NuvaRing and migraine

My husband stumbled across this website and first I would like to thank everyone who have posted their experiences on the NuvaRing. Because of you guys I now know I'm not losing my mind.

I started the NuvaRing March of 2008 and I started getting dizzy spells May 2009. I actually got my first dizzy spell when I was driving. Everything started to spin very fast!! My husband had to grab the wheel and tell me how to slow down and how fast to do it. That was the scariest thing ever!! My head felt a numbing sensation in my head. I had a pain above my left eye and it would shoot up my head and down my neck. The dizzy spells would come whenever, once every 8 days to twice in one day. I have had an MRI and an MRA done and nothing. The docs have had me on so many migraine meds to try to get a handle on this and nothing has helped. My longest migraine lasted for 14 days, that was in May. This month (July) I got a migraine on the 13th, took the ring out on the 21st, and had a dizzy spell this morning but this afternoon and especially this evening I feel amazing.

Since getting on the NuvaRing, like so many of you, my sex drive does not exist. It has caused so many fights between my husband and I. Its hard to tell him that he is still attractive but I can't explain why I'm not excited. So thank you for writing your experiences. He got to read that I'm not the only one and I wasn't making it up.

These last three months have been hell for my family and I. I have been like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. So much tension has caused everyone to walk on pins and needles when they are around me.

So lets sum it up here, after being on the NuvaRing for 14 months I started getting dizzy spells, migraines, nausea, neck pain, twice I've puked because of the room spinning so damn fast, and very very VERY low sex drive.

I'M NOT CRAZY!!!! :)

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

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

I have been on NuvaRing for about 3 years now and never really noticed any side effects. Normally, I have bad cramping and a heavy period, but NuvaRing relieved me of that. But for the past couple months, right before and during my period, I will get the most intense 3-4 day migraine/headaches. I have to constantly take Excedrin or something, the pain doesn't stop. So now that a couple months have gone by, I spoke with a girlfriend of mine she said that her old b/c used to give her headaches. I googled Nuvaring and headaches, and here I am at this site. I am so happy I found this site because I have had NO sex drive at all and I really thought there was something wrong with me. I am young, happy, in a beautiful relationship and my fiance thinks Im not attracted to him anymore. It makes perfect sense though, this has happened ever since the NuvaRing, i really just have no want or need to have sex at all-like its a task or something. Its horrible. And I saw several mention the discharge and the yeast infections and the UTI's. Wow. I have unlimited prescriptions that my gyn had to write me because I get UTIs. I keep asking my gyn what causes them and he tells me sex and not urinating after sex and blah, blah. I''ve heard every single reason and believe me, I avoid all of them and still get them. I am the most careful person ever because my UTIs are horrible. I wont have one, then BAM, it burns to urinate, i urinate blood, i go to the bathroom every 5 seconds, horrible cramps, paint in my back. Horrible.
Seriously though, I am in shock that it took so long for the headaches to start and for me to look into this medication more. I was 118 pounds when I started this pill (around 17 or 18 years old)...at 21 years old...I am 150 pounds. All of which, I definitely wouldn't blame on the ring, but never in my life have I gained so much weight for no reason. I was even working out at the gym and couldn't loose a pound. I feel like giving up, because by the time I get out of work all I want to do is sleep. I have zero energy, I am always tired and never want to do anything. And it seems like so many other people on this site have had these issues to. I hope my story helps someone else in their decision to stop NuvaRing. Thankfully, I just took out my last one on Sunday and didn't spend the $150 for a 3 ring refill. Crazy prices, especially when you pay good money for insurance.

The nuvaring should be re- named to the devil ring. I went on it for two days about a year ago. I went for a jog (like i have been doing every day for years) and felt this horrible cramp in my pelvic area. I had to sit on the curb and almost flagged somebody down to take me to the ER because I could not get up. Finally, I made it home, took out the ring, and about a half hour later I was fine. People thought I was crazy when I attributed it to the ring so I decided to go on it again last week. I immediately felt very much not like myself. I was on vacation with my family and was so extremely moody and irritable I was just un-bearable to be around. I had it in for 7 days before I decided to remove the ring. Once removed, about a half hour later I was much more pleasant and less irritable. It has been 6 days since I removed the ring and I have gotten my period. I experienced terrible terrible cramps yesterday to the point that while shopping I was huddled over in the aisle because I kept getting this shooting pain from my back to my lower abdomen. I have also been having very bad night sweats (I wake up in the middle of the night and have to shower because my clothes are completely drenched). Now, today I have a very bad migraine, I am experiencing the chills and sweats with no fever. I have made an appt w my GYN for Monday but its Friday...that means I have to go through two more days of this. Has anyone experienced similar symptoms even when the ring has been removed?

