NuvaRing and few days

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!

I am so relieved to has found this page. I had no idea how many people on the NuvaRing were having the problems I've been having. I started using the NuvaRing a few years ago soon after starting to have sex. I wasn't very good at remembering my pill everyday, so I thought it would be a good option. I was so happy in the beginning because I could depend on it.

However, the first major thing that happened a few months later was IBS symptoms, which has put a big damper on my life since. I never know what food item will cause me to cramp and bloat next. It changes every day. I have always doubted this symptom attributed to Nuva until now. I thought my metabolism was changing because I was entering the workforce and exposing myself to new levels of stress.

Next, I never expected that it would diminish my sex drive. I have to convince myself that I'm in the mood, feeling responsible for maintaining a healthy sex life with my husband. That sounds so horrible, and it is. I'm almost never in the mood, not even to masturbate, and I have to keep a calendar to keep track of the last time I pleased my husband. I have not had a real orgasm since before starting the nuva.

It doesn't help to not only be not in the mood, but also when I do have sex, it's uncomfortable, burning, and very painful urinating afterwards. On many occasions, the ring gets pulled out a little during sex, causing a moment of uncomfortable prodding plastic for both of us, and I need to stop long enough to take it out and put it somewhere so I remember to put it back in again. Sex is more comfortable without it after that, but the irritation is still there. It takes a few days to heal before having sex again.

The last straw is more recent. I began to get discharge - a lot - starting the second week in the cycle. It wasn't a yeast infection, as I had a physical and pap at this time and the doctor would have picked it up. There was some itching, but mostly, I've had to wear panty liners 3 out of 4 weeks, including my menstrual cycle. This makes me feel less appealing, and much less interested in having spontaneous sex because I have to clean up first.

It just sucks that this has effected me for almost my whole relationship with my husband. Our dates, our honeymoon, our first anniversary vacation last month. All this time, and I find that the only prescription drug I'm on is what has caused me so much stress, sexual tension, and digestive ailment. One can only imagine what all these other happy commercialized medicines have in store for us, and in multiple amounts!

Thank you all. After reading many of your experiences I feel sooo much better, so much less crazy.

The past few months I've been feeling depressed, I can't seem to lose the ten pounds I gained since starting Nuvaring over a year ago, I've been having severe dizzy spells (I almost passed out and had to lay down for about 20 minutes), I have NO sex drive and I've been getting anxious over little things. The lack of sex drive is the worst. I've always been rather sexual but now I just never want to have sex. I've never felt so uninterested and out of touch in my whole life.

I just talked to a doctor a few days ago and got a blood test mainly for my thyroid and vitamin D levels. But now I'm thinking it's probably not my thryroid it's probably the nuvaring! The doctor (a male fresh out of med school) told me to get counseling. Apparently me almost passing out wasn't enough to make him think that my problems are something more than just mental.

Regardless if the blood test comes back okay I'm stopping the nuvaring and hopefully that will do the trick. The nuvaring was great for the first 8 months. No side effects other than a slight weight gain and larger breasts but now it's just ridiculous.

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

I started on the NuvaRing just this past Thursday. It was fine for the first couple of days; no noticeable side effects. I was instructed to put the ring in on the first day of my menstrual cycle, which I thought was odd, but I did it anyway. I usually have cramps before my period and on the first day and then they are pretty much nonexistent, but with this period I had them into the third day. I still didn't think anything of it until today when I realized that I have been extremely irritable and emotional lately. You would think those symptoms would be chalked up to the period, but I am like clockwork every month. I start having PMS symptoms two weeks out from my period and through the 1st day of my cycle. After that, they are gone (besides the actual period itself). I rarely get frustrated with my dogs and lately they have been getting on my nerves easier. I have had a couple weird fights with my husband in the past few days, both totally due to my craziness, which is also not the norm for me. While lying in bed a few moments ago, I decided it must be the ring so I researched it and this is the website I found. I am glad I found it when I did. I am taking the ring out tonight and hopefully everything will go back to normal. My only worry is that I will start my period and it will last for 3 months like a couple of the stories I read on this website. I am going on my belated honeymoon in two weeks to the Bahamas and would hate to be on my period then. I have never had a good feeling about anything not natural going into my body, which is why I have never consistently taken bc. The only reason I started on the ring is because I had some samples from my gyno and had a pregnancy scare recently, which made me (and my husband) realize we are NOT ready for kids and scared me into starting on the ring.

