NuvaRing and pregnancy

NuvaRing is HORRIBLE! I had my baby in February and decided to give NR a try. Since then the side effects I have experienced daily are: dizziness, nausea, constant bloated feeling, stomach pain, leg and joint pain, insomnia, extreme fatigue during the day, weight gain and hair loss. This is way to huge of a list to continue this medication. Too many of these side effects feel just like I did when I was pregnant, I am SOOO done with NuvaRing.

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 started the nuvaring back in Nov 2005, Dec 2005 I found out i was pregnant. Since then I delivered that baby in aug '06, tried to get pregnant again but it took 6mo of trying but finally worked, delivered baby number 2 in jan of '08, and then had an IUD inserted but within 5mo of that was pregnant again!! I delivered my 3rd daughter just 2mo ago on June 6th '09 Now I have 3 babies under 3 and my doctor is completely at a loss for what might work for me. So we decided that I would go back on the IUD and also use the NUVARING as a backup since the IUD was non hormonal. I started the NuvaRing and I am due to get my IUD inserted this fri, but tonight i finally said enough is enough and took out the NuvaRing. I put it in on the 22nd of July but will not be going back for month number 2. I am so short tempered with my 2 older daughters all of the sudden, I was steadily losing weight and now im at a standstill, my husband and i were having sex once a day and now i barely want it once a week, and i was having severe pain in my right calf, and headaches that were unbearable, and most importantly and most obvious is severe severe depression. I am constantly questioning my self worth and whether or not my husband loves me and if im a bad mom and so on and so on... Im really scared now because i am so afraid the IUD wont work again and I honestly don't think i could handle yet another pregnancy. Being pregnant every other 9mo for 3 yrs has taken a major toll on my body and emotional level alone, i don't need my birth control to do it too... So i guess my question is, are there any other forms of BC like The IUD that are non hormonal and could possibly be taken along with the IUD? I just don't trust only one since 2 of my pregnancies were conceived while on bc... any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

I'm 21 and I have never been on any kind of birth control method. I decided to get on the Nuvaring because I had a pregnancy scare. My boyfriend and I have only ever used condoms, but one broke and that was enough for me. I've been on the Nuvaring for about 2 weeks. I normally get my period every 35 days and the only cramping I ever experience is the first and second day of my period. After the first week I noticed I had some light cramping and thought nothing of it, but as time went on the cramping only seemed to be getting worse. I told my doctor about it and she advised me that it was probably my body trying to get used to the ring. Never having used birth control before, I tried not to worry. Then, I noticed some other changes that concerned me since it wasn't like me to feel that way. Aside from the cramping, I had been feeling very depressed about my life and where I was headed for some reason, and my sex drive was depreciating. My boyfriend noticed of course and I had no idea why I was feeling that way. It wasn't until I came across this website that everything started to make sense. I thought I was the only one experiencing these changes. I'm definitely going to change birth control methods. I just don't know what is the best out there. Can anyone help me?

I started on the NuvaRing just this past Thursday. It was fine for the first couple of days; no noticeable side effects. I was instructed to put the ring in on the first day of my menstrual cycle, which I thought was odd, but I did it anyway. I usually have cramps before my period and on the first day and then they are pretty much nonexistent, but with this period I had them into the third day. I still didn't think anything of it until today when I realized that I have been extremely irritable and emotional lately. You would think those symptoms would be chalked up to the period, but I am like clockwork every month. I start having PMS symptoms two weeks out from my period and through the 1st day of my cycle. After that, they are gone (besides the actual period itself). I rarely get frustrated with my dogs and lately they have been getting on my nerves easier. I have had a couple weird fights with my husband in the past few days, both totally due to my craziness, which is also not the norm for me. While lying in bed a few moments ago, I decided it must be the ring so I researched it and this is the website I found. I am glad I found it when I did. I am taking the ring out tonight and hopefully everything will go back to normal. My only worry is that I will start my period and it will last for 3 months like a couple of the stories I read on this website. I am going on my belated honeymoon in two weeks to the Bahamas and would hate to be on my period then. I have never had a good feeling about anything not natural going into my body, which is why I have never consistently taken bc. The only reason I started on the ring is because I had some samples from my gyno and had a pregnancy scare recently, which made me (and my husband) realize we are NOT ready for kids and scared me into starting on the ring.

