NuvaRing and moodiness

I am 44, have had an endometrial ablation surgery to try to put a stop to heavy, ridiculous, debilitating periods (I also have a tipped uterus...) and had very intermittent periods for a couple of years after surgery. Now they're back on a 28 day cycle and I reluctantly went back on birth control. Since on nuvaring two weeks I've had a heavy discharge, low back pain-- and the worst of it is breast tenderness, moodiness and tiredness that mimic the symptoms of pregnancy. I, like many contributors here, feel like condoms and spermicides are a better option. My GYN whom I trust a great deal is a big fan of NuvaRing

I am so relieved to know that I'm not turning into some crazed basket case!
I've been on nuvaring for over 2 years. In the beginning, I couldn't believe the product...it was phenomenal! Put it in, and forget about it! Also, skipping periods was never so easy! I never spotted...just inserted a new ring and went on my merry way!

Well, that all changed about a year ago. I was planning my wedding, so I chalked my moodiness and depression on this huge event (of course! makes sense, right?). Time went on, and the feelings have not dissipated. I have always been a very emotional "in tact" female...a tuff Texas girl! I've had management jobs where my even keel disposition has been key to my success. Now, I'm afraid I'm going to breakdown at work...that would be BAD...really bad.

Also, my weight has been a thorn in my side. Although, I am not a big girl (135#), I'm bigger than I'd like (used to be 125). And, what's up with the belly pooch!? NEVER in my life have I had a belly that pokes out like this! I work out 4-5 x a week and eat healthy (yes healthy, you skeptics). My breasts have blown up like the Macy's day parade which my husband is all for, but I'm, quite frankly, getting a little scared of them:)

I am taking my nuva out on Sunday, and I CANNOT wait!! I want to go back to my fun, happy-go-lucky self.

BTW!! - To you men reading these entries with a girlfriend or wife that has recently turned into a crazy loon...stay strong for your lady. My husband has been an amazing man. I know he's wanted to get in his car and run away a couple times, but he has stuck by me. And I'm about to rock his world with my new and improved sex drive (when it decides to come back).

Best of Luck and I'll see you lovely ladies on the other side!!

i feel AWFUL reading this. i have on the ring since 16. im now 21. i cant believe how i dealt with this mess for 5 years!(and is now just realizing like TODAY now realizing). Before i continue, the ring usually fall out when when its MIA(missing..). When you poop or pass gas ur lady mussels pushes it down(like givn birth). Also one time i started having pains like my period was coming.That meant i needed a new ring. I just bought one so i knew it hadn't "ran out". I checked myself for the ring. It was gone. Lets just say i found it under the bed from the night b4 lol. i say this b/c they don't get lost in you. neither does tampns but this is NO JOKING MATTER. I know that i WAS a happy OUTGOING energetic young woman. I have thought to myself several times why aren't i going anywhere? It seems for that last few years my life's story is really basic and it includes the following:
random moodiness, fits of crying coming out of no where, terrible PMS symptoms , increased irritability with my boyfriend, white lumpy discharge toward the end of my 20 something days when its time be replaced, itchiness sometimes ,i was told i had bacterial vaginitus last Wednesday , random painful stabbing sensation in the vaginal area,but i haven't really experienced increased dryness during sex, major lack of sex drive, painful breasts and or extreme swelling of the vaginal walls during and after sex. I will tell you guys a SECRET if u twist the nuva like a bow. it will perfectly sit inside you w/o moving and u wont feel a THING! that's how i stopped mine from sliding around. i also noticed when i have it like that no spotting or NOTHING until its time for a new one...
I found this sight by looking for nuvaring lawsuits and i found much more than i bargained for. I never put all of these symptoms together b/c i was a teen and going thru teen things. I am a grown woman and i realized something IS wrong. This isn't me. My sudden outcries and fits of rage wasn't enough for me to realize bc it is hormones that i was taking and i expected that. The headaches and wanting to sleep all day was surely coming from work and school & in my alone time my family and friends thought i was too busy to be bothered... And i was! Sulking in my room about nothing for hours. Now i reflect back as i type. I am more depressed that i missed out on fun and business opportunities b/c of this and didn't even see it coming.i so badly want to go "natural" but i have never been preggo and don't want to be now bc when i do get preggo for the first time i wanna plan my pregnancy. My friends call there babies "patchbaies or pillbabies" b/c that was the method they were actively using at the time!PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!:Does anyone out there know of anything better? ****** if you do.