A word of encouragement to all those that suffer from anxiety and depression:

You are not alone. I suffered from an episode of anxiety coupled with panic attacks a few years ago. I thought it would never go away, but I was able to work through it on my own and I am fine now. I still have occasional anxiety, but it seems to be for an actual reason rather than out of nowhere. Do not lose hope; you CAN overcome these conditions and live a normal life. Surround yourself with caring individuals and others who understand what you are going through. What I learned from my experience: trust yourself, have confidence in yourself (because everyone is amazing in their own way) and learn to let go of your past mistakes (everyone makes them). Don't let the word "mental illness" scare you into thinking you are crazy. Think of it this way... you are going through a difficult time in your life that you have to work through. "This too shall pass" as my mother has always told me in difficult times. It helps when you know there IS light at the end of the tunnel.

I've been on the NuvaRing for 2 years now. I think it reacts differently to everyone. It has made my life much better. My periods are shorter, lighter and less painful. I used to get sore muscles and sore breasts a few days before I started now I have none of that. I'm not moody and for the first time in my life I don't have to spend the first day of my period in bed. My body adjusted to it quickly and I didn't have any spotting. I still have my sex drive and there is no pain during sex. I have a lot of stomach problems (bad gallbladder) and if I were on an oral contraceptive I would likely be pregnant because my body wouldn't absorb the pill properly. This has been a lifesaver for me.

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...

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

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

I'm only 18 and I've been using nuvaring off and on for a while.
I took it out the first time because it was making me gain weight, decrease in sex drive, anxiety attacks, painful sex and i had been crying for no reason. I feel so bad for my boyfriend because I'm just now realizing that my lack of sex drive and painful sex is most likely related to the nuvaring. We've both been confused for so long and he's been feeling so bad about himself thinking its his fault :(.

This is the 2nd week I've had it in since the first time i took it out months ago and I've gotten what seems to be a yeast infection...but like someone mentioned earlier, my yeast infection tests come back negative...as do std and sti tests.
This is my second time with yeast infection symptoms and im only 18...
so, already that seems a little fishy (no pun intended).
Ive also been tested twice for all stds and sti's both times negative.

My doctor and mother don't believe any of this has anything to do with the nuvaring and tell me that i shouldn't believe what i read on the internet because most of what im reading is "rare"..but i believe it and i believe its happening to me.

im taking it out right now.
This website has been very helpful!

I used the nuvaring for 2 months stopped and started again three months ago. The first time I used it I had no side effects this time is TOTALLY DIFFERENT! I thought it would be convenient since u only have to worry about it every three weeks unlike remembering to take the pill everyday at the same time, but all the side effects make it not so worthwhile. I have
nausea, headaches, dizzy spells, mood swings (I literally can cry at the drop of a dime), stomach cramps on and off my cycle (I can't get out of bed sometimes), and recently i've had diarrhea but i'm not sure if its caused by the nv. I'm not recommending it to ANYONE. I think i'm about fed up anyone have any suggestions for a better BC?

I just started the NuvaRing, and Everything seems to be going okay with an exception for the extreme breast tenderness. I put it in the day I started my period and, like clockwork, my period was gone, but still with some of the period pain such as ovary pain and breast swelling. I asked to be put on the ring because of my extremely painful periods and cramping and plus obviously I don't want to get pregnant. After being on it for something like..a week and a half, I've only noticed mood swings once, and that was last week during what should have been my period, and I think it's because my body is still working out the period symptoms that I should have been experiencing. I'm really worried about weight gain though. I'm not really that hungry unusually or anything.. just kind of normal but I've only been on this for a short time so I am fearful of increase in appetite and weight gain in the near future.. Has anyone had weight gain issues??

I've been on NuvaRing since April 1 after having my IUD-Mirena removed. I have been bleeding since, and it has been dark thick blood not like my period. My doctor was surprised to hear that I was bleeding at all since the IUD came out and NR went right in, the hormones never stopped. I have been so moody, irritable,and lost my sex drive, too. I had a bad painful break out (chest, neck, face, back) in the 1st month, it has since calmed down but left some scars. I also had terrible leg cramps in the 1st month, they did a scan and found no sign of clots in my leg. Just last week I had a terrible sharp pain in my chest which was tender to the touch and remained for a few days but eased away... now wondering if that was related? I thought I would give it time to straighten out (I am 29 yrs old and have yet to find BC that doesn't screw me up) and see if I can live with it. I may try 1 more month but I don't think its the BC for me, either. Thanks for all the info!

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

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

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

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

Hi everyone...

