NuvaRing and pms

I was on the ring for about 1 1/2 years and went off about 4 months ago. I had a normal period 2-3 days after going off it (as usual) and have NOT had a period since. In addition, I have gained 15 pounds since going off the ring 4 months ago! I feel like I have constant PMS and only ONE pair of my jeans fits me now... literally. This is absolutely ridiculous and my doctor just doesn't get it... I have NEVER had to watch what I eat and have always been thin. Now, I work out at least 5 times a week and monitor EVERY calorie that enters my mouth... still, no results. I went on to see my doc yesterday and felt like strangling her as she was telling me my issues were not related to the ring - she's an idiot. I know my body better than anyone and something is WRONG. She sent me to get all the bloodwork today (thyroid, etc) and we'll see how that turns out.
The ring was great, but going off it is hell

WOW!!! I am SO GLAD I stumbled across this site. I have been on the ring for about 4 1/2 months. The first few months were fine, but these past few months I have been experiencing the exact same side effects that everyone is describing in their posts. I have no sex drive whatsoever, have been extremely moody and depressed, constantly eating & wanting to eat. My cycle may be a little off, definitely lighter (which is a major plus), I don't really get cramps anymore, which is great. But now after reading all these posts from everyone, I am convinced the reason I have been so depressed with no sex drive is because of the ring. I am also constantly tired and fatigued ALL THE TIME. Wow, am I glad I came across this site. Thank you so much to everyone for your posts. I believe it is the end of the ring for me :) Does anyone have any suggestions as to another form of the pill that may not have these crazy side effects? Thanks so much!

I forgot to mention I've been experiencing cramps, like i would with pms, and discharge. It's just so weird b/c the first 2 months I didn't experience any of this. The only I had was my period started 2 days early while the ring was still in. I'm already on meds for depression - I seriously hope this doesn't make it worse :(

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 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 was on the pill, Mircette, for about five months. I decided to stop taking it and try nuvaring because I had a roommate who loved it. I'm on birth control because I had mood swings with pms that noone would stay around me. I had my period off of birth control two weeks ago. Started Sunday the 8th. Usually they were three days at the most. This one went all the way to the 13th. I put my first nuvaring in Saturday night around 12am on the 14th. For some reason I couldn't get situated. It burned and I could feel it and just wasn't comfortable. I dealt with it til about Monday morning when I took it out and decided it wasn't right for me. I've been kinda dizzy, cry a lot, I'm shaky and tired. My boyfriend and I haven't had sex in about seven weeks and I took a pregnancy test the day before I started my actual period two weeks ago and it was negative. But I woke up today, the 23rd and I had lite bleeding and backaches. I know its normal coming off of birth control, but seeing as how I didn't have it in very long is this still normal? Has anyone else experienced this? I called my gyno and she said it was probably just breathrough bleeding but I'm worried.

I started using the NuvaRing in 2003. I am still on it and now really having second thoughts. When I started usign the nuvaring I was already taking the anti-depressant Lexapro (not sure if it's spelled correctly). Since I started taking both of the medications around the same time, I could not decipher which symptom went with what medication. I was experiencing numbness in my face, hands and legs. I was also very fatigued, had a candida related rash for 6 months, and gained weight.

Yet, through these symptoms my period was easy, painless, and short. So I quickly assumed it was all related to my anti-depressant. My doctor prescribed me Prozac and most of the symptoms I had been experiencing went away. But for the next four years I had numbness in my face and hands the week after my period, the first week I had a new ring in. During that week my doctor prescribed me to double the amount of prozac and it cured most of the numbness and nausea. Yet taking more prozac seemed to really affect my short term memory.

Last November 2008, I decided to ween myself off of the anti-depressant. By January I was totally off of Prozac. It is now February 16th 2009 and it is the week after period and just got a new ring. Today I am experiencing major numbness in my face, hands, and legs. I am having terrible headaches, vision problems and have no energy. After reading all the posts tonight I realized that all these years I have been on the Nuvaring I have mistaken its side-effects for other medications side-effects. I am really trying to cleanse my body of medication b/c my stress level and lifestyle has changed.

I want to go to the doctor and discuss other alternatives since I feel terrible and have been on this for so long. If I hadn't had gone off the other medications I never would have associated my symptoms with the NuvaRing. But now it all makes sense.