I've been on NuvaRing for a year and I thought It was working great. After having two rings "disappear" I decided to talk to my doctor about a different form of b/c. I have not had a ring in this month and I cannot believe the sex drive I have now. I'm single so I hadn't really noticed it was gone but now that it's back I realize how much the NR had affected me. As I was reading posts here I was amazed at how many symptoms I share with others. I have always been prone to headaches but since starting this a year ago they got more frequent and more intense. I also had issues with fatigue, however, being a single parent of a one year old I just kept blaming the baby but so far this month without the ring I hardly ever need a nap anymore. I have also noticed my mood swings are not as severe...I won't blame NR for all my moodiness because I have always been a moody person but I can tell a difference. I never had problems with the nausea or charleyhorses or tender breasts but all hormones have a different effect on different people. NR may work well for some and to those I wish congrats. I am hoping that my new method of b/c works out for me but I will be paying attention this time to what the hormones are doing to my body.

Wow, I can't believe how many people have had such a problem with nuvaring! I have been using it for 6 months now and have never had a single side effect, my period has never been more predictable, I start the day after I remove the ring and stop the day before I put a new one in. That is crazzzy!!! I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for about 8 years and in the 8th year...I got pregnant, and I was taking the pill every single day at the same time...I hated the pill! nuvaring is sooooo much more convenient, albeit pricier but I think it's worth it, my boyfriend never even knew it was there until we talked about birth control one day. I have never had headaches, or moodiness on it, as I frequently did with the pill....I love it and will continue to pay the extra money!!

I took out my NuvaRing about a week ago. My doctor first recommended that I try NuvaRing because I was experiencing side effects like weight gain and moodiness with Yaz and other low-hormone birth control pills. Since the Ring has the lowest hormone dose possible, I thought it was the perfect solution. I used the ring for about six months and have to say that at first, I didn't have any side effects. However, with every month that I used a new Ring the side effects started showing up and then became increasingly worse.

At the end (right before I took the Ring out) I was experiencing fatigue, diarrhea, gas, a lot of whitish discharge all the time (I was soaking through pantyliners several times a day), no sex drive and a slightly swollen and tender vagina. I actually thought I had a yeast infection at one point because of some of these symptoms and used a prescription medication (I am allergic to the active ingredients in Monistat) to try and "cure it." Needless to say it didn't help the symptoms.

After finding this website from a google search I read other people's comments and realized that the Ring was causing these crazy side effects. And only one day after taking the Ring out the discharge was gone, my vagina was not swollen or sore anymore, and my gas and diarrhea went away. My sex drive is back up and now I am back to my regular sleeping patterns and my energy level has returned.

It actually frightens me that I didn't see how all of these symptoms were interconnected until I'd been living with them for a few months. I have decided to return to condoms and spermacide for birth control because honestly, it is apparent that my body does not like being innundated with hormones and frankly, using the NuvaRing makes me never want to take a hormone ever again.

I am 23 years old and I have never used a birth control besides NR which I have been on for 2 years. My first few weeks of being on it were almost disastrous. I was having symptoms of a UTI, but Planned Parent Hood told me that my tests were not showing that I had any infection. They offered to treat me with a generic antibiotic for UTI, but I didn't want to use antibiotics if I didn't need to. I asked them if my symptoms could have anything to do with the NR, they said impossible. A week later I was in the hospital with a UTI and kidney infection. It took me weeks of best rest and 3 antibiotics to be well again. The first antibiotic they put me on had no effect on me at all, but they made me keep taking it once I started. I discovered by myself that my UTI and my kidney infection were due to a tiny piece of lint that had gotten stuck to my Nuva Ring. The bacteria on it had climbed up the uretha and turned into a kidney infection. None of the doctors even thought to have me check if something like that could be the source of the infection. I was told that if I had waited any longer to come into the hospital that my kidney's would have failed/collapsed. I had E. coli and another bacteria growing in my kidney's. It took me weeks of best rest and 3 antibiotics to be well again. If you are on the NR, please take it out after sex and examine it and rinse it off. Bacteria will cling to it!