I thought I did all the research I could by going through medical journals but I think I'm going through the symptoms mentioned here. I haven't really gained weight but I'm super hungry all the time. The last time I had sex it burn like hell (I thought the guy I was with just sucked but it looks like it could be the ring), I'm sleepy all the time, and I'm having MEGA itching- an online doctor just told me it could be a yeast infection- my very first one :-(. Honestly, I'll be willing to stick with the ring if these symptoms go away over time since it did lighten my super heavy period (I used to wear an Ultra) but beware because my blood was dark brown for a few days. My nausea lasted 20 min after I put the ring in for the first time and I never had a migraine. Hope someone finds this post just as helpful as the others have been to me...

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

im 21

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

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

I started the NuvaRing three weeks ago and I took it out on Thursday so I can start my period. For the last few days I have been depressed, moody and ready to punch anyone that looks at me the wrong way. I am very active and usually always smiling I feel like it's painful to even try and crack a smile now. I am having a very hard time concentrating even if it's just a phone conversation. I didn't think it was from the NuvaRing until I found this site. I will probably discontinue use.

I used Nuvaring for a couple years but quit using birth control (except condoms) a year ago. After about a year or so of using it, I would bleed during/after intercourse. This would occur a few days before and a few days after my cycle. Not pleasant. Over time though, it got to be a regular occurrence. The only time I didn't seem to bleed was during the middle of my cycle. So basically, my husband and I had a few days each month when we weren't worried about ruining sheets. After intercourse, I continued to spot for days. The other side effect was the "pregnancy mask" in which parts of my face would darken more than others when outside (even with regular use of sunscreen). Skin is better. Bleeding is getting better. (BTW, had a vaginal ultrasound and two gynecologists tell me they couldn't find anything wrong).

I've been on the NuvaRing for over 4 years now. Initially, I absolutely loved it as I didn't have to worry about taking a pill everyday and I had nearly no side effects. Well just recently all of that has changed. I went from being a highly sexual person to not wanting sex at all, I've had headaches nearly everyday, nauseated, when my husband and I are able to make love, there is some moderate pain; however the unexpected happened about 2 months ago when I realized that half-way through my nuvaring cycle, it was no longer in place inside of me. It had come out during intercourse and we had never even noticed. It wasn't until a few days later when I got a full blown period that I knew something was up. I was very afraid of getting pregnant because we were not using a condom and relied fully on the Ring. I hesitated, but went back on the Ring and have had all of these problems since. I have really liked it during the time I've been on it, but I'm considering stopping the use of it.

I am 23, I have been on the NuvaRing for over a year now. Before the NuvaRing I had tried practically every other kind of birth control out there: Different kinds of pills, the patch, Depo shot, even an IUC (Mirena). All of these didn't work, they each came with their own horrible side effects. Like I said before, I have been on the NuvaRing for over a year now and things have been going great. No problems. Until a few days ago... I am supposed to take out the ring and have my period next week. But for the last 4 days I have been brown bleeding, with pieces of uterine lining! I have also been having cramps, and feel SUPER tired, like i was having my period. But i still have the ring in! I was so happy with the ring! I don't want to have problems and have to, once again, try to find a BC that will work w/o horrible side effects! I don't want to go to my GYN because i know what she will say "Just wait a couple months and see what happens". I know i shouldn't be freaking out about this but BC has been such a huge problem for me and i thought i had finally found one that worked! Has anyone else had brown bleeding BEFORE their period??

This website had made me sane!!! I have recently become a crazy woman searching side effects of birth control like it was my job, it has taken up my entire head!.. I started nuvaring four months ago (first form of birth control ever) to help control my horrible pms and very irregular period, and it helped that out, HOWEVER, I have recently decided I would prefer the pms over these awful, AWFUL symptoms. Although little spurts occurred here and there, this month is the absolute worst. I have managed to gain 12 lbs in under a month ...(keep in mind I am a work-out freak and have made sure to burn as many calories as I take in each day simply because I just can't stop gaining the weight!) I don't fit into any of my clothes and I just do not like the way I look. It is as if my body has just gotten wider and larger. I used to love my body and now I cant stand looking in the mirror everyday. My eating habits are awful....I try to starve myself for periods of time because I simply cannot help myself when I enter the kitchen. I feel like a bulimic girl, without the puking afterward. My binges are DISGUSTING, I'm actually ashamed. The worst symptom of all, though, are the mood swings. I cry at the drop of a hat every single night, I'm 20 years old away at college, and last night I cried because all I wanted was my "mommy." That's embarrassing. Not to mention my boyfriend thinks I am absolutely nuts because I have "changed." When you tell a severely hormonal woman she has "changed" you better expect a shoe or the nearest object to fly at you, which is exactly what I did. I CAN'T HELP IT! I also have been having negative thoughts about life as a whole lately and have even entered the realm of slight suicidal thoughts, or at least thinking my life was worthless. I've been through too much with my cycle to stop it now (even though I feel like ripping this thing out ASAP) and have 2 weeks left before I can take it out FOR GOOD! If anyone has any feedback they want to share to keep me sane through these last 2 weeks PLEASE PLEASE share! Also, does anybody know how long it will take for me to get my life back?! =(