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 really like the ring! I have been on it for almost three years now. At first I did have some vaginal discomfort and VERY frequent UTI/Yeast infection, but that all wore off.
One thing though it is imperative to keep your area VERY clean to avoid infection and a smelly discharge!
I have a very healthy sexual appetite, no headaches or nausea, ect. I do have "PMS" and pimples but until I read everyones comments I just assumed that was me.
when i first went on NR three years ago I didn't gain an ounce. However, I went off it all this past summer because i wasn't needing BC. When I went back on it I gradually put on 15 pounds which aren't coming off!
Other than that no complaints, I think all BC methods have their cons and ill take the convenience and the extra pounds! also I never get cramps on it!

Thank you!! You have no idea how relieved i am to read these posts....i am usually such a laid back, carefree person but i have been on NR for 2 months now and especially in the last month i have felt, well, nutty! I have been trying to explain to my boyfriend about hormones and PMS but being a boy i think he just thinks i am complaining about nothing. I have nausea for the first cycle and that seems to have gone so i was thinking i was getting better. That was until this last week when i just couldn't stop crying and being completely irrational.

I had talked about it with my BF and decided to give it one more month...that was until today when i read this, i know this is not going to get any better and i am just putting my relationship with my BF (who ordinarily i love very much) at risk.

I am going to print out your posts and let my BF read them, hopefully then he will understand that it is not me and the ring really is what's making me horrible. THANKS GUYS!!

I am 29 and mother of a 5yr old Angel and 5 mth old Ayden. I started the NuvaRing after I had my son. I liked it for the first month, but the second month was not good at all! See, I was hoping to skip periods to avoid the pain that comes from my endometriosis, and PMS which seems I have had all my life! And of course, it came highly recommended from my doctor's office as well. I started to loose weight pretty steadily in the 6 weeks that followed the birth of my son, but all of a sudden the seventh or eighth week my weight remind stagnant and I actually gained 10 pounds since having it out for only 4 weeks! I have been putting on weight in my mid section and tummy area. It has become difficult to loose any weight even with working out, but the worse part has been the drastic mood changes, irritability, problems concentrating, migraines I don't wish upon anybody, acne, leg cramps, bloating, and horrible post partum depression that I think-now that I have read all your side effects that it wasn't the overwhelming feeling of having the now 2 children and having to return to work even after having 12 weeks of maternity leave after my son was born. I am relieved, and happy that I never put in the 3rd months ring. I think the NuvaRing has a lot to do with it all. I have been off the NuvaRing now for about three and a half-going on four weeks and the side effects have only seemed to become worse. It has put a strain on my marriage because my husband doesn't understand whats going on with me and I have refused to take my Lexapro because I am scared of what it may do to me with my hormones and mind all out of wack...I am desperate to find something that will make this STOP. I am not sure what my doctor may recommend, or if I would even take anymore recommendations from them. They must know that this is happening, right? I guess thats a question we should ask our doctors.

Thank you so much for this blog, I feel so much better. I have had the ring on for 1 week, 2days after I put it in I lost all sex drive. This is a huge deal because my husband and I typically have sex every night. I then started having discharge, itching and redness, I thought it was a yeast infection without the white cottage cheese discharge. I am also extra cranky, it is worse than PMS. NOW I KNOW THE TRUTH! The ring is in the trash and I will not renew my prescription. Thanks for all your thoughts and time.
K.R.

I started using the NuvaRing about 14 months ago to help with acne, cramping, and PCOS. I have always enjoyed the convenience of the Ring, as has my husband. No worries about a missed pill and the scheduled insertion and removal have always been key for us. The first few months I didn't notice any changes--good or bad--and I had a noticeable decrease in ovarian cysts right away. But over the last several months, I have noticed several changes in my body that I think may be related to the NuvaRing. I have gained 21 pounds since January.

I eat very healthy, and am mild active. However, nothing changed in January to cause such consistent weight gain. I get terrible and painful acne while I have the ring in, but it disappears within days once I remove the ring. While my face clearing up is a relief, I spend days feeling terrible and VERY moody. My poor husband doesn't know how to handle me those days. So now, in place of mood swings from PMS, I get them even worse during my period while the ring is out. I also have a very decreased sex drive, and experience pain from intercourse during and after. I have abdominal cramps most days that are similar to menstrual cramps, and extend into my digestive system, causing nausea and stomach cramping.

