NuvaRing and headache

I hope somebody can help me. I was on the Nuvaring for 3 weeks, took it out for the 4th week and within a day I was a mess. Sweating horribly, actually soaking through my pillow and sheets at night despite the air being chilly. Nausea as if I were pregnant, gagging from a cough! Diarrhea, and my head hurts so bad it's all I can do to get out of bed. Fatigue...I though my body had gotten used to the hormones and was withdrawing so I put the ring back in after 3 days and took it out a week later when the symptoms didn't subside. Now its 2 weeks out and these symptoms have not eased up AT ALL! Anybody else have an experience like this? I'm considering the ER tonight if this headache doesn't ease up. I'm scared, and completely unfunctional.

Has anyone had worse symptoms with the NR than with the pill? I was experiencing terrible migraines two days a month, right before my period started. I was also finding that my period was getting lighter and lighter as the months went by. I've been on some form of the pill for about 15 years off and on, this time for about 3 years straight. A doctor told me the NuvaRing might help with the headache...so I switched to it. the headaches are no better, I gained 11 lbs in two months and I have NO sex drive at ALL. I also get hardly any period at all. Anyone else having that problem? I got worried that I was entering early menopause, but they did a pelvic ultrasound and blood tests that were normal.

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

In theory, this sounds like an excellent choice for birth control; no pill to take every day, no carrying it around in your purse, etc.. I started NR two weeks ago and have literally turned into a monster in front of everyone's' eyes. Not only did I have an AWFUL headache for the first few days but I've also gained weight, have had HORRIBLE cramping and have had a strange spotting for a little over a week now. I took the ring out tonight and plan to go back to on the patch right away as these side effects aren't worth it.

I just started with my first ring yesterday afternoon at 2pm. By 7pm, I was complaining to my husband that I must've had too much caffeine that day because my heart was palpitating out of my throat and I had a weird headache setting in.

So far today, the heart palps and jitters were getting so bad I had no choice but to take the NUVARING out. I'm going to call my doctor on my lunch break from work, but this is NOT what I was hoping for when I switched from the pill. I'm a 27 year old newlywed and all I want is a birth control option that doesn't KILL my sex drive. I'd rather have a low sex drive and feel physically NORMAL than to deal with the heart palpitations. They didn't start until I put the ring in yesterday. I'm hoping in a few hours they hormones will get out of my system and I'll start feeling back to normal.

I had NuvaRing in for 6 days. Since the first day I experienced some itching and discharge, I was not concerned with it. On the night of the 6 th day I experienced stroke like symptoms(vision problems, tingling, numbness, nausea, headache). I was rushed to ER and stayed in the hospital till all tests(CT, MRA, MRI, carotid Ultrasound, 2 D echo, TEE, as well as bunch of labs were done). All came negative for any congenital or structure defects. So the blame is on NuvaRing.
I have been on birth control pills for 9 years and had no problems. My doctor suggested to try NuvaRing since it is so simple to use it. I paid a big price - my medical bills will be huge and I cant go back to work since my vision is not normal yet. I am so scared it can happen again.

I started my NuvaRing on the 5th day of my period and noticed some changes that are going on with my body. It has only been 7 days, but I feel different. I noticed some white, sticky discharge that is not normal for me and bothers me. It has no smell though. I feel very dry inside.....and my sex drive is low. My breasts are tender. My mood is fine however. I am a little concerned with changes my body going through. When I contacted my doctor, she said everything im feeling is normal. But I wonder if those things will change once I get used to the ring and my hormones even out.
Did anybody felt the same way? Please share if you just waited out! I would love some input, cause I have no idea if I should just get off it or stick it out in hopes it will feel better........Confused ;(

