NuvaRing and migraines

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 have been on the nuvaring about 2yrs give or take. Just about 2mths ago i discovered having head aches. They have not gone away ever since. I have have blood work done, and mri. the mri showed i my jaw pops out of place when i open my mouth to wide. The doctor says that it looked lik TMJ but there to independent things. So he suggested to stop using my birth control. I called my gyno, she said that people have had cases of getting migraines but its unusual to be on it for so long and suddenly develop migraines. I have been on lots of medication nothing seems to work. She told me to stop taking it after my next menstrual cycle, im praying that this will cure my migraines.

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.

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

I HAVE BEEN ON THE NUVA RING FOR 2 YEARS AND AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS I NOTICED I HAD A BUMP WHERE THE NUVA RING WAS PLACED. I HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT THE NUVA RING MAY CAUSE A CYST. I HAVE WENT TO MY DOCTOR BUT I HAVENT FOUND OUT FOR SURE IF THATS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. ILL POST LATER TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR. I ALSO HAVE MOOD SWINGS, NO SEX DRIVE, MIGRAINES, AND OTHER SYMPTOMS.

I have been using the NUVARING for over a year. I have gained 12lbs because I am bloated all the time and want to over eat. I used to be active, fun and happy. Now I hurt all the time, my lower back aches like I am in Labor and my breasts hurt. Sex just grosses me out, which never happened on any other form of bc. I can hardly stand myself I am so cranky and tired.

I have a history of migraines (which I now realize began with my IUD which had hormones too. But nothing like the migraines with the NuvaRing.) The NuvaRing has seemed to worsen them and they last for weeks. Also, I barely have a menstrual flow and am depressed all time, no energy and am angry for no reason. My quality of life is awful and now I know why. After reading your blogs I removed the ring right away. My husband has made an appointment to ensure I never have to have birth control again. I want to be the happy, thin and pain free person I used to be! Now I have hope. This method of bc is not worth the problems it has cause me and my family...and my career. I am in "sales"...you can't be depressed and be in sales.

Thank you all for giving me hope with your honesty!! I thought I was going crazy.

Has anyone else had severe migraines last for weeks since starting the NuvaRing? Also, anyone here ever had the IUD??

Hi, when I first started NUVARING I loved it. I didn't have to remember if I took a pill everyday, my migraines were gone, and my boobs were getting bigger. However, I was always irritated, crying, anxious, and annoyed. I thought it was just because I didn't like my roommate and I missed my life at home (I'm currently in college). I would call my mom at least two times a day crying my eyes out, I never associated my sadness with my birth control. About a month ago I started getting curious about these side effects because I felt like I was having an allergic reaction. I am a clean person, especially in my special regions and I was having intense itching and I also had little red dots down there.

When I talked to my mom today, I was crying once again, and she said that she really thought that my crazy bipolar emotions were because of the NUVARING. So I decided to type NUVARING side effects into Google and see what came up. When I saw what other girls were experiencing to be honest I was relieved. I was so happy to find out that I'm not crazy, I'm just having side effects to my birth control. I've never been so happy to have been so sad haha.

I just called my doctor to see if I can get back on the pill. Everyone who said they stopped taking NUVARING says in about 4 months they got back to the old them...I'm only hoping this is true, for my sake and for my boyfriends sake.

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!

All I can say is thank you ladies for posting all of this. I was on Nuva ring for almost 2 years. my boyfriend complained I was getting worse and worse in terms of my anger and mood swings. He called me a monster. Then days after my 20th birthday I experienced lots of itchiness and pain after sex so I thought it was a yeast infection. When I did not respond to over the counter meds I went to the hospital to get testing for STDS. When all the test came back negative I went back to my regular doctor two weeks later. Again, I was tested and a month later tested again. No one could figure out why I was having burning and itchiness with no other symptoms and all my STD test negative. Finally I gave up the ring and have been symptom free now for nearly 6 months. To this day the situation plagued me because the doctor swore I couldn't experience this from the Nuva ring. I spent a whole summer in pain because of this. Now I am birth control free but my boyfriend of three years and I would love to add to our family.