I just started Ocella (generic form of Yaz) two days ago, in hopes of decreasing these symptoms. I did warn my husband that he may be doing a lot more condom shopping in the coming weeks if I don't notice improvement. He says he actually welcomes using a condom if it eliminates all of the moodiness and crying over my weight and acne, even if it isn't as pregnancy-proof as BC.

Best of luck to all of you ladies!

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!!

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 am so happy that I found out what was going on with me... I've been on NR on and off for 2 years. Last year I decided to go off of it for a few months. The symptoms I was getting were:
- No sex drive
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Uncontrollable anger surges
- Cramping
- INCREASED breast size
- Pain and burning after intercourse
I stopped for 3 months.
the first month, I was ok, got my period at the right time but then, it took 2 months for me to get another period and I was PMS-ing for about 3 weeks.
I then decided to go back on NR just to get a regular cycle. All symptoms came back. Plus now, I end up with MONTHLY vaginitis just before my period. I took a test with the gyno yesterday and she found out abnormal levels of Fungi in my secretions and prescribed fluconazole to get rid of those.
I am thinking of going off it again but NR has the lowest hormones count on the marketand I have a history of not reacting well to other birth control pills (Cyclen, Yasmin, Alesse).
thanks everyone for sharing.

I've been on Nuvaring for about 2.5 years until recently. What I liked the most about Nuvaring was that it significantly helped out with my PMDD (super bad PMS ) and kept me from getting pregnant – not to mention, it’s easy to keep track of. The worst side effects I had were major lack of sex drive and migraines approaching the p-diddy (menstruation). About a month ago I decided to get off Nuvaring because I wanted to restore my body’s natural chemistry. . During this past month I have been soooooo depressed and from the previous postings, I think I found my culprit. I’m going to hang in there because I know it will pay off. So for anyone out there who is wonder if their horrible withdraw symptoms are from the nuva, they most likely are. And for those who are on it, be-aware. Find some comfort in knowing you’re not alone because I sure feel a lot more reassured after reading these posting.

I went on NuvaRing when it first came out a few years ago and loved it! No side effects that I can remember, but went off of it as I wasn't actively having sex. Fast forward to Mar 08, I decided to go back on as my periods were very irregular, PMS was lasting for two weeks or more and my period was very light and went on for another two weeks. While NuvaRing eliminated all these symptoms, I'm now wondering after reading all these comments if it is responsible for my incredibly low sex drive. I had been suffering from depression after a very hard year in 2007, but although my depression is under control, my sex drive is still non-existent except during the week of my period when NuvaRing is out. I think I'm going to go off and see if it helps.

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

Wow! I cant believe other women have had these same symptoms, I started the NuvaRing about three months ago after I lost a baby very early in gestation, I swore I would never have to go through that again, so my doctor put me on the NR and I couldn't tell If I was still hormonal from the pregnancy or if it was the ring, But Im a wreck! Im so mean and hateful to my husband pretty much mean to everyone, I feel like this big mean lady walking around, and thats not me not at all I have crazy dreams, horrible anxiety, panic attacks and PMS from HELL. I have never been on birth control before so I have nothing to compare it to. But after reading this.Im really considering taking it out so I can be myself again.

My birth control journey (including Nuvaring) has been horrendous. I was on Alesse for several years when I moved to a different country where it wasn't available. I went on Yasmin for 3 months and proceeded to gain 15 lbs. of weight I had worked really hard to lose only a few months before. I was depressed, moody, and nauseous all the time. My doctor then put me on a different pill which made me so nauseous I would sometimes vomit in the first week of the pack, then when the nausea subsided the PMS and moodiness started. Again I researched birth control options and heard about Nuvaring. I asked him if the lower dose of hormones would help and he said I should try it. 4 months later, during a routine medical exam I was told I had EXTREMELY high blood pressure. I had never had high BP before. I couldn't figure it out, I had my kidneys tested and they were fine, my diet was healthy, I just didn't understand until I took it into my own hands and googled it. It clicked that it was the Nuvaring. I took it out and have never felt better. I feel less bloated, my mood is amazing. I am having my BP tested again in 2 weeks and only hope that it's gone back to normal. I am NEVER returning to hormonal birth control methods.