I am 25 years old. A mother of 2, and i have now been on the NuvaRing for 5 years. I got on the NuvaRing the day of my postpartum check up after i had my second child.. I loved the NuvaRing at first thought it was the best thing in the entire world, hell all you had to do was put it in leave it for 21 days days leave it out for 7. Go on your period and other then that everything was great. About 2 months into using the Nuvaring i started having HORRIBLE HEADACHES that would last 3-5 days at a time without letting up. I could not stand to be around noise, light or anything that had a strong smell or it would get my head pounding to where i just could not take it anymore. So i called my doctor and told him about the horrible headaches that i have had. Explained to him that before a bad headache would come on i would have this horrible burning sensation in my head that would make you want to die.. And the doctor told me just hang in there and give the Ring time to work, so i did and then as time went on i started having other side effects along with the headaches.. Such as BAD ACNE that scars after clearing up which has made my completion not so good. Breakouts on arms, back ,chest. So i got some neutrogena soap to help with that and it has worked.. But then i got more side effects such as BREAK THREW BLEEDING right after my period was suppose to be over and after intercourse.. Then i totally HAD NO SEX DRIVE which caused lots of problems in my marriage cause my husband began to think i wasn't sexually attracted to him anymore.. And i began to think that also. Cause i had lost my sex drive didn't want to do it, the thought of it made me cringe. After being on the NuvaRing after so long you began to develop this THICK DISCHARGE that is annoying then as time goes on you get another type of discharge that is thin WATERY DISCHARGE that is aggravating cause it almost feels as if you have peed your pants a bit almost feels like a yeast infection with out the smell. Which brings me to my next awful side effect which is the Yeast INFECTIONS and the number of UTI's i have had while being on the NuvaRing never had a UTI or a yeast infection before the nuvaring. Not having a sex drive because you cant because intercourse is too PAINFUL sex it hurts like FRICTION and STABBING because of the DRYNESS the Nuva Ring causes. So i called the doctor he told me that i would have dryness at first and to just use lube so i tried that. Didn't work still had pain from the dryness so i called the doctor again and told him about the pain so he wrote me a prescription for a numbing jelly that you use right before intercourse and that was suppose to help with the pain.But that didn't work either just made everything numb till where you couldn't feel rather anything was out or in so i quit using that and hoped to god that my body would adjust to the Nuvaring. Still today after intercourse it causes STOMACH CRAMPS similar to the ones when your on your menstrual cycle,and PRESSURE similar to the pressure you have when your 8-9 months pregnant. Going to the bathroom after intercourse is a total NIGHTMARE i have had times it has burned so bad that i have pinched my stomach as i peed to take some of the PAIN AND BURNING away.Dont always work! Another side effect that i have had is DEPRESSION i have noticed that i have been unhappy and just got to where a lot of times i don't care about things that matter to me because i don't feel that i have the energy to do so.. I also have ANXIETY ATTACKS which i have never had until i got on this NuvaRing. CHEST PAINS that i thought the first time i was having a heart attack it hurt so bad. I had to take little breaths to breathe which would then lead into a PANIC ATTACK cause i felt like i was unable to breathe like i am suppose to.. So yet again called the doctor who told me that i need to be on prozac to handle this. Never got on the prozac just delt with it hoping that it was just a little side effect and that my body would adjust to the NuvaRing, but guess what NO never did.. Another side effect that i always hate is getting SICK AND THROWING UP caused by a medication, guess what i still have this after 5 years i get to cramping so bad and headaches tied onto being MISERABLE and BLOATING and DIARRHEA and DRY MOUTH so bad that you cant stand it seems no matter what you drink to get rid of dry mouth nothing can quench your thirst and this is all hours of the day. So i would take Midol which would only help for a few hours and then i was right back to square one with the B.S caused by the NuvaRing. So i call the doctor and get told "well you will have that." the side effects will be less obvious the longer your on the NuvaRing." So stupid me stays on the NuvaRing hoping this is true! Which i have found out is not. The only good thing that i have noticed is the NuvaRing is easy to use and you don't have to remember take a pill everyday! I never had any weight gain or loss while on this dang thing. Pretty well maintained the same weight as i have always been. I have tried to get off the ring several times, but always get back on it, Because while the ring is out for 7 days i am miserable mostly with a headache that last 3-5 days untop of the TERRIBLE MOOD SWINGS that i get. i truly think that my body has been on this hormone so long that i have HORMONAL WITHDRAWALS when i don't have the ring in. Cause i am fine after the ring is inserted again. People can say what they want and say that this is a issue and that they haven't had problems and that is understandable and different people adjust to hormones in different ways but the time that i have my ring out i always get my sex drive back 1-2 days before i start my period. I am not asking anyone to believe me about any of this and if the ring works for you then great, i thought that it was going to work for me also but it didn't. . I have taken the nuvaring out this last past Sunday and have no intentions on putting another ring back in.. Yet again i have had 3 days of a SEVERE HEADACHES some thing that i believe is HOT FLASHES or NIGHT SWEATS,BLOATING,DEPRESSION,CHEST PAINS,ANXIETY ATTACKS,YEAST INFECTIONS, and BAD MOOD SWINGS and i am hoping that all this will pass and my body will go back to the way it was before the NuvaRing came along... I would not suggest anyone to get this as a form of birth control i would actually tell then that the pill is better off to have in the long run.. This has caused me nothing but a miserable life that i have tried to deal with and i am just not going to do it anymore. I hope to see in the near future the NuvaRing go off the markets and not able to sale anymore.. The only reason that i was put on the nuvaring is because my doctor had a hard time finding a birth control method that my body would accept I was on Ortho- Tri- Cyclin and got pregnant and had a girl... My postpartum check up with her i was given the Orthra- Evra patch and i got pregnant with my son. Tried IUD and my body rejected it. So the doctor says" lets try this new birth control"you insert yourself leave in for 21 days leave out for 7 and have your period," the longer your on this NuvaRing the lighter your period will become and the side effects which aren't many will fade also.". "So how bout it." Well i thought this NuvaRing was a dream come true, BUT IT WAS A NIGHTMARE WAITING TO HAPPEN..

