NuvaRing and periods

I have not had any issues with the NuvaRing AT ALL. I think it's awesome that I don't have to take a freakin pill every day. My cramps are lessoned, my periods are lighter.... I'd like to see actually statistics as to how many women are on the NuvaRing vs. How many women actually have neg. side effects from it.

I have been on the NuvaRing for 2 years. I love it because I don't have to take a pill. However, with the slightest change in schedule (taking it out Sunday AM instead of Sat night for example) my cycle is thrown totally off, late, spotty periods, breast tenderness when I start my new ring. This has happened to my twice and both times I went through about 4 home prego tests. If your reading this and have similar symptoms relax, from everything I have read the ring is HIGHLY effective, thats why we take it right!

I am 21, and I have been on NuvaRing for 4 years. I got on it to regulate my periods. I loved it because I did not have to take a pill everyday, and I would know exactly when I was going to start. After a couple months of being on the NuvaRing I was getting really really tired. I had no desire to do anything but nap. I had become anemic. After I got on iron pills, my energy level increased and I was back to normal. Also, during the first year my immune system went down tremendously. I was sick with more than I have ever been. Still I did not blame the NuvaRing. During the next year I started having bad stomach problems. I could not keep anything in without having to run to the restroom, and I was constantly nauseated. After losing 20 lbs, I decided to go to the Dr. After doing tests, his only response was that I had IBS. After a few months the stomach problems ceased. My appetite has decreased tremendously. My mother brought to my attention that ever since the NuvaRing I was constantly complaining about not feeling well. I was in denial. I loved knowing when I would start my period, and I could not take pills everyday. Life went on. The third year, I almost passed out at school. I have felt like this before, but only when I hadn't eaten. I went to the Dr. and I was found with a heart problem. I had a procedure, but I still feel out of breath occasionally. I have chest pains occasionally, as well. I still get really nauseated, but my immune system has gotten much better. Therefore, I tell my mother that I am better, no need to stop the NuvaRing. In the past year I have noticed that I am an emotional rollercoaster. I drive my friends, family, and boyfriend crazy. This past week it hit me that I could be having side effects from the NuvaRing because I have ALWAYS been very happy. After getting on here and reading everyone's side effects, I am amazed. Everything that I have been through the past 4 years is probably because of the NuvaRing. I am going to try to stop the NuvaRing and see how much better I can feel. I can't wait!

I have been on the Ring for 4 years. I have had minimal side effects compared to other birth control (BC). IT IS A HORMONE. The nausea, tiredness, weight gain, moodiness is because we are elevating the hormones in our bodies to make our bodies THINK its pregnant. All BC have these effects to some degree. If the Ring doesn't work, try a different kind of BC and then different levels of hormones, or types of hormones. You have to "shop around" to find the BC that gives you the least side effects for your body.

I have had weight gain and a reduced libido but that is nothing compared to the side effects I had with pills (crazy nuts, sore breasts, pain with sex, constant periods). And I am getting older (now 33) so I expect some of the changes are likely part of me aging and if not they do not out way how easy the Ring is to use and my assurance I am protected ea. month. I have been very happy with the Ring.

Now to my problem. My husband and I decided the possibility of blood clots (I am a smoker over 30) is not worth the risk to be on BC at all. So, after my last cycle I stopped the Ring after 4 good years.
I am soooo sore now. I feel like someone punched me in my ovaries and uterus. I hurt so much I can't hold in my stomach. Is this common when you stop BC or just the Ring?

I was on NuvaRing for 3 years. Just recently went off, because we TTC, I got my 2 periods. Now I'm 4 days past due. Pregnancy test came negative, I have terrible cramps, sore breast etc. I wish I never used NuvaRing....

Well I was on the Nuvaring for two and a half years. I was taking it purely for the birth control, my periods prior were fine. I had no side effects until about 2 years in. It was December of this year and I started pulling over on the side of the road with horrible panic attacks. I was scared to drive feeling like I was about to pass out. I started going to and acupuncturist in hopes of relieving my anxiety. Right away he said it was my hormones in the birth control, but I didn't want to believe him. About 3 months later I asked my Gyno and she swore that the hormones from the birth control would not cause anxiety. Well slowly it got worse. I was panicking on an airplane- which I had never done before. I had panic attacks in the middle of the day, when I saw the sun set; I was feeling claustrophobic in my own house. I was constantly nervous, and had lost my appetite. So I decided to take out the nuvaring. Within 4 hours I felt better. It has been amazing the change I have felt. I am not 100% feeling better, because I scared myself with bad thoughts while feeling nervous, but I am on my way back to my old self. I caution the use of the Nuvaring, only because it caused me to feel like I was going crazy, and it took years to see those side effects.

I have itching,burning,discharge,cramping that makes me wanna scream....and the itching is so bad i want to peel my skin off.i have severe sleepiness even after a nights rest an i will get tired an fall asleep any where but that could be my severe anemia but the pill makes me too sick and depo is toooooo much weight gain and the patch is discontinued up here but i need something for my heavy uncontrollable periods what should i do?.....J.

I have only been using the nuvaring for about a month now. I recently took it out as the three week time period had been up. But as soon as I took it out, I began experiencing severe cramps, and sharp pains to my pelvis. My periods are heavier, and the blood clots are about the size of a quarter. Why is this? and is this normal?

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...

