NuvaRing and obgyn

I am 18 years old and I have just begun using NuvaRing after switching from the pill. My OBGYN claimed the side effects of NR would be milder than other forms of birth control because the dosage of hormones is so low. However, after a week and a half of using the NR I have been experiencing extreme depression. I stopped being able to do work normally and feel completely unmotivated.I spend all day in bed and it is so much effort getting the energy even to shower or get food. I also have gotten angry at my friends and my boyfriend and pushed them away. I've experienced feelings of hopelessness and started feeling like a burden to other people, so I began to completely self-isolate. I also have an increased appetite, have stopped working out and thus begun gaining weight, and have no sex drive whatsoever. I feel bipolar! But I'm so glad I found this website so I know this has actually all been a result of the NR, and I'm not going completely crazy!! Do not use this if you are emotionally sensitive to hormones like I am! Or at least be very careful. The minute I found this site I immediately stopped the NR. I don't want anything to do with it.

I started NuvaRing 3 weeks ago yesterday after having the Mirena IUD removed (kept in all 5 years). I removed it yesterday as planned. 1 week ago, I felt a terrible pain in my right side under my ribs. I started having very slight trouble breathing, pain when laughing or coughing, etc. I applied heat and the pain subsided over the weekend and I could breathe easily. On Monday, I decided it best to go to the doctor since I had trouble breathing, I didn't want to assume it was nothing. I went to a doc in the box (bad idea) and I was told that I had a swollen rib cage (the cartilage). I'm certain I was misdiagnosed because the dude didn't even do xrays, even after I explained that I had just started NuvaRing. I wanted them to be aware of everything. The doctor dismissed it.

On Tuesday night, I was in so much pain and my difficulty breathing was worsening that I cried myself to sleep. Wednesday I went to work and was in so much pain that I was in tears and headed to URGENT Care, as my primary care physician could not fit me in. They xrayed, ran a urinalysis, a CBC to check my white blood cells and found nothing except for a bit of what appeared to be constipation, though I have regular bowel movements. My white blood count was slightly elevated, but distributed normally. I was prescribed a laxative and Lortab for the pain, which was excruciating. The doctor told me to come back the next day (today) to retest my white blood count. It went down a tad, as I had taken the Nuvaring out yesterday evening. The doctor seemed puzzled, but gave me my CBC results and urinalysis just in case I developed a fever or an infection of some sort, but told me that she thinks I am having side effects from the NuvaRing. She asked me to not put it back in.

On a side note, I had called my OBGYN on Wednesday before I headed to Urgent Care and explained the situation and they advised me to remove the NuvaRing as well.

I'll have to bite the bullet and pop the daily bc, such as Ortho Lo.

I experienced severe chest pains and major mood swings...shortness of breath..12 days i was on it and when i called my obgyn - they said take the ring out and go to the ER. I immediately went to ER...I work at a hospital - so that got me in quicker..the ER doc did a cat scan, ekg, blood work and chest xray - thank god nothing showed up...This birth control was NOT for me and should be taken off the market.

Your stories makes me feel much better. I've been battling with yeast infections on and off for the last five months. It's been scary and frustrating. Surprisingly I've been on NuvaRing for about 3 years and these symptoms have just begun to be a problem but they won't stop until the ring is out and my period starts. I've tried everything, I've changed soaps, changed to lube without parabens, stopped wearing cute underwear, started showering twice a day, and have used several types of over-the counter's. I've treated with so many over-the-counter creams for yeast infections that I'm getting concerned about what all that fungicide might do in the long run. They usually work but then the yeast infection will return. I think perhaps the NuvaRing may affect the chemistry inside the vagina making it more susceptible to yeast infections once one occurs. This has negatively affected my sex life with my fiance because sex stings and burns and I always get a yeast infection, I'd rather avoid it all together. I was going to go to the OBGYN and beg for Diflucan but from a previous post similar to my situation it may just be another temporary fix. I've never tried the pill but I'm going to switch this month and see if the yeast infections finally go away.

I started the NuvaRing on Oct 1 and felt a flu coming on Oct 5. Oct 6 I had a horrible headache and fever which has been between 99.3 and 100.5. On the 10th I awoke vomiting and developed a yeast infection. It just dawned on me it might be the ring. I googled and found this page. I'll see my general physician tomorrow, not the OBGYN who sold this on me when I complained about heavy periods. I'm using this not as a birth control but pre-men stabilizer. I'm thinking to yank it right now...?

I have had a TERRIBLE time. 3 months-of almost non stop bleeding (3 1/2 weeks, 2 1/2 weeks and 16 days and counting )and I do already have overactive bladder but now all the sudden if I don't run to the bathroom as soon as I have to pee(even if my ladder is not full) or if i sneeze I pee myself and i am 29!!-this never used to happen!! My obgyn finally decided to switch me to the pill thats 3 months of active and 1 week of sugar. The whole reason i tried this was bc my periods were beginning to get longer (7-8 days) and this made them so much worse. She did a biopsy and an ultrasound both of which were normal. I already have a non-hormonal iud (which i have had for 3 years) but we left it in bc i take topamax (which decreased the effectiveness of birth control) for migraines so i need the iud for birth control. im just trying something else to improve my periods and obviously this is not it! i am beginning to wonder if the topomax also causes an increase in bleeding too...