I am going on my third month of using the NuvaRing. I have experience almost all of the symptoms that everyone is listing. I was wondering if there is anyone that has used NuvaRing and the side effects eventually went away. My doctor told me they should only last for about 3 months but according to a lot of people they don't go away. I am really not sure what to do because I am not ready for a child yet but at the same time I can not take much more of these side effects.

I am twenty one years old and I started Nuvaring when I was nineteen and at first experience only one side effect, nausea. In the past two years, I have gained about 15 pounds, despite the t fact that I've been eating less and working out more than I ever have. But perhaps the worst side effect for me is migraines. I have had migraines since I was a kid but I would get maybe 4 a year. Since I have been on NR I get about two a week and the longer I've been on it, the more often I get them. I've had a migraine for the past four days. My main concern is that I love having my period regulated. Before I was on BC I worried constantly about when I would start my period. I never wanted to wear white or a bathing suit in case I would start my period randomly, which happened often. Now I am at a loss of what to do. I have to stop the NR because the migraines are making it impossible for me to function at school or work, but what about the periods?
In response to people's questions about IUDS, I have never used one but I do know people who have. At first it can be nerve racking because it has been known to fall out, but if you are using NR, you know it too can fall out. I'm going to try an IUD and look for a more natural way to regulate my periods. I encourage women to stay away from BC that is hormone based. It's very bad for your body, causing not only these side effects, but blood clots, tumors and cysts. There are other ways and I think we all need to look into them.

I have been on NR for 3 weeks now. I'm 23 and haven't taken any form of BC in a few years but now that I am in a serious relationship I wanted to protect myself. I was so excited about NR because I didn't have to remember to take a pill everyday and my GYN told me that there are virtually no side effects. YEAH RIGHT!!!!! I thought I was crazy for the way I have been feeling lately but after reading all of these posts I am soooo relieved to learn that i'm not!

The first side effect I noticed that came on immediately and has not stopped since I started NR is a cramping feeling in my lower abdomen. It feels like period cramps only not quite as bad. It doesn't really hurt it's just annoying. The second side effect I noticed which started about a week after I began NR was that I lost my sex drive almost entirely! My boyfriend and I just spent a week on a cruise together alone and we didn't even have sex once!! The other side effect I have is migraine headaches. I got my first one the 2nd week after starting NR and they are horrible!!! I'm also constantly hungry! I have gained 10 lbs in the last 3 weeks! And every time after I eat I get really nauseous for about an hour or two. The last thing is that I have been super moody lately. Things that normally don't bother me I am getting really irritated and annoyed about. I'm already on medication for anxiety and mild depression which I started way before the NR so I know that the NR is what is causing it.

I was recently tested for a hormone imbalance which came back negative a few months ago so all of these problems HAVE to be coming from the NR. They all started within the last 3 weeks which is when I started using the NR.

For any woman out there who is considering taking NR PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE seriously think about. I have heard more bad than good about this product!!!

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 cant believe I stayed on this torture device for so long! I was on the NR for about 3 years. I started getting migraines shortly after starting it, but liked the idea of being on a BC that was easy to maintain. The migraines kept getting more severe, more frequent, and lasting longer (4 days). I would vomit, have diarrhea, miss work, and social opportunities and waste my life away lying in bed in dire pain, sometimes to the point I wanted to shoot myself in the head to ease the pain.

Finally, last month, I took the NR out for good! I did have a very small migraine last month, but it was nothing compared to what I have had, and this month, I have not had a single one!

So long NuvaRing.

I feel A LOT better now after reading these. I had my nuvaring in for almost 3 weeks, i had horrible headaches, and started bleeding after the first week it was in. I took it out 2 days ago because i couldn't stand the migraines anymore, and I had horrible cramps. Ive been very irritable and angry. How long does it take for the bleeding to stop... I'm getting kind of worried now, because ive been bleeding for 9 days. Its starting to get heavier, and i had a weird clot today. I booked an appointment to see my doctor because this is driving me crazy. I am NEVER using the nuvaring again. I started it because 1.EVERY single pill ive tried has cause me to become depressed 2.I bled for 3 weeks when i used the patch and my doctor told me to stop and 3.I don't want my period to stop, or gain weight so i refuse to try depo. Does anyone have any suggestions?? I have 2 year old twins, and i want another kid within the next 3 years, so i refuse to use an IUD and possibly screw that up for myself.