Other than that experience I have noticed many side effects mentioned by others here: random moodiness, fits of crying coming out of no where, PMS symptoms can be two weeks long for me, increased irritability with my boyfriend, massive amounts of white lumpy discharge all month long, itchiness, multiple UTIs, bacterial vaginitus, random painful stabbing sensation in the vaginal area, increased dryness during sex, major lack of sex drive, painful breasts (which have increased in size, not complaining there), extreme swelling of the vaginal walls during and after sex. No matter how much precaution I take with cleanliness before and after sex this will randomly occur. There is so much swelling some times that wearing loose cotton underwear even hurts with all of the sensitive skin exposed. Walking really hurts! The cost of the Nuva Ring is also a problem. My insurance doesn't cover birth control and it costs me $60 a month to get the NR.

I am strongly considering going off of it. I do like the fact that I do not have to worry about taking pills or getting shots. In that sense this is a great alternative! I also only bleed for 3 days with a little spotting on the 4th day. I do not have cramps. I really like the idea that this is a low dosage of hormones localized right where it will be most effective, but I am getting concerned about what it may do to my body long term.

There is new research coming out that shows that our brain's ability to sense pheromones (which are nature's way of telling us if some one is a good match for us or not), is altered when we use birth control and that this can lead women to fall in love with some one that may not be a good genetic match for a mate. In the larger scheme of things this means that children coming from these couples may have weaker genetics. Very disturbing.

I have been on NuvaRing for about 2 months or so. The only side effects I have had from it is occasional cramping and EXTREME moodiness. I will literally cry 4 times a week. I feel crazy. My boyfriend is probably so sick of me crying. I want to stop being such an emotional person. Being sad and depressed for no reason is not fun. I am wondering if i should take it out. I think i might. I need to be normal again.

I have had several severe reactions to the nueva ring. First the weight gain and moodiness (which I expected due to hormones) but then some scary things began to happen. First my jay jay seemed to swell up and was very tender to touch. Then it feels like there is a cut or abrasion from the ring on the inside of me that while I still have my sex drive, has made sex impossible due to the pain. I have also experienced swelling on the right side of my body. It was so severe that it actually looked like I was preggo on just one side of my body. I went to the dr. and had a ton of tests before I realized that this could be the problem. I took it out a week or so ago and already the swelling is gone. I was on this a few years ago and had no problems with it before, I wonder if they had changed anything. I have decided that my husband needs to get a vasectomy. I would love to have my tubes tied but I can't find a willing dr. to do it to someone my age with no childre.

I am almost 23 and have been on different birth controls since I was 16. Almost every pill imaginable, and each either made me sick or very moody and depressed with no sex drive. I have depression already, so I then switched to the patch, but after all the lawsuits and still no sex drive I switched to the nuvaring. I have been on it for almost 2 years and loved it. NO moodiness that I can account to the nuvaring, have my sex drive, not sick, and didn't have to think of it all the time. well 2 months ago I missed a month and ever since then I have had non-stop cramping, the gyn. found a cyst on my fallopian tubes, but didn't relate that to the pain. She has now switched my birth control to see if that is it (i am very uncomfortable with birth control now). I started taking Femcon FE today and have been sick ALL DAY, I read about those side affects...and let's just say I think I will be switching. I miss my nuva! I am really wanting to stop taking birth control all together...it just cannot be good for you, but I cannot bc then I will not have a period...