A word of encouragement to all those that suffer from anxiety and depression:

You are not alone. I suffered from an episode of anxiety coupled with panic attacks a few years ago. I thought it would never go away, but I was able to work through it on my own and I am fine now. I still have occasional anxiety, but it seems to be for an actual reason rather than out of nowhere. Do not lose hope; you CAN overcome these conditions and live a normal life. Surround yourself with caring individuals and others who understand what you are going through. What I learned from my experience: trust yourself, have confidence in yourself (because everyone is amazing in their own way) and learn to let go of your past mistakes (everyone makes them). Don't let the word "mental illness" scare you into thinking you are crazy. Think of it this way... you are going through a difficult time in your life that you have to work through. "This too shall pass" as my mother has always told me in difficult times. It helps when you know there IS light at the end of the tunnel.

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 had tried the ring back in august or September of 2008 for less than a week. I went without a period and a pregnancy till March of 2009. No dr knew why on either. I bled for 3 months. I kid you not. I have finally started to taper off and was diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis, cervicitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. (PID) Up until the other day, I was still throwing clots. Luckily, they were much smaller than when it all started because those clots were as big as my fist. (About the size of a baseball, maybe a little smaller) But the last few days I was hurting so badly I had to go to the ER today. I was also having horrible depression to the point of wondering why I was even with my husband! I love him with all my heart and our daughter as well, why would I want to leave them?

I have a 2 yr old and I could not function enough for my husband to be able to leave the house because of the pain. I was put on two antibiotics and an anti nausea pill because the antibiotics prescribed are known for that side effect. But better nauseated than sterile since mu husband and I are wanting more kids. I don't suggest the ring for anyone because it's played hell with me especially knowing that the ring has even caused menopause and sterility as well as other worse issues.

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 put in the Nuvaring about 2 hours ago for the first time. Within ten minutes I experienced dizziness, "floatyness", anxiety, jitters, and about an hour later my skin started itching(back, legs, etc). I feel like I'm high? I called ask-a-nurse since it is Memorial Day and my OB is closed and she said those weren't typical side effects, though she doesn't THINK they are dangerous. Did anyone else have any immediate side effects? Thanks..

Death. A 30 year-old Visalia CA mom of three (one is eight weeks old) started having side effects just after she started using the NR. She stopped and got pregnant. During her pregnancy, her side effects returned for about three months. Later in her pregnancy, she seemed to improve. Her baby was born March 8 and both were healthy. She was suffering from headache, nausea, stomach pains, depression, throat constriction (she could no longer eat solid food). She died May 1. The coroner hasn't been able to determine a cause of death. Every medical "professional" she saw told her she was "just depressed" and "there's nothing wrong with you." Now, she's dead.

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.

im on my third week of my first nuvaring and ive noticed a lot of changes. i get the mood swings, headache, low sex drive, but another symptom i was worried about is that after my last period it seems like ive been bleeding very minimally ever since and every time my boyfriend and i have sex i bleed a little. this has never happened before so if anyone else is experiencing this let me know.

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I am 16 years old and currently using NuvaRing to get rid of large ovarian cysts that cause(d) severe pain and would result in infertility when I was older if untreated. I was really worried after reading these comments of the negative side effects - but now I realize it depends on the person, really. Since I have been on it, the pain from the cysts have gone down, although the cysts are still there. I am not entirely sure if NR will entirely eliminate them, but they do kill some of the pain away from doing physical activities and urinating. I have always been around 105 pounds with size C breasts (yes, a wonderful combination that most would kill for!) and being on NR has only increased my weight by one pound, which I can safely say went straight to my breasts. They went from a size C to a D! My breasts are tender sometimes, which is mainly the only negative side effect. However, my mood has, if anything, been more positive since starting NR. I realize most of these comments are probably from women in their 20s or 30s, so maybe age has something to do from it. But as a teenager, it has only helped me. Better yet, I know that when I am ready for sex I will be double protected against pregnancy from condom use and NR.

Anyone who reads these comments and fears NR, do not make up your mind just yet. NR has different side effects for different people, which could be positive or negative. To stereotype NR as a "bad" form of birth control is incorrect. It may not work for one person, but the next person could absolutely love it. Give it a chance, and sure, if the outcome is not what you desired, then I would recommend going off of NR. When you are tampering with your body (in this case, hormonal levels) there are always risks. As long as you know your body's limits and what is okay and not okay, then at least try NuvaRing. It's simple, too - you do not have to remember a pill every day, just a simple ring every three weeks.