I recently began using the Nuvaring (about a week and a half ago). I've suffered from Migraines for 14 years and take regular medication that allows me to control the symptoms. Since beginning this BC method, I have been unable to manage the headaches. Taking my normal medication will work for a few hours, but then the headache will come back. My only options are to take more medication (and risk over medicating, thus causing other problems; liver problems, kidney problems, etc.) or deal with the pain. The migraines interfere with my vision and cause serious nausea, making it nearly impossible to continue with school, work, or anything else for that matter.
Additionally, I have been experiencing a dramatic increase in vaginal discharge, serious mood swings ranging from anger to depression with really no triggers, anxiety about my safety in strange situations such as driving or walking through campus, abdominal cramping in the region of my ovaries, what I can only assume is vaginal tenderness due to the rings presence, and I have been waking up at the same time in the middle of the night since I started the NR. I usually sleep an average of 9 hours each night, without interruption. Now I'm sleeping about 4 hours, waking up, and then sleeping another 4. I wake up feeling tired and with the feelings of an onsetting migraine.
The only benefit I have experienced is an increase in sex drive. I have gone from wanting sex an average of once or twice a month to wanting it several times throughout each day. I do have low levels of "free" testosterone according to my Gyno, so she recommended the NR.
Finally this morning I had enough of the symptoms. I took out the ring and within just one hour, my headache dulled, my abdominal pain lessened, and I feel slightly happier.
My question is, has anyone experienced symptoms like mine, that only lasted a few weeks when starting NR? I really love the convenience of the NR, but if I had to choose, I would not take the symptoms for the one benefit.

I knew right off the bat that the NR was making me crazy, but I wanted to see if the side effect would go away. It did not. And things just kept getting worse. I was having some intense mood swings, angry about the most useless things. I would cry in a second. It got to be an issue.
The worst part for me was on the days i would put it in I would get such a bad migraine that all i could do was lay in bed and cry. No pain relievers could help. Also, I run and train for half-marathons and in the last month i have been putting weight on, especially my stomach, even though I have been running up to 3 miles a day.
I am done. today was the end.
Thank you all for your useful posts. It solidified my decision.

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

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

I have been using the Nuvaring for almost three years and I am thinking of taking it out in a few days and leaving it out for good. I never thought I had any real side effects until I started reading other people's reviews. I thought everything I was feeling was just me being me, but now I know better. Here is the long list of my side effects: weight gain, depression, severe anxiety, painful intercourse, discharge, itching, migraines, pimples, and zero sex drive. I have been with my boyfriend for almost three years. In fact, I got on birth control because we were beginning a serious relationship and I did not want to use condoms. Our sex life is nonexistent at this point. When we had sex is was good, but it was painful too. I am 27 years old and I have started having the attitude of "I could go the rest of my life without sex". I don't want my boyfriend to even touch me at this point and this is definitely putting strain on our relationship. Last night we were discussing the situation and he said to go off of birth control and we would use condoms. Like I said in the beginning I am taking it out. I am a bit anxious about going off birth control because I do not want any kids right now, but being on this birth control I am practicing another type of birth control abstinence. Doesn't make sense does it? The other side effects I mentioned are also affecting our relationship. This is a serious relationship, I am going to marry this man; we have picked out rings and that is why it is so important that I remedy this problem. The discharge side effect was putting a damper on our sex life in the beginning before I lost all interest. I never had a migraine in my life and rarely had even a headache, but I have had two migraines in the last few years and get headaches more often. I had a random pimple every once in a while, but now I have them everyday. I have gained weight and can’t seem to lose any. I wake up in the mornings with my mind racing due to the anxiety and I have not felt genuinely happy in a long time. The depression has made me even think of suicide several times and my life is fine. I am looking forward to being myself again. I hope this helps someone.

Wow. This news gives me so much hope. I've been on the Nuvaring since it was still in the post-trial stages and nobody had even heard of it. My doctor recommended it because it was supposed to help with acne and weight gain, and I'd been having no luck with Yaz or Ortho Tricyclene. I've always had irregular periods, I've been depressive since high school, and I started having migraines when I was 13. Ten years ago, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. What this means is that all these symptoms that everyone was describing here, while they have been getting dramatically worse, were nothing I would even think of ascribing to my birth control. I've gained 40 pounds in the last 3 years, but I blamed that on my increased depression and general malaise. I'd stopped having migraines more than once a year, but now I get migraine-like (not usually as bad as the originals) headaches as often as 4-5 times a month. I've had insane mood swings ranging between white hot anger and debilitating depression (even having thoughts of suicide for the first time since high school), and sex burns and leaves me walking funny about 99.9 percent of the time. I thought it was just me, or the fibro (which leaves me feeling pretty sensitive all over); same with the nausea, especially in the morning and always during my period. Could this seriously be the Nuvaring? Oh my god, I hope so. An easy solution like that makes me want to cry from relief.

... but how do I do birth control now? Do we always have to use a condom? I've never been pregnant, so I've been told the IUD isn't nearly as safe if your cervix hasn't been violated by childbirth. Oh well, better than being crazy, I suppose.

I started NuvaRing last week, it had been years since I've used a hormone birth control method, but now, as a recent single decide it was time to start again to be on the safe side. The nurse, a user herself, encouraged me to ask the doctor about it, and I was really excited about the prospect of not having to remember a pill every night. That night, after inserting the NR I experienced a migraine, and I typically get headaches, but not migraines. I think I've had 2 in my life. The very next day, I'm nauseated, and yet strangely hungry. I'm not pregnant! I have also had a tingling in my right toe, and nightmares that keep me awake all night. I thought it was the stress, but after reading about some others who experienced the same side effects I'm relieved that I'm not losing my mind, but seriously reconsidering the NR.