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

I’ve been on the ring for a year now. I loved the convenience of not having to take a pill every day. But I’ve gained 13 lbs over the past year and now I’m convinced it had to be the ring. I had asked my doctor before going on any birth control if there was a risk of gaining weight but she told me that was a myth and not to worry about it. So when I gained about 10 lbs the first 4 months I was on the ring I just chocked it up to being a newlywed, turning 29 and just over all weight gain. Then about 6 months after being on the ring I realized I looked and felt bloated all the time. It was like PMS bloating but it never went away. So for the past two months, I’ve been watching what I eat and working out. I had noticed that I seemed less bloated but to my surprise this week when I went to the doctor I hadn’t lost a single pound. I’ve decided I’m going to switch to the pill and hope I’m able to lose the weight. So I’d tell anyone that’s going on the ring, if you notice ANY weight gain don’t make excuses and get off the ring ASAP before you gain more. I’d love to hear from anyone that had success in losing the weight after getting off the ring but you probably aren’t online looking up the ring once you’re off…

i just got on the nuvaring about 2 1/2 weeks ago. its about time for me to take it out. for good im starting to think. the reason i got on the nuvaring is because i was on the pill then stopped it for a while and i took a pregnancy test and it came back positive. then the next day i started bleeding and cramping really bad. i went to the doctor and they just did the urine pregnancy test on me and theirs came back negative. so apparently mine was a false positive. but this whole time i have been on the nuvaring i bleed NON-STOP. my period is usually only 5-6 days. and its been 2 1/2 weeks. i have no sex drive what so ever. couldn't because im bleeding anyway. horrible mood swings that drive my fiance just absolutely CRAZY! i have a 5 1/2 month old little girl and i try soo hard to be happy around her. but im soo emotional. i cry all the time about the littlest things. my breasts are incredibly tender. i have already gained 4 pounds. and i eat maybe once a day. i get these really sharp pains in my stomach that is just unbearable. i have always had bad cramps but just on the first day of my period and i could take Midol and it would make it go away. now NOTHING helps. the cramps are the worst pain. is it the nuvaring causing all these problems for me?

I have been on the Nuvaring in the past. Got off of it since I didn't have a boyfriend for a while. Recently started back on it. Been on it for about a month and a half now and have been experiencing extreme breast tenderness. All day long. To the point massaging them myself doesn't even seem to help. I have been having really bad mood swings, and anxiety, and depression since i've been on it. To the point I got started on depression medication the same month I started it. Never really thought these could be side effects to my birth control. Since I've never had depression issues in the past. My OBGYN keeps telling me to wait the full 3 months to see if these symptoms go away. I'm not even sure I can wait another month in a half. My breast tenderness is getting the best of me. I will probably wait it out b/c that's the type of person I am. But I have a feeling i'm going to have to switch to the pill again. Which I hate b/c I hate swallowing a pill everyday. But if I don't have breast tenderness and these mood swings it'll be worth it to me.

I was put on the NuvaRing by my OBGYN to fix endometriosis... that was 5 1/2 years ago... I'm now 26 and I have been having dizzy spells for a while... actually passed out twice while living in New York for the past 4 years... not fun when you're on the Subway! Recently - the back of my legs started hurting! Then my calves swelled up! All these new veins appeared and I rushed to my general physician! The first thing out of her mouth was are you on birth control... GET OFF! When i told her it was NuvaRing - she was 99% sure it was it! I had an ultrasound to make sure it wasn't blood clots and it's not... so I went to nuvaring website and one of their symptoms is pain in back of knees and swelling! RIDICULOUS!!!! I took it out immediately! Even the 32 year old who did my ultrasounds said she voluntarily got off all BC because of everyone she has come in there with liver, blood, heart problems!

I Just started NR a week ago on the 1st day of my period, I have already gained 5lbs, have constant cramping (not severe but noticeable) my boobs hurt, and I have constant lethargy. Went for a walk today with my BF and could hardly stand it. Just wanted to lie down...

We then got in a huge fight because I was freaking out about every little thing. I was crying and screaming at him, and we almost broke up. I am normally not like this. So I just took it out. Im sure my OBGYN would say to give my body a chance to adjust but I can't take another day! So Im probably messing up my Menstrual cycle but I'll take that chance especially after reading all the experiences of you other poor ladies.

I had tried to get an IUD after many of my friends recommended it. I chose Mirena although I am usually anti hormone, but my doctor says that the hormones in Mirena do not go into your blood stream but stay locally in your uterus. My friends who have Mirena love it, less periods, no cramping, no side effects. My one friend who had the non hormone one had terrible heavy bleeding, severe cramps etc. So after TWO TERRIBLY painful attempts at inserting the Mirena, ( I had to come back a second time on Valium, Vicodin, and a pill to dilate my cervix) I was told I am not a candidate because my uterus is TOO SMALL! The U.S only has two IUD's. Europe, Canada, even Mexico has smaller sizes available.

Sooooooo, long story short, I either have to fly to one of these countries, (England is farthest but will do it for free) or find another option. My friend just told me about a promising sounding option called Lea's shield- ****** which is like an updated, easy to use, strangely shaped diaphragm. Its available from Planned Parenthood, and due to its unique design is one size fits all so you don't have to get it fitted and can order it online. Hope this helps. Thanks everyone for your frank sharing, hope I have helped someone too!

I was put on NuvaRing in April 2008 because my DHEA Sulfate (our male androgen hormone) was way high. My doctor told me that the only way to get that hormone down was to use birth control. I had actually used NuvaRing before April 2008 but it was only for about 3 months. I asked my doctor to put me back on the NuvaRing because it was the easiest and I hadn't had problems with it before. Now that I have been on it for almost a year, I have noticed that I will just cry for no reason and that I get irritable quite often. I continue to have these depressed episodes, I am tired all the time and since the first of the year, I have had diarrhea. It has to be the NuvaRing as I am not taking any other medication. Has anyone else experienced diarrhea after long term use? I also got a yeast infection about 2 months ago. I am 34 years old and I have NEVER had a yeast infection until now. Also, I have gained a little over 20 lbs since I have been on it and I hardly ever eat. I can't seem to lose that weight either. When I am off the NuvaRing during my 7 days, I loose about 5 lbs but then gain it right back when I put the NuvaRing back in. Not mention, I have not had a menstrual cycle the entire time that I have been on NuvaRing. If you ask me, that's against mother nature.

I've been on NR for almost 2 years. I was fine, I thought, at first. But for the last 3 months I have such severe lower back pain, I can hardly move (and it worsens after sitting for long periods of time)...and it magically lessens after I take out the NR.