I hope I helped someone out!

I have been on the ring since December...almost a full 3 months. I started getting the blurry vision with my contacts on about 1 month into it but I just thought it was my contact prescription fixing to expire but the irritation and itchy eyes seem to be just a part of my problem. I'm getting married in 2 weeks and I have been crying myself to sleep the last 2 1/2 weeks and I'm generally a very happy person and I know weddings are stressful but I have never felt such so emotional in my life. I cry for the most smallest things that come up and I feel bad that I take it out on my fiance and he doesn't know where its coming from. I also just put in my 4th ring this last Monday and every time i go to the restroom it burns towards the end and i seem to be blotting blood. I have never had this feeling while going to the restroom and the ring has never made me have any side effects where I wanted it out of my body but i'm also afraid to change the bc cause of the wedding and i want to make sure we are protected and don't get any pregnancy scares right after we get married....whats another form of bc that works like nuvaring but with less symptoms? I think i'll keep this ring in for a couple more days but if this pain when urinating doesn't stop and the spotting blood I'm going to have to get rid of it.

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?! =(

So heres the deal ladies.... No matter what, ALL BIRTH CONTROL SUCKS........... But we're ALL in the same boat. They ALL have side effects, different to each person. My Nuvaring story goes like this... I have tried EVERY birth control only to have HORRIBLE MIGRAINES. So, after years in my 20's of constantly thinking I was pregnant, freaking out all the time which is what I think has psychologically screwed me up the most, I tried Nuvaring. I was 27 years old, 5'5, banging body w/ NO fat in the mid-section. I'm not even kidding that w/in 3 days I gains 10lbs. of fat(love handles) in the mid section. I work out 3-4x per week and have ALWAYS been a fitness fanatic. I have never been able to get this stomach fat off since. But here's the deal......... I could go on forever about how BC sucks as I had MANy other side effects, nausea being number one. But we don't have a God damn choice. I am now 31 years old and thats just the way it is. You know, heres even the more real deal. When I was in college I gave a speech on MALE contraception. Hello, it's out there. But they don't market it because it will be a waste of money because men are stupid and won't take it. Men assume that all women when we have sex are on BC and they could give a shit if we aren't. We need to stand up as women and make THEM take all precautions. For the most part, I wouldn't change being a woman for anything. I love it! But when it comes to birth control and constantly having to worry about pregnancy, it sucks................................ But we dont have an option, seriously!!!!!!! What's worse??????????? Losing your mind because of side effects or losing your mind constantly thinking your pregnant??????????????????????????????? After 31 years of age, I know it's just a no win situation........... J., Chicago......

Hi, i have been on NR for only 5 days, these 5 days have been VERY hard for me, my emotions are screwed all up, i feel sad and depressed when i have absolutely no reason to be. I have never felt this way before, not even during pregnancy. I have been getting headaches, i feel bloated and hungry all the time. I have even experienced flu like symptoms...shortness of breath along with body aches, unable to concentrate. I have been feeling VERY tired. I am a very active person, always on the go doing something... ever since i began NR i do not have the energy to do anything at all. I can not wait to go home and take this thing out of me!!!

I just googled side effects from the Nuvaring & found this site and I am very glad. I have had the worst side effects & it is nice to know that I am not crazy & others have felt the same way. I had ovarian cysts in the past, even had surgery and was put on the pill for 10 years with no problems, but have been off the pill for about 2 years...I wanted to get my body ready for pregnancy. In that time I just recently started to get cysts again & just started the Nuvaring. My doc said it would help with the cysts & heavy periods, just to try in out for 2 months. I thought how cool, not taking a pill everyday...neat.
This is my 2nd month and I HATE it. I first inserted the Nuvaring at night & by the next morning I felt nauseous. I thought, ok this is normal, I haven't had any hormones in my body for 2 years...it will pass.....nope, it got worse, then the headaches,,,but the sore nipples & breasts were horrid...my nipples had a burning feeling constantly. I felt so sick and tired a lot. My period was still very heavy and my emotions were out of control. I am normally an emotional person & especially around period time I get more emotional but this emotion was different & weird....I am feeling depressed, sad, I cry all the time for no reason, I feel hatred & worthlessness about myself, which is just not me at all!!!! Also, I am soooo tired & lethargic, I don't wanna get out of bed & when I do, it is as if I have no energy to even walk & when I tell myself ok I am going to do this today, I sit there & cry..it is like I cannot do it because I am to tired, to emotional, too sick....I dont wanna be around anyone, I am sad, angry,moody,crazy,worried,...how can I function like this anymore?