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!

wow so i was completely freaking out because i just couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. My breasts were killing me-which i was beginning to think i was prego, but wasn't seeing ne real reason why i should be. I started having mood swings, feeling extremely depressed, and breaking down and crying over every little thing in my life. I keep getting migrains (which i have never had before) and feeling dizzy to the point of passing out, and nausea. Also i have excess discharge, and kept feeling like i had a yeast infection but realized that it was simply just the ring that is irritating me. Im completely fed up with feeling this way, and just dont want to deal with the emotions, or pain anymore. Im going to my gyno on monday to try and figure out a different type of birth control to go on. Its going to be rough sticking it out through the rest of this week!!

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 the NR for about 6 months now.
Now that I'm reading all the comments, I see that my migraines, lack of sex drive (NR kills your sex drive, therefore it is doing a good job of preventing pregnancy :-), bloated feeling, sharp abdominal pain - like someone stabbed me from inside, pain during sex (so we can only do certain positions) ... can all be attributed to NR. I also experienced that my natural D cup breast feel like DD because they are constantly swollen. I'm off the NR for about a month, strangely my migraines disappeared entirely and I do not have to take Excedrin migraine every other day. I'm going to my doc to check out my ovaries since I think that the sharp pain is related to perhaps some cyst.
I'm not sure what will I use in the future as BC... I'll probably try this new minipill called Cerazette, it is a pill without oestrogen.

I've been on NuvaRing for the past three weeks and decided today to abandon this contraceptive. I'm disappointed, especially because it's incredibly easy to use and doesn't give me the side effects i experienced on the pill (which included intense vomiting after one or two drinks). Only this morning did I realize that the irritability, lack of sex drive, migraines and depression I've been experiencing recently could be attributable to NuvaRing. I have been dealing with a massive workload recently and thought everything I was experiencing stemmed from that. But this morning after my boyfriend and I discussed my mood swings and complete lack of sex drive, I checked the side effects in the NuvaRing packet. No mention of loss of sex drive (can someone explain this--I feel like I've had tons of friends experience this side effect from hormonal contraceptives so why is not an official side effect?), but the packet advises women with a history of depression to consult with their doctor frequently. I have a history of depression (my doctor didn't inquire) and have been experiencing suicidal impulses the last two weeks for the first time in years. Though I originally attributed those impulses to overwork and exhaustion, I'm now wondering how much of this can be chalked up to NuvaRing.

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

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 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'm glad to know that there are other women out there with similar problems as me. I recently became engaged, sexually active and with that, became a new user of the Ring. It was reccomended to me by two family member s who love it and would never go back to all the other methods they'd tried in the past. I, however, am not as lucky as they are. I put it in on the first day of my period, as directed. My period lasted about 8 days when it usually lasts five and I had brown spotting for the rest of the month. Intercourse became very painful for me from the get-go. It was like a burning sensation and it was horrible enough that my fiance and I have not done it for two weeks. I went in to my gyno and she said I had a yeast infection and that the Ring was healthy for the vagina because the vagina LIKES the hormones in it and that the Ring should improve the atmosphere in the vagina, if anything. So, I've had two UTI's and a yeast infection since putting it in, bleeding after intercourse, maddening headaches, cramps, ACNE (which it is suppose to clear up), and severe mood swings. But, my doc won't switch me to the pill because she thinks that my body will adjust. I guess I'll just give it some more time and, if it doesn't straighten up within another couple of weeks, I'll demand something else because this just is not working for me as I had hoped it would!

Crippeling Migranes......I went to see two doctors and complained about the migraines I have been getting. All they want to do is give you more pills to pop. I was in bed all weekend thought about going to the ER. I have always suffered from them but in the past year they have become increasing worse. I know about the other side effects, I've been on the ring sense November of 2006 and they passed. When i went to Rite aid the pharmisist told me that the ring causes migraines.....Hello, both doctors knew I was using it, they couldn't tell me this?