I started the NUVARING around Christmas time. My boyfriend had just come home from Iraq, so I thought it would be a good idea to get on birth control. I was excited about the NUVARING, but after a few days I felt as if I had a UTI and a yeast infection. I also had a decreased libido. The fact that every time I sat down it started to fall out was a pain in the butt. With all of the side effects I started to get a mild form of depression, which still continued after I took it out after the first month. I am a nurse and just recently after I stopped using the NUVARING a young patient came in with a Pulmonary emboli from smoking with the Nuvaring. So ladies be careful and aware of these side effects.

I was on the depo-provera shot prior to using the nuvaring and I would definitely like to switch back! The first month and a half was fine but the second time I put in the nuvaring, it fell out the next day! I didn't realize it for a few days until I "thoroughly searched" and realized it was gone! I thought back and realized it must have slipped out the day after i put it in, (i had a particular instance in mind) well i put a new one in and ever since then (for about 2 weeks now) i have had the most awful cough! =( despite taking endless amounts of medicine, it's not getting any better and it's to the point that I cough so hard that i literally gag. I never would have thought that this could be caused by the nuvaring but after reading these other stories and re-glancing at the side affects, I'm pretty sure it's to blame. I am leaving it in until I get the prescription for the depo which should hopefully only be a day or two. Has anyone else had side pains associated with this? It just started today on my right side and hurts the most when I cough.

The only thing I liked about NuvaRing was the fact that it never bothered me while it was inside. I even had sex, and all though it would feel weird at first (while my man went deep) i was still able to orgasm. However, after just 2 weeks my boyfriend and I started noticing a lot of changes. I had it for less than 2 weeks and decided to go back to the condom instead!! Now it's been a little more than a week after i took the ring out and I am heavily spotting. It started like a normal brownish discharged for about a day, but by the following day it was a bloody mess. I have the cramps just like if I had my period, but i don't. in fact i won't until 10 more days. I am a little scared because on NR website, they listed some serious symptoms that people should see a Doctor, and "spotting for more than a few days or in every menstrual cycle" is listed there So i am a little worry. It's been 3 days of spotting, I'll give it a week.

So I have only been on the NuvaRing for about 3 weeks and just took it out. I feel SO down but I didn't feel down till about a week ago. Would the depression hit that fast? I keep getting in fights with my boyfriend and I'm feeling like we aren't going to last even though before this we've never had any real issues and I was positive he was the one I would marry. Now I feel like I'm doubting us but I have no reason at all to doubt us, nothing has happened except I started using the NR. I keep denying that it's the ring but the more I look back on it I feel like it could be since only a few days after I started using it I felt very irritable. I guess it's time to switch again? I don't like feeling like this and I don't want birth control of all things to be the reason our relationship fails. I feel so down and depressed but it isn't constantly, it just comes on randomly and stays till I go to sleep pretty much. Has this happened to anyone? Do you think that the effects would happen that soon after starting the NR? Any help would be great! Thanks!

I cannot describe how happy I am to have found this webpage. I have been on NR for almost 6 months and have begun to think i am going crazy. I have always been an upbeat person with a lot of energy and a pretty great sex drive. For the past 2 months I have been experiencing severe anxiety to the point where I wake up nervous and have difficulty falling asleep at night. I have chest pain, headaches, loss of appetite, acne (which i thought birth control was supposed to make better), pain in my legs, frequent crying episodes for no reason and absolutely no desire to have sex. I was starting to think I was going a little insane and was wondering what could make me have such anxiety and other symptoms. After reading all of your posts, i realize that it is most likely my NR since I have never had issues like this in the past. I am going to take it out in a few days and see how it goes. Hopefully it is just the drugs and not me going completely insane! I'll let you know how it goes and if anyone else has had these symptoms which have been relieved by taking the NR out, i would love to hear from you!

I believe nuvaring caused me to have a severe affect on my endometriosis.
I experienced a terrible bruising in the bottom of my stomach (where the endometriosis is). I could barely walk for a few days. I my doctor prescribed nuvaring because I was experiencing heavy bleeding from fibroids. After few months of being on birth control, I found myself having surgery with my uterus being doubled in size by the fibroids. I believe instead of shrinking my fibroids, birth control increased the fibroids in size. Lastly, I suffered from high blood pressure. At times my head felt like it was going to explode.