The 2nd month got worse, I have an awful burning sensation in my belly, acidy feeling, I have been throwing up and I was thinking well I better get to the doctor, maybe there is something wrong with my stomach, maybe I have acid reflux or a stomach ulcer. I am hungry all the time, but the acidy pain & knowing that I will be sick after I eat makes me not want to. I have constant diarrhea, headaches, weight gain, tingly in my knee area, the overwhelming depression i cannot stand and all I wanna do is just sleep and ignore everything...I was telling my husband that I have to get on some medication for this depression & he said babe, it has got to be that damn ring, you have never been like this before.
Everyone has different bodies & can handle different meds, but to read these other peoples problems helps me to understand, that I am not crazy & depressed, that it IS this stupid Nuvaring and my trial period of testing this out is over,,,,hopefully it hasn't caused any permanent damage.

Wow, some really interesting stories about NuvaRing on here. I had never head about it until 3 weeks ago when getting my annual, I brought up using Seasonale birth control and my doctor told me about the Ring, so he gave me a sample and sent me on my way. It was really convenient - except when I started having sex, I would take it out and put it back in afterwards. Not sure if that was smart or not. I took it out Friday of last week, and Monday started spotting brown blood - thought this was normal. Tuesday morning around 9:30 am I had severe cramps, headache and could barely walk when the cramps came. I got lightheaded and short of breath. Finally, when I went to the bathroom I had wiped and noticed pure blood (Im sure most can tell the difference between period blood and bleeding from an infection of some sort), when I looked down I saw a large mass of some sort. I freaked out because a friend had had a miscarriage and this looked exactly like it. I called the doctor who advised me to collect it and come in asap. I did have sex that weekend I was off it so I freaked out.

When I went in I was advised it was a side effect of the Ring. It was called a decidua cast, basically a linin of your uterus that is formed when pregnant, a lot of times this is shed due to an ectopic pregnancy. Ever sense then I have had the worst period EVER! Constant bleeding, I have to change my pad every 1-2 hours instead of 3-4 (I am afraid to use a tampon right now after this). The blood clots are just horrible.

I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND NUVARING!

Hi there. I was researching possible side effects with Nuvaring and found this board.

Lately, I've been irritable, I've been sleeping so much, I have no energy to do anything.. I went on Nuvaring due to my fiancee and I needing some kind of protection against pregnancy, since we're both in college and (well, you know the drill). I thought that my decreased sex drive was stress related.. until I found this board.

I love my fiancee. We make some great love together. Lately though, I haven't wanted him to touch me.. In fact there's been fights about it. It's only been since I got on Nuvaring. At first it was great.. the increased lubrication etc. But now, I really think this is more of a hassle than anything.. It hurts when we do have sex, it's decreasing my sex drive insanely.. I hate it.

I'm gaining weight.. I used to be 112 pounds, I am now 120 lbs. I have only been on this for two months.. I'm afraid on what could happen if I stay on it any longer.

I have mood swings, headaches, and sleep 12 hours even if I go to bed early.. The headaches are severe, and I have weird stomach pains.

My suggestion to anyone who comes to this board, is to forget about Nuvaring. It's a hassle; more of a hassle than it's worth. If you read up on google more, you'll find there is a lawsuit against the makers of Nuvaring as well.

I havent tried Nuvaring yet.... I just got back from the doctor with some free samples. I'm on the Ortho Evra patch currently and I have side effects that made me concerned enough to try something different. I was on the Depo shot for 4 years. I decided to get off of it after I had cycts removed from my ovaries and had pre cancerous cells removed. Which the doctors said would lower my chances of having children. I decided to take a whole year off of birth control. To give my body a chance to "recover". The only problem I had was my periods kept getting longer and longer and more frequent. Next thing I know the doctors tell me I have Polycystic Ovarian Disease. Which also lowers the chance of having children because of the irregular bleeding. The pill makes me so nautious I couldn't stand it so I thought I'd try the patch. Now I have menstrual cramps when I'm not ovulating, I'm so moody its not even funny, I'm eating all the time and tired 24/7. The only thing it did do was regulate my period. Which is what I wanted... But I've only been on it for two months. My doctor told me you cant even feel the Nuvaring and it has a low dose of estrogen so I wont be moody. But reading all of the comments and stories.... I think I'm just going to not be on any birth control and see if my body naturally regulates itself. If I was using the birth control just to avoid pregnancy it would be different, I would want to be on at least something. But I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that thinks birth control is evil and causes alot more problems than doctors tell you. So I think I'm just gonna toss my free samples of Nuvaring, get off the patch and see what my body does naturally.