I have been on birth control for 11 years, never having any severe problems. I had a baby 3 years ago and was taking Yaz. With being on Yaz I had a migraine about every 3 months. My Dr. suggested me trying the NuvaRing. I was on it for 2 months and my bleeding was uncontrollable. During the time of switching bc, my grandmother got really sick and I lost my job. I was concerned about the heavy bleeding and clotting and questioned my dr. and they just told me to hold on for another month or so, it was probably from the stress. I changed from the NR to Seasonique, still the bleeding was uncontrollable. I never had menses like this in my life. Going back to the dr. I had a pelvic examine and they just gave me provera to help stop the bleeding. Well it worked for a week and then here we go again! After about 4-5 months of this cycle I decided to stop taking any bc and let my body try to get back to normal. About a month later I started hemoraging and had to go to the er. They kept me for 2 days and found that I have a fibroid on my uterus. I also had to get a blood transfusion. The fibroid is pushing on my uterus causing my uterus to be double in size. WTH? Where did this come from? I am now having to take the Lupron shot to help shrink the fibroid and hopefully in 3 months I can have it removed. I can only blame this on the NR. I NEVER had problems like this before. It is truly discouraging. I advise anyone thinking about the NR to clearly STAY AWAY!!! I know have several medical bills all from trying to stay away from migraines. I can deal with those much easier than what I have been thru.

This is the third different kind of BC i have tried in the past year, on a count of the first two made me sicker than I have ever been. I was so excited when I first tried the NuvaRing and got through the first month without getting sick at all. I thought finally I have found something that works for me. Until yesterday, when I got the worst migraine I have ever felt in my life. Literally debilitating. I just woke up after sleeping for 17 hours and it has not gone away. I took the ring out so hopefully within the next day I will be better. I also have not had any sex drive at all which is making my fiancee extremely irritated. I am 0 for 3 with BC. Does anyone else have a problem with no pills or anything agreeing with them??

Wow - I am so glad that I found this website. I have been on the NR for about 3.5 years and have had it with bc pills. I also gained the weight but thought it was just my eating habits although I do exercise regularly. However, I lost interest in EVERYTHING - exercise, sex, work, life in general. This week I had the worst migraine I have ever had (and I have had them for 8 years now) and thought about going to the ER. It lasted 3 days and I could not physically move. I also lost interest in sex esp b/c it was extremely painful. Fortunately I have an understanding husband. I felt so guilty all of the time b/c I had no interest in anything and have even been avoiding my family. Well, today is the first day I will not be on it and I am curious to see what happens. I can't take the pills b/c I have my period for about 26 days and I will be 35 in a week so I guess after 17 years it is time to be free of the pill. Somewhat liberating I guess. Good luck to everyone!

I'm glad I found this site. I have a history of migraines so I never thought it could be the Nuvaring. I got on it in Nov 07 and I just realized I experienced a loooottt of the symptoms. Headaches that turn to migraines, suddenly crying even listening to a song on the radio, I get hot and sweaty at night and feel cold at the slightest feel of air conditioning., mood swings, scattered thoughts, lower sex drive, no desire to socialize. weight gain in 10 months I've gained 11 lbs. I welcome it actually cuz I've been 110 for like 8 years. now I am a whopping 121 pounds. I have curves now, I love it

The perks: my breast went from a b to a nice c love it. the ease and clock work of my period. That's about it

I had a migraine so bad I couldn't keep my eyes open, I took the ring out immediately and within hours I felt relieved. I've spoken to my doctor about other forms of birth control and after all my research Nuvaring is actually still the top choice. We all know these BC's have side effects. How can they not. After all the craziness I have read about Ortho, Depo, Yasmin, Yaz, I see only one option. Get off the pills completely be back to my old self I used to be fun and get my boyfriend to wear condoms.

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

I was just at the gyno yesterday for an annual check up. I haven't been on BC for years, but thought it was time to look into it again due to my utter hatred for condoms yet my strong desire to avoid pregnancy (I have a 10 year old girl, and twin 4 yr old boys). My doctor put the Nuvaring in around 3 pm. By 4:30 I had the biggest migraine, and the worst mood swings I've ever experienced. I hated everyone in my path. It was like being pregnant and being on that "emotional rollercoaster" all over again. I can't even begin to describe the constant rage I felt. The phrase "seeing red" does not even come close to describing it! Even my worst PMS doesn't hold a candle to the emotional hell I went through in the last half a day. I thought I should stick it out, and that my body just needed to adjust to it. However, after waking up this morning and freaking out on my children and telling my BF I hated him (for no reason) I took it out. It took about 3 hours to start feeling normal again. I couldn't stand myself for the 18 hours I used the NR. I have no idea how anyone has continued to use it for weeks, months, or especially years!!

