NuvaRing and sleep

I've been using NR for 3 months. My husband and I used to sneak around to have sex and now my drive is completely non-existent.I have been racked with anxieties that keep me up at night. I couldn't sleep just trying to decide on my presidential vote! (How silly is that?) I've been irritable and can't handle the smallest stress. I've been feeling so exhausted I have to take a nap after going out of the house for just 20 minutes! Previous to using NR none of these were issues for me. I was starting to believe I had hypothyroidism until I saw this site. This has been my first attempt at bc. I hope other options don't effect me like this so I get my old, happy, sexy self back.

Wow. I've have been on the Nuvaring for only one month. I have gained about 7-10 pounds. Quick. Constantly want to eat. I'm overly tired, just cannot get enough sleep. I have been crying for absolutely no reason this past week. My sex drive has went from 10 to 0, very unusual.... I am so glad I came across this website!!! I thought I loved the ring just because of the convince, i never remember to take my pills! My boyfriend can feel it, as i can sometimes too. I guess it's back to the Patch for me!

I have been on NuvaRing for about 4 months now and after my most recent period in September just a week later I am experiencing brown discharge, period like systems such as cramping and back pain. I am so tired most times after I work out I feel like I am almost going to go into a coma if I don't sleep. I really want to take this out. Has anyone else had these systems and think it is the Ring? Please let me know....I was frighten and do not know what else it could be.

I thought I was crazy until I found this site... I've been toying with the idea of taking the nuvaring out because I've been so ridiculously depressed lately, exhausted for no reason, and my sex drive is basically at zero. I had almost convinced myself that I'm just depressed but started thinking about the nuvaring. I've been on it for almost 2 years now, and had minor problems at first but then after I got used to it, it seemed fine. Lately, it's been getting worse. Before I lived with my boyfriend (and in the same city), I worked at a horrible job that made me miserable and depressed and gave me horrible headaches... I thought it was just that, my job. But it's not any better, except the headaches are somewhat better... but I'm more depressed than ever, my sex drive is worsening, I'm crabbier than ever, all I want to do is sleep but when I do sleep it's not good sleep, I have zero energy, I can't bring myself to do the smallest tasks, and I'm so insecure and scared that my bf doesn't love me anymore. I even think I've developed anxiety. Sex hurts almost worse every time, I get that burning thing other people have been discussing, and it burns after sex when I urinate. I asked my gyno about the pain during sex and she almost acted like I was crazy. I think I'm ready to take this thing out. Condoms, here I come again. There were positives to the ring, like a way lighter period, I only have one sort of heavy day, and the rest are super light, and my cramps are nothing compared to what I used to experience. But those positive things do not outweigh my other experiences. The point of going on BC is so you can have sex without getting pregnant... well having sex once a month because I feel bad that my boyfriend isn't getting any is so NOT worth the money I spend on this thing and so not worth the side effects. It's so weird that for almost a year though I was fine on it, it almost makes me think that they changed something about it. And it's weird that the doctors seem almost brainwashed. I'm not the only one who had the gyno acting like they were crazy. I'm hesitant to take it out now, I still have 2 1/2 weeks until I'm supposed to take it out, but I don't want to wait another 2 1/2 weeks if I could start feeling better by then if I took it out now.

So i told you I would post an update from my gyno... so here it is (below is my original post)

I went to the doctor and her nurse asked me if i had a little bit of cramping and i said yeah its actually off to the side, and she said that i might have some sort of blockage by my ovaries.... well then my doctor came in and she said that everything was perfectly normal. and decided to put me onto yaz... well i'm not going to take it. and it worries me that i might have a blockage. I took out the ring last night and it is gone for good! I can't wait to get back to my normal self. i am going to see how i do this month without the ring and still see if i have the cramps if i do i will go back if not then we can just assume it was caused from nuva....