I started NuvaRing just like the directions stated. I have never taken any birth control ever in my life. I am 30 yrs old and me & my husband have always used condoms. A few hours after inserting it, I had horrible cramps all night. I started feeling different emotionally and physically (bloated). I completely lost my usually high sex drive. I HATE NUVARING!!! I hung in there for the full three weeks, trying to give it a chance. I started having horrible headaches, and I became the biggest bitch in the world. My husband even begged me to take it out. After taking it out, I could tell w/in 24 hours that I was already getting back to the "old me". I am supposed to start my period now, but instead have some funky dark brown discharge and there doesn't seem to be any blood...could this really go on for weeks...any advice???? ~Very Concerned

I used the Nuvaring for over two years. I absolutely loved the convenience of it, and for a while, everything else. I had always had a little PMDD/PMS on hormonal BC, but over for the last 8 months or so I was on the NR it had gone from one or two days a month feeling a little wacky, to a week, to two weeks, then to feeling like that ALL the time. My self esteem was shot, I could rarely feel really happy or excited about anything, my sex drive had finally started to go, and it go so bad that one day I couldn't even get out of bed. I am pretty in-tune with my body and I knew this wasn't normal at all. It had started to affect my relationships with friends, and most importantly my wonderful boyfriend. I wasn't the confident, fun girl he fell in love with...I was a crybaby with self esteem issues and severe mood swings. So, I decided to stop using the Nuvaring for good about a month and a half ago. I have PCOS so it was "regulating" my cycles as well as preventing pregnancy, but I did a lot of research and decided to try and treat my PCOS with diet, exercise and supplements. I have already had one whole cycle off the ring, and I feel amazing. My body is doing what it is supposed to do, naturally, without synthetic hormones dictating what my female parts do. I am not depressed, my self esteem and motivation have returned and I feel HAPPY again. It's like a cloud was lifted from me or something. I can hardly describe the difference.

I know to some women, this may sound a little exaggerated, but the ring really was making me severely depressed. So, if you're one of the women who are affected this way, stopping it may help. I had my doc fit me for a diaphragm, and though it's a little weird at first, I love it and so far it works great for us. Hormonal BC only masks the symptoms of my PCOS, so I believe treating it the natural way will be a lot better for me.

This list of side effects helped me tremendously when I was researching my depression and going off the ring. Good luck to any of you other ladies who are going through that! It will get better :)

I was on Orthocept pills for 10 years with no problems. Short, light periods, no PMS. I can have a temper, but it was when I was younger and in the middle of a fight. That being said...I gave birth to twin daughters in November 2005. 9 months later, I stopped breastfeeding and had to go back on birth control. My old pill didn't work and neither did 3 others (included Yaz). I bled almost the entire month. I was crabby and irritable, but mostly frustrated. It was a horrible 1 1/2 years. 6 months ago I was put on Nuvaring because it should produce no side effects for the most part. Besides heavy discharge (which I could live with if I wasn't bleeding all month), I had heavier periods. I also noticed I was starting to get some nasty PMS, which I've NEVER had in my entire life. I was moody and irritable and cried even more easily than normal. Lately, I've been lashing out at my sweet girls and yelling at them. At first I thought it was because they are going through the difficult "2's" and mealtime is a struggle. I thought, they are more challenging so my patience is worn a little thinner. My husband has a different story. We've both noticed nasty mood swings and it's gotten to the point in the past month that I feel bi-polar. I really feel out of control. My doc said to go off it for a few months to see how I am. This is my "period" week and all of a sudden I've had a little period. I haven't been able to get my hormones under control since giving birth and it's frustrating. My husband wants his wife back and I don't want my girls to remember me yelling and crying for no reason. THAT'S enough to make anyone depressed on their own. I'm not sure what we are going to do for birth control at this point (condoms I guess...which is no fun when you are used to not using them). I will see what happens. I hope it's not the Nuvaring, but after seeing these posts, I feel a little better knowing I may be able to get rid of some of my craziness over the next few months as my body goes back to "normal". Good luck to the rest of you as well. I love being a woman, but boy, we get the short end of the stick sometimes!