I'm so glad that I found this site because I was beginning to think that something was seriously wrong with me. I started taking Nuvaring almost 2 months ago. 5 more days and I can take it out...FOREVER!!!!

At first, I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread...and then the weight gain began. My husband said maybe it was just that I was eating junk. Maybe...so I started back on Weight Watchers. I can not lose a single pound, and when I have counted points in the past the pounds fell off the first week or two. I've gained 15 lbs since I started Nuvaring. The strange thing is that it is all just around my stomach. It is like a big spare tire. I've gained very little in the rest of my body.

I also noticed pretty bad cramping after I put it in. It was pretty much all the time, not just during certain parts of my cycle.

Then I started to get headaches. Not little headaches, but debilitating migraine headaches. The sensitivity to light is almost unbearable when I have one of these. Many times I find myself going to bed at 8 pm when I put my son to bed. Pretty much all I ever want to do is sleep. Sex? Nope, not interested. (Very different from how I was in the past.) Huh, I guess it works as birth control because it promotes abstinence!

The worst part is that I am soooooo depressed. Like major depression. I have usually been a pretty even keel personality, but since starting Nuvaring I find myself wondering what I have to live for. I've come to the conclusion that if it weren't for my husband or son, I'd rather just be dead. I've even found myself thinking about how I would want to die. It has gotten so bad that I haven't been to work in almost 2 weeks. I have so much anxiety that I actually feel scared to go. My husband finally called a doctor for me on Wednesday and I start therapy on Monday. I hope that the side effects will go away soon after I take the ring out, but I am very afraid that I might be like this for a while.

I question how so many of us have these HORRIBLE side effects and yet no one in the medical profession has even questioned whether something is amiss. It seems to me that I better just have another child and then have my tubes tied so I don't ever have to mess with all this awful birth control stuff again. (I was bad about taking pills on time, so I ended up having spotting most of the month, which kind of defeated the purpose.)

I'm thankful that I found this site and now I know that I am not alone!

Hello. My fiance was on nuvaring for nearly 2 years and gradually began experiencing many of the side effects listed here. The last 6 months were the worst in that the mood swings, anxiety and depression seemed to get out of control. She recently stopped using the ring about 6 weeks ago but it seems like the symptoms are still persistent. Does anyone have any experience with coming off of the ring and whether or not it could take longer than 2 months to get back to normal?

Thank goodness for this sight. If you are thinking you're crazy and can't figure out what's wrong while you're on Nuva, scroll down, you will feel like you're getting a big hug!

I am 27 and have been on the NuvaRing for coming on 8 months and everything has changed. At first I had severe migraines with nausea, a day after starting, that kept going and still occur. They will last all day long and I can take 8 of my migraine medicine and nothing will help. The headaches ruin days, make work difficult, and ruin weekends.

Second: I gained weight around my middle, so perceptibly, I thought I was pregnant. The bloat and gas is constant, I'm always popping Gas-X extra strength but the gas doesn't quit. It was funny at first (yes, I'm immature) but now I'm so uncomfortable, and my pants are tight around the middle but nowhere else. Boo!

Third: ANXIETY. I've been the most relaxed, calm person until I started on NuvaRing, and now I have a prescription for Valium just to keep me from having nervous butterflies all day. The anxiety goes hand in hand with depression, which sucks because I got engaged literally 2 weeks after starting NuvaRing and am always nervous, anxious and sad, and I'm so in love with my fiance but our home life is strained! I sometimes wonder if it's cold feet, but I know it's not. Which leads me to:

Fourth: NO SEX DRIVE. Gone. Dead. Zilch. Zero. I have been the horniest person I know my whole life. I love sex. But I am almost scared of it now. I have no desire to have sex, recoil when my fiance touches me, and get butterflies when I think he's going to try to have sex with me. I sleep as far away as possible, never masturbate anymore, never feel sexy and the idea of sex just doesn't even pop into my head. So unlike me. This causes anxiety, too.

Fifth: Yeast infections and pain during sex. I've never had either of these before. I'm extremely hygienic, and my underwear are constantly filled with discharge. So gross and painful.

I'm going off of it in 5 days and I cannot wait!

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!

HELP!

After reading many postings, I don't feel like I'm the only one with my problems.

I've been on the ring for the past 2 1/2 years. Looking back I've noticed that I've had numerous migraine headaches and pretty much ZERO sex drive. How frustrating!!

What the heck do I do? Anyone know of which birth control I can switch to? I've been on numerous pills (orthocept, orthonovum, orthotri), the patch and the depo shot. They all made me emotionally crazy. Condoms don't really jive with my body.