August 15th
2008
12:14 AM

So I got on NuvaRing because I needed something with low hormones that wouldn't make me crazy like other BC's. I've been on it for almost 3 years now and didn't start having problems until recently. Now I get night sweats... i wake up and i am soaking wet from sweat, depressed, cry and get angry for no reason. Like the other night I was in the middle of eating dinner and i just started balling uncontrollably for no reason. My sex drive really hasn't decreased all that much it's still there; but i have discharge like there is no tomorrow and sometimes it smells. I figured if i douched that would help the situation but apparently not. I also haven't had a "period" in like 4 months and i'm not pregnant. I say "period" because NuvaRing doesn't allow your ovaries to ovulate so it's not really a period but withdrawal blood because your not shedding any uterine lining.I also recently have had bad migraines... thinking that having my wisdom teeth finally removed would take care of that issue but it's been 3 months since that and the answer is no. I have no energy to do anything all i want to do is sleep but i hate sleeping because i wake up soaking wet from sweat. It bothers me when my husband and I have sex and hurts. I also can not go a day without taking pepto; my stomach hurts even if i drink water. don't get me wrong i love the fact that i've lost weight but not because my stomach hurts too much to eat. I know if your looking for something to help you pin point what it is i'm sorry that you're not getting it from me. But I can tell you this after a while you get tired of it. I am going to talk to my gyno to see what my other options are. I can't take it any longer and neither can my husband. I have never PMSed as bad as I have been lately. If you're experiencing any of these I would recommend you call your gyno/dr and let them know; there could be something better for you out there. Sometimes I wonder why we woman put our bodies through these things. If all else fails looks like we'll just be going back to the old school days of condoms and spermicide lube. i'll post in a few days after my gyno apt to let you know what she said about my symptoms... but you'll know when you've had enough.

I just started the Nuvaring last Sunday and have been having some strange symptoms that I did not know that could have been associated with the NR, until now.
Since I've been using it, I have noticed that I'm bloated (but I dismissed it as possible water retention), mild cramping, and HORRIFIC sex!
I noticed this last night after having sex for the first time after inserting the ring. Upon insertion, my vagina burned horrifically. I told him it burned and he asked me if he should stop, but I felt bad and let him finish. The sex was miserable! Painful and burning! Then afterwords, holy crap! My vagina felt like it was on fire! I went to go pee and it hurt like a son of a bitch. Then this morning, my vagina itched like there was no tomorrow!! I had to shower and frigging give it a major scrub down! Not to mention, having to put hydrocortisone and vagisil on it!
Also, I've experienced some pretty nasty depression. Before reading this, I thought I was just depressed cuz Im going through a hard time right now, but its strange cuz I've been going through a hard time for a few months now, and haven't felt like this! I have been known to have depression in the past though, but since I've been going to the gym, its helped. But all of a sudden, the gym doesn't work anymore! I feel hopeless, I'm sensitive and crying for everything, I feel miserable with low self-esteem and self worth. I wanna sleep all the time and I'm just pissed off at the world. I'm worried about how far this depression may take me!
Not to mention, now, I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but I have noticed hard bumps on myself. 2 in the back of my head, and one on the side of my neck. What the hell are these? Cuz these just appeared out of no where! The two on my head are painful to touch and the one on my neck is painless. Could these be swollen lymph nodes?
Oh, and I'm also thirsty all the time! I cant stop drinking water!
Now, this is all the stuff I have been experiencing so far, but after reading all these other testimonials, I'm afraid to start my period or even remove the damn thing! I thought this thing was supposed to be awesome! It sucks ass!! I think I may end up going back to the pill...I've never had crazy side effects like this before!

I have been on the nuvaring for about 5 years and I seriously thought it was the best thing ever. I think i just started getting side effects that were bad enough to notice. I kept trying to place them with other reasons like stress. The vaginal dryness,the burning, the itching the spotting and that brown discharge. I have been steadily getting more depressed and anxious, i feel sad constantly and FREAK out on my boyfriend. I also want to sleep, i just feel wore down that could also be contributed to the depression. I did gain about 15 lbs when i first started taking it but have since then lost it. I started when i was 16 and now im 21. My boyfriend thinks i like someone else or im with someone else cause i just don't seem very turned on by him. It sucks. I am very certian switching is a great idea for me, it just sucks cause i can be very unsteady with pills. your not going crazy. ha. i need suggestions on a good pill.