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

Okay, I am not on the NuvaRing, but I came across this site doing research because my sister was on it and had some side effects, and was thinking about going back on it to see if it was just her. After reading all of your replays to this type of BC, I am going to sum it up, HORMONES, you are outright playing with your hormones. Of course Dr.'s say it is a lower dose than the pill, which to them in a petri dish or chemical layout initially may be, but your inserting something into your system to absorb a chemical to change and alter your hormones that is left in place, aka: different mix of hormones and the bad thing is everyone's system is different on absorption - especially from a lab rat/mouse :) or person to person. What is one thing all women have in common and we all will complain about - our periods :) our cycle, and if you don't have one and are one of the unfortunate and not able to bear children I'm sorry for you :(, but you still have hormones and we all know we have "PMS" or some factor of it, and certain things bring more of it about - as well as those that are going through menopause or pre-menopause - it all deals with hormones....so basically when you mess with hormones; as you all can read here and other places on the web, they play a big deal in our day to day lives, our systems, and our overall chemical makeups - basically don't play with mother nature - just stick to either condoms or if your single go with the abstinence and then go and look for Pure Romance (I sell it :) or Slumber Party products...they're safer :) and cheaper :) and they don't talk back :) LOL..had to throw that in there...I am no doctor, but the more I read here look at all your "common symptoms" that should be a clue to everyone using this that it is NOT a safe product and we need to quit being GUINEA PIGS, geez, this one goes inside you and is a slow release but if your stressed or depressed it's going to effect the absorption rate...I could keep going...but I'll stop because I hope you get the picture..... Well everyone take care and watch your diets, stay away from synthetic hormones and vitamins, eat well because it plays a huge roll in all you do!! :)...ldfangman

Hello Ladies- I started the NuvaRing in the last week of October 2007. I've been on the pill in the past and never had the problems I am having now. I would also like to mention that I have not been on birth control for over 2 years prior to the Ring. The first month was fine, I actually enjoyed my sexual experiences with it in. As directed I took it out the 3rd week and had my period like I was supposed to. The following week I replaced it to start a new cycle and everything was normal. Then suddenly I started spotting, and passing clots, cramping, bloating, headaches. I don't want to be disgusting but some times as large as raisins, quarters, it is fleshy. The only way I can describe it is the worst PMS I have ever experienced constantly/the worst first trimester! For the past 2 months I have been so incredibly tired, 14 hours of sleep is not enough. I have had an uncontrolled appetite, constantly feel like I have a heavy period. I can also relate to the mood swing, irritability, odd dreams, and Radom off the wall thoughts. I have to tell ya' I'm giving it one more cycle and if it is still awful. That's it! I'll set an alarm clock and take the pill every day! On top of saving the $50 a month I be back to normal and everyone will be happy!

I have been on this nr for 1 month now. this is my period week. I haven't gotten it yet which kinda worries me but I have all the signs of it coming. I have had nausea, headaches an dizziness and increased discharge but nothing to big.NO SPOTTING! the only thing is when I took the nr out I noticed yesterday that my discharge smelled a little different than usual, but today its better. I didn't think I have been irritable except last week which was my PMS week. it hasn't killed my sex drive. it is about the same. I have noticed my boobs getting a little bigger. my boyfriend has only felt the nr one time so thats great.Ii like the idea of only 1 thing every 3 weeks. hopefully these symptoms will go away except for the boob thing. I have had cramps but nothing I couldn't handle with a ill Advil.

I'm on my 3rd ring and i am miserable. The first week i put the ring in i noticed a differance. My symptoms are: extreme paranoia, anxiety,panic attacks,insomnia,shaking,nervousness,diarea,loss of appetite,fatigue,flu symptoms. I am normally an anxious person ut not like this. It is worse since starting the nuvaring. My doctor told me to just give it more time but i'm geting to a point where i feel hopeless. My family can see the change in me. I just put the 3rd ring in a couple days ago but all i wanna do is take it out because i'm so scared. I'm not concerned about pregnancy because i am not sexually active at all. My doctor prescribed this med because of my PMS. I'm using the ring every 3 weeks so i don't get a period at all. I'm afraid of how my body will react if i take the ring out and suddenly get a period again. My pharmasist advised me to leave it in until you would normally take it out but i don't know if i can stand using it anymore. Does anyone have any advice. I'm afraid to talk to my doc about the emotional symptoms because it always seems they never believe the med can cause them. Thanks for all who read this, wish me luck or send me a prayer. Everyone else who's miserable on this BC you're in my prayers :)