NuvaRing is my 4th birth control in 10 years. I have been on NuvaRing for 10 months, ( began it the month before I got married) and have noticed a few side effects.
- I have gained 20 lbs since beginning NuvaRing.
- My energy fell, and it has been hard to walk for exercise. I was running 5Ks before starting this medication.
- I am very anxious
- The tiniest things get on my nerves, and I have to mentally count to 10 all the time.
- I have had a few very very nasty mood swings during PMS and yelled at my husband (for no reason.)
- Headaches.
-vaginal dryness
- I am hungry ALL the time
I went to see the doctor (afraid of the weight gain and moodiness) and she said it could be the NuvaRing that made me gain and prescribed "Yas" - however after reading THOSE stories on this website, I'm considering having her prescribe another pill. Mircette seemed to be good for me a few years ago.
Everyone reacts differently to different medications. This one hasn't worked well for me.

Hey guys I liked the NuvaRing when I 1st got it from my earlier post and I wasn't able to get the prescription filled in time( some financial stuff happened so I was going to sit this month out) well since I have gotten off it I feel much better no more nausea, or moodiness and my vision has returned, but I have noticed now that my left eye twitches. It took bout a week for the hormones to leave my body and I was an emotional wreck. I was crying more and snapping at my boyfriend over stupid stuff. ( I cried because I couldn't get the "Pirates of the Caribbean" dvd) I liked the comfort but the side effects s...

I felt the need to tell anyone who might be considering NuvaRing and looking at this website that not everyone has problems with it! I am on NuvaRing and have nothing but positive things to say about it. I have actually been losing weight, my breast size has gone up (who could ask for a better combination?!) and I have had no experience with moodiness or depression. My sex drive is the same, and for sure have had no issues with dryness or pain during sex. I don't write this to make those who are having bad experiences feel terrible, I only want other women to know that there is another side to this. I cannot feel the ring at all, and my partner can't either, except with his hand, but not during sex. It truly is the most convenient and best birth control I've ever tried.

How long does it take for the side effects to get out of my body??? I have been on the NuvaRing for 5 months. At first I did not have bad side effects, besides I didn't stop bleeding. Once that got better, horrible side effects began. I have headaches, lower back pain, bad leg aches, some abdominal pains at times, anxiety, and moodiness. It would suit me fine to stay in my pjs in bed and sleep all day!! I have no motivation or energy. This is NOT like me!! I feel like I have been living someone else life...my poor kids and husband!! So, after months of my Dr. telling me my body would adjust, I took the ring out yesterday!! I am so ready to be back to myself!!!

I have been on Nuva Ring for about 7 months now and at first I loved it. It was great not having to worry about taking the pill everyday and with 2 small children who has time to think much less take pills. I started having problems about 3 months after taking it...bloating so bad I looked 4/5 months pregnant, gas pains that would wake me up at night, heartburn/acid reflux. I have been through numerous tests to try and find out what is causing my stomach pains (ct scans, ultra sounds, blood work) now the Dr. wants to put me on Paxil after putting me on Prilosec and Gas Relief Chewables. Nothing is working, I can't stop the bloating for nothing...its interfering with my everyday activities. Not only is my stomach an issue but my moodiness is TERRIBLE. I hate EVERYTHING, I dont want to be bothered...leave me alone is my new attitude. I have always been a moody person but this is severe. Everyone around me says I need to be on "be nice pills" and that makes me even angrier when I hear that. I cry/laugh/get mad feel like Im screaming inside...I am still taking this stupid thing listening to the Dr. saying the Nuva Ring doesn't cause these side effects, but after reading all this I think I'm going to take it out for a couple of months to see if anything changes.

I am a 44 year old widow with 2 children. I had used bc pills throughout my adult life with no problems. I never had a regular cycle, so being on the pill always solved my biggest problems. After starting a new relationship I decided that nuvaring sounded like an ideal birth control to use--worry about it once a month, very low dosage-lower than any pill I ever took. I was told that it doesn't cause weight gain or moodiness. Since I recently lost 24 lbs. I was glad to hear that. I started using it on Saturday. The next day I woke up with a rash on my chest and neck. I didn't associate it with the ring until I found this forum and started reading. I was using calamine lotion on the rash, but it wasn't going away. I took the ring out last night, and this morning it was almost gone and it stopped itching all together. I can't prove that there's a direct correlation, but I'm not taking any chances.
For those of you who are young and haven't started a family yet, I say stick to condoms and spermicide. Not as romantic, but it probably won't kill ya either!