Also, I have gained weight that I can't manage to shed, no matter how much I starve myself or workout. I'm heavier than I've ever been at 188 lbs, and my OBGYN when I told her how upset I was about the weight gain told me it was as easy as cutting 100 calories per day - you know one spoon of mayo or piece of cheese...like I'm sitting around spooning mayo out of a jar!

My mood swings are scary - and getting worse every month. I get mad over absolutely nothing and cry and shake with rage...to the point where I've felt like I was going insane, right now I have one "major explosion" per week. I don't want to know what my blood pressure it, I'm sure it's higher than normal, if from nothing else my mood swings. In fact reading your posts out loud to my boyfriend, I've managed to bit his head off and start crying.

I have read & re-read the side effects of NR, with no explanations of this...until I read everyone's posts here.

I was diagnosed with PCOS and my doctor suggested getting on birth control to adjust my hormone levels. She suggested NuvaRing for it's ease of use. The first two months, everything went great... I noticed my daily discharge seemed to increase, but no real big deal. The third month was horrible.. I got my period and had THE worse cramps! I've always had a problem with pain during the first 24hrs, but this was unreal! Pamprin usually does the trick for me, and I only feel a dull pain, but not even Pamprin would rid me of this horrible pain. I few hours, the worst of the pain had past. I went to change my tampon, and I had discharged a section of my lining that was the width/height of my fist! No WONDER I was in pain!! I called my OBGYN and she said this is a side effect of NR, and is natural, no worries. This pain and large tissue discharge continued for 3 more months. I told the OBGYN I needed a different form of BC... she refused. Needless to say, I switched OBGYN's and I'm on YAZ now... since I've switched BC, I've had a light, and painless period. Obviously NR did not agree with my body. I like it for it's ease of use (I don't remember to have to swallow a pill @ the same time everyday), but it's not worth it for the pain I had to go through. I would NEVER recommend NuvaRing to anyone looking to getting on BC.

I was using every excuse possible for what I have been experiencing. I started NR in May, now it's December, I was scheduled to take it out. Since I started I noticed acne, which I never had even in my teen years. I blamed it on the towels in the gym, stopped using those, then on the sweat from workout... kept trying new acne treatments, but acne magically disappears during the ring out days. I'm not sure if I can call depression, what I felt, it was like I'm never happy with anything and many days in a month my thoughts were very dark, unhappy. I noticed serious decrease in energy, blaming it on 2 children, but my son was a year old when I started NR and I had more energy before with newborn and a toddler daughter. Again I thought, he's so active... I have hard time getting out of bed, sometimes sleep is ok, sometimes no sleep for hours, but this happens to many people. night sweats I was blaming on the blanket, the thinnest one we have(my husband uses 2 at night), I was waking up many days in a month drenched in sweat. No discharge, yeast infection for me, lower sex drive. Even more interesting- I noticed the smell of my partner to be less attractive... Then I read in a magazine that BC messes up with the smell as well. I had horrible headaches, feeling I'm going to pass out< dizzy< especially if I was trying to rush(blamed it on rushing too much). I was growling(like my daughter said) at the kids with the smallest mischief, it's like a little bomb heating up and bursting in my head, I felt rage, not anger, total rage.Life has lost any appeal for me, this is not living, just suffering, I thought all the time. But here I am at home with two little children, hardly ever see friends, always doing work around the house, laundry. Hot flashes during the day are frequent and I feel like I want to tear my clothes off. Recently I started to have a lot of pressure in my chest, like it's hard to breathe. Just last week I almost went to the ER, because I was laying on the couch unable to speak out loud, just whispering, could not move. Then couple of days ago my heart started to ache, it aches now, so last night I looked up the side effects of NR, because I didn't even know where to start with this condition, that has all these symptoms I have been listing. I was planning to go to the doc for all the test. My stomach has been hurting slightly in the last 3-4 weeks(I thought it was food, but no one in our family had any problems). I am 28year old in great shape(I cut back on my food intake to keep th weight the same), I work out 2 times a week and have a very active lifestyle. My relationship with my husband is great, my children are well behaved for their age, So I'm stopping NR before I get divorced like some other women did. If you want to try NR go ahead, it's really convenient, but be aware of all these side effects, so you know, it's not something else, before it's too late.

I started the Nuvaring December 1, 2008, the first day I got my period to treat ovarian cysts. The first week, I had no side effects. The ring was a little uncomfortable until I learned how to position it properly. It kept trying to come out. Then, 10 days on the ring, I got horrible headaches, very nauseous, and bad stomach pain. I didn't think it was from the nuvaring, but when the symptoms got worse accompanied by anxiety, and depression, I knew it had to be from the nuvaring. I called my obgyn, and he advised me to take it out. I've taken other birth control pills before, and have had similar reactions. My obgyn said that many women's bodies can't tolerate birth control. I hope this was helpful.

I'm a 29 yr old with poly cystic ovarian syndrome. Which means I don't ovulate regularly. I normally have 2 periods a year which is a good thing since I'm not trying to have any children right now so on my annual visit to the OBGYN we decided that since I don't have any periods or not enough that I should maybe start birth control again. I was using the nuvaring about 4 yrs ago with no symptoms what so ever. Now it's only been 3 weeks and I feel as though I've been impregnated. My breast are constantly hurting and feeling enlarged. My sex drive isn't the same any more. I have constant mood swings and I'm not my normal "happy about life" self anymore. And I can't even think about the cramps. Or the over chocolate eating. I don't even like chocolate now my skin is breaking out in the worse way. Not only that but I sleep my life away. I can't even go to a club without getting a nap in first. Oh yea let's not forget the painful intercourse. If he ejaculates inside of me it burns with the ring in or out. It's just very uncomfortable I thought he might have been cheating and it's just another side effect. This is the most horrible experience I've had with using birth control other than the patch but that's for another website. I hate I've already gotten my 2nd one. If I had known I would feel like this I would have saved my 30 bucks. And told him let's take that chance.