My experience with the NuvaRing thus far has been disastrous. I was prepared to put up with the ruined underwear from unexpected menstruation but today whilst sobbing uncontrollably on the freeway with my husband gasping at me helplessly was enough. He actually was the one who suggested that it may be the ring and after reading the accounts of other women I am glad it is not me (and so is he). I actually just read some accounts to him and he was looking at me with a "told you so" look on his face. I have been in remission from clinical depression for a year and a half now, and these feelings I am having whilst on the ring are those of depression. I was seriously scared that possibly I had slipped back into a depressive state, but only a few weeks ago I was happy with my life and safe and stable. I am also ANGRY at everything. Again, something I was really concerned about- that is totally not the person I am. I am also having periods of dizziness and loss of consciousness which I thought was dehydration, but I could not seem to fix it. I am sure this is an effective form of birth control for some women, but I would just like to let you all know that constant vaginal bleeding, depression and thoughts of no self worth, anger, dizziness and pain are not worth it. Not in my experience.

this is B again.18 yrs old. Also my sex drive has raised.I also suffer from Anxiety. I have been have cramps when im not on my period or near cause the NuvaRing im on stops my periods.I also thought I was pregnant but the all turn out neg.

I have been on the NuvaRing for over a year. I chose it because the medication I was taking for a neck problem was not safe for pregnancy, but I wanted to have the ability to get pregnant quickly once I was off the medication. I had no side effects or issues at all while using NuvaRing. Of course there was spotting and irregularity when I first went on it, but that is standard when there are hormone changes. Periods got lighter and shorter over time, and that is one of the stated side effects. My neck problem is resolved and now I am going off of that medication. So I did not re-insert a NuvaRing this month. Wow, what a change! I am having horrible hot flashes and night sweats. So two possibilities as I see it: 1) these perimenopause symptoms are with me for the next few years and the NuvaRing was holding them at bay, or 2) my body was expecting NR and its associated hormones but since it didn't get them, the resulting hormone changes are causing short-term hot flashes and night sweats. I sure hope it is the latter. But either way, I can't see where NR is at fault. I would recommend it.

I been using NuvaRing for the first time from July 25 and I took it out on the 28 of July.Why? Because I had big blood clots. These clots really scared me. I am not use to anything like that. My periods are very light and normal, so when I seen this I said no way. I have low blood anyway and I felt very very light headed. I also felt tightness in my legs. I could not sleep at all. I wake up in the middle of night.
I believe the FDA need to do more study on this birth control. Doctors don't really know much about this NuvaRing.

My doctor put me on Nuvaring about four months ago to prevent my rupturing ovarian cysts and to prevent pregnancy. I love the convenience of the ring, although I have experienced several side effects I contribute to being on the ring. First of all, my sex drive is now non existent, which is a large change for me. Also, my periods have become worse since starting, I have very heavy bleeding, primarily dark brown clotted blood and severe cramps which travel to my back and down my legs. I have also had three yeast infections in four months, which before the ring, I had one my entire life. The worst of the symptoms, which if anyone else is having this, PLEASE share with me, is I am leaking a small amount of urine. It doesn;t matter if I have to go to the bathroom or not, I just leak a few drops an hour. This has started a few weeks ago and I am not sure how or why. I do have to say, since starting the ring, I have not had any ovarian cysts rupture, which the several birth control pills I have been on for the past 12 years have not been able to stop. I am open to suggestions!!

I've been on the NuvaRing for 2 years now. I think it reacts differently to everyone. It has made my life much better. My periods are shorter, lighter and less painful. I used to get sore muscles and sore breasts a few days before I started now I have none of that. I'm not moody and for the first time in my life I don't have to spend the first day of my period in bed. My body adjusted to it quickly and I didn't have any spotting. I still have my sex drive and there is no pain during sex. I have a lot of stomach problems (bad gallbladder) and if I were on an oral contraceptive I would likely be pregnant because my body wouldn't absorb the pill properly. This has been a lifesaver for me.

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

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

I am so glad that I found this site! I have been on the NuvaRing for about a year and have noticed side effects that I couldn't pinpoint the cause of.

I'm a very petite girl. Only 5 feet tall and usually about 94 lbs. Well since going on the NuvaRing my weight has gone up to 112! Not a big increase to the average person. But I am so small boned and so short, that all of this extra weight went straight to my tummy, butt and thighs and now I look so un-proportioned that it's ridiculous! 18 lbs. is a HUGE amount of weight for me to gain.

I've also had terrible headaches that (if I don't take anything right away for them) sometimes cause me to pass out or vomit because the pain is so intense. I have crazy mood swings that go up and down minute by minute and this has caused many fights between my fiance and I that start over stupid little things.

Also, my periods are alot heavier since I've gone on the ring. I used to have to change my tampon once every five hours or maybe even every six and never, ever leaked. Since going on the ring my periods have changed drastically and now I'm lucky if I can go two hours without leaking through a tampon! When I have my period I'm on constant guard.

Lastly, my sex drive is non-existent. Completely 100% gone. It's awful! I never, ever feel like having sex and that is NOT the normal me. Normally my sex drive is through the roof, but since going on NR I've noticed my sex drive drop more and more every month, every week, every day. This has hurt my fiance because he thinks it's him, which obviously it never was. Now after finding this site at least I can assure him of that.

After all of these side effects I decided to go off the NuvaRing. It's a form of birth control that I don't feel is safe for my body and is damaging to my relationship. I was on Ortho-Tri Lo before and will happily be going back on it again. After all I've gone through with NuvaRing, taking a little pill every day doesn't seem like that much of a hassle anymore.