I have read these posts and others re: the Nuva Ring and I am pretty convinced that my side effects are from this. i originally started taking BC a yr ago due to abnormal bleeding ie 4 week periods. Before that it was nine years ago the last time I took BC (Depo shot). I bled for a year and my doctor said that no one else was having those problems so she cont to give me the shot. I tried to make an appt after a year of bleeding and the first one available would have been 6 months! Well quit that doctor and quit BC until the bleeding got out of hand. Now with Keriva just felt sick nauseous and tired, still bleeding. With NR no bleeding until this month a whole month of breakthrough bleeding, and I went to take the ring out and it is not there?? I have not been sleeping, it is difficult to wear my contacts, diarrhea, moodiness, weight gain, always hungry, and have increased from 34d to 34dd which is painful, to the point i have to wear a bra to bed.Sex is painful, really dry and I start to cramp, not that it happens that often I have no sex drive and it is impossible to have an orgasm. Still concerned about the missing ring. I did not feel it slip out and I know it can't get "lost", but it is concerning that it could fall out and someone not be able to feel it. I am going to the dr this week...cannot be on NR any longer...

I started the ring seven months ago and thought, at first, that it was perfect. Though my period lasted 12 days when I first inserted it and my mood swings were monstrous (upon insertion) the first couple months After about 3 months my moodiness - now, one week before I start my period - has become uncontrollable. At first, it was just sore, enlarged breasts and a slight decrease in my sex drive, then it became, depression and crying for no reason, then a burning sensation in my hips and now my depression and crying jags have become all consuming and detrimental to my entire well-being. I would like to know what type of BC that women with similar symptoms have started taking. I need to change before my entire life becomes compromised because of my mood swings.

I've been on NuvaRing for almost a year now and am I realizing my low sex drive and depression is the cause of the Ring.

Since starting the ring I've had the following symptoms:
- low sex drive
- leg cramp (restless leg)
- depression/moodiness
- lack of energy/sleepy
- breast/nipple tenderness

I also have a microscopic amount of blood in my urine and I'm being tested next week- but this could be unrelated.

The depression thing just hit me when I visited this site- for months I've been detached and in an emotional slump. I don't want to talk to anyone at work, and I'm dying to get home at the end of the day just to lock myself in my room and not answer the phone if anyone calls.

I also feel completely uninterested in my boyfriend of 8 years emotionally and sexually - this is unusual since our relationship has been getting better over time - because of the Ring I feel detached from him and sometimes feel like I could care less if I go weeks without seeing or talking to him which is very unusual for me.

I've also had about a 15 lb. weight gain in the past 5 years from using birth control- I'm nervous to stop NuvaRing because I've heard it actually helps with weightloss.

I was given nuvaring to stop heavy periods and excrutiating cramps, my dr. directed me to insert the ring every 28 days for 3mths then take it out the fourth week and have a period put it back in on the seventh day and keep repeating this every 3mths giving me a period a total of 4 times a year. The first month was fine but unfortunately 2 weeks into the second month everything went downhill and I had to pull it out. First there was bleeding then i was nauseous, breast were sore, terrible cramps, lower back pain, headaches and i want to sleep all day not sure about moodiness b/c I was moody anyway but I was'nt depressed i could have been had I of stayed on it dealing with the side effects this causes. I just took it out July 2nd and am still bleeding, cramping and have nausea and back pain, I wonder how long this is going to take to get out of my system b/c I am miserable. I made a dr.'s appt they want to switch me to something else and I will REFUSE! I was on the pill several years ago and they made me nauseous but they did help my period some but I quit those too, I will remain doped up on 800 milligrams of advil the week of my period before I accept anymore birth control it is not worth the agony it is putting us through.