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.

My body must not be shaped properly for this thing because even after 6 months it still slides out partway all the time. I had to tie it in a knot to get it to stay in for more than 2 minutes. that aside, I had many of the side effects everyone else is talking about:

extreme anxiety. weird tingling in my arms and feet and 'on edge' all the time. waking in the night with horrible panic attacks and feeling sick to my stomach. so bad that I'd be afraid to go back to sleep for fear I may not wake up. I can't even describe how anxious I was. It was like I was outside of my own body all the time. I'd have to wiggle my toes or pinch my arms at times to make sure they still moved. In the night I'd wake up and intentionally wake up hubby or a kid just to know that I still existed.

Total bitch. I even hated being around myself. the sound of someone eating would irritate me so bad I'd have to leave the room before i hit someone or broke something.

totally down in the dumps. not suicidal, but didn't find joy in anything. I didn't want to do anything, yet felt bored all the time.

headaches non stop. Literally had 2-4 headaches every single day for 3-4 months. Not one day without. went to bed with a headache, woke in the night with a headache, woke in the morning with one... painkillers would take off the edge, but not eliminate it.

I seriously was terrified I was going mentally insane.

I had used the pill years ago with no side effects. I've been off nuvaring for 6 months now and don't know what to do because I have problems with cysts (and possible endo.) and their 'solution' is hormonal contraceptives.

I was better almost immediately after stopping the nuvaring. the headaches lingered for a bit more, but the rest disappeared.

Well I've taken the Nuvaring for the last four months, 23 yrs old. I DO NOT RECOMMEND. I just recently woke up w/ a severe headache, numbness in hands and let side of my face and tongue. I went to the ER, which informed that it was a mild stroke. This was my 1st time on any contraceptive. I think I stick w/ the condoms. Due to the NR I've had vaginal infections, dryness, low sex drive, burning, and itching.

I put in the the Nuvaring and within the first 4 hours I started to have a terrible headache. I called my Doctor who said to keep on with it, it was probably not related to the NuvaRing. I continued to keep the ring in. By the second day, I became very nauseas. By the 4th day, the most horrible pitting acne began. I stuck it out for 2 weeks, then yank it out. It has been out for 4 weeks, and I am still struggling with headaches,nausea,and skin problems. Also, waiting for a period as well. I would not recommend the ring to anyone it was horrible. Now, I keep taking pregnancy tests in fear that I am pregnant, since I have not had a period yet. My breasts are still so sore I can barely touch them. Tests are all negative. I'm still waiting for the hormones to flush out of my system.

I thought I was going out of my mind! I had been on NuvaRing for almost 1 year, then quit (b/c of insurance reasons), then went back on it in April. While off it for over 6 months, I noticed my sex drive increased and I lost some weight without even trying. I went back on it because I have severe cramps in the middle of the month, and NuvaRing really helped.

I had no problems (that I can recall) the first year except for slight weight gain, 8-10 pounds. But these last 3 months have been awful! I am short with my husband and kids, and I worry about things non-stop. I am SO tired, but I get in bed and cannot sleep. I lay awake worrying about things like car accidents. I am not normally a worrier. I also have felt very down and cry often. I was starting to think I had an anxiety disorder.

I have no reason to feel depressed, and have not struggled with depression in the past (I am a mental health professional, so work with mental illnesses on a daily basis; enough to know there was something not right with me!). I have also put on 10 pounds in the last 3 months. Partly due to low energy. My hands even get tired when I color with my 3 year old.

I have taken 1-2 Excedrin Migraine a day to ease (not cure) my headache that has lasted for over 30 days.

Just this weekend, it occurred to me maybe it was the NuvaRing. After reading all these posts, I took it out a week early. I would rather live with some cramps instead of all of these side effects!

Well, I am so glad that I read these responses. I have had the absolute worst headache for 1 week now. It is miserable. It is on the right side of my head and goes down behind my right ear. I have even been so concerned about it that I had a CT scan of my head done. It was a pain like I have never had before. I was on the NuvaRing for two weeks and when I went for my yearly, after complaining of the headache, she yanked that sucker out. I have still yet to start a period 4 days after the fact, and welcome it with open arms. Hopefully when this hormone is out of my body, my so called "hormone induced migraine" will leave me. Lortab doesn't even subside the pain. UGH>

I have been on the 4 months going on 5. i may have gained a little weight but just water weight. My skin has cleared up and i am not getting the PMS breakouts anymore. I just turned 29 and still get acne so anything that helps is welcome. however i have been noticing slight headaches here and there. i typically don't get headaches and from what i have read on these blogs the ring may be to blame...other than slight weight gain and a headache or two it's been good using the ring. i also don't get ravenously hungry before my period anymore which is a blessing, i would eat anything and a lot of it-lol! i am going to be paying more attention though, and come to think of it i have noticed been tired and i workout a lot so i usually have tons of energy. tough call, i guess every birth control method has draw backs.