I've been on the Nuvaring for about a year now. At first there were no symptoms and I actually felt a lot better since it made my periods shorter and lighter with less cramps. Recently, my skin has been acting up with rashes on my forearms and between my thighs and even sometimes on my face and lower abdomen! I've always had issues with my skin because I have eczema but it's never acted up this way before and the last time i had it anywhere but where my arm bends was when I was 12!
My attitude has also taken a turn for the worse, I used to be very active and play sports all the time, but since using the Nuvaring my body has changed so much! My flat stomach is gone. :( I feel like I'm always bloated and my weight went from 120 to 135. I attributed all these changes to maybe being disinterested in playing sports or maybe because I'm in a serious relationship, but after reading all these posts I'm sure I'm getting off of the Nuvaring. I haven't had a lessend sex-drive, but I don't orgasm as much as I think is normal. I also had really curly hair before, I thought it straightening out was maybe because I was straightening it too much, so I stopped using the straightener and started using a curl boosting shampoo and conditioner, its been 2 months and I still have not even one curl.

I am 22, and a newly wed. I have been using NR since i was 18. I have been pretty happy with it until this last couple months when i have started to have some severe side effects. I actually ended up in the ER the 29th of may. i had some weight gain at the beginning but i figured that it was normal and didn't think too much of it. When i went to the ER it was because of how much pain i was in with my lower abdomen. They said they THOUGHT it MIGHT be a ruptured cyst. I went to the doctor the next day and she said that it wasn't. Since then i have noticed that my hair has been falling out, im a very thick haired blond. (not fair!!) the pain in my uterine area has been crippling. I ended up quitting my job due to nervous break down because of the pain and the not knowing why. I have abnormal pap smears the months that i used the nuvaring. Body aches, massive head aches, depression, moodiness, heavy excruciating periods, back aches, nausea, breast tenderness, and more and more weight gain. I have gained about 50 lbs since starting NR. I used it because i am AWFUL with pills. So that leaves me with nothing other than condoms, and they hurt me. When my husband and i have sex, WHEN we have sex, it hurts before, during and after. To the tune that my husband is afraid to have sex with me, for fear of causing me pain. So what to do?

I was on Nuvaring for about 3 yrs, i liked the fact that my periods were regulated now and they only lasted for 2-3 days, not mention they were light. When i started NuvaRing i was about 199 to 200 lbs... I was cute at this weight because i like thick thighs. But now i am 215 and i couldn't understand how i gained weight like that especially since nothing changed in my life except me going to school, which added more activity to my life. I have been off NuvaRing for 1 month now, i got off because my boyfriend and i want to have a baby, I was gonna put the ring back in this Sunday, but not anymore after reading this... I am gonna hit the gym hard and hopefully my hair will stop falling out. My bathroom, bed, brush, comb, and car is covered daily with hair... Im tired of cleaning it up that much. NO MORE NUVARING FOR ME

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?

After being on several birth controls for 5 years, the past 3 have been on NuvaRing. It was great for 2 years but the past year hasn't been great. I was getting my periods on Tuesdays and very light flow that lasted 3 days. Now I get it on Wednesdays and it lasts 5-6 days. Not to mention the horrible, painful cramps I get when I take the ring out. I have gained an enormous amount of weight and become very emotional with constant mood swings. I know with the other birth controls I have been on my body got so used to them to that it started rejecting the hormones. I have to say that the same thing is happening with NuvaRing. While by body was accepting it, NuvaRing was a great alternative to a pill. But, all good things must come to an end so today was my last day on it. I'm curious to see what happens next.

I am 17 years old and have been on NuvaRing for about 5 months. My doctor put me on birth control because i have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and would not be able to get my periods on my own. I've noticed that ive been much more tired and can sleep longer but that isn't what bothers me. PCOS made me have severe cystic acne but after being on the NuvaRing for a few months my skin is completely clear. Also, I find it convenient not to have to take a pill every day. The side effect that really bothers me is the weight gain. I have gained 10 pounds over the past 5 months and being 5'2 I really can't handle it. None of my clothes fit, my face looks fatter, and I am completely insecure. My boobs went up a cup size which is always a plus, but I really can't deal with the weight gain. I've been on birth control before and it made me gain 10 pounds also, and I was wondering if anyone has seen the weight gain disappear after using the NuvaRing for longer periods of time. If not, I plan on switching to a low-dose birth control this week but if the side effects of weight gain start to go away I would like to stay on the NuvaRing.

I've been on NuvaRing for about two years now and have had random fainting spells and my periods start early and last longer than normal. Whenever my boyfriend and I have sex it feels like my vagina is burning (no condom used). Also, whenever my boyfriend wants to have sex I turn him away because the thought of it makes me disgusted. There is no desire to have sex. The only time I do have sexual desire is when the ring is out and that is when I have my period. I get very irritable around other people when the ring is in. The last time I put the ring in, the following day I felt nauseated all day and vomited. A week later I got my period. My patients is running out because I'm sick of getting my period all the time and not being able to spend intimate time with my boyfriend (weather it's because I have my period or because the thought of sex disgusts me). The reason I started NuvaRing was because I had been taking the pill for 4 years and wanted something that was not going to make me sick if I did not eat after taking it. Also, I wanted something that was more convenient. Now I've experienced the side effects and I highly discourage anyone else from using NuvaRing.

I have been on NuvaRing for over 3 years now. When I first went on birth control I was using the ortho evra patch however, I was suffering from side effects such as nausea, always feeling sick and tired. I eat a lot and everything but while using the patch I felt TERRIBLE eating the blandest toast. I am not a heavy drinker but even one cocktail would cause me to be extremely sick. I switched to NuvaRing and since then I was back to my normal self. Not only that but while on the NuvaRing my period is like CLOCKWORK, I know exactly when I am getting my period. I did not experience any breakthrough bleeding and my periods are extremely light. Overall the switch to NuvaRing was so worth it.