I just realized I am not alone.... what a trip! Birth control. I think I have tried a lot of things in the market, pill, injections, IUD, NUVARING; I am 35 years old and I am exhausted of this never ending pregnancy avoidance. But it is inevitable. I want to live my life the way it is.
I have used Nuvaring for over a year now, and it has successfully helped me avoid pregnancy, however, in the last couple of months I have had an increase in the frequency of the migraines accompanied by weakness, shakiness and deep emotional struggles. I get super irritable, or super sad; which is not very normal for me, I am somewhat balanced, I have noticed this marked mood swings around the times of my migraines. I am just exhausted, because I am intolerant to higher levels of hormones and also intolerant to latex. My boyfriend said we should just be "natural", but I think that would just make me more scared than anything else.
Another side effect is that sex is somewhat painful sometimes, I enjoy sex more on my week off the ring, it might be psychological, but I think it is also physiological.
Oh, well, I am glad I am not alone, I am going to talk to my doctor about it. I just want to be at peace with this.

Hello ladies....I had taken Nuvaring for a little over a year and removed it in August to get pregnant. I too, had the extreme low sex-drive and extreme dryness as well as some initial vaginal discharge, but I had to deal with it until my wedding. It's now the end of September and I am noticing feelings of pregnancy...ie: sore breasts, extreme hunger and my hair is falling out like crazy....in the shower, every time I brush, it's all over the back of my clothes and several times throughout the day I can see my hair just hanging off the bottom of my ends. My hair is fine and thin to begin with and I'm a hair stylist so I am freaking out a bit. I read on another Nuvaring website that anyone who has diagnosed Bipolarism, Depression and other Mental issues should not take Nuvaring because it intensifies feelings of suicide. I will say that taking Nuvaring was very convenient and I inserted the ring after my period and took it out in between and it sounds like for those of you who are keeping it in during your period and/or starting it on the first day of your period are experiencing the worst of the side effects. I hope someone comes up with something someday equivalent to the convenience of Nuvaring without all of the nasty side effects.

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!!

I haven't even been on NuvaRing for a whole month, but I have noticed several side effects. First I had severe lower back pain, similar to the pain I had during my first pregnancy. I have also been depressed, and tonight when I should have been enjoying sex with my husband, I discovered just how much my sex drive had diminished. I was so dry, and that never happens! I am taking NuvaRing out for good in three days. Thanks to all who have posted here. I am now certain that my problems are related to the NuvaRing.

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.

I have to say I am so happy to have found this web site. I started taking the nuva ring November 2007 when I got pregnant and decided to terminate the pregnancy. My Dr. suggested the nuvaring. 2 months ago I would have totally recommended this to everyone. I love it. Well how times have changed. On June 21st I went to take out the ring and it wasn't there. No where to be found. My period started a few days later so that confirmed that the ring was out. Since then, I have had the worse period. I am still on my period. I went to put in a new ring on July 1st and I felt so sick. I took it out 2 days later. Everyday is hell. I have been extremely tied, sick, nauseous, etc.

After I found this site I started putting everything together. About 3 months ago I was super depressed. I had suicidal thoughts. It was awful. My boyfriend and I fought everyday. I literally lost my mind. I have been suffering awful leg and foot cramps at least once a week. Headaches all the time. I know a lot of people lost their sex drive but I never lost mine.

I am going to the Dr. next week and I really hope that the ring I thought I lost is really lost. I refuse to go back on Nova Ring. I don't want to get blood clots and I would like to get checked just in case I might have one already. Listen...if you are thinking about taking nuvaring, don’t do it. All the people that are saying they love it just haven't experienced the negative side effects...but they will. It's poison. Thanks for reading

I had used NR for six weeks when I woke up at 3 am with SEVERE chest pains. Went to the ER and was diagnosed with *substantial* pulmonary emboli (blood clots in the lungs). I was hospitalized for five days and am now under the direction of a pulmonologist and hematologist for the next six months while I'm on blood thinner therapy. I had to do injections into my abdomen twice a day to prevent further clotting until my blood reached a theraputic level with the Coumadin (blood thinning drug).