Hey Ive been on the NuvaRing for about 2 1/2 years and I had been hearing bad side effects of the NR like Pulmonary Embolism (A PE is a blockage of the pulmonary artery (in the lungs) or one of its branches by a blood clot) Symptoms include:Chest pain (hurts especially to breathe), shortness of breath, anxiety, coughing (may cough up blood), sweating, and fainting or passing out. The risk of PE scared the crap out of me so I took the ring out immediately. But the problem is I took the ring out after just putting it in for two days. I had already had my period and everything and now Im spotting or I just started my period again! Did this happen to anyone when they took their ring out permanently? Im kind of scared that this isn't normal!

Ha I know what you all mean when you say that the NR was hell, the first week of trying it I had nausea, spotting, and it hurt VERY bad to have sex. I thought this all was normal so I didn't even think twice about it until now!! Lately though I have been having an increase in chest pains, stomach aches and headaches and IM ONLY 18! But since I took the NR out about 3 days ago my headaches haven't been bothering me as much and neither have my stomach aches. These are the only things that bugged me while on the NR, I only had minor mood swings and I didn't have a decreased sex drive. But still I DO NOT recommend the ring to anyone because recently Ive heard of women dying from the NR. NUVARING HAS SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS AND ITS NOT WORTH IT!!

Hello all,
After reading all of these testimonials I suddenly feel more sane. I tried the Nuva Ring for one month and within the first week noticed a dramatic shift in my emotional stability. I had a panic attack and was unable to stop crying for hours. For weeks afterwards I felt not like myself all day, and was having one to two panic attacks a day. Also, I no longer had those little brilliant moments of happiness when I know that I'm entirely me. I really like myself, and usually have self-esteem but some how I forgot who I was, and forgot how to get back to that place. When I removed the ring after three weeks (as instructed) I decided to never put it back in. Within a few days I felt more like myself. I even had some glimmering "me" moments. Regardless, since then I still am much more anxious. I have trouble sleeping, an inability to relax, tension in my jaw, depression, and (worst of all) panic attacks. I can't shake this fear that something terrible is about to happen... but I know that it is just anxiety because my symptoms keep changing. One day I think that I'm hypoglycemic, and the next day I'm afraid that I had a seizure in my sleep. It all boils down to general anxiety, and panic attacks which ALL started when I began the NuvaRing. I have been off the Ring for one month now and I really want my life back. I have had my period post ring, and I'm sure the hormonal levels are just falling back into check- but I really need some reassurance from someone who understands. Could any of you (or all of you! the more the better!) please let me know how long it took your anxiety/depression symptoms to subside????? Please. I really need some hope that this will get better, because the hopelessness is part of the depression.

Thanks,
A.

I went on the nuvaring because I was having side effects from taking the pill, I was depressed and anxious all the time so my Dr. put me on the nuvaring... i put it in November 26, while i had it in i experienced cramping and pain during sex from time to time, the depression lifted, however, my period started on December 7th, after only 2weeks of having it in, it is now December 19th and it still hasn't stopped. its a lot heavier than normal with a lot of clotting. The last few days Ive been thinking that i was getting sick because Ive bee feeling so tired and weak, then today at work i got extremely dizzy and lightheaded,
So now i get to go back to my doctor and tell her that another BC isn't working for me.... *confused*
Is there any effective BC that doesn't come with unbearable side effects!?!?

I responded to a previous post but don't see it here so I'll post again. The post I was responding to suggested that maybe it was a different ring than the past rings:

You may have something there, regarding a change in the ring's chemistry. I'm 47, and I've been on it, happily, for 4 years. Just this last month I had my period and, at 4 weeks am still having it with large clots coming out. (I went through 3 boxes of 40 tampons, 2 boxes of 20 and 2 packages of pads. I'm extremely dizzy and sleep 12-14 hours a day, still waking up exhausted. I went to my natural doctor and he gave me some supplements that usually help immediately, but still I bleed. I've decided to take the ring out after reading all of these posts. Have you stopped? I'm hoping to get my life back. I've had no energy to do anything, I love the beach (live 3 minutes from it) and went ONCE this whole summer. I've read that some women feel better within a day or so of taking it out - any thoughts? Also, I, too, went through a period in June/July of extremely high blood pressure. I'm normally 120/80 and I skyrocketed to 250/120....felt like I was going to collapse. I also couldn't sleep which is SO not like me. I love my sleep. I went to the doc thinking it was my hormones. He said "If you're on BC your hormones are regulated, so I don't want to do a panel." He then prescribed Ambien for a few days just so I could get some sleep. Three days later I couldn't stop crying and was extremely depressed. I thought it was the Ambien. I never thought about it being the ring, just thought it was my high-pressure job. I really wonder if they've changed it in the past few months. There are lawsuits against NuvaRing - does anyone know about these? Take Care.