I recently started the nuvaring for the first time a little over 1 week ago. I placed it as directed (on your first day of your period). my periods are typically 3 to 5 days with the last two days being extremely light. Since I have begun the nuvaring I have been having moderate to heavy bleeding. I was under the impression that this would give me about a 3 day period. I have never had bleeding for this length of time. Again, this is my first time to use this. Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions?

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

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

I have been on the nuvaring for almost 3 years.
The first year was great! I hated taking a pill everyday, so at first i opted for the Depo, which was great for a year, but i really didn't trust it and not having periods made me uneasy.

The nuvaring seemed like a blessing! I had no trouble for the first year and a half. I recommended it to all my friends. I didn't have any side effects, and I loved the convenience!

However, now i am experiencing some serious side effects, and thanks to this website I realize I am not the only one. I have two concerns that i link to the BC: depression and no sex drive. Some days I just want to lay in bed, and sleep. I do not want to leave the house, or see anyone. I have told my BF (of 3 years) that i just need some "me time". I am fatigued and show many symptoms of depression.
I am only 24 years old, and i have NO sex drive. It has taken a tole on the relationship with my boyfriend. Many nights i try to get in bed before him, so i can appear asleep. There have been so many nights where i would tell him "i'm sick", "i have cramps"... sooo many excuses. When we do have sex it is usually forced, and i do it because i haven't in a week!

This past year I have also had digestive problems, which seemed to have appeared out of no where. Im not sure if I blame them on the nuvaring, but I've noticed a few other people have mentioned it as well.

Okay well...i've been on the nuvaring since 2006 off an on...and i would definitely have to say that I have had similar symptoms but I never attributed them to the ring. I have had morning headaches (which I thought was from sleep apnea that i was just recently diagnosed with). I have been very tired and sleep...falling asleep while driving...which again I thought was to be my sleep apnea. Sooo now that I read all these stories about similar symptoms...I feel like the nuvaring may have some kind of effect to my headaches, sleepiness, depression, moodiness, low sex drive etc. I just finished my period when i take the ring out it usually doesn't come for a couple days. I didn't put it back in because i have gained a lot of weight since i started and I really want to try to loose it. I've gained about 30lbs... and it is making me miserable!! The last time I went off the nuvaring for a couple months and I never got my period...but I wasn't pregnant either..I'm really up in the air... I don't want another child (because I have 1) because I know I cannot afford it right not...but emotionally, I would love to have another baby. But, the constantly tearing up and crying over sad commercials or movies or just dumb stuff and the morning grump because I'm still tired or the headaches and laziness. I hope it stops soon so I can get back right with my life! So anyone who has gone off the ring and had problems with getting their period again or any positive stories after going off the ring would help.

I'm a 45 y/o female with PCOS, T2 Diabetes, IR, and a history of infertility. Back before I knew I had PCOS, I was prescribed clomid,and was finally able to get pregnant. Anyway, after my 3 girls were born ( the last 2 were twins), I went on Nuvaring. LOVE It. I have none of the symptoms anyone else here describes. It keeps me regular, and helps me avoid perimenopause hot flashes and sweats. Once I tried experimenting with going off of the nuvaring (so that I could use supplemental progesterone cream), and I gained weight!! Like, 18 POUNDS! My periods stopped and I was a mess. My endo had me go back on the nuvaring, and I resumed normal periods, and life. But now, I am being asked to give it up again, because it was noted during a recent colposcopy (exam with a magnifying scope as part of a follow up to an abnormal pap), that I have vaginal inflammation. I was told to go off the nuvaring. Well, I didn't even know I had vaginal inflammation. Now I'm off the ring, and .... guess what? My weight is going UP again. Has anyone else experienced weight GAIN with DISCONTINUATION of their NuvaRing? It was explained to me that since I have PCOS, the nuvaring might have helped to keep my weight down as it was suppressing my excess testosterone. GADS! What to do?

Hi,
I have posted here before, and now I'm wondering about you who have gone off the ring after using it a few years, how your body has reacted to the stopping of Nuvaring? Has anything changed?
I was using it for about 2 years and now I have been off it for about 3 weeks (first 1 regular week off and then I just didn't start a new ring). I haven't had my period again after going off it (just during that regular 1 week off), so I'm not sure how my body will work now that I have stopped using Nuvaring after about 2 years of using it. For those who have gone off it after a few years, how has your body reacted?
Thank you!