Usually, pulmonary embolism afflicts sedentary people or those who have recently had surgery or those who have cancer . .. etc etc etc. I am a 33 year old personal trainer. I have ZERO risk factors for this to have happened to me . .. other than the nuvaring. It was determined that it was the cause and I was told to remove it immediately and to never never never use it again.

Please be careful in your decisions to use this product. I used it for the convenience of not popping a pill daily as I would usually forget. Wish I would have just looked a bit further into the possible side effects before choosing to go ahead with it.

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

I am soooo glad I found this website!! Please read further!!!! I had a horrible experience on the NuvaRing. Can't even begging to explain, but I want to express my knowledge to anyone that is on this site. I think doctors should ask every patient that requests the NR if they have had or have symptoms or have been diagnosed with depression, or at that, any mental illness. With women most mood disorders are somewhat hormonally linked along with some kind of chemical imbalance. The ring has a very strong hormone in it that can cause all sorts of problems for women in this category. However, it is probably great for some people. I was only on it for 2.5 weeks and I was screaming at my fiance for no reason then I would lay in bed and just feel hopeless and cry for hours. I know I have suffered from depression for a great deal of my whole life, but I had it under control until I put that little devil inside my vagina. We, my finance and I, thought it would be great to not have to keep forgetting pills and having a pregnancy scare once a month. We didn't link the two together until I told my therapist that I started the ring and he told me to immediately take it out!!! He said DEPO and NuvaRing are a big "no-no" with mentally frustrated patients. So, to all you ladies out there, the ring is good if you have never been to a psychiatrist!!! If you are on any type of SSRI or Benzo's then you obviously have a mental thing going on....stay away from these type of BC's because they are just simply toooooo strong. I hope this helps doctors and patients.

hi board:
I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in....
I went on NuvaRing about 3 weeks ago. Immediately (!?!?!) I began sleeping about 13 hours a day (10 hours per night, with a 3 hour nap every afternoon). I have NEVER been a napper, and I never have needed more than 7.5 hours a night. Additionally, everything seemed a bit off-- on three occasions I got into weird funky mood swings and rearranged all of the furniture in my house. (again, this isn't really me). Appetite increase, for sure, and the gas was just nearly. Decreased sexual drive.... I usually am a sex fiend, and I actually passed up sex once.
On the flip side, it sure was easy! And, no dryness or itchiness or anything.
Anyways, not for me. I think I am going to try Yaz.
I hope you all have better luck than I do!
(ps-- to those who worry about online fora: I am not crazy. Just a happy law student trying to avoid an untimely pregnancy....)

I have been on and off BC for almost 7 years. I started taking the Pill when I was only 16. From then on I fluctuated between a normal teenager and young woman to a crazy, depressed, bloated she-monster. I went off all hormones for about 11/2 years, and I tell you, it was like someone had lifted a veil. I had the sex drive of a 13 year old boy. I ran two marathons and felt like i was on top of the world. Recently, with a new boyfriend, I had a pregnancy scare and so I decided I'd jump on the BC bandwagon again. WRONG IDEA!! The instant I started the pill, those old depressed crazies came back. So, what did my doctor do? Told me to go on the NuvaRing. HAHA!! Not even three days into it, I'm already feeling exhausted, limited sexually and I have a rash on my face. Enough is enough..Hormones are the worst things to mess with, especially when you are so young. This country needs to stop being chained to the pharmaceutical companies and start opening up their eyes. There are reports of animals being affected by BC. Seriously, check it out. It's scary!! I'm going to go to my doctor and demand a change. I'm looking into IUD's. Take a look for yourself. And not Mirena...that still has hormones. I'm talking the old fashioned piece of plastic "T" that will last for 10 years!!! Ladies, do what's best for you, but honestly enough is enough. Don't be a slave to the worst group of people since the Railroad Barons of the 1800's!!!

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

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

I've been on the NuvaRing for almost 8 months now. At first it was great I was just eating more and gaining more weight I started out at 165lbs after pregnancy. After 6 weeks started taking the NuvaRing and been gaining weight constantly with skin rashes and irritation and itching. The odor made me want to cry I couldn't have sex with my husband if I wanted to. I was bloated and depressed everything made me cry. I was constantly going to my room and locking myself away from my children. I finally stopped taking the NuvaRing about three weeks ago. I've lost 4lbs and have been feeling a lot better. The only thing is that now I'm having spotting and cramping and I've been off my period for two weeks now. My doctor says that it's just my hormones coming into normal and that I'll feel pregnant for a while and the bleeding should regulate soon.