I am 29 years old and have SUPER heavy periods so my OBGYN prescribed me the NuvaRing. I have had trouble with pills and the patch making me feel crazy, she said this one would distribute the hormones much more evenly. HA HA HA, well I obviously don't need any more hormones than I already have. I put the ring in about 2 weeks ago and for the last 4 days I have been a raging lunatic. I am the most bubbly girl in the world, except when I'm PMS-ing. But this ring makes me feel like I'm PMS-ing 24/7. I feel irritable, sad, don't wanna get out of bed, i have hot flashes, headaches, wake up dripping from sweat, and now that I think about my sex drive has depleted. I just start crying for no reason, over-analyzing everything my sweet loving boyfriend says to me. Thought I was a freak because all BC i have tried does this to me. It makes me feel better to know I'm not alone, and I'm not crazy. I recommend talking with your Dr. before removing the ring. I'm calling tomorrow!!

Ladies, ladies, ladies...have I got a few stories for YOU!

I will never forgive myself for wasting three months of my otherwise fabulous life using the Nuvaring.

Nuvaring Nightmare #1: The Slingshot Incident

One night, my boyfriend and I were making love in an unusual position when his member slipped out of me. After an awkward pause I turned around and saw a look of shock and confusion on his face, with the Nuvaring sitting on his chest. Apparently the naughty Nuvaring had gone soaring out of my vagina like a slingshot during all the action and had bounced off his face to land on his chest.

BUT WAIT...it gets worse...

Nuvaring Nightmare #2

Boyfriend and I were in the bathroom for a quickie one day with all the lights turned off, when we realized that the floor was strangely slippery...our feet were slipping all over the place. We turned on the lights to find ourselves and most of the bathroom covered in blood! After a few seconds of searching for the source of the blood, we quickly realized that the evil Nuvaring had badly nicked the head of my poor boyfriend's penis. Needless to say, the mood was killed. Worst of all, it took two weeks to heal...and then it happened again on my brand-new mattress. There are still blood stains under my bed. After that, my boyfriend said, "Either you STOP using the Nuvaring or we STOP having sex!!"

My roommates said I was a moody monster for the entire three months that I used the Nuvaring...and I suspect you would be too, if this had happened to you. If you value your sex life, you relationships with others, and your personal safety, DO NOT EVER TRY THE NUVARING!

If you like yourself, DO NOT choose this form of birth control!!!!!! I experienced several side effects almost immediately within my first cycle of this "should be outlawed" drug including a cyst on my ovary that burst (PAINFUL!!!!!), very hormonal PMS and periods (like going through puberty again), heavy bleeding and clotting, swelling like I experienced after delivering my children - yes, even sitting was uncomfortable, painful intercourse, muscle aches, and cramping like afterbirth. Most of these symptoms subsided after I did the math and freed myself of this health hazard. All I have described sound hormone related and logical but wait, there is more . . . while on the NuvaRing, I also developed a tumor in my leg that attached to my bone and required surgery. I was blessed that it was benign but at first was told it was malignant by bone tumor specialists from three leading Manhattan Hospitals! My children were 3 and 1 at the time so you can imagine how I felt! Also, a condition that has not gone away after 1 year and 4 months of no more NuvaRing is chronic sinus problems. These sinus problems first developed when I made the mistake of using this venomous drug. I myself thought there could be no correlation until I went on line and read that other women suffered with sinus issues after using the NuvaRing. I have developed sinusitis that I've had no luck in treating holistically and these severe infections have been resilient to most antibiotics. I've finally faced this sinus issue and have scheduled a CT scan and ENT appointment for next week so I hope I can get to the root of the problem as I am sick of feeling sick! By the way, I'm extremely fit, a very healthy eater, and was in GREAT health before use of the NuvaRing! I'm writing this because I would not wish my experience on anyone and wish I had read comments like this PRIOR to making this poor decision. I so dislike this drug that I have to turn-off the TV when the commercial comes on. Again if you like yourself, DO NOT use the NuvaRing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I SO glad I'm not crazy. The worst side effect that I've had have been that my heart feels like it is beating really hard. When I feel my pulse, it feels irregular or skips a beat. My obgyn said that is not due to the NR, but I'm pretty sure it is. Nothing else has changed--no other medications, same diet and exercise, etc. I've used NR for 2 months and I am about 10 pounds heavier and my face has broken out like it hasn't since high school. I'm not nearly as energetic as normal. I just feel generally sluggish. I love the idea of not having to remember to take a pill everyday, but I'd also like to have my old self back. I kind of liked her. She's a nice girl!

I started using the NuvaRing about 7 months ago. The beginning was HORRIBLE I had cramps, nausea, occasional vomiting, and was clotting a lot, of course I called my doctor with these side effects and was told that my body was just reacting bad to the adjustment. Since I was having so much clotting I had to monitor it until it stopped about 3 months in. After that 3 months everything was fine - for about 2 months. Now I have bad cramps all the time even when I'm not supposed to be having my period, I also have no sex drive =( my boyfriend was starting to think it was him. I'm actually going to the OBGYN on Monday to decide where to go from here, the nurse on the phone said that my body may be rejecting it. I don't hate the NuvaRing I just think it's for some people and not for others, I say this because when it was working it was awesome!!