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>

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

The NuvaRing is pure EVIL! I am 23 and I started it on a Saturday and today is Tuesday and I just took it out after only four days. I have had a migraine since the day that I started using it. Migraines that wake me up in the middle of the night. I have tried Tylenol, 600mg Ibuprofen, plus Imitrex and although the pain seems to go away slightly, I still have a dull throbbing in my face and back of my neck. And its gets so bad that my eyes start watering and I can’t even drive home because its hard to keep my eyes open. I will NEVER, EVER use NuvaRing again! Its not worth the pain that I am in. Oh yea, my doctor had previously prescribed me Elavil (which is an anti-depressant medication) for migraines. I was on Elvail before in February (not on NuvaRing then) and the Elvail worked perfectly to cure my migraines. But not even the Elavil will help with my migraines now since I started NuvaRing. NuvaRing is horrible and I DO NOT recommend anyone take it. I will never use it again. I am praying that my body goes back to normal in a couple of days since I stopped using NuvaRing.

Other side effects I experienced with NuvaRing:
-Always tired, could sleep all day
-No strength to work out (I LOVE working out!)
-Moodiness
-Tender, swollen breasts
-One episode of vomiting

Ladies, NuvaRing is not worth it to me. The risks/side effects just outweigh the benefits, that’s just my opinion. I hope this helps. I will keep you posted as to how I feel ANR (After NuvaRing, lol) Good Luck Ladies.

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.

I was wondering if anyone had issues with the ring falling out??? I have been experiencing some of the other symptoms listed, such as extreme migraine about 8 hours after taking out the ring. I NEVER get bad headaches. I was at work when it hit, and my boss sent me home because everyone could see how much pain I was in! Crazy... anyway, I can deal with that once a month, but I'm worried that since it drops out a little bit every night, and every morning i have to push it back in, I'm worried that I could get pregnant because of that.. does anyone else experience this or know the answer to that??? Thanks!

This is my third month using Nuvaring and now I feel that my body has adjusted. My first month, I followed the instructions and inserted it on Day 1 of my cycle. Similiar to another post (cslayton) I bleed the entire first three weeks I had it in. My off week was a very light light spotting -- we're talking pink water. Month 2 was fine. My off week (2nd) was finally normal. I took it out and three days later started my period. My period was finally enough to justify using a tampon and it only lasted three THREE days! Yay!

The only side effects I've noticed is that on the day I take it out (in the am) I get a massive migraine about 8 hours later but if I take a 1/2 hour nap it subsides. Also, on the day I insert a new ring (in the am) about 8 hours later I am extremely exhausted and take a two to three hour nap. This is bothersome only from the fact that my day is a Tuesday -- work day.

I have hypothroidism and was briefly concerned with the fatigue but realized that it is only on the days I take the hormones out and put them back in. I haven't noticed any other listed side effects or at least haven't connected the dots yet. It is VERY TRUE that the ring either works for you or it doesn't.

I inserted mine a week ago. I've used the ring in the past and had minor side effects that went away after the first month, but his time around has been very difficult. The first day, I cried uncontrollably for 4 hours and couldn't hold a thought. The past few days its been confusion, a constant headache (that slowly works into a migraine during the day), nausea, and twitching in BOTH of my eyes (which I think is the beginnings of migraines).
I will be removing it and trying to find another form of BC!

I have been on the ring for two weeks today. At first I thought it was great...but the past few days I have had horrible headaches, breast tenderness, and nausea. These headaches are so bad even my migraine meds do not help! I did just get the Gardasil shot on the 26th of Dec. The breast tenderness and the headaches are going to cause me to remove the ring. At first I was worried that maybe these were symptoms of being pregnant... I don't think that is the case (hoping it isn't the case!) Does anyone know the effects of taking the ring out a week early? Any advice would be great!

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.

Well, I have been off the NuvaRing now for about 2 months, but while I was on it, I experienced a range of side effects. After insertion, in about 3-4 days, I experienced heavy discharge & extremely high sex drive. But, by the next day, I also had a constant migraine and felt sleepy all the time. What I thought was strange was that I felt abdominal pain & realized that I was constipated. I thought nothing of it & assumed it was from my diet, but then my boyfriend was constipated also. Now, he's as regular as the sunrise & if he was constipated then there was something seriously wrong. After about 2 weeks of a constant migraine, I called it quits & removed the NuvaRing.

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

I was on Nuvaring from 2002 until 2006, in that time I started having horrible migraines, I had never had a migraine previously. My migraines by June of 2005 were daily..... I was taking Topamax 400mg, Neurontin 2400mg, Altace 2.5mg and Celexa 40mg all daily. Along with Maxalt, Phenergan and Vicodin. I had 3 bottles of botox shot into my head to stop the pain. I went to 3 Neurologists, none of which had any explanation. I was sent a letter telling me that the Nuvaring would not prevent pregnancy with Topamax. I quit using the Nuvaring and within 48hrs my daily migraine went away. I now only take one daily med and will have a migraine during ovulation/period. All of this can be supported by my medical records. I had to go on disability for a short time due to them.