I was on the ring for about two months. It seemed great. My best friend had told me about it. We were loving it. Our boobs even went from a B cup to a C cup. I don't know about her but I know I took it the correct way. Then she came down with a "nasty flu" was what we had to tell her parents, but really, she was pregnant. She ended up terminating the pregnancy because the doctors said it was likely the child would have problems since she was 4 weeks pregnant and was still on the ring. I was a total different case though. I didn't even have any morning sickness until I was 6 weeks pregnant. I went to a specialist and they did an ultrasound and nothing seemed to be wrong so I became a single mother at 18. (I caught my boyfriend cheating 5 months into it). I have since then met at least a dozen other women that just so happened to be that one in a million percent with me.

I am 26 yrs old and I have been on Nuvaring for about 3-3 1/2 years. I thought this was the greatest thing not having to remember the pill and the short light periods. I have always sworn by this BC! I have been having side effects I never thought came from the ring until now. I have read a lot of the side effects others are having and I think my lack of sexual desire for the past 1 1/2 yrs. MAY be due to Nuvaring and not my getting married 2 yrs. ago. (lol) I also have headaches often, not bad ones but enough to carry Tylenol in my purse. And another is dryness before intercourse, that I never had a problem with 2 yrs. ago. I never put two and two together until I racked my brain and wondered why I struggled so badly with my lack of sexual desire. I could care less if I have sex or not! That just wasn't me 2 yrs ago! I just couldn't figure out what had changed, going back on any medicines I had taken the past 2 yrs., the Nuvaring is the only thing that was constant. I have a Dr. Appt today and I am going to discontinue use of the ring and see if the side effects subside like they have for some others. I will post again when I have an update. Please let me know if anyone else is having the side effects more than a year after using the Nuvaring!! Thanks!

I am just about to finish my 3rd month of nuvaring. I have never been able to take the pill (I either vomit, or bleed non-stop). I have been having side effects that are increasing daily. I have a bit of lower back pain, started bleeding the day before I took it out on the 2nd month. I have been spotting this month since Thursday of last week, and have 3 more days before I am supposed to take it out. I am using a tampon today because it is so heavy.
I have nausea that comes in waves for the first 10 days. I also have severe breast tenderness.
I have minor headaches in the early evenings. I am not a headache person; never really have them.
The worst part is is the panic attacks (which I have never had). It starts with me holding my breath, tightness in my chest, and severe anxiety. I have felt weepy and out of control. It is getting worse the longer I am on it. It feels like someone else is driving my feelings. I don't recognize myself, nor my reactions to things. I feel a bit paranoid about things. My fears have been irrational. I feel sad, and cry for no reason at some point every day. On the 6th day after I put it in, each month, I have cried the entire day. I am taking it out tomorrow after I speak to my doctor, and getting an IUD. This is a nightmare. I also have night sweats. I also think it is pushing on my bladder. I feel like I have to urinate all the time, and then I sit down to pee the tiniest amount imaginable, and I do not have the ability to push my urine out quickly, which I could do before the ring was in. I had my doctor check me for a UTI, or any other problem like that, but I was "fine."

Right now, I'm in shock of all the reviews because I started the Nuvaring 08/17. By 08/19 when I checked the ring..a glump of white discharge came out. I thought then.. wow it's really starting to protect me. By 08/21 I had irritation down their and called the doctor...which was yeast infection. I ignored and took the medicine and thought maybe my body just trying to get used to it. By a week later... I was a walking nightmare. I would be mad at the world. I had all the systems of pregnancy. Breast tenderness, nausea 4 times a day, constant eating. I had lost 68 lbs in a year before I got on this thing and due to this ring in me I gained 8 lbs. and that's with me lifting weights 4 times a week and cardio 11/2 - 2hours a day everyday ...although I was eating for possible 4 people. I constantly slept my days away. You would've thought I should had been the most well rested person after all the sleep I did. When I came to this site... and read everything....I immediately ran to the bathroom and ripped it out. After 1 1/2 weeks.. was enough for me to see what it could've done. I want to say thank you to each and every one of you that typed a review because now... I don't have to walk around mad with the world. I'm sure when I walked out of stores and etc... people were calling me every name in the book due to my attitude and my co workers looking at me like...she's going to gain every bit of weight she lost if she keeps eating 3 separate meals just for breakfast not including lunch and dinner. GOOD LOOKING OUT... LADIES.. THANKS SO MUCH.