I have been on NR for 2 months now. I have a history of blood clot in my family, so my OBGYN wants me on low dosage hormones. So far the past 2 times I have put a new ring in that night I get really nauseous and feverish. After that night it goes away though. I have been experiencing migraines, but I have not noticed if they are more frequent on this bc than the others I have been on. My sex drive is much better than it was when I was on Yasmin however. My weight also fluctuates more on this bc as I am usually pretty consistent.

I've been on it now for about a year b/c it is a slow release in hormones and I get migraines from all the other pills. I've noticed a lot of what some of the other posts had noted such as:

- constant discharge (I always feel wet and dirty)
- a smell coming from the area all the time
- mood swings like crazy
- Absolutely NO SEX DRIVE
- fatigue (although this has been a new one I have come across in the past month, so maybe its not related)

none of this is really attractive at all, and I am seriously contemplating going off of it. Does anyone have an suggestions for people who get severe migraines from the pill???

I just went to see the Dr. last night after a full week of nausea and migraines. My simptoms are getting worse and worse every month that goes by. I started NR about a year ago; my Dr. said that he never heard anything negative about the ring, so I tried it. It made my periods very regular, but this past year has been very challenging. I'm constantly upset about something, felt depressed many times, extremely tired and had no sex drive... at all. I have to make an effort (physical and emotional) to have sex with my husband. I even bitch at him after sex becuase it was terrible for me... well, after reading these other experiences I can explain the changes in me. I'm taking this thing off RIGHT NOW!

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!

my partner went on nuvaring about two and a half weeks ago. since then she has become severely depressed and lethargic. we had chalked it up to unhappiness at work and some emotional disappointments with her family, but after reading this we have become convinced that the nr is a major part of the issue. she just took it out and we hope that tomorrow she will wake up and notice a difference. also, although she does suffer from migraines, they were more or less under control until the past week. she has had headaches everyday and has had to take imitrex for them. she has been nauseous and has also had problems sleeping. she also cries alot. she is not normally a depressed person. in fact, she is normally really positive. this is a horrible drug. does anyone know of a good option for regulating menstrual cycles? she is not on this for bc, just to regulate her cycle. any advice is welcomed. thanks.

Wow. This site has been enlightening. I've been using the Nuvaring for almost 6 month. The side effects that I've experienced include nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss (probably from the nausea and loss of appetite), plus horrible migraines. My sex drive has plummeted to almost nothing. The thought of sex makes me feel disgusted and ill. Horrible mood swings - I feel incredibly angry a lot. I feel uncomfortable in my own skin, like the one user who felt like barbed wire was being dragged across her skin. Also, I've had constant itching and burning, plus painful urination.

I have been on the Nuvaring for 2 months now and have noticed different side effects. Firt of all, I have had severe migraines, to the point of vomitting (and this usually occurs after I have removed the ring). My mood has changed. I am angry all the time and feel bothered by just about anything. Lately I have been experiencing severe back pains and I have been bleeding before the 21 days are over. Also I feel alot of cramps and bloating.

I was browsing this forum because i was curious about whether my slightly decreased sex drive was just in my head. Other than that i've had NO negative symptoms. I would advise those considering the ring to try it out for themselves, because i think this is a good alternative to the pill because the pill gave me migraines etc right away, and this is so much more convenient. (I feel badly that other have had a bad reaction, but if it makes you feel so bad, why would you stay on it FOR A WHOLE YEAR? I still think it's a better form of birth control than some alternatives.)

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 one cycle and my migraines skyrocketed to every day and every other day instead of once every other week. I like the convienience, but I can't handle all the headaches, so I am going to talk to my doctor about switiching.