I have been on NuvaRing for 4 months. I was previously on DepoProvera for 10 years, but due to bone loss, osteopenia, had to get off it. I had no side effects with Depo, no periods, no PMS, no problems.
I gained 12 pounds the first 2 months on NR. My weight continues to climb, even though I exercise and eat well. My breasts are swollen and sore constantly. I have excessive discharge, itchiness, and burning. I have also noticed I have gas more often.
I do not take the ring out for a week for a period, I just insert a new ring after 3 weeks and have experienced no bleeding. I have NOT experienced any of the other symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, mood swings, headaches, which is surprising since I have been estrogen-deficient for 10years and am suddenly on it.
Overall, my symptoms seem minimal compared to others' experiences, so maybe everyone is different. But it does scare me that these symptoms are possible in the future.

PROS:
easy to use, convenient
only have to take it once/3 weeks
big boobs!
no period

CONS:
weight gain
breast soreness
yeast infections, itchiness
excessive discharge
gas
cost $35 every 3 weeks (my Depo was free)

I was on the ring for about 10 months. I experianced: headaches, breast tenderness, fibroadenomas & cysts " detected on ultrasound ", mood swings, & irregular periods with constant breakthrough bleeding. I have had trouble ever since. I was taken off the ring in late summer of last year and I have had problems with every other birth control pill since. I have tryed 2, including the one I was on for years before starting the ring. Now, over a month since I stop the last one, I am still having symptoms. I don't have to be on birth control to experiance systems of PMS/Pregnant anymore. The difference between what is going on with me and pms is that it never goes away! It never stops.

I have been off the Nuvaring for the first full cycle after being on it for about 20 months. I posted previously -- but went off because I was experiencing an increase in overall anxiety, including a tightness in the chest, night-time panic attacks, and more anxiety. I am feeling so much more normal now -- even though I did have PMS this month (which I didn't have as noticeably while on the nuvaring), but it felt normal and identifiable. My moods and emotions are easy to pin to an event (whereas I just felt this vague sense of uneasiness all the time before) and I'm so much more relaxed. A friend of mine recently went off for similar reasons, and is feeling better as well. Birth control definitely isn't as convenient as it was; however, my overall quality of life feels much improved.

I have been taking the nuvaring for probably 4 years now. I had terrible side effects with the pill in terms of nasea and pms...the nuvaring elleviated these and I swore I would never try anything else. This past year, sex has been difficult, sometimes a little painful and sometimes a burning afterward...but i had thought perhaps it is just because I'm not having much sex and thought perhaps I wasn't having sex much because my husband and I are both stressed about work. People easily get under my skin but i'm not sure this is any different than my usual personality. This past week I actually had jury duty and lucky me, my period. It is rare to not go to my job and not have the nuvaring in. Surprisingly, I have seen a real difference in my mood and my desire...my husband even commented that I have been a lot of fun this week and that I really should get a new job. I'm beginning to think maybe I just need to get off the nuvaring. I just can't deal with a pill everyday and the side effects I have from that. Maybe it is time to give my system a break from hormones all together. I have been taking some kind of birth control for about 15 years now.

i have been on NR for about 3 years, I did gain 20 pounds in the begining recently lost the wieght after a breakup and not eating. I tend to get depressed any how, so i didn't think the ring has caused it. I have noticed I do get PMS a two weeks before i take the ring out for my peroid, but i think that is because, my natural cycle kicks in and I may swtch the timing to see if it helps. i would be very interested in hearing more from long time users. I was reading these because I have Absolutly No Sex Drive, and I was wondering if the Nuva Ring has caused this. I know I should want sex, but I never have any desire, and the thought of sex stresses me out!, Although when i do finally have sex I do find it enjoyable, but not like it should be, and I definetly have a harder time getting lubricated. I have a new guy in my life and just wish that I had one ounce of desire to have sex!
Now that i have read these comments, i have noticed i do get some other side effects, like chest pain and thigh cramps, and headaches, but nothing i couldn't handle. Doesn't every birth control method have some screwed up side effects?
I am seriodly considering getting of the Nuva Ring just because i really would like a sex drive, but I don't know what else to use, except tuble ligation

I can't belive I finally found this information. My biggest issue with Nuva Ring (and there are several issues) is that I cannot sleep through the night. I would wake up in the middle of the night 4-5 times a week and could not fall back to sleep for several hours. I am constantly exhausted, which was never an issue for me. This started about a year ago and I didn't connect it with Nuva Ring (went on it right around the same time) until finally a friend mentioned a possible connection.Went off Nuvaring last month after my period ended and I slept through the night, every night since! I am baffled about how this could happen. I also experienced the mood swinngs too - very angry or crying. It is like having PMS all month long. I did experience pretty bad cramping after I went off.