WOW!!!! Omg.. I am so glad I recently got off Nuvaring. I recently moved and had several changes in my life, so I wouldn't be able to get more Nuvarings for a while.. I had one left and was going to use it, but after some reading online, I decided to not use that last one and to go off of it and see what happens. After reading all your comments online, I FINALLY understand what's been going on! omg and I thought I didn't really have any side effects...didn't think that my behavior and body changes related to NR. Now I know! I feel pretty sure it's because of NR, as it feels like it all makes sense now!
So, I have been using NR for about 2 years. The first month was awful, as I was bleeding pretty much all the time, and I saw a doctor about it and decided to see what happens with the next ring, we decided if it didn't get better after the second cycle started to check again and maybe go off of it, after given it some more time as it sometimes takes a while for the body to got used to it. As soon as I started the next cycle and put the second ring in, it was great and felt normal and like everything got stable. My periods we lighter and exactly on time, every month, now for the past 2 years. I've felt it's worked great, and I thought that I wasn't really affected by Nuvaring..until now!! I'm so mad I didn't realize earlier that NR may have been causing all my problems! Although I am glad that I have now stopped it and discovered all these people having similar problems and I feel like I finally have found the reason.
I thought NR was great for me until now I realize that my weight gains and emotional craziness sometimes was probably caused by it. Being sad and angry and pissed off without any big reason, tired and feeling like I don't want to do anything, weak sometimes, just pretty much instable. I thought all of this was related to various sad things happening in my life, and probably it was too, but some of my behavior should not be happening and now I understand what might have caused it.
Regarding the weight gain, I have for many years been able to eat pretty much anything and not gain weight, being about 5'6-5'7 and weighing about 57 kilos (about 125 pounds), I suddenly started gaining weight for the past few years, and not being able to lose to much, it's been soo annoying!! I thought it was because I was getting older and my body was changing (I'm 25), but maybe it was NR causing it. Recently I need to watch what I eat all the time, I am often bloated, and I feel like my clothes get tighter and tighter all the time, I can't even wear some of the clothes that I bought a few months or a year ago! Aaahhh!! It finally makes sense!! Thank you to all of you writing about your experiences online. I am so glad to have found so many people with the same symptoms. I thought for so long that I wasn't having any side effects, but apparently I did, without realizing that it was caused by Nuvaring!! Ah....
However, everyone is different, so it might work great for you. I thought it was a great BC for me, but now I realize it very likely that NR caused my problems. I can't believe I didn't realize this earlier, but I'm so happy I now know and have stayed off it. At first I was worried going off of it, as I didn't know what side effects I would have going off something I have been on for 2 years, but so far it's been about 2 weeks without it and nothing major has happened. I hope my periods won't go back to being really painful and heavy though. I had my week off and just didn't start a new cycle putting a new ring in.
Considering all these side effects I think probably were caused by Nuvaring (again, I haven't gotten it confirmed by a doctor, but it makes so much sense now that I think about the last 2 years of behavior changes and most of all the weight changes, as so many of you described as well), I now know NR is not for me..At least not now. It's been very convenient to just think about it twice a month, and it's been great for protecting against pregnancy, but I don't want to deal with all these side effects and I can't wait to see if all these symptoms will go away. I feel like I'm repeating myself but I'm soo glad to now understand and think "ooooooohhh" that's why :)
Again, everyone if different, so it might be work great for you. If you are experiencing similar side effects, please consider going off it. If you're on NR and feel great, that's great! It can be a great BC. Good luck everyone!

I last posted here that I started the ring March 6, 2008 that everything was going so far so good with the NuvaRing and its now April 5, 2009 and I'm getting off of the ring in one week and never putting in another one. In the past 6 months I have had no sex drive, few orgasms, a sharp pain underneath my left breast that comes and goes, and a 10 lb weight gain. I'm a 24 year old professional figure skater and should not be going through those side effects. I'm in excellent health and active daily. I have not had any headaches, no nausea, no depression, no fatigue, no acne problems, or spotting. I did not get on the NuvaRing to help my acne nor my periods, I got on the ring because I got into a relationship where I was having sex. I'm still in the relationship and its ruined our sex life. Not to mention I was paying $25 dollars for every ring and now its gone up to $54. I thought it was a smart idea to get on the ring because of the convenience but now I can do without it. Everyone should try the ring once to see how you react to it because EVERYONE is different. I'm just not interested in the aggravation anymore.

I am 19 years old and saw a gyno for the first time in October. He recommended NuvaRing to me, and I was very excited about using it to control my periods, during which I typically pass large clots, which makes them very painful. I started with the ring that day, and did not experience any noticeable side effects until I went home for Christmas. I began to become increasingly disillusioned with my life, which has absolutely nothing wrong with it. I have friends who love me, and a very intact and functional family, no man problems, and I am doing really well in school. When I went back to school in January, I immediately sank into a severe depression, probably paired with anxiety, in which I was afraid to leave my apartment and did not want contact with any other people in my life. The first morning of school, I called my mother and told her "I am not OK." I took the ring out, and the same day, my mom sent my father out to stay with me, and he did so for a week and a half without complaint. Eventually, though, he had to return to his life back home, and I was doing better and in the control of my friends, so he left. I struggled the first couple of days without him, then gradually got back to doing pretty well, but was not back to my previous self. I went home recently for Spring Break, and when I came back to school, I immediately had what I think was a panic attack (I've never had one before) and began to become depressed again. This time, however, its different. I hate being alone, and when I have down time, I start to think very profoundly about life and what it means...very philosophical and metaphysical thoughts. I only had the ring in for 2 and a half months, and I have had it out for about the same amount of time, but am still experiencing depression symptoms. I have never had problems with depression before, and am wondering if it has taken this long for anyone else's depression issues to work themselves out. Has anyone tried anti-depressants, or would you recommend them?

I had vaginal dryness, and a heavy period and when I say heavy I mean have to get up in the night 3-4 times, blood clotting mess going through a package of pads in a day.... I absolutely loved how convenient the ring was and I always had problems forgetting my pill, but I couldn't take these periods for the most part, and the stomach pain when I was on my period was gut turning.!!! Now I'm on Yasmin, and though many women complain of severe effects of Yasmin, I believe its with any birth control really Ive been through the patch, 4 types of pills, the needle and the ring, and so far Ive had no side effects with Yasmin and it has been the best!!