My cholesterol went from 180 to 245. I also experienced severe headaches and have gained 40 lbs. I went off of the NuvaRing 7 weeks ago. I haven't had a headache in 6 weeks and I just had my blood work done and my cholesterol is now 209. I can't seem to get the weight off which could be because of me being hypothyroid. You can't imagine how great it is to not have a headache 3-4 days a week. This is just what happened with me. I have a couple of friends using NuvaRing and they have no issues what so ever.

I've been using Nuvaring for about 8 months and have gained at least 10 pounds. Also, my cholesterol went from 200 to 250 and LDL from 120 to 168. Has anyone else experience increase in cholesterol? I too have expererieced memory problems and have noticed that I wake up more often feeling as if my arm or hand "fell asleep".

I am just turned 24 years old. I have done the ortho evra patch before and had no problems.. well two weeks ago i started the nuvaring.. i though it would be good as much as my doctor talked good about it and meaning it cost me 50 dollars for 1 ring.... well the first few days went okay i didnt have many symptoms.. well then i started noticing a yellowy discharge and had to wear panty liners and it made it feel like i was always wet there.. well then there ended up a smell there and yet i was washing the normal amount of times a day.. then i ended up with a uti that lasted a week.. as well as it was my birthday weekend and i spent most of it with mood swings.. mainly i was very depressed and spent alot of time crying or angry for no reason at all.. like every little thing got on my nerves.. i ended up feeling very tired and wanting to sleep alot but then would wake up in the middle of the night with cramps... Then ever since i started the ring my acne has been terrible.. i wash my face and use proactive but it didnt work.. well i had a pimple near my lower lip of my face and it hurt really badly well then this morning i woke up and the whole area around it was swollen and my lip was massive.. and right that moment i knew it was the ring.. so i took it out.. and since ive taken it out ive felt happier, still a bit tired but not as much, and the swelling in my face and lip finally went away.. and when i took the ring out i felt nausea and had a headache.. which was a typical ever day thing since i started the ring these werent like typical headaches they were very painful...

i do not recommend anyone to use the nuva ring no matter how good the doctors talk about it.. it causes depression and everything that everyone else puts out there.. i read this website after i had just put it in and i regret not listening to all the other woman on this site...

3 weeks after putting in the NR, I went to work explaining to my co-workers that I "had a hangover" and needed to eat some bread , as my 3 glasses of birthday wine from the night before really had done me in. After a baegal, and an energy drink, I noticed my eyes had this weird kinda haze, and my head over my ears was really starting to ache. The worse it got, I finally voiced to the girls how "weird" I felt, and with their own experience, we figured out it was a migraine. A migraine? I had never felt a headache like this before. this alone made me anxious, and made my heart palpitate (which I was already familiar with) I left work early because I was having difficulty concentrating, and i felt bad for having everyone work in the dark with me. I got home and did nothing but sleep ALL night into the next morning. When I woke, it felt like just breathing was making me more nauseated by the minute. I vommitted all morning, had no lunch and am still queezy 6 hours later. I was glad to find this site to answer the question of this being due to the ring or not. I took it out, with no plans to re-insert, and my stomach is still in knots. as a nurse my advise to other women is: reconignize the common/small symptoms, before the big/scary ones occur.

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

I have been on the NuvaRing for 2 weeks now and every time me and my partner engage in sexual activity he gets a killer headache which has never happened before the ring. I am also very angry and feel depressed and believe that it may be a cause of the NuvaRing.

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

I've been on NuvaRing for 3 weeks now and I know after reading the other posts here that I am experiencing major side effects. I have been having horrible headaches off and on for 2weeks now. I've also been very depressed, isolating my husband and my kids. I can't seem to ever get full enough I could eat all day long. I also have random cramping and bleeding. I have no energy and could sleep all day and night if left to. I also have had the itching all over and low sex drive.The headaches are so awful I can't get rid of them, nothing works.I just pray that this headache and pain in my abdomen go away asap,I'm taking this thing out right now.I wasn't on it for BC I had my tubes ties 18 yrs ago I was having a lot of cramping so they said I have endometriosis so they treated me hormonally like that was smart I'm just gonna get a hysterectomy and be freaking done.Thanks to all and to all good luck

I am wondering how old is everyone, I am 36, is possibly an age group issue? I began using the ring September 10, 2007 problems began almost immediately moodiness, depression, and sleepless nights, and that is just the beginning. I spotted for the first month with occasional heavier bleeding, on November 8 that all changed, from spotting to very heavy bleeding, today is January 3 and I am still bleeding the doctors can't tell me why or make it stop, even after a brief hospital stay. Extreme cramps it was worse than being in labor with my daughter, and passing something that appeared to be fleshy. I discontinued the ring almost a week ago and am hoping that things will start returning to normal soon.