i have seriously had no problems with the nuvaring. in fact i LOVE it!! it has made my periods sooooooooo much lighter and shorter and i know the day every month when my period will start! i love that it is only once a month and it is easy to use. i would recommend it to anyone! i guess it just depends on what you can use and cant use... in the way of medications... but i will say that i am not allergic to any medications that i know of and i have been on a lot. i have noticed a little moodiness a few days b4 my period is due but it is manageable and it wouldn't change how i feel about it.

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.

I've been on NR for 2 months now and I noticed this past two weeks I have become extremely tired and have been going through random bouts of depression. I am not sure if it is due to the NR because I have been having a tough time with my job and made a life changing move 4 months ago. I am wondering if I am just trying to adjust, but I have never had depression like this before. I always want to cry, which is very unusual, A few days ago, I had sex with my fiance and i was very dry and the whole experience was painful. I can't tell you if I have lost my sex since I have had a cold, but I can tell something is definately wrong. I was on Orthro Evera Patch before this and I was never moody like this. Does anyone have advice for me? Should I go back to the patch? Thank you for any input you may have

So thankful I found this website and that I am not the only one having these problems! I started the NR this past February and thought it would be great not to have to worry about taking the pill. I had been taking Kariva and besides it being a pain to worry about, I also started gaining wt for the first time since high school (it had been two years with no wt gain). A few months ago I started working with a personal trainer and running to prepare for a 1/2 marathon...after three months I am now up 7 lbs even with working out 6 days a week! I assume it is severely causing me to retain fluid. I have not noticed mood changes but definitely no sex drive. I used to get migraines all the time and those are actually gone. The biggest side effect I have noticed which no one else has mentioned is heart problems. I have always worked out and ran a lot in high school with no previous problems. When I began training for my 1/2 marathon I noticed I was SOB, fatigued, and having palpitations all the time. Running for long periods of time has been impossible. I never thought it could be the NR until the last few days. It is the only thing I have done different. If I weren't married I would quit bc all together but instead I plan on going back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo which I had the best results from.

I started taking NuvaRing a few days ago....I've had strong sensitivity in my breasts, i've been sick to my stomach for the last day and now my leg has gone numb to the touch.....this is all after 4 days!
I've never had problems with circulation in my life!

I wish i would have seen this site before taking it, but thank god its only been a few days.
Back to the good ol' bc pill!!!

I wish I would have come across this site long ago. I have been on NR for about 6 months now and will be calling my doctor first thing in the morning to swtich back to my trusty old birth control pills. I have had no desire for sex at all, headaches, and heavy discharge. My husband says his only chance at sex is right after my period is over, which makes sense now because those hormones from the NR aren't in my system for those few days. I've been moody and depressed and just not feeling like myself. My doctor put me on anxiety medication, which I'm not very interested in taking long term, so I'm hoping that once I stop using the NR I can get off the other stuff too. I'm 34 so my doc doesn't want me on the pill anymore, buy due to endometriosis and ovarian cyst issues I have to be on some type of hormonal BC. I guess I better start looking into some other options. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Wow, reading all of this has got me kind of scared. I've been taking Ortho-Tri-Cyclin-Low for almost 3 years, my doctor put me on it, to help with my extremely painful periods, and it worked like a charm. I wasn't sexually active, so I never really worried much about taking it at the same time each day. Other the last several months my life has gotten pretty busy, and its become extremely hard to remember taking the pill each day. I started having sex with my boyfriend earlier this month, we've been using condoms, but they are uncomfortable for both of us, and we don't really want to use them (we were both virgins before this, so we're not worried about STDs). So Friday I went to see my doctor and she suggested Nuvaring, and gave me 5 months worth of samples to try.

I was supposed to have my period this week, I actually quit taking the pill last Tuesday or Wednesday (today is Sunday) because I kept forgetting. So my doctor told me to go ahead and have my period then put the first ring in next week. After reading the information packet and on the nuvaring website I decided to put the ring in last night (Saturday night), and skip my period this month.

I had a headache last night, and its still here (though not quite as bad) today. Today I also started having spotting and mild cramps.

The headache could be from me just getting over the flu (I had that Friday & Saturday), and being tired from the flu. And I'm sure the spotting is probably normal, considering I was supposed to start my period in the next few days, and I've only had the ring in for about 12 hours.