I have actually been on Nuvaring for over 2 years and I love it. I like the security of not needing to take a pill the same time everyday (i'm in constant fear of getting pregnant). I did experience some of the side effects posted on this message board, but most of them were in the first 4 months and went away after that. The most memorable side effect was moodiness - the slightest thing would make me sensitive and cry. My bf thought i was crazy. I continue to get migraines occasionally but I had them before i started BC in general. My only complaints are the continued vaginal discharge and the dwindled sex drive, although I hear that is not uncommon for most BCs.

I have been on the Nuvaring off and on for about two years. More discharge but I just wear a daily liner so it's no big deal. Better sex drive, fuller boobs even though they are tender, I feel great. About a year into it a got full blown migraines out of nowhere, probably due to stress and not the nuvaring but I went off and back on and didn't notice a change.....unless it took a while for the estrogen to reach a threshold that made the difference in my body and maybe I don't even realize I didn't go off long enough. So I have been on a daily med for migraine prevention, but I just don't think there is a connection and migraines do run in my family.
But in just the last month, my doc thought if I kept the nuvaring in for FOUR weeks, take it out and put a new one in right away my hormones wouldn't fluctuate as much and possibly my headaches wouldn't be triggered...it was an experiment......well I tried it and in week 6 I started light continual bleeding and haven't stopped since and it reminds me of the tail end of a normal period that just won't end! Kind of pissed off about it. I called this in and he said go back to the normal schedule.....in a few days I will remove the ring and have a week off and hopefully that will put me back to normal. Never had an issue before with the bleeding in the middle of the month.... before we tried to trick my body......

I wanted to post to this website because, unlike most of the women on here, I experienced very few side effects with Nuvaring and actually like it very much. I was on numerous types of birth control pills and experienced SO many different side effects (yeast infections, decreased libido, mood swings, weight gain, migraines, etc.). With Nuvaring, I only really experienced some headaches and that was mainly near my period. I didn't experience any problems with insertion, had no problems with any vaginal irriations, and neither myself nor my boyfriend had any problems during sex. I didn't feel a thing and neither could he. Like with all hormonal contraceptives, everyone's body will react differently. I just wanted to post this, to let people know that Nuvaring does really work well for some people and it is definitely my chosen form of contraception.

I have been on the Nuva ring for 8 months, I cannot take it any longer. The effects for me have been horrible. Here's the list:
Extreme mood swings
Anger for no reason or petty reasons
Any excuse to vent the anger, fights with loved ones.
Severe Depression, I have actually had sucidal thoughts.
Severe headaches and Migraines
Extremely hightened emothions
Crying all the time and for little or no reason.
Weight gain, and that's just a few!!!
As an insight of who I was before I started using the Ring. I was happy and fun, my moods never lashed back and forth with such force. I have never been depressed and for me to think of suicide is absolutely absurd, I have always been against, I think that is the most selfish thing anyone could ever do. As far as emotions go...I have always been an insecure person, as much as most women. But, like this..no way. Every emotion known to human kind was just magnified to the 1000th power. It's insane what these hormones can do to a womans body!!! They can make us think we're crazy. We should all be warned. I have stopped the Nuva Ring and am now using a diaphram and spermicide. It has only been a short while and I feel so much better, I smile now. To anyone who is using the ring and feels the way I felt, in my opinion...take it out NOW. Don't wait it only gets worse.

I went on the nuva ring about a year ago-to help alleviate severe cramping at ovulation. It defineately helped with that, however I have been plagued w/ mood swings (none of which are pleasant more depressing), headaches (not migraines but some close), leg cramps, chills, diarrhea and other anxieties that I had never had before. I am afraid to go off and return to the cramps but also think that all these new "symptoms" are a result of use and long time use of the nuva ring! I said "good bye" to it today!! Condoms here we come!!

I have been using Nuvaring for about 4 months and am experiencing dizziness at times, accompanied by mood swings, breast tenderness, and headaches (starting low in my neck and seemingly progressing into migraines). I have also experienced a decrease in my desire for intimacy. I am 25 years old and have tried many types of b.c. pills already. I'm very frustrated at how my body reacts to each type of contraceptive I try.