I started the NuvaRing and never read the side effects for fear that I will come up with some imaginary symptom. The first few months were okay..but pretty soon I had migraines that wouldn't stop. They'd last 4 or 5 days and then go away for a few days and start back up again.

Well I know that with any medication that your body has to adjust. So I've been on it for 4 months now...and not only am I still sitting here typing with a migraine that I can't seem to kick, but my period has lasted over 12 days with no end in site. It's been heavy and very tiring. Typically my period lasts anywhere from 3-5 days and now I'm on day 12....when I asked for birth control I didn't mean keep my husband away for 12 days *laughing* This is PATHETIC. I'm about to quit. I can't even tell if the nausea I'm experiencing is from the headache of the medication...but either way I'm miserable.

I hate the NuvaRing! it has done nothing but make me depressed , nauseas and give me bad mood swings! I only been on it for a week but I am not willing to wait and see if the side effects go away!

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

I was prescribed NuvaRing about three months ago. It's funny, I had a bad feeling about it as soon as I saw it. I liked the idea of just worrying about it once a month though. I tried the ring right before my wedding - bad idea. I could feel the ring during intercourse and it tore me a couple of times. But since my libido no longer exist that really isn't a problem any more. So here I am a newly wed and I don't want my husband to touch me, I have constant mood swings, I'm irritable all day, I have zero energy and I've had a headache for about a month now. I actually left work early today because of my headache. (and I can no longer go the gym)
Finally I had enough and Monday I went to the GYN and said get me off this ring. She said that these side effect do occur in some women. I asked to be put on the Yaz pill. I haven't started it yet, but I'm hoping that my life will go back to normal (before NuvaRing) and that my husband and I can start acting like newly weds. Luckily he hasn't threatened to divorce me after the three months of hell I put him through.

I wouldn't try the patch because of skin sensitivity, shots just seem really wrong to me, but I have been taking different oral contraceptives for nearly fifteen years. Fortunately I haven't had a pulmonary embolism which was definitely a risk because I was a smoker the whole time. Every time I switched pill brands, it was because of insurance copays, it would be non-preferred. However, I was still diagnosed with endometriosis and had one ovarian cyst removed laparoscopically and one ruptured on its' own. Endometriosis is less common in women on the pill because of the ovulation regulation...so I imagine things could have been so much worse. I was able to ask to take the pill continuously, meaning I'd skip the sugar pill week. Oh heaven! Without the pill I have severe cramps, PMS, heavy bleeding, pain and numbness in the crotch area, diarrhea, and was emotionally unstable. Although I suffer from depression, I don't feel that the pill has affected that much at all. I've recently quit smoking, and now am on the Nuvaring because of drug interactions. I've been spotting for 10 days now at least, and been on the ring for a month. I know there is a transition period, but this is not acceptable. My request to my doctor is to get back on some sort of pill on my insurance's preferred list. I'm starting to break out too. I want my pill back!

Been on this thing about 10 months, recently have been having blurred vision and 2 days ago passed out, thankfully not while driving with my two children in the car. Decided to see if this was what was causing all these problems. Other side effects have been no sex drive, cranky, anxiety, mood swings, eating all the time, breast tenderness, excessive discharge-usually about a week after inserting a new ring- but to the point of changing panties 2-3 times daily and then before bed, headache, back ache- upper and lower. Obviously I think this may be what is causing all of this due to the many of other women that are experiencing the same things, and also that a few of the serious symptoms are listed on the official web site. I have every form of birth control other than the IUD and of course having my tubes tied. I am at the point that I want to try the IUD, but am tired of all the side effects from every one I have ever tried.

i'm 24 year old student and i love the fact that i dont have to take the pill everyday. But the MIGRAINES ARE KILLIN' ME!!! I had to leave class it was so bad. i have to take like 2-6 excedrin, almost every day, the week before and during my period just to get through the day. although I do have a history of headache and mingrines i have never expericened one so intense that it impairs my eyesight so that i cant drive home. luckly I dont have any vaginal irritations or mood swings at all like so many other women have described.i'm just a natural bitch..lol j/k. i'm I have only been using NR for a month and I know for a fact that it takes a while for your body to get used any type BP, so i'm gonna stick it out for rest of my 4 month trail and i'll be back to tell whats going on good luck to everyone else

Well, I have been off B/C for about 8 months now. I was on B/C for about 7 years before that. I always had crazy mood swings and felt depressed certain times of the month. Ever since I went off B/C, I have not had one single anxiety attack and have felt wonderful. My friend told me about NuvaRing and how she really liked it. I decided to give it a shot. I just put it in on Saturday. Today, Monday, I felt horrible. I went to bed with a headache and could not sleep. I woke up this morning and I was extremely bloated. I could not understand why I was bloated because I didn't eat much yesterday. I had/have the worst headache I have had in a very long time and my breast are extremely sore. I thought I might be coming down with something, so I took 1/2 day off work and came home. It just popped in my head that there may be some side effects w/ the ring. I found this website and now I know what is wrong with me. I just took the ring out.... I may not have given it a fair chance, but I cannot live my life like this every day. It's not worth it!