I am home right now (called into work) because of the severe abdominal cramps I am having since I stopped taking NuvaRing. It was so bad yesterday (sunday) my husband wanted to take me to the emergency room. I'm not currently menstruating, it's actually about a week before, though my periods have always been wonky, even with the birth control helping me tell it when to start, so I'm not really expecting it to show up. I seriously thought I was having a miscarriage last night, because I've had a child and labor pains didn't hurt as bad I hurt last night. The pain started at the top of my pelvic bone (around the ovaries) and moved up through my entire abdomen to my diaphragm. I'm so glad I found this webiste, because I actually thought something was really wrong with me. My belly feels swollen and walking is still a hassle through the soreness, but I think I can survive now. Also, the overeating - I was having that problem too right before my periods when I was on the ring, and while not a work out freak, I was always very conscious of maintaining my weight. It was like I was a bottomless Pit. I was on lexapro at the same time that I started the Nuvaring 2 1/2 years ago and between the two medicines, I gained 30 pounds. Now, since stopping the lexapro and starting the south beach diet, I've lost about 1/2 of that, so now that I've stopped the ring as well, I'm hoping I can lose the other 15, as easily as I lost weight before I started this medicine. All of the depression and moodiness - the loss of ability to concentrate. I thought all of that was just the PTSD I was experiencing (over something I won't go into here), but now I realize that if it was PTSD, then the NuvaRing wasn't helping. I hope this pain doesn't continue and I hope I can get back to normal. My problems with focusing have actually increased since I stopped, but I really hope that I can go back to normal soon. I'd rather have my irregular three or four day periods sometime between 28 and 37 days apart, and feel like I have my life back than the convenience that the NuvaRing presented. I think it's time to buy out some stock in Trojan. Thanks ladies for sharing your stories, I've really been helped here.

I was on the Nuvaring for about 9 months before I decided to go off it. At first it was great, but around the 3rd month I noticed that whenever I would put in my new ring I would feel extremely nauseous for the next day or two (as the hormones kicked in, I'm guessing). Then the longer I used it, I was VERY emotional and would cry all the time. I was constantly getting upset - which was terrible because I had gone on birth control b/c I was getting married. The last two months I was on it I also had terrible insomnia, and that was the last straw. Me and my husband couldn't take my moods anymore, the poor guy...
I'm 5'1" and about 100lbs, and i think that had a lot to do with it. The Nuvaring is one dosage for everyone, and I think being a smaller person had a worst effect on me. The plus for the ring, I have to say, was that my periods were barely there. They were very light when they came & I knew exactly when to expect them. But it's not worth it!!

I would just like to let you all know that I posted on this website on February 16th and took the ring out the same day. Today, two and a half weeks later: 1) my libido has returned!! (I'm back to wanting it twice a day, not twice a month), 2) I am no longer weepy and cranky (and I just lost my job--so that's really saying something!), 3) I have lost A SIZE in the past two and a half weeks!!!!--one more reason #1 is great!, 4) I can now drink soda and beer and eat spicy foods without bloating, 5) all of my weird digestive issues are almost completely gone, 6) no more chest pains, 7) I sleep a full 8 hours a night with no problems. Please, please, PLEASE--to any woman who is reading this--GET OFF of the NuvaRing!!

I started NR in October and didn't have too many issues with it except the burning after sex and vaginal dryness. In January I took a month off of it cuz I was broke and couldn't afford it then I started back on it again in February. I put it in when I started my February period and my period never stopped in the whole 3 weeks!! I took it out yesterday and am still freaking out cuz my periods have never been longer than 7 days so 3 weeks and counting is horrifying!! What is wrong with me?! Please help!!

I recently gave birth to my 2nd child in November 08. Before my second child, I had tried birth control pills (which gave me 2 periods a month) and the Depo shot ( which completely killed my sex drive and I gained 47lbs. in 6 months). After my 2nd child I had heard so many good things about the NuvaRing, so in Jan. I decided to give it a try. The first month was great!!! Although the 2nd month is when I started having problems. I was having dark brown bleeding before my period and serious mood swings. The 3rd time I removed it, I decided it was not for me. I gained almost 20 lbs. in a matter of 3 months and was a total bitch to everyone. After reading all of these side effects, I am relieved that I am not the only one and that I didn't throw a clot that could have possibly cost me my life! I took my Ring out on 3/1/09 and think that this is the best thing for me! Good luck to any women who continue to use the Ring!

I have only been on Nuvaring for about 9 months now, but I can not handle this any more. Since I have been on the ring, my periods have actually become more regular and shorter - yay - my problem is that since I started using it, I have been experiencing cyclic emotions, severe leg and foot cramps, almost constant sinus infections, and severe headaches.
The week before I remove the ring, I am a complete and total basketcase, thinking everyone hates me (including family and friends) and I almost constantly cry for no reason at all. The rest of the time, I am fine. I talked to the doctor and he told me it is not the ring and put me on an anti-depressant. Two months later, I talk to him again and he ups the dose on the anti-depressant and tells me I need professional counseling. I went, an was told these cyclic symptoms seem to be more hormonally related since it is at the same time every month.
After about the first month of use, I started getting HORRIBLE leg and foot cramps at night. I have had my potassium tested, it's fine, I was sent to a podiatrist who put me in leg and foot braces to sleep (which cost a bundle and did not help!) I have added additional potassium to vitamins and started drinking 64 oz of water a day (even put a bar of soap at the foot of the bed and a knife under the bed!!! I was willing to try anything). Still having problems.
As for the sinus infections, they have been almost constant, which previously I rarely got, but since starting the ring I am almost constantly have. Same with headaches!!! I REALLY don't get it.
Oh, and did I forget to mention that EVERY time my fiancee and I have intercourse I have to check to make sure it is still there?!? The first time I lost it, I got a call from him later in the day telling me I had lost my "braclet" (he had no idea about the ring). I didn't worry because it was the day to remove it anyway. As time has progressed, the ring will either end up in the bed or on him (!?!). I could understand if we were doing something odd, but we are pretty "normal."