I am really happy to learn that I was right about my choice to take the ring out almost 2 months ago now! I was a ring user for a few years right after it came out but I keep having trouble with the comfort of it so I stopped using it.
dryness
swelling
redness
after a few years back on the pill I wanted to try it again and after a year on this I was very scared for my own life! I was getting PMS worse and worse and I did not want to even think about sex it made me feel uncomfortable. This was not normal. after a few month I noticed that for days a month I was becoming very angry and depressed. I was also lashing out at people that I would never have done before. The RAGE I like to call it, became so bad with the depression that I found myself driving to by a gun to kill myself with. I flipped out... this was not me I have never been depressed or though of death but I didnt what the problem was. I finally reaized that my nuvaring could be the cause. I took it out and after a few days I was feeling better and better. I have been off of everything now for 3 months and I am feeling better but not totally back to normal. This was the worst experiance I have ever had with a medication. I have used the pill for over 10 years and never had anything like this happen. they should definetly look into more resurch on this medication.

I started using Nuvaring last night. I woke up this morning crying from a dream about my mother. I thought that was kinda weird. I've been thirsty all day. I think I've had a least 10 huge glasses of water. Other than that things seemed fine. Then I got home and crashed out on the couch. I just woke up and my arms feel really tingly, my body feels really heavy and I feel nauseous.

I started using this thing to get rid of crappy pms. I want to take it out right now!

I have been on nuvaring for almost three weeks. After reading these posts, I am wondering if this is why I have been feeling so exhausted and unmotivated. It seemed to start three days after I put it in. I could barely enjoy the camping trip I went on. I am turning 41 next month and am on it to help with getting rid of complex ovarian cysts, extreme PMS, and very painful periods. I have not noticed any weight gain or uncomfortable bloating or breat tenderness, which I like. However, I am thinking this might explain why I am totally exhausted. I suffer from chronic pain and notice that I feel worse lately and the last thing I need is more chronic fatigue. I think since I started having chronic pain after a car accident, I have not been able to tolerate BC pills though in the past, I didn't do too badly on Mircette and a couple of other things. Loestrin was the worst ever. I am wondering if anyone can tell me if the depression goes away on the Nuvaring?

Glad I read this. I will be completing my first cycle of NuvaRing in a week. The first week I was extremely irritated but I chalked it up to PMS because I was midcycle in my period and I always get PMS in the 2 week mark before my period comes. But I have experienced loss in SEX DRIVE! And I had sex with my boyfriend and it was painful. I didn't enjoy it. I could not get in to it. It felt like he was too deep and I was not as wet as I usually get.(and I;m usually the pacific ocean!) I will continue the Nuva Ring becaus eits has only been about three weeks. Maybe my body needs some adjusting. But I want my SEX DRIVE BACK!Can anyone suggests things to do to increase sex drive naturally?I.E. foods, excercises, toys, movies?

I went on NR in Feb 2006. I bled for over a month straight when I first went on it. Dr. said this was "normal," my body was adjusting, etc. I noticed a drastic decrease in my sex drive almost immediately after going on it. I have had sensitive breasts the entire time I have been on it; it's painful for my boyfriend to touch them. I also lactated when I first went on the NR, but chalked this up to resurgence in hormones or something I had stopped breast feeding a few months before going on the NR). I started taking meds for back pain and anxiety, and now I'm wondering if it had anything to do with side effects from the NR after reading comments on this site. I also did get one horrendous yeast infection. I agree with the person who posted that she starts to feel emotional about a week and a half before its time to take it out--- like super bad PMS; really moody,craving sweets, depressed, etc. I also did not bleed until Thursday or Friday after taking it out on my scheduled Tuesday, and my period was minimal- just a day or so. I did not put a new NR in on my scheduled day (Tuesday of this week), and I feel like a complete emotional wreck. I mean, even with the PMS and such while using it, I still felt relatively able to cope. I have been crying over everything the last few days, irritable and volatile, and I'm not one prone to volatile. I am wondering of anyone else whose gone off of it experienced anything like this... I'm hoping it's just my hormones balancing otu or something, but I feel like an insane person...