Amanda DeLay RN

I've been on NuvaRing for about a year now. Prior to NuvaRing, I used the pill and the patch. I really do prefer the method of the NuvaRing over the patch which slides on my body and the pill which I had to remember to take. But I've never had migraines as terrible as this. The morning that I am supposed to take out the ring, I wake up with a migraine on the left side of my head. My blood vessels at my temple are literally throbbing and I can feel it pulsing when I touch it. My eye on that side hurts with the light and I feel nausated. I take both aspirin and ibuprofen and I still have pain! Not only that but it usually last for 2 to 2.5 days. I think I am going to quit it and go back on ortho tri lo. Not only that but having sex now feels like a chore! I've completely lost my sex drive!

I took the Nuva Ring out about three weeks ago for reasons unrelated to any symptoms. I just happened to find this site today looking at something else. I had no idea that the things that were going on with me could be related to the Nuva Ring until I'm reading these posting today. I've always had migraines so I didn't attribute them to the Nuva Ring - however several months ago (I started using Nuva Ring in March) I had to go to the hospital because I had a severe migraine for over three days and the Imitrex that usually alleviates the pain - sometimes even temporarily did not work at all. Also I had suffered from depression before taking Nuva Ring but over the last several months it had become severe. My moods were out of control. I had anxiety, crying all the time, extreme mood swings. I've had extreme fatigue but just thought it was related to the increase in depression. Last month I went to a psychopharmcologist to have a medication evaluation because I felt the depression meds weren't working anymore. The doctor doubled my dosage! I've had weight gain but just thought I was eating more than usual - no idea the Nuva Ring could have been causing the increase in appetite. I've had night sweats and during the day I'm always freezing no matter where I am. At work I use a sweater and a small blanket for my legs. This is crazy. I just thought my office was too cold (maybe it is). Some bloating but nothing I couldn't live with. I have not had any problems with bleeding or unusual cramping. No vaginal discomfort at all. Sex has been good. No problems with dryness. I found it completely convenient. I just had no idea the problems I was having could be associated to the Nuva Ring. I am so happy I found this site. I was going to start back on tomorrow but I definitely will not.

I have been using NuvaRing for about 6 months now. The symptoms slowly build up overtime, and get increasingly worse. Currently I am constanly moody while the ring is in. Anything can set me off! I have never been an angry person, but I feel angry a lot now. When I'm not angry, I am extremely depressed and negative. I have always been an optimistic person, but not anymore, I cry a lot and want to be left alone. The idea of sex grosses me out. (I'm glad I'm not the only one) I love the ring because I am not getting the cramps, nausea, and extremely heavy periods I used to have, but its definetly not worth it! I also get a horrible migraine the day I take it out. It is so crippling I sometimes wonder if I need to go to the ER. Well, I think I may stop using this, it seems like the side effects just don't outway the convience and pros!

I was on the Nuvaring for 3 years. I had similar experiences to everyone else here. They came on so gradually I seriously thought it was something else. I had night sweats almost everynight some nights so bad I had to change clothing and bedding in the middle of the night. I thought I had cancer! And then the migraines came on a couple times per month, and headaches every evening some lasted until morning. . I never had a migraine before but I attributed it to stress. I also had chronic swollen glands in my head and neck that were sore. I kept asking my doctor she just did blood tests and said I was fine. All of these would cycle so you thought it wouldn't happen again and then it did. I loved the convenience of it so I stayed on it too long. I just got married so I went off it 2 weeks ago and I haven't felt so good in years!

I began using the Nuva Ring four years ago after deciding I was too irresponsible to remember to take The Pill every day. 3 years ago, I started began getting the worst headaches I have ever had in my life, and my sex drive became non-existent. At the time, I decided it was stress-related. I had started school full-time, after taking three years off. In addition to the above side effects I was also slightly emotional and depressed. This continued for three years before I started to notice more changes.

Last December, I realized I had gained 15 lbs. Someone told me they saw it happen over a period of three months. I didn't really notice because I never weigh myself, I have been consistently the same weight for the past 10 years. When my clothes started getting really tight I got on the scale and was shocked. In February, my breasts started swelling to the point that I could not even hug someone without falling over in pain. In addition to this, I was experiencing breakthrough bleeding, which I have never had before. And once again, my sex drive hit the floor.

At the time, I figured it was because I had an impacted wisdom tooth pulled. It started with a tooth infection and then I had it removed, so I was on anti-biotics and pain killers for about 3 weeks. Combined with lack of good nutrition (I could only eat soup and milkshakes), I figured my body was having a hard time adjusting to the change in diet and the sudden surge of medication.