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

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

First, I just want to thank everyone for posting your experience with the NR. I can now identify with the changes in very unpleasant mood swings, BIG attitude, crying, depression, throbbing headaches, slight burning / irritation, night sweats, nausea, and LOTS of anxiety.

The trouble has been that these symptoms came on so subtle that I had difficulty pinpointing why I was feeling the way I did. I thought I was going through a terrible phase of some mid-life crisis. I removed the ring just yesterday (prior to reading of others' experience today), and wouldn't you know it -- no headache this morning! And other than feeling a little tired, mood seems to be pretty darn good.

Thanks again, Ladies, for your input -- I no longer feel like I'm the one going crazy!

Side Effects of This Medicine

The risk of serious adverse effects is unlikely for most women using the etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring.. However, oral combination hormonal contraceptives have been associated with unwanted effects which may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not determined

abdominal fullness; abdominal pain or tenderness usually after eating a meal; blurred vision; changes in skin color; chest pain or discomfort; confusion; constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; gaseous abdominal pain; headache; inability to speak; nausea; nervousness; numbness of hands; pain or discomfort in arms, jaw, back or neck; pain; pains in chest, groin, or legs, especially calves of legs; pounding in the ears; prominent superficial veins over affected area with tenderness and warmth; recurrent fever; seizures; severe headaches of sudden onset; shortness of breath; slow or fast heartbeat; sudden loss of coordination; sudden onset of slurred speech; sudden vision changes; sudden and severe weakness in arm and/or leg on one side ; sweating; swelling; swelling of foot or leg on one side of the body; temporary blindness; vomiting or vomiting of blood; yellow eyes or skin

Symptoms of Overdose

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur

Menstrual changes; nausea; vaginal bleeding; vomiting

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.

More Common

Cough; fever; headache; itching of the vagina or genital area; pain during sexual intercourse; pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones; sore throat; stuffy or runny nose; thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor; tightness of chest or wheezing; weight gain

Less common

Crying; depersonalization; false or unusual sense of well-being; hoarseness; mental depression; paranoia; quick to react or overreact emotionally; rapidly changing moods, mild feeling of sadness or discouragement that come and go

Incidence not determined

absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods; bloody vaginal discharge; brown, blotchy spots on exposed skin; chills; clay-colored stools; contact lenses intolerance; dark urine; decreased amount or quality of milk; dry mouth; dry skin; fatigue; flushed; fruit-like or unpleasant breath odor; increased hunger; increased thirst; increased urination; loss of appetite; medium to heavy, irregular vaginal bleeding between regular monthly periods, which may require the use of a pad or a tampon; rash; soreness, swelling, or discharge from the breast or breasts; trouble getting pregnant; unexplained weight loss; unusual tiredness or weakness

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

I have tried many types of birth control and I think this is the worst. I have been irritable and edgy since I put it in and yesterday I left class early because I felt tired, nauseas, and had a headache. I woke up feeling not much better today, and realized I was depressed too, so I decided to look into it on the web. It has all been the ring! When it is time to take it out this month it is not going back in. If any figures out a better way to prevent pregnancy please pass it on.

Update on ring removal...I took my ring out July 13 after reading everyones side effects on here and realizing the horrible way I'd been feeling was because of the ring. The first week after it was out was not so pleasant my period started the next day with horrible cramping, it only lasted 2 days though and was totally worth it. The mood swings and irratability lasted for about a week after it was out and was pretty severe. After getting past that though Ive felt fantastic, my energy is back, Im sleeping through the night, no more discharge, not a single headache in 3 weeks. The biggest change though has been my mood, I feel like my old self again, no more crying and psycho irrational thoughts. I will NEVER use the NR again, looking back on the whole expeirence I felt like I was poisoned by it mentally and physically. I urge everyone to tell any women you know about this site if they are on NR, it really pisses me off this BC is being marketed as "safe", from my own experience and others Ive read about it's anything but. If you look at all the law suits being filed against NR, and past meds like vioxx, phen phen, and the countless others that are marketed as "safe" and approved by the FDA, it is apparent that "safe" is used loosely in an attempt to generate profits and dollars, even if it means putting peoples lives and in NR's case also mental health in jeapordy. You should decide for yourself of course if your going to quit using NR but from my own experience taking it out was the best thing Ive ever done for my own health and safety.