A Nuvaring proponent and user for 4 years (I started when it was first available on the US market) I decided to stop using it 2 weeks ago after reading some horrifying posts regarding the exponential increase in risk of stroke and pulmonary embolism in women who are 1.)35+ and 2.) smokers. What was most frightening, was the fact that most of the women who have died or are wheelchair bound, due to Nuvaring complications are under 30 and non-smokers.
The reason I have continued my research is because I have realized that for the past two years, I have experienced what I now believe to be side effects. I never had PMS before using the ring. With each year of use, my PMS has become more severe and of longer duration -- up to 2 weeks prior to my period. I have had horrible lower back pain for over 1 year, and x-rays from my chiropractor indicate no symptoms of a structural problem. Even after PT, the pain didn't subside. Additionally, I have experienced the mood swings and depression other women on this site report. I was constantly anxious, frustrated for no apparent reason, angry, and short-tempered to the point of volatile. The change in my personality has been obvious and rather disturbing. I am relieved to know that this shift might have been related, and I am curious to know how I will feel as the hormones from the ring are purged from my system. I am now choosing to use a non-hormonal contraceptive -- the sponge. It's easy, safe, convenient, and not dangerous to my health.

Something all women need to remember -- We are still guinea pigs for the health and pharmaceutical industries. Until women stand up and demand fair and equal respect for their health and welfare (that means vote - and not for those on the side of big business !!!) and stop supporting industries and politicians who LIMIT choices for women, this problem is NOT going away. The Nuvaring is just another example....

I guess I have been lucky, I haven't experienced any vaginal pain, excessive discharge, emotional moodswings, or lack of sex drive while on this.

Actually....aside from my boyfriend saying he can feel it at times during sex....I've had no issues with it up until now.

But last night my bf playfully grabbed one of my boobs and I almost screamed from the pain. He commented on how they seemed swollen, and a bit stiff.

Now I am due to take the ring out today, so this may be a side effect that one might experience as it gets close to period time. I'm not sure. All I know is that breast tenderness and swelling is one of the few symptoms I have NEVER experienced. It have NEVER been a PMS symptom for me, nor have I ever experienced it while using other contraceptives.

Has anyone else experienced this while on the NuvaRing?

It's week 2 of crazy discharge. I'm Kinda crampy this morning- like pms cramps, back and frount. I'm just concerned about the discharge thus far. It's just making me hesitant about "fun in the bedroom". It's a bit too much!

I've been on NuvaRing for 3.5 weeks now. Off the pill, I have pretty bad PMS, but on the pill I have no PMS whatsover. Thought I'd try the ring as I hate remembering to take the pill. Instant yeast infection, but no big deal. But a week ago I started feeling what felt like PMS, and it's still going. Definitely the worst and longest-lasting PMS I've ever had. I want to stick it out, but if it doesn't ease soon, I'm going back to the pill.
Also, my boyfriend CAN feel it, as can I--it adds a definite level of irritation during sex. No trouble to take it out, but hurts a bit when I forget.

hmmm , i really like the ring, i'm at the end of my 3rd month and i've actually lost weight (but i think that may be because its summer time and i've been eating a little less), and my boobs arent sore at all, none of the usual BC pill side effects. the only thing i can say is that i get dizzy sometimes when i get up too fast, and i've been wondering lately if i am depressed. i've also been wondering if its even working because i seem to be getting my normal PMS (crying, and food cravings) toward the 3rd week. i'm gonna wait a couple more months i think, because this is the best thing i've tried yet. :[

Ive been on nuva ring for 3 months.My biggest complaint are severe mood-swings all month, like non-stop pms. I am seriously considering stopping the ring but am at a bit of a loss as to what to try next since bc pills have never agreed with me (lots of side effets..) maybe Im just extra sensitive, but Ive been researching on line and it seems to be a very common complaint for nuvaring users. Has any experienced an alleviation of these mood side-effects after a few more months?