I've been using the nuva ring for about 5 months now. At first my doctor told me that my body had to adjust, but I am experiencing more and more side effects with each cycle. I am experiencing:

severe headaches
brown dischard (the whole month)
depression (I don't care about anything or anyone)
moodiness (I am insanely angry. I think I could honestly hurt someone)
Urinary (kidney stones and frequent Infections)
No Sex Drive (I don't want sex, don't even want to think about it, its yucky!
Aches and Pains (back, neck, legs and chest)

I didn't realize all these symptoms were associated with the nuva ring. I was about to see a mental health professional, as I am scared I could hurt myself, husband, children, or someone. I have never been so angry in my life. I feel INSANE.

I just took out my nuvaring 2 days ago. I was only on it for about 2-3 weeks. Soon following the start of nuvaring I started going "crazy" I was so moody. I almost left my husband and kids because I just couldn't stand to be in my own skin. I gained 10 pounds in the 2-3 weeks I was on Nuvaring. I was getting splitting headaches and my appittie increased 10 fold. Since I've stopped the moodiness and weight have already started to change. I' am hoping all of this is due to the Nuvaring and not pregnancy, AGAIN!!!

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

I was on the ring for several years, and it was terrible!!!! Depression, no sex drive and hair loss. My husband thought I was nuts, but soon after I stopped using the ring I was a totally different person. I didn't think it was the birth control that made me angry and depressed, I thought it was just me until I went back on the ring about 2 months ago. And of course all of the symtoms came back, no sex drive, hair loss and depression. It is the worst birth control I have ever had in my life!!! This calls for a classaction lawsuit - I feel like I lost 3 years of my life and I am only 26!

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've been on the ring for about 3 months now and I enjoy it. I do have breast tenderness and on and off headaches. I thought I was pregnent at first but realized it was the ring's side affects. One thing I am concerned about is the moodiness I've been having. My life was fine before I tried the ring, now i'm at the point where I want to leave my 5 year relationship with my boyfriend and he can't stand me anymore. Whats even worse is I have a year lease on our apartment. He's thinks I'm cheating(which I'm not). I'm caring less and less about him and my love towards him is changing. Could this be the ring or something else? I'm at the point where I want to cry everyday because I hate my life and I want to see a therapist. I'm spilling my guts out but there it goes....my side effects.

i've been using nuvaring for 8 months...it's taken me this long to realize that it's the ring that's making me feel CRAZY...wow!! Most symptoms I have are already mentioned here....but, i think it's all horomonal birth control! I will mention my top two positive and negative side effects:
POSITIVE: No weight gain, bigger boobies. NEGATIVE: Extreme moodiness to the point i feel evil and that's sooo not me, chronic severe headaches.....and the list could go on.

I will stop taking this in a couple weeks...I wish everyone here the best!!

I am 31 years old - I was on the pill (4 different ones) for 14 years. I decided to stop last year and start using a diaphragm. It was great - even lost 5 pounds! My doctor asked if I had ever considered using NUVA Ring b/c fertility can return quickly when stopped - I gave it a shot. First mistake was to go back on horomones....but, the side effects of NUVA Ring were horrible. After 4 months, I removed it. I had severe headaches, nausea, weight gain of 5 pounds (and I work out 6 times a week), dizziness, extreme lower back pain, acne, facial puffiness and terrible moodiness. How about the total lack of sex drive too? It was so bad that I removed it mid-cycle. It's back to the diaphragm for me - it's a little messy but well worth it - especially to go horomone free!

I've been on Nuva Ring for 4 months and after the first month I got a terrible vaginal infection: bacterial vaginitis. It was horrible. I had to take a strong prescription creme to cure it. I've gained about 5 pounds, but the most troubling side effect is the fatigue and bouts of moodiness or the blues. If given the chance, I'll sleep all weekend and I feel slightly depressed. My family has issues with depression, so this scares me. My sister had issues with that birth control device that was inserted under the skin. She is bi-polar, can't take any hormonal methods. Furthermore, it kills my sex drive and gives me headaches. I feel my best towards the end of my period, when the device is out of my body. My doctor told me to give it a few more months. If I don't start feeling right soon, I'll be getting rid of the the device as well.