs were swollen and sore as well. I also gained 5 pounds right away. After a week and a half of being sick I started searching the web. I found this site and took it out immedietly. It took a few days but the infection and the swelling went away. I couldnt imagine how much worse it could have gotten if I did not take it out when I did. Doctors may not know all the side effects because everyone reacts differently. I am glad there are sights like this so I dont have to feel alone

I am a woman in my early 50's I was given nuva ring to control my migraines a menopausel symptom. In July of last year I was taken to the ER room with serveral pulmonary embolisms and lay near death for 36 hours as I was given the dangerous clot buster drug.The vena cava filter was inserted in my vein and it was not removed because this condition exsisted past the safe removel time. It was a hard recovery and I was just lucky that I did not die. After several tests from cardiologists and hemotologists, pulmonary doctors and many more physicians. It was determined without a doubt that the Nuva Ring caused this condition. Unfortunately, as a result . I must stay on blood thinner the rest of my life and I have a foriegn object in a very important area of my body that will also be there forever. This means blood testing on a regular basis for life and blood thinner for life, The hospital and doctor bills for this incident have been astronomical and there are many more to come. Please use extreme caution in using this method. It is indeed dangerous. Our home is 5 minites from a hospital that happens to have a quick response time to these conditions. We were just a few days from leaving on a road trip. I often wonder what would have happened if I was away from home and out on the road somewhere when these clots hit my lung. But by the grace of God I would surely have died.AM