I'm going to be on the look out for side effects though. I sure hope it works for me, because I really am horrible about remembering the pill.

I came upon this site while trying to search about people's experiences with sex while using the ring, because I'm kinda nervous that it will be uncomfortable for my boyfriend and/or I. So if any of you have any input with that, please reply to this. Thank you

I started Nuvaring on July 6th 2008. I had the usual first-month side effects such as break through bleeding, etc. The second month went fine.....or so I thought. I didn't see it right away but my boyfriend did. I became depressed, moody, and withdrawn. I would cry and become emotional over nothing and was unable to show any enthusiasm for anything. He thought that I was no longer interested in him, or us. He brought it to my attention and it was then that I clued-in to the way I had been feeling. I immediately removed the ring. Withing a few days I felt like myself again.
The next problem I had with NR is it's withdrawal symptoms. I am a week late for my period and have had several symptoms of pregnancy. I know for a fact that I am not pregnant. After doing research on-line, I have learned that this is a very common problem, for women who opt to stop NR. This isn't something that is mentioned in the drug information that comes with NR.

I take nuvaring for a year by now, get a lot of symptoms but I just realized with my husband that my problems are just caused by my medication. After I have read all of yours posts, I REALLY think theses come from this. My symptoms are the following: shortness of breath, night sweats, trouble sleeping, nightmares, depression, anxiety and problems with my skin. Don't take that!!

I realize that everyone has their opinion, and their own experience, so please don't chew me out. But, since any hormonal form of birth control can lead to blot clots, some people I know in the medical profession (who are on hormonal forms of bc themselves) take a baby aspirin every few days. It helps thin the blood and since it is baby aspirin, is not a high dose. Just thought I'd pass along that bit of info for anyone interested, who likes Nuvaring or bc pills, but may be worried about some side effects.

I started NuvaRing about 7 weeks ago. The first ring I used I had a really bad burning sensation a few days after I inserted it. I figured it was new and I just needed to wait it out. I couldn't even have sex because that made the burning five times worse. A week before I was supposed to start my period I experienced really bad abdominal cramping. Later that day I had an upset stomach. The next day I had to go to the ER because my stool was nothing but blood. They never found anything wrong and released me. I took the ring out as scheduled and had my period. The next week I inserted the new ring. A few days later the burning sensation came back. I am certain this is a side effect of the ring. I have no sex drive and I feel extremely depressed as well.

I am happy to say I have never and will never take NuvaRing, I myself am on Ortho-Tri and have been for 7yrs. But one of my dear friends is in the hospital fighting for her life due to this ring. She is now in her third surgery in the past few days because of numerous blood clots threw out her body due to starting NuvaRing 8 months ago. My suggestion if you are taking this and all drugs to keep a close eye on them. Her situation is become very serious. And she never had a single problem before now. And two beautiful children later she is left with a bad side effect. This is way a drug should not be EXPERIMENTAL on humans. Ladies please be couscous of your life and the FDA approved drugs!

Has anyone experienced a rash while using NuvaRing??
I started using NuvaRing for the first time 2 days ago and when I woke up yesterday I had a rash on my arm, chin, and chest, and today it has spread all over my one arm and has made it's way over to the other. I know it's not an allergic reaction to food because I haven't eaten any new foods and it's not poison ivy because I haven't been outdoors like that in the past few days. I also know that it's not an allergic reaction to anything else (except maybe NuvaRing itself) because I haven't used any new soaps, laundry detergent, jewelry, make-up etc. Also, I was very fatigued yesterday, I slept all day (went to bed around 12 the previous night and woke up around 5 in the afternoon) and when I got up I had absolutely no energy, and that is not like me at all, normally I'm a very energetic person. So far those are the only symptoms I have had, but I'm questioning whether or not I should take the ring out now before things get worse...

I just started on Nuvaring a few days ago. I started on it, not for birth control but because I am going through terrible peri menopausal periods. My doctor is hoping to control the heavy periods and I will go for up to six months without one and then bleed so heavy I will almost hemorrhage. She is hoping to control this using the nuvaring. I put the ring in, and I've had a discharge. Its not thick or discolored, it is like clear water, like sweat almost, but it is smelly, I feel like I smell. I'm thinking it is the hormones smelling. Is this common? is the discharge common? Its quite irritating!!!! The darned ring doesn't want to stay up where it belongs either and I feel like its going to fall out although it hasn't as of yet so I guess it won't, even though I keep checking to see every time I go to the bathroom. LOL I don't have a big cervix, and it just doesn't "fit" I guess you could say!!!! It just floats about in there! Its not very comfortable! I can't feel it when I'm sitting but I still k now its there! I don't know if I like this!!!!