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

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

I still think a class action lawsuit should be filed and this product taken off of the market, i felt like i lost 3 years of my life on this medication!! Not to mention i put my husband and daughter thru hell!!

I have been on Nuvaring for 2.5 months... thank god i read this. I'm not someone who usually gets side effects to drugs but Nuva Ring is a whole different story. I'm tired all the time! I used to be able to stay up all night but since I started the ring I need to sleep all the time. I'm in college my roommate convinced me to get tested for mono beacuse I was always sleeping and couldn't even stay up to study for finals! I also have been getting horrible mood swings. I have always been the nicest most easy going person until I started the ring. I have also been having back and stomach pain (like acid stomach) as well as numbness in my hand, I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the ring but it started right when I started the ring.. has anyone else had these sideeffects.. Thanks!!!

wow i was starting to think that i had something wrong with me cuz of the depression! i have been on the nuva ring for 6 months, every month i get worse...im soooo irriatable i cry over everything...my sex drive has not decreased but i have absoultly noooo confidence...i feel fat...i get bloated for no reason...im so tired so i have dark circles under my eyes everyday, all of that makes me not want to have sex...i have convinced myself that im ugly and hes only touching me because he feels he has too! my boyfriend and i have 2 kids together, and he has recently told me that he doesnt know who i am and he doesnt want to be with me anymore cuz he cant take my mood swings. i have no sense of humor, i snap at everyone. i also always have a discharge! its sooo annoying. and i spot almost everyday during the month, and i still have a full blown period that to me has become more painful then ever, my doc said all this would stop but it hasnt!
im to the point where i have thought about sucide and i dont want to take care of my kids, i barely eat anything and when i do, i get bloated and i work out (with 2 babies under 3 im pretty active!) and i have only lost 35 pounds since i gave birth in oct. i only gained 27 my whole pregnancy! my pants are tight today, but in 2 days they might be loose and then a few days after that they are really tight again...i hate the niva ring!

I have been on the Nuvaring for about 5 years now. I agree that my sex drive has diminished greatly, but I just thought I was bored of my boyfriend, didn't consider the ring to be the culprit! I never had a history of depression but in the past two years there have been times I have felt so sad that I didn't want to get out of bed and I'm not that type of person at all. I, too, blamed it on my long-term boyfriend, thinking that I just wanted happy in my relationship when the the truth is I just wasn't happy period. As for pregnancy paranoia, well, the ring is 99.9% effective so if you're using it right you really have no worries there. But it does affect your body, for sure. You just have to ride it out, get medication to counter-act it (which isn't the best solution but it works,) or try something else. Not everyone has negative side-affects, so they could go away if you give your body a chance to get over it - but weigh the consequences, Nuvaring is convenient but not if it pulls you down. Being a woman is tough sometimes!!

I have been on the ring for the past 2.5 years and have personally experienced almost every nasty side effect that every one has listed here. My breasts are tender and I have absolutely NO sex drive, NONE whatsoever. I feel like I could go without sex for the next hundred years and I wouldnt miss anything. I have been depressed and moody and irritable and I have been fighting with my husband ALL the time. Not to mention that I feel like Im the most unlucky and unhappy person on earth, etc. Right now I think I am driving my poor husband to insanity. Best part is that like all depressed people I blame him for everything thats wrong in my life! I did not have too much weight gain because of the ring. I also did not experience too many problems with discharge or pains. But this month I tried skipping a period by inserting a new ring as soon as I removed it and I ABSOLUTELY HATE the experience. Its like all of my symptoms have got magnified 10 times. I have had enough of this and Im stopping the ring next week when my three week cycle is complete. I have had weight gain problems with the pill before, so Im not going back to it. My husband and I will have to device other ways of controlling pregnancy. This is just not for me!

I started the Nuvaring last Friday, so like one week ago. Since then, I've experienced abdominal discomfort, nausea, and a big increase in discharge. I was started to be scared of pregnancy, but after reading all this I guess it could be from the ring. After reading about the mood swings, I'm starting to wonder if maybe the extreme paranoia/ups/downs over the possibility of pregnancy might be a side-effect too? Could somebody who's been on it longer post back to tell me if the time frame/side effects are about right?