Okay, tried the Nuvaring for 7 days at first I was super happy because it didn't make me throw up like other birth control, but day 5 I started getting mild cramping and spotting, a headache and a twitch in my bottom lip!!!! Today is day 7 and I just took it out because I cried all day, the bleeding is now bad enough to use a tampon, the twitch hasn't gone away, I still have a headache and I told my ex-boyfriend that I f--king hate him and I don't even cuss usually!

I started on the NR on the 11th of this month, the first week was pretty good just a little cramping(I chalked it up to having to get used to a new drug) on the 20th I started getting severe lower back pains I could barely stand to do my filing at work. the back pains have continued, I went camping this weekend & could not even enjoy my weekend with my daughter Saturday afternoon I started to experience a severe headache, nausea, light headedness, blurry vision, not to mention that I could barely open my eyes due to such pain from my headache. I was going to go home that night because I was feeling so horrible but I knew that I would not be able to drive for 1 1/2 hours feeling like this. I tried tylenol, ibuprofen, & even a percocet to try to relieve the pain. nothing worked. I decided to drive home on Sunday morning & on the way home I had to pull over to vomit twice & the headache just got worse. I decided to research the side effects a little more thouroghly since trying the NR was the only thing that I had changing in this time & never having such severe pains & headache before. I was shocked that a drug with some of the side effects is on the market. I have also had an experience with blood clots in the past & now I am getting worried about the aches that I have been experiencing in my legs & arms. I have taken the NR out tonight & I will let you know if things improve. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS DRUG FOR ANYBODY!!!

so it's been almost a week since i took the ring out...i have been feeling pretty good, but today i have the worst headache ever and i have been feeling nauseous before bed.

i was reading more posts and realized that maybe my sleep has been affected by the ring also...i was waking up almost every hour and having very vivid dreams...

i dont know how much of my symptoms have to do with being on the ring or how much of it is in my mind (since i took it out ive been feeling much better in general), but I am glad i took it out. im a little nervous for next week. i wonder how i will feel when i dont put it back in...has anyone had any symptoms once they stop taking it??

I posted last night about how I was hating Nuvaring. I don't know why I forgot to take it out last night! Anyway, this morning I was actually day 16 on it. I woke up with pain in my ribs and abdomen and a severe headache. Again, I was very exhausted and depressed. I finally took it out. The rest of the day was very hard to get through - extremely depressed and unable to exercise. Later today, both my legs were killing me - felt tight and like it hurt to stand on them. I had been having some leg pain last week, but didn't attribute it to Nuvaring. It was a like a cramp. I also had pain in my left arm that got worse over a few days. I also spent the rest of the day feeling even shorter of breath than I was yesterday. I am glad I read this board and I am glad I took it out. I didn't know what these symptoms were from really - and now I know.

Woke up at 4:30 on Tuesday morning... can't remember if I woke up before or after my cat was coughing and puking up a large piece of folded up packing tape.. But then I noticed my right side of my chest hurt when I tried to take a deep breath. It's in my lower right chest, behind my ribs, and lower than my right breast. I just took my nuva ring out a at 4:45, and maybe it's just a placebo effect, but my chest felt a little better right away.

I put the nuva ring in on Thursday, June 28th, and have been so sleepy since that first night that I've felt compelled to take a nap every day, whether I wanted to or not.

Woke up Sunday night with an itchy eye, which I rubbed, then fell right back asleep. A couple of hours later Hannah (my 3 year old) woke me up because she'd peed in her bed, and after cleaning her and her bed up and getting her back to sleep, I went to the bathroom to pee, and when I looked in the mirror, my left eye was extremely swollen. It watered a lot, and the eyeball looked slightly red, but it didn't itch. I read about swollen eyes online and fell back asleep with my laptop on my lap at about 5:30 am. On Monday my eye improved over the course of the day and now it is about 95% back to normal.

On Saturday Hannah and I stayed over at our friends' house on the beach, and I woke up around 5:30 AM and noticed that: A.) The birds outside were chirping and making a ton of noise, and B.) On both of my hands, my pinky and ring fingers felt like they'd fallen asleep. I wondered if I slept on them in a funny way, and wiggled them and kept changing positions for about half an hour before they regained good circulation and I fell asleep again.

I don't remember if I woke up Friday night or had any health issues on Friday.

On Thursday, the day I put in the Nuva Ring, I had a terrible headache that was barely managed with advil and acetominophen. I had a headache the day before that was less severe, so I assumed the two were related. That night I fell asleep sort of involuntarily at about 10:30 pm, which is very early for me.

I normally sleep through the night without waking every night that Hannah doesn't wake me up, but not since I put in the nuva ring.

I am feeling quite a bit better now at 5:10 am on Tuesday, and will lay down again and try to sleep.