I have been on the NuvaRing for just about a month now - I'm due to take it out tomorrow in order to have my period. I haven't had any horrible side effects that I've read about here, but I have had brown discharge. No pain, but brown discharge, sometimes pink...Is this normal? I was just at the OBGYN and she said everything was normal, but I haven't heard anything about brown discharge. The only problem with this is that it's ruining my panties! :)

Hello everyone
I am so glad that I ran across this page. I was on the NuvaRing, a little over a year ago & I only stayed on the ring for 2 months due to side effects, burning in the vagina, discharge..things like that. I gave it up along with all bc. It was the end to a long game of switch the bc, everything is making me crazy, lol. Well last month I went to my ObGyn and after almost a year of only 2 weeks between my period and heavy spotting..and no BC to blame it on, I was told that I have 3 fibroids and a small ovarian cyst. I was also told that we should try bc..to maybe help the spotting and other issues. I am really bad with the pills..I set alarms, keep them in the purse..still don't take them, Not to mention I get soooo sick with them. Did the patches and felt like I was crazy after a year and half..I mean leg pains, depression..damn near every side effect..you can think of. Dont want implant or depo so went back to the ring. Ne way the Dr. said that the issues I had the 1st time with the ring..could have been from a yeast infection or vaginal infection and that I should try it again.

It has been 2 weeks and and the vaginal issues are not bad..sometimes I feel a little something thats not normal..but I can deal with that. The emotional issues are my problem. I have been with my BF for 2 years..we have not had a rocky relationship, problems with cheating or anything else. Nothing more than the usual couple spat.. everything is good, well was good. I feel like an emotional time bomb..yesterday I started a huge debate over him not giving the average girl credit for being beautiful (which he tells me I'm pretty and sexy and all that good stuff!) and praising these women on tv and in magazines (which he didn't do, I asked him if he thought a girl was cute..he didnt want to answer, for fear it would backfire on him, but I told him it was ok..and then tore into him 4 no reason). I feel like I am not sexy enough..pretty enough, this was not an issue before. I feel depressed, I just made a huge to-do list for goals in life..was so hype about it..now nothing..its whatever. Everything is whatever. I have no mojo about ANYTHING. I don't even want to read..and that abnormal. I feel paranoid about things that were never issues..like is he cheating on me..& nothing has changed in his behavior to make me think this way! I am worried that by not taking the bc, I will suffer from my issues from before. I haven't been on the ring long enough to know if its gonna help my issues, like the crazy 2 week bleeding spell and having cramps, but in seeing how its effecting my mood..I don't know if I can wait to see! I feel bad..really really bad. I wish that BC did not have to be so crazy on your body! Its like damned if I do damned if I don't!

Thanks ladies for being so open and honest..good to know I am not the only one..or just making myself think something is wrong when its not..because there is.

samantha*OH

My girlfriend and I just broke up after four months of the greatest relationship a couple could experience. We never had one fight, never argued, had all the same interest, and were perfect together. She got on the pill not long after we started dating from not being on anything and everything was fine. Just over a month ago her OBGYN switched her to the NuvaRing and a week into her second month still never having any problems at all about anything, she walks into my house and in five minutes chews me out about every little thing she can find wrong with me and breaks up with me. She started acting funny about three days earlier, not speaking to me, being very aloof, stand offish. The only thing that changed in our relationship is the NuvaRing. It's the Devil!!!

Friends,
I've posted on this twice before. I was on the ring for nearly 2 years before I got off this past February when I discovered this site. I have to say I feel sooooo much better. Currently, I'm not on any birth control (we use condoms and spermicide) and I love being myself and being normal. While I gave up convenience and a relative peace of mind, I also gave up a decreased loss in sex, dryness, mood swings, fogginess, and putting my health at risk etc.

I still have numbness in my legs especially at night (RLS was ruled out) but it's much better than months ago. I never had this before I started the Ring.

I worry about others because I didn't know my side effects were caused by the Ring. And my obgyn made me feel like an idiot when I suggested it. But getting off the Ring was the best choice. I have my health, my sex drive, and natural lubrication not to mention a great relationship with my boyfriend (when you lose interest in sex obviously your partner is going to take it personally).

If you have NO side effects and are confident the Ring will not affect you then by all means go for it. But if you have doubts look into it. Trust your instinct and take care of your health. There's no point in taking birth control if it's going to kill you (figuratively or literally).

I'm looking forward to being healthy again and I hope that you all are safe.

I've been using the Nuvaring off and on for almost six years. I started using it after I had my son in 2002, and I never had any problems with it. I used it for a couple years, had to stop b/c of my insurance. I went back to it after the birth of my daughter, in early 2006. I started having a lot of problems around December, 2007, but I didn't even think that it could be because of the nuvaring, since I had been on it for so long already. I was having stomach problems, awful headaches, horrible anxiety, depression, mood swings, had no energy at all, horrible burning pain after sex. I started having spotting and periods that lasted for up to a month, and would pass huge blood clots. I talked to my obgyn in February and she told me to just switch my rings right away instead of keeping it out for a week for my period. That stopped the bleeding for about two months, then my period came back with a vengeance. I bled for over a month, stopped for a week, bled for a few more weeks. It was ridiculous. I've finally given up on the ring after yet another month-long period. I took it out a week ago and I have finally stopped bleeding. I've noticed a difference with other symptoms as well and I really hope my body gets back to normal soon. I found this site last week when I was trying to decide if I should stop using the ring or not and I couldn't believe how many women had the same symptoms that I've been having. I never realized that all of the problems that I've had were all due to my birth control. Now I'm stumped as to what birth control to try next. I've been reading up on them and they all seem to have horrible side effects like the ring. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

Last year I was put on nuvaring after having breakthrough bleeding with SEVERAL birth control pills. I had no problems. I loved it! Well after 6 months of use in December 2007, my husband and I decided to have our first child. Well the beginning of June 2008, we decided it just wasn't the right time for a child, so I decided to get back on the ring. After a week, I started having burning, irritation, cramps, just a little increase of discharge, and decrease in lubrication with sex. The burning and irritation only got worse with sex. Well I called my OBGYN. She told me that these were very common problems/side effects and would normally subside after my first couple cycles and that if it did not I would need to come in for an exam and that she may need to change my birth control. Naturally I asked how I didn't have problems the first time around. She told me that the first time I went straight from the pill to the ring so I had estrogen in my system, so switching to another form of estrogen didn't bother me, but this time since I haven't been on the ring for 6 months so it was like starting on the ring from nothing, but again they should subside after a couple cycles and just let her know if they did not. She suggested that I could take it out during sex to avoid the burning and irritation from worsening as long as it was not left out longer than 2 hours.