Well...i'm only 17 years old and i have been trying EVERYTHING to get rid of my 2 week long heavy period and extremely severe cramping. I have been on 3 different kinds of oral BC and i would still bleed for 2 weeks. So i tried the Mirena IUD and that was the worst idea of my life. It went in fine but about 10 minutes later i was in a extreme amount of pain (and i have a very high pain tolerance, broke 3 ribs and didn't cry) i called my gyno back and he prescribed me a pain medication but it didn't work. After trying 3 different pain medications and an antibiotic i had enough. I went to the hospital and was prescribed percocet and that helped. I went back a few days later and had it taken out so now i am trying the NuvaRing. I put it in and a few hours later started cramping and having back pain. The next morning i had very bad nausea and cramping. Its about a week later now and i am experiencing headaches, nausea, quite bad cramping, bloating, tiredness all the time and i just don't feel myself anymore. I am calling my gyno back to see what he suggests but i'm looking for any ideas or suggestions until i get a hold of him. Thanks

This makes me feel a lot better too!! I had been on NuvaRing before and didn't even think that my symptoms had to do with it. My vagina was so irritated and sex hurt sometimes. The area was just so tender, I would get sore after a short time and then have to stop and let myself heal for a few days. My b/f felt bad and thought it was his fault. I wanted to have sex but my body just didn't seem to be into it....I would get dry quickly and it made things even worse. I thought there was something else seriously wrong with me. Well, I took a break for a little while from the NuvaRing and things have been great! But not realizing that could have been the cause, I went back on the NuvaRing a couple months ago because it is so convenient. I am beginning to have the same symptoms, plus symptoms of a yeast infection. I am really bad about taking a pill everyday I love the convenience of the NuvaRing but cannot be uncomfortable like this.

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 have to say I am so happy to have found this web site. I started taking the nuva ring November 2007 when I got pregnant and decided to terminate the pregnancy. My Dr. suggested the nuvaring. 2 months ago I would have totally recommended this to everyone. I love it. Well how times have changed. On June 21st I went to take out the ring and it wasn't there. No where to be found. My period started a few days later so that confirmed that the ring was out. Since then, I have had the worse period. I am still on my period. I went to put in a new ring on July 1st and I felt so sick. I took it out 2 days later. Everyday is hell. I have been extremely tied, sick, nauseous, etc.

After I found this site I started putting everything together. About 3 months ago I was super depressed. I had suicidal thoughts. It was awful. My boyfriend and I fought everyday. I literally lost my mind. I have been suffering awful leg and foot cramps at least once a week. Headaches all the time. I know a lot of people lost their sex drive but I never lost mine.

I am going to the Dr. next week and I really hope that the ring I thought I lost is really lost. I refuse to go back on Nova Ring. I don't want to get blood clots and I would like to get checked just in case I might have one already. Listen...if you are thinking about taking nuvaring, don’t do it. All the people that are saying they love it just haven't experienced the negative side effects...but they will. It's poison. Thanks for reading

I went on the NuvaRing because it would regulate my hormones- I have IBS and get sick a few days before my period. The NR was great for keeping my IBS at bay. However, I gained over 15 pounds while on it. I had not changed my eating habits or activity level. The only thing I could associate to the massive weight gain, enlarged, swollen, and sore breasts was the ring. Even after hiring a personal trainer, eating healthier, and working out multiple times a week, I couldn't lose weight. I finally decided to take the ring out. After two weeks of being "ring free", people can see a difference in my weight- and I haven't gone to the gym to work out in over 3 weeks. Now I have to suffer through painful periods and digestive problems because I can't bare the weight gain that comes with the ring. If anyone knows of another form of BC that does not cause weight gain, please let me know.

I have been on the ring for 2 months because I never could get adjusted to the pill's side effects even though they are supposed to disappear. I am sensitive to hormones and be nauseated even 6 months of taking the pill consistently even low dose. The NuvaRing made me nauseous only the first month and it is more convenient in the sense you do not have to remember every day to do something. One thing that has not disappeared yet and I am going on my third month: EXTREME BREAST SORENESS. I wake up every morning like what the hell?? They are so swollen. They look nice and full but I don't want anybody touching them. Overall, I am a very sexual person but this ring makes me have less desire. Then, sometimes all of a sudden out of nowhere I feel very nervous for up to 30 minutes (never had this before). My chest will tighten and I will sometimes be angry. This happens maybe every other or every few days...