Leaking breasts?
I've been on NR consistently for 3 months. I love it. I tried it several months ago and had horrendous nausea that I had to remove it. I tried again 3 months ago and it's been fine. Although, my breast literally squirt milk when squeezed. I know I'm not pregnant. Why the lactation? It makes no sense.
Also, I get to a point just about the day I'm scheduled to remove the ring where I can't stand to be in my own skin...just incredibly frustrated, emotional, over the top crazy feeling. I take it out and I feel a difference withing just a few hours. Starting to connect the dots here....anyone else have similar effects? I've gained 5lbs, have zero sex drive as well.

I started using the Nuvaring on a Sunday around 11:00 am. By 3:00 pm the same day I had the most unbearable stomach cramps I have ever experienced while not on my period. The pain was so intense I had to take 6 ibuprofens and use the heating pad and it still hurt. I am taking it out today after reading the other posts.

I have been on the NR for 3 months now and have had a severe headache that started after the first time I took out the ring. It was thought to be a sinus infection, but after having a CAT scan they ruled it out. It is now 2 months later and I still have the headache. I removed the ring a few days ago and will not be putting it back in. I have also had very bad heartburn, cramps, and lower back pain for a month as well. I have been unable to eat properly and have lost 13lbs so far. This is the only thing new I have been taking. My head hurts above my eyes, top of my head, and the back of my head and neck. The pain above my eyes is a sharp pain and the pain on my head and neck is more of a numbing pain. My scalp is very sensitive as well. I do feel this is from the ring and I am having a bad reaction. Hopefully I will be feeling better in a few days...

Nagging headache almost everyday at the base of the neck, pain when having sex and stinging, lack of desire to have sex, all around bloat

I am relieved Im not the only one experiencing mood swings. I started the Ring about 3 weeks ago and have had EXTREME crying (bordering on hysteria) bouts that are WAY beyond the normal slight "bleh" feeling I felt before my period each month before the ring. They occur almost daily, and this is not like me. I also noticed, a few days after I inserted the ring, a growth just under the skin on the right side of my nose, I am going to see a specialist tomorrow but the Ring was the only thing that changed in my behavior so I wonder.... The reason I switched from Yasmin to the ring was because I was having "mentrual migraines" so my dr urged me to try this low dosage, but I think Im going to switch back. One headache a month is better than this awful hysteria & depression several times a week for sure.

I have been on Nuvaring for 2.5 years. Most of the initial side effects (spotting, discharge) cleared up after six months or so, but I started having migraines around my period for the first time in my life. My doctor suggested I leave the ring in for three weeks then replace it with another ring right away, skipping my period (and hopefully the headache). I've been doing this for six months and the migraines have gotten MORE frequent. I hate to do it, but I'm going off Nuvaring to see if the migraines stop. It just isn't worth the convenience for me. I've been miserable.

I have been on NuvaRing for over 3 years. I really like the fact that I don't have to remember to take a pill everyday.

Anyway, I want to see if anyone else out there has the same side effects as me.

Before I was on NuvaRing, I used to go out to the bars at least 3-4 times during the WEEK, and have plenty to drink. I was able to get up, feel a little hungover, but get right on my feet about an hour after I woke up and get right to work. I'd sometimes get a headache, but it wasn't anything. It didn't make me nauseated either.

Now, my fiance is telling me that the reason that I get SO hungover, even after a very relaxed night of drinking, may be related to being on the NuvaRing.

I can go out and have 2-3 drinks and the next day, my head is pounding and I puke all day long. I can't keep anything down, not even water. I will take a sip of water and 5 minutes later, I have to puke it up to make my stomach feel better. When I get these "hangovers" I finally can start eating after about 6 pm, but I'll still have the headache all night long.

Do you think that the NuvaRing causes dehydration and after drinking it makes it even worse?

I am getting married soon, so I will be going off the ring and will hopefully be able to see if there is a difference.

Good luck to you all!

I have been on the nuva ring for almost a year. I did not start noticing the side effects until I read about the side effects. I have had a headache since I started the nuva ring. When I wake up in the morning I have to lay in bed for a while because if i get up to fast my head will hurt so bad. I have also been on the patch, the shot, and the pill. I have tried almost everything. The shot was okay minus the 50 lbs. weight gain I would never get on that ever again just the weight gain alone made me depressed. Then I got on the pill I loved the pill I did not have a hard time remembering to take my pill. For some reason I wanted to try the patch and I got off of the pill. The patch turned me into the devil I was so mean to everyone. I did not have any side effects of weight gain with anything but the shot so all the other bc are okay in my eyes. Now the nuva ring is okay it's just my sex life is gone my husband just got back from Iraq in Jan. 06 you would think that I would be all over him. Wrong. I don't have the energy I don't even feel like playing with my daughter I just have no energy. And I realize that I cry a lot more and I never cried before this bc. I will be getting back on the pill I can not wait. I love Ortho tri-cyclen it made my acne go away. No more nuva ring. Oh yeah the discharge is really gross also you have to wear a pantyliner all the time.