I am now on the second ring and the burning and irritation has subsided. As well as the increase in discharge. After her suggestion, I started taking the ring out during sex and it helped a lot. Taking it out during sex also prevented a decrease in lubrication.

It really is great!

I have been on the nuvaring for about 2 months now. I am noticing that I am a little down but mainly that when I am having intercourse, I am extremely irritated which interferes with my sex life. My ObGyn placed me on the nuvaring b/c of me being diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis. Since being on the nuvaring, I have not had any s/s of bacterial vaginosis but the side effects I am experiencing is very annoying and almost unbearable. Do they go away after a couple of months?

This is so interesting. I have been taking NuvaRing for over a year now, and for about a year I absolutely loved it. Recently, however, things have changed. In Feb. I accidentally left the ring in for one week too long and then put it in one day late... I didn't think much of it, but then in March my period was really light. In April, my breast began to swell and got very tender and I started having headaches and a lot of nausea and I started gaining weight. At the end of the month, my period was just spotting. I, of course, took a pregnancy test, which came out negative. In May and June things have continued to be bad...spotting periods, extreme fatigue, a lot of weight gain, constipation, bloating and pain in my abdomen during sex. I took two more home pregnancy tests and even went to my doctor for a blood test...all negative. Today, my family doctor suggested that it could be my nuvaring. I had no idea! That's why I googled NuvaRing side effects today and found this sight. I've scheduled an appointment with my OBGYN so I can change my BC method. Looking back, I have noticed that I am much more aggressive than I was 1.5 years ago. I used to have great relationships with my students and used to be such a patient person, but over last 1.5 years I have started to get aggravated really easily...I even honk my horn at people. That is really not who I am! So hopefully after I take the NuvaRing out, I'll go back to being myself and feeling healthy.

I'm 36 and i've been on the NuvaRing for about 4 years now. It was great at first, since I kept forgetting to take a pill. This last cycle I was two days late to insert the new one. My side effects are awful! And this is the first time this has ever happened. I want to sleep all the time, my stomach is cramping horribly, my breasts are tender, and I am so bloated. I was thinking maybe I was PG, but after reading this, maybe it's just side effects...? Anyone else?

I'm glad to have seen this site, because I thought it was just my fault that I wasn't "clean" enough after getting 4 UTI's during the time I have been using the ring (2 years). And there were numerous times when I felt I was about to have a UTI that I was told I did not have one. I used to be on the patch before the Nuvaring and did not have any of these problems (although I was a bit moodier on the patch.) When I brought my concerns up to my obgyn, she brushed it off, saying "oh, no, that shouldn't be happening." When I also mentioned that my partner felt the ring during sex and that I felt the ring was increasing the amount of discharge I produced, she denied any connection to the ring saying "He shouldn't feel the ring and I'll do an STD workup on you." I thought it was offensive and assuming of her to think that maybe these things are linked. However, I am really considering switching my method of birth control because it seems that many other women are complaining of very similar side effects.

i am 14, and i have never use a nuvaring before but wanting to look for an easy to use contraceptive method, i had been doing it with the withdrawal method for 5 months now and wanting to consider using some sort of contraception... but i also want to know what food i can eat to reduce the risk of getting pregnant?

I have been on NuvaRing for a little less than a year. My OBGYN prescribed it. It was my first time using birth control. I noticed 2 things right away - I was a lot more calm/non-chalant and I had lessened sex drive. I thought the latter was due to my nervousness about my boyfriend pushing it up too far for me to fish it out again and maybe at first that was part of it. But it's gone from overactive to almost non-existent (little physical desire, mostly emotional & love desire). I think normally there such be a balance. Also it is difficult to have an orgasm now - I have to really concentrate. My calmness was great in that it balanced out my highs and lows, but now it's to the point that I mostly don't really care about anything one way or the other. Too non-chalant. I also am experiencing depression for no or irrelevant reasons - so bad that it's kept me out of work and even - yes - even the shopping mall! I have no desire to go outside and do anything - grocery shopping, shopping, shopping, walking around or anything - which I thought at first was a good thing for the shopping, shopping. Like most of the posters I could just lay around and sleep and eat all day. With the sleep - I can sleep, but I am NEVER tired. I can stay up until the wee hours of the morning without a yawn like it's the afternoon and I still wake up very early. With the food - I can eat multiple times in a row - full meals. I'm always hungry and never full/satisfied. I am constipated with hard stools. This was an issue until I got off of partially hydrogenated oils (about 2-3 years ago), however even with my altered diet I've still been having issues. My thighs have been falling asleep - weird. Also I can't remember anything from one moment to the next - which I blamed on stress and age. I discontinued NuvaRing as of today (the day I found these posts). Thank you for being so honest & for sharing your experiences. Hopefully these posts will help others in search of answers.

I am a new to BC. I am on my 2nd ring and I am having really bad headaches. I also have been sweating. I wake up during the night drenched from sweat. While trying to exercise, walk, or shop I am so hot I am removing clothing and fanning myself for relief. This past week while shopping at the grocery store I became so hot that I had to leave my cart and stand out side in the rain for relief. I have read a few of the past entries but no one has mentioned sweating as a side effect. Oh and shall I mention I am only 27 yrs old so no chance of menopause. Could this be a side effect from the Ring?

I have been on the NuvaRing for 3 weeks now.... It is convenient but the entire time I was extremely queasy and nauseous with a little cramping almost every day. I just took the ring out three days ago for the "off week" and i am having extremely severe symptoms, such as nausea without vomiting, i cant smell some foods or i want to throw up, and cramping. i should have had my period today (it says 2-3 days) but i haven't yet. i am extremely anxious (more so than I've ever been) and my boyfriend is really worried about me right now. i feel pregnant, but i shouldn't be! it seems impossible because we've ALWAYS been safe.

i might not put it back in!!! it seems like this convenience isn't worth the suffering and panicking every month!