However, this continued the following month, and the one after that, and the one after that...... then I noticed that the breast swelling started about 5-7 days after inserting the Nuva Ring. Followed by that was the breakthrough bleeding. Coincidence? I think not. I then started thinking that maybe all the years of migraines may very well be related to the Nuva Ring.

I decided I was going to consider getting off birth control. I paid a visit to my GYN, and told her about my symptoms. What was her response? "Well, that is so strange, for this to happen 4 years later!" Really? I could have guessed that myself, don't you think? So what was her answer? "You might want to try a different birth control. Have you thought about the patch?" Actually, I'd rather be free of all of this stuff. So I guess what really pissed me off, was that she had no solid answer for me, and just wanted to throw me on something else. Thanks, Doc.

My plan was to continue BC until September, since I am taking a vacation in August and don't want any unpleasant changes in my cycle to ruin my trip. I picked up my new ring on Saturday, and brought it to work with me on Sunday since I had been running late. On the way to work, I get a call from my boyfriend. "Go pick up the New York Post and read the article called Birth Control Killed My Beloved."

So I pick up the paper and read the article. I was in complete shock. These women, young, healthy, and look what happened. I am 24, a smoker, a drinker, and rarely exercise. The only thought going through my head is how lucky I am to be alive and in decent health.

So I made the decision right then and there not to put my ring in. However, still being nervous about my vacation, I thought I would give a call to my GYN to see if she could prescribe me the patch until after my vacation. Before I did this, I googled this event, along with the 37 lawsuits that were filed against Nuva Ring two weeks ago, and found out THEY ARE ALL THE SAME. All of the birth controls. I am now officially off birth control, for the rest of my life. How I could be so oblivious to this, I have no idea.

It is now Monday, the day after I should have started my new cycle. I was hoping to feel like a million dollars, like I have read some women do, but instead I feel like crap. I am extremely moody and have a bad headache. I am hoping I will return to normal soon.

I have one thing to say to all of you: Every woman is different, and every BC is different, but if I were any of you, I would get off whatever you are taking NOW. It's too risky, and who knows what kind of side effects we may have down the road? It's not worth it!

I've been using the NuvaRing for a year and have had the least amount of side effects than any other birth control I've ever tried. I've used Ortho, Yaz, and Depo, all of them had unbearable side effects, and the Ring has been the best for me. Hormones mess with everyone's mental state, but if you're feeling depression on the NuvaRing, the method where the least amount of hormones get into the blood, you're going to have problems with estrogen containing birth control and depression. Good luck to everyone. Depo is bad for people with migraine, but it doesn't have estrogen so it's not as bad for depression. Also, it's important to note that if you're going to notice side effects from a medication, such as headaches and nausea, it will take 5 or 6 days for the side effects to take effect. So if you notice something the next day, current medical convention says you can't blame it on the medicine you just started the day before.

I just started the Nuvaring 4 days ago. For the first two days I was wicked paranoid and believed my boyfriend was cheating on me. I didn't think much of the paranoia at first as I have had similar problems with other birth control products.

Now however, I have woken up the past two days with a crippling migraine, extreme dizziness and shortness of breath. I can't even walk up a flight of stairs without getting dizzy and winded. I keep in pretty good shape but the past four days I have felt like total crap. In addition, I have been having intestinal troubles with everything that I eat and my hunger has actually decreased. I have to force myself to eat and then I feel nauseated afterwards.

I don't know if this is from the Nuvaring or if it's psychosomatic, but after reading all the testimonials here I am wondering if I should just take myself off of the ring. It's only been a few days so hopefully it won't cause any major side effects.

I started Nuva Ring about 5 or 6 months ago. I was so happy not to have to use the patch or take the pill. At first everything was fine. Now about an hour after I take it out, I get a crippling migraine that lasts for at least one night into the next day. I have increased discharge and itching in the vaginal area. (something I've never experienced and really HATE) I feel like I've lost strength in my hands, legs and feet. They hurt and ache all of the time. When I take the ring out for the week of my period, the aching goes away.
Also, my sex drive is gone completely. So what's the point. I'm taking the ring out today even though I am terrified I am going to get a migraine.

I literally put it in last night. Immediately I got a headache. I went to work in the morning and noticed my head was still aching, but it got so bad when I got to the office I was forced to take the nuvaring out. I never get headaches, so I knew it was the ring, especially since I saw that was a side effect. I also got nauseated for no reason, feeling dizzy, and as the headache got more painful, I noticed lights were extremely brighter and started almost flashing. Isn't that a migraine? I never get those. So right after I took it out, I felt better. I'm glad the first ring was free because I'm not getting any others. What makes me really angry is this is the third form of hormonal birth control I've used and they are all awful. Are doctors trying to kill us??? Why on earth can't they invent something that doesn't make us gain weight, doesn't kill our sex drive, and doesn't put us on the crazy train to nutsville with the mood swings??? Jeez. I've had it. I'm trying the Today Sponge next.