I have now changed to a different doctor who told me I am not crazy, he has had other similar complaints about the ring, and is putting me on Depo, which I used several years ago with no problem). Three days and counting...

For a long time, I have experienced problems with Anemia for over two years because of a disorder with Endometrosis that caused bleeding every single day. While on birth control I was spotting everyday and then when I got off birth control my periods lasted 16 days. Thats when I knew something was wrong with me not the birth control. After numerous test, everything came back normal and I did not know what to do with myself. The doctor's did not help and I switched to a specialist. A doctor that saw me as a person not someone to bill on. She finally determined that I had endometrosis and I had surgery performed in December and was put on meds that caused weight gain before the surgery. I had to be put back on birth control on 1/31/2009 for it not to grow back as quickly. So we choose NuvaRing and I bleed everyday, maintained my weight while trying to loose it, got nausea, dizzy spells, and very lethargic so I assumed I was anemic and took my Iron pills and B complex pills and still I was feeling sick...sick!!! Now I am the type of person who looses weight faster than I put it on and after a few weeks of working my ass off at the gym and eating a very strict diet, I never lost an ounce. However, right before I started the NuvaRing I lost 5 pounds in two weeks. So after giving Nuvaring a try and talking to my doctor we determined that it was making me really really sick.

I cannot tell you how glad I am to have found this website!!! My husband I got married in October 2007, and I began using the ring since condoms didn't make sense to us as a monogamous couple and the risk of missing a pill was too high. Up until yesterday, I was extremely excited about the pill. My sister and some friends of mine had experienced frequent vaginal infections with the pill, but I found that mine actually lessened! My periods were shorter, my cramps nearly disappeared, my face was the clearest it had ever been and (I thought) there were no side effects!...

In November of 2007 (a month after I began using the NuvaRing) I started to experience intestinal bloating, cramps and diarrhea. We chalked it up to the difference in food and climate (I had moved from small town Illinois to Mexico City) and stress levels--although my stress levels were MUCH higher in college and high school. My mood started to deteriorate, I was constantly exhausted, and in December 2007, I developed severe digestive problems, a swollen pancreas and chronic (15 - 28 times per day) diarrhea. I was already a fit size 6 when all of this started and in just one month I dropped 13 pounds and size 4 clothes fit me loosely. Once again...we chalked it up to me being in Mexico and subjected my body to several rounds of fierce antibiotics (given to me by three different specialists). When that did nothing to help, my husband took me to get a colonoscopy. They found nothing. I spent hundreds of dollars on allergy tests and treatments. No improvement. I went to a general practice doctor to take blood, urine and stool samples. They found nothing--no amoebas, no bacteria and no other rareties. Chiropractors, acupuncturists, herbs, enzymes and probiotics did nothing to help me.

Then between February and March 2008, I gained 35 pounds (that I could not lose even with anorexic-like diet and exercise)--but maintained the digestive problems. Since that time any food with fat, carbonation, alcohol, artificial coloring, or spice has caused me so much bloating and gas that I no longer go out to eat and party with my friends. Miraculously, NO ONE--not one single doctor or specialist--suggested along the way that it could be my birth control. I was told that my depression, weight gain, loss of libido, digestive problems, chest pains, night sweats, mood swings, numbness/tingling in my fingers was all in my head! Thank you all so much for your posts! It's like seeing a light at the end of the tunnel...

Wow... I'm glad I stumbled upon this site. I'm 24 years old and had been on NuvaRing for the last 2 1/2 years. I had used the pill until then since I was 16 to regulate my horrible periods, but I decided to switch when I got married because I was always forgetting to take the pill and since I was starting medical school a few months later, we didn't want to become pregnant at that point in our lives (and with NuvaRing I was much more likely to forget it once a month compared to everyday!).
I was always very happy with NuvaRing: my periods stayed regular and manageable, which was all I expected from BC. But oddly, over the next year I gradually developed symptoms which greatly affected my life (and my new marriage): VERY tired & exhausted all the time, horrible IBS symptoms, an aching pain throughout my body, especially in my hips/lower back and shoulders, inability to get a good night's sleep from this aching, HUGE weight gain (25 lbs in 2 years - can't shed it no matter what I do between gym/diet... Dr. doesn't understand of course), NO sex drive, and worst of all, when we did have sex it was very painful. It was horrible. I keep seeing my primary and he insisted it was from medical school & the stress. Being a rational person in med school, I understood the logic in that, but I still felt like it was more... I've always been a "busy" person, and with the increase in symptoms I gradually let other activities go in my life, leaving the only thing left to be med school; to be honest, it was the "least stressed" and most "health conscious" I'd felt in a while. But when we kept going back in my history, it all seemed to start right after I got married / around the time I started med school. So to him it always made the most sense that med school/stress was the cause of it all (of course, I never put 2 and 2 together that it's the same time I started NuvaRing!)
It became so bad I finally took a year off from medical school to spend time to figure it out. After seeing LOTS of specialists and getting lots of tests, the best anyone could come up with was Fibromyalgia. So, I took steps to feel better w/o drugs (water therapy, massage therapy, etc). I didn't like the idea of a synthetic chemical fixing something that doesn't have an exact known cause (drugs can be dangerous when not well studied - as I'm sure you're figuring out), so that's why I went the holistic route. But it never really got 100% better but it was good enough that when my leave of absence was finished, I was thankfully well enough to return to medical school a few months ago.
Oddly enough, in that time off, my husband and I had a lot of time to think about our future, and we've happily decided to try to get pregnant! So a month ago, I stopped NuvaRing. And ironically (I'm sure you can guess where this is going), things have improved over the last 2-3 weeks: I've had lots of energy, and while I still get tired, I feel like it's the "normal" kind of tired, the kind someone in med school should have (not total complete exhaustion like I used to). And wow, the sex drive... we've gone from once every 2-3 weeks (if that) to 2-3 times per week at least (or more! which seems huge for us after what we've been through!).... and the best part, no pain during sex... for anyone knows what I'm talking about, as I've seen in other posts, that's a huge and wonderful improvement!
I always kind of thought NuvaRing might be the problem (I even asked my gyno about it when I had my annual exam during that year off... she said no, most likely not of course)... it was just this odd suspicion, but I have access to all the med journals I want, and when I looked it up, I couldn't ever find any studies that reported these kind of symptoms, so I kept looking for another answer.
So, for anyone who is experiencing these symptoms and others similar to the ones others have posted, I highly recommend you consider NuvaRing as a possible cause. Everyone's different and everyone reacts differently to the same drug. Also, keep in mind lots of other things can cause these symptoms (such as thyroid or anemia issues) so definitely see your doctor about these things first, but if all of that comes out clear, consider giving yourself a break from NuvaRing, and if things improve, at least you'll have your answer finally! Drugs have lots of effects that aren't life-threatening and therefore usually go unstudied (and therefore unreported), but when this many people report similar possible side effects on a post , it's definitely worth considering!