I've only been on it for a month, this is the second time it's in
I've noticed my acne has gotten much worse (i was told it would make it better?)
and I'm SO tired all of the time- i can never get enough sleep
i went for 2 pregnancy tests because i was just throwing up for no reason-
both were negative, so I'm guessing it's the ring making me throw up
the appetite change seems to be opposite for me though
i can't seem to make myself eat- food seems disgusting to me
complete loss in appetite

it's only been a month, and I'm going to keep it in until i go see my OBGYN on the 14th,
but it seems that all these affects are from the ring.

I have been on the NuvaRing for 3 weeks now. I have been having bad side effects, I am 14 years old and I highly recommend you do not use the NuvaRing it makes you a depressed person all the time it makes you have headaches and serious cramps and pains which i have had. It makes you mean which I was happy all the time before the Birth control method my doctor put me on. I am not satisfied, I have felt like vomiting and my NuvaRing comes out when I use tampons and it gets in the way it hurts... it is not good... I have been feeling dissy very tired.. feel like I never have enough sleep my parents been wondering whats wrong with me too its kind of like having a major bad hang over.. ( not that I know ) but I have heard what there like. I have been feeling really sick really hot.. and eat a lot I have had rashes as I would say because I just don't get break outs... which is weird I have gotten a break out on my forehead and on my chin..
I have been eating non-stop my apatite has changed.. and I am taking this method out as soon as i talk to my doctor and get switched to the pill the 6th.
So I HIGHLY recommend you do not use the NuvaRing.. but thats your decision just know the consequences that come with it.
oh and one last thing i have been having weird periods with a darkish brown colored period it has a weird odor too.. you might not take my advice because I'm young but I know what its like and if i would have known the effects I would have NEVER put my self through all this, so check into the side effects before you start a new birth control method if you have already used the nuvaring.. some people think the NuvaRing is good which to some people it is.. but for me it is horrible at first it was GREAT!!!
now its not so great .. =\ I personally think the pill will be best.. people say how its so bad to remember but its like this is you want to be protected and if you make the dicision you will remember.. I seriously am thinking about the pill i have heard its bad and i heard its good.
( Some of the same side effects come along with it tho )
Just know that.
So if you have experienced any of these please let me know.
I have had trouble breathing to.
or just write me back on here let me know if you have had the same symptoms I'm kinda worried.

THANX
Alicia-

I used NuvaRing in March of 2004 for 2.3 days and I've been paying for it ever since. My doctor's say it's just a coincidence, but I believe it was all triggered by the NuvaRing.

By the second day I had it in, I had the symptoms of a UTI and it was hurting to even walk. I pulled it out, called my OBGYN, and told them I had a UTI. They put me on the patch instead and prescribed me some antibiotics for my UTI.

After finishing the prescription, my UTI symptoms had not decreased, so I went in and gave a urine sample. They put me on a different antibiotic and after finishing that, my UTI symptoms still had not decreased.

They referred me to go see a Urologist at this point. I went in and they said my urine was fine, however I still did not feel ANY improvement. A week or so later I went back to the Urologist, and then a UTI did show up, so they treated me. Once again, I did not feel any improvement, but I went back and my urine test came out negative.

I had a done to look for possible Interstitial Cystitis, but the results were normal. Basically the Dr. told me I am fine and gave me Pyridium to use as needed to numb the bladder.

Ever since then, I've been to doctor after doctor, trying to find answers. Luckily the pain now is a lot less intense but still happens on average about 2-3 times a week, randomly.

None of the doctor's I've seen know what I have. The last dr. I saw said it's probably Chronic Urethral Pain Syndrome, but he is not sure. He'd want to do several tests, which don't sound fun. I've done so many already and to this day now I've had 3 cystoscopys, DSMO treatments that didn't help, PST tests, and so on.

My suggestion: DON"T EVER EVEN TRY THE NUVARING! Also, I was on the pill (many different brands over ten years), and don't recommend that. After getting off birth control, it took just about 3 years to get my cycles back to normal. The change in hormones also made me break out like a teenager, and I'm 34. Talk about no fun.

Hey there, I'm 21 and just recently started the NuvaRing (Dec.4th)....
This site dumb founded me! I was just clicking around this morning before work to see what this thing was doing to me and couldn't believe my eyes! Or the fact that I hadn't realized until I read it from others how it effected me personally! I have experienced almost insanity,crying, depression, confusion in my life, pains, bloating, my eye twitching?, rash and itching on my lower tummy and boobs, restless nights, I've always been pretty sexually driven but not so much lately... I just couldn't believe that almost everything I have been going through others are going through also! What is up with that? I tried the patch once awhile ago and it made me moody... so I went back to pills (I'm not a good pill taker) and about a year ago I ended up in the Hospital with an Ovarian Cyst the size of an orange! They put me on a higher dose of BC to make the cyst shrink/go away... I still have had pains and problems associated with the cyst so my OBGYN suggested the NuvaRing so that I wouldn't forget to take my BC and it would help me... Not So Much... I don't know what to do...? The past few days I haven't been as irritable or grumpy and have felt like a happy person but am still having pains. I started to have the beginnings of a period (not actual blood) at the end of Dec-beginning of Jan and recently 3 days ago actually started bleeding... so I've had an ongoing period for weeks.... I'm half tempted to just take this sucker out... I am calling my OBGYN tomorrow and explaining all this... any thoughts-comments- would be appreciated! Wish me luck...
Amanda

Every time after sex, I usually go to urinate, which is normal, but since I've been on NuvaRing for about 3 months now, every time after sex I pee and it stings! I hate this, I first thought I may have a UTI, but after reading what others have said, I now can confirm it's one of the side effects of the NuvaRing. Besides the stinging affect, I love the NuvaRing, it is so convenient not having to take something everyday or every week. I think I will talk to my obgyn and comment on the stinging part.