I have been on the NuvaRing for 2 months...my Husband is begging me to keep it out! My sex drive is non existent and i cry at the most random times.
I like everything else about it...nice periods..no cramping or bloating..and no weight gain...but unfortunately its not worth it. Its not fair to my hubby. Or me for that matter!!
Is there anything we can take to counter act the low sex drive?

I started the Nuvaring just about 5 weeks ago. I thought everything was going well. Two days before the "4th week", I was put on antibiotics and despite the doctor's reassurance, I used additional bc while on the medication. On the 29TH day of the cycle, I spotted some, but never really had a "period." My body told me I was (normal lower back pain, light cramping etc) except this time, I experienced a piercing headache along with it. Less than 24 hours later, the spotting was done. I asked the nurse practioner what was going on and the response was "the nuvaring can make your periods lighter". I told her "it's not lighter, it's not there!" I followed the directions precisely, used back up protection while on other medication and to top it all off, I've had a headache for days. This is not a normal occurrence for me. I haven't been depressed in well over a decade and all of a sudden, I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. I've noticed a very pronounced drop in my libido, too. These side effects are not worth the "convenience" of this form of bc. I will be taking a pregnancy test (to make sure and for my own piece of mind) and then finding another type of protection. I can't believe a bc would LOWER my sex drive this much. Between the mood swings and the lowered libido, the Nuvaring seems to do more harm than good for me.

This website had made me sane!!! I have recently become a crazy woman searching side effects of birth control like it was my job, it has taken up my entire head!.. I started nuvaring four months ago (first form of birth control ever) to help control my horrible pms and very irregular period, and it helped that out, HOWEVER, I have recently decided I would prefer the pms over these awful, AWFUL symptoms. Although little spurts occurred here and there, this month is the absolute worst. I have managed to gain 12 lbs in under a month ...(keep in mind I am a work-out freak and have made sure to burn as many calories as I take in each day simply because I just can't stop gaining the weight!) I don't fit into any of my clothes and I just do not like the way I look. It is as if my body has just gotten wider and larger. I used to love my body and now I cant stand looking in the mirror everyday. My eating habits are awful....I try to starve myself for periods of time because I simply cannot help myself when I enter the kitchen. I feel like a bulimic girl, without the puking afterward. My binges are DISGUSTING, I'm actually ashamed. The worst symptom of all, though, are the mood swings. I cry at the drop of a hat every single night, I'm 20 years old away at college, and last night I cried because all I wanted was my "mommy." That's embarrassing. Not to mention my boyfriend thinks I am absolutely nuts because I have "changed." When you tell a severely hormonal woman she has "changed" you better expect a shoe or the nearest object to fly at you, which is exactly what I did. I CAN'T HELP IT! I also have been having negative thoughts about life as a whole lately and have even entered the realm of slight suicidal thoughts, or at least thinking my life was worthless. I've been through too much with my cycle to stop it now (even though I feel like ripping this thing out ASAP) and have 2 weeks left before I can take it out FOR GOOD! If anyone has any feedback they want to share to keep me sane through these last 2 weeks PLEASE PLEASE share! Also, does anybody know how long it will take for me to get my life back?! =(

I got on NR because I was having horrible mood swings and anxiety on the pill. My OB-GYN thought the constant supply of hormones from NR, rather than the up and down-ness of the pill would help with the moodiness. I liked it in the beginning but then it started feeling like it would slip out, especially in the first few days of being in. It did shorten my periods, almost irregularly, and my cramps have been worse. My biggest complaint is that I have not been able to lose any weight while on it. I did Weight Watchers back in 2007 and l lost 30 lbs. I recently started back, and have not dropped any weight. I haven't gained any, but I do think being on NR has prevented me from losing.

i took my nuvaring out about 2 weeks ago and now i am experiencing very bad abdominal pain. has this happened to anyone else PLEASE REPLY!