I was on the NuvaRing for about four months and I loved it until I asked myself why I was even on it considering my boyfriend and I had not had intercourse for as long as I could remember. I realized every time he wanted to I had no interest and would make up excuses and could not achieve an orgasm for the life of me. That's not all, I began to noticed a very unpleasant, potent smell that became increasingly noticeable as the days led on and it got to the point where I could smell it when I was fully dressed out in public and I can assure you I have never smelled anything like this. I have been off for a about a month and a half now and the smell has disappointed, and my sex drive is back but the smell won't seem to go away in full and it soaks into the skin of my partner and he has to wait for days for the smell to go away after he spends time scrubbing himself. This is no way to live! It's humiliating!! I also feel that since I have been off I get extremely tired and pass out in the middle of the day not even realizing that I've fallen asleep! I sleep for hours and I was late to work yesterday because of it. I know that I am not pregnant, and nothing has changed in my life except the NuvaRing

I have been on NR for 5 months. I have experience all of the symptoms metioned in these postings. I have to tell you its a relief to hear I'm not the only one. I feel like I'm falling apart. My periods are about 2 days of brown spotting, the nightsweats are terrible. I know its summer but for no reason I just break out into a sweat and not only at night. Also I have been having kidney pain and what are described as "ice pick headaches". I didnt see these mentioned here. Anyone else feel it? It also feels like I have something in my stomache but it turns out its all the bloating. I also read one poster how she would drink and drink and not go to the bathroom. That happens to me too. I will be making an appt to see my OBGYN to discuss other options.

I started having sex for the first time a few months ago with my boyfriend, so I decided to go to the Obgyn and get on birth control for the first time. Before I went to the doctor I did quite a bit of research to decide what type of birth control I wanted to get. I got to the doctor and she suggested NuvaRing. I hadn’t considered the option much but from what she said it sounded very convenient and simple. I liked the fact that you could just leave it in and not worry about it. She told me that she had many patients who really liked it and didn’t list many side effects that sounded too unbearable. I decided to start it but regretted it very soon after. The first week went fine and I didn’t notice any side effects at all. Then about a week after ending my period, I started another one! At first I thought it might just be spotting because it was listed as a side effect and the bleeding wasn’t heavy at all. I kept waiting for it to go away but it kept on coming, and getting worse! Three days into it I was bleeding more than I do during a normal period. I keep waiting for it to stop but I just keep bleeding and it’s now been going for seven days, four days longer than my periods normally last. It also smells really bad and has a brownish color that is not usually present in my normal periods. I am extremely annoyed and don’t really know what’s happening. I feel really gross all the time and have absolutely no sex drive. Although I haven’t even had sex since starting the ring because of this never-ending bleeding, any other type of sexual activity I engage in either hurts or just doesn’t interest me at all. I have also had cramps and lower back pain persistently since I started using the ring. These pains haven’t been excruciating, but they certainly have been annoying. I thought these were the only side effects until I found this site and started reading. I have been considerably more moody and irritable lately and never really made the connection until now. I don’t usually have too many fights with my boyfriend but lately we have been constantly fighting for really no reason at all. He seems to avoid me and we have been spending a lot less time together and it’s making me quite depressed. I am irritable and impatient at work and everything and everyone seems to annoy me. I am uptight and have trouble letting lose and having fun or finding joy in simple things. I recently had a close friend die, and I just figured this was the cause of all of my emotional problems, but after reading all this I’m starting to think it is NuvaRing that’s causing all these problems! I also read some things about women getting cold sores because of this product, and guess what? I’m getting a cold sore! I’m definitely going to start looking for a new birth control option. I’m very disappointed because at first I thought NuvaRing was a great, simple, convenient option but it’s not at all worth all these side effects.

I just finished my 5th cycle on Nuvaring. I decided to use Nuvaring because my OBGYN suggested it as a contraceptive, I did not want to take the pill everyday and I was hoping it would help regulate my periods. Nuvaring is the only birth control I've been on and the information I got with it did not list mood swings as a major side effect. I did not realize at first that my moods had changed until a few months after I started the medication. I've been having horrible mood swings, depression, and anxiety. This caused a lot of fights with my boyfriend and I thought that it was all his fault but I realize now that I have become very testy and I overreact... I did not act that way before the medication. I now realize that these severe mood changes occur the worst on the day I take the ring out and during my period. At first I was so happy that my period was lighter and not sporadic. I have not had any of the other side effects I've read on this forum but I am going to discontiue using it. I recently saw an advertisement for a birth control pill that is suppose to have less side effects and I am going to ask my OBGYN about it.

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 never been on any formd of birth control before. But after having my 2 kids, Me and my husband decide not to have anymore soon.
My OBGYN recommended nuvaring, I like the fact that u control your own cycle and its 99.9% efeective.
ANYWAYS, its been over a year now since I first started it, and just to let u know, there side effects arent going anywhere.
At first, I hate the way it makes me feel, so I called my GYN. She recommended to use it for 3 months and the side effects will all go away.(My body just need to get use to the harmone).
Well, its been over 3 months and I'm still waiting for the side effects to go away.
I HAD ALMOST ALL THESE SIDE EFFECTS LISTED HERE.
-Crying for no reason
-depression. (suicicidal thoughts)
-having trouble sleeping
-upper Resp. infections (during the mornings when I wake up, I have a severe runny nose, headaches, and I feel like I'm pregnant having morning sickness). I would also cough up alot of THICK MUCUS off my chest.

So I just have to say I love the Nuvaring. I have been on and off birth control since i was 18 and i am 24 now. I hated taking the pill i always forgot so i was always afraid. I was sketchy about the patch so when the nuvaring came out i was at my OBGYN in a flash. the only side affect is the discharge but it isn't bad and worth the convience... I give it 2 thumbs up!!!!