Where should I begin? Yes, as it has been said everyone reacts to hormones/medications differently but how is it that I am finding all my symptoms on this board and there's plenty of other women out there feeling the same thing? I am driving my friends/family insane telling them that I think I'm pregnant. It's been nearly 3 months. since I last had intercourse, I haven't missed a period and have had TWO pregnancy tests come out negative! I started Nuvaring the 2nd of July (1st day of my period) and pulled it out by the 13th because I was literally SICK of it! Three days later I started my period again, horrible cramps and all. I had hot flashes throughout the day and night sweats in my sleep. I have felt bloated constantly, today I just noticed a tiny amount of clear discharge from my nipple when I squeezed it, horrible headaches that don't go away, nausea. Anything you would link to pregnancy symptoms, I've felt all of it! And my friends are sick of hearing me think I am, hell! I'm sick of thinking it. But as I've read on here, it seems even weeks after the Nuvaring has been removed women are still feeling out of whack. My only other option is to take blood test to confirm that I'm going insane and that this birth control really threw my hormones off balance. Oh yeah, and did I mention I've been suicidal lately? And have random bouts of crying or depression? This is just the beginning...so if anyone out there has thought they're pregnant because of this thing, you're probably not, but please let me know if you've felt the same, thanks!

Well I thought I was going crazy and needed to see a Psychiatrist but after reading all these other side effects that NuvaRing does not list on their label I know I am not going crazy. My side effects are as follow: extreme headaches at times, one was so severe I seeked medical attention because it felt like a stroke; stomach pains, depression, INSOMNIA (Tylenol PM helps; but who wants to become addicted to sleep meds), decrease sexual drive, and crying for no reason. So after all of this I have one more week until my cycle and I am retiring the NR. After all, I can find something more economical like the pill to cope with rather than that $35.00 I was spending on my Rx.

I'm so glad that I found this site because I was beginning to think that something was seriously wrong with me. I started taking Nuvaring almost 2 months ago. 5 more days and I can take it out...FOREVER!!!!

At first, I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread...and then the weight gain began. My husband said maybe it was just that I was eating junk. Maybe...so I started back on Weight Watchers. I can not lose a single pound, and when I have counted points in the past the pounds fell off the first week or two. I've gained 15 lbs since I started Nuvaring. The strange thing is that it is all just around my stomach. It is like a big spare tire. I've gained very little in the rest of my body.

I also noticed pretty bad cramping after I put it in. It was pretty much all the time, not just during certain parts of my cycle.

Then I started to get headaches. Not little headaches, but debilitating migraine headaches. The sensitivity to light is almost unbearable when I have one of these. Many times I find myself going to bed at 8 pm when I put my son to bed. Pretty much all I ever want to do is sleep. Sex? Nope, not interested. (Very different from how I was in the past.) Huh, I guess it works as birth control because it promotes abstinence!

The worst part is that I am soooooo depressed. Like major depression. I have usually been a pretty even keel personality, but since starting Nuvaring I find myself wondering what I have to live for. I've come to the conclusion that if it weren't for my husband or son, I'd rather just be dead. I've even found myself thinking about how I would want to die. It has gotten so bad that I haven't been to work in almost 2 weeks. I have so much anxiety that I actually feel scared to go. My husband finally called a doctor for me on Wednesday and I start therapy on Monday. I hope that the side effects will go away soon after I take the ring out, but I am very afraid that I might be like this for a while.

I question how so many of us have these HORRIBLE side effects and yet no one in the medical profession has even questioned whether something is amiss. It seems to me that I better just have another child and then have my tubes tied so I don't ever have to mess with all this awful birth control stuff again. (I was bad about taking pills on time, so I ended up having spotting most of the month, which kind of defeated the purpose.)

I'm thankful that I found this site and now I know that I am not alone!

This is the first time I have actually looked up side effects to NuvaRing. I have been on it since March of 2006, so about 2.5 years. I never really noticed side effects, and I have been to the doctor more than once and told them about the same side effects that have been discussed here. They blamed it on lack of vitamins, lifestyle changes and other random facts of life. Maybe that is the cause of my problems, however, why would they all happen at once???

Until today, I was soooo happy with NuvaRing, and I still am. I am just more aware of why I feel the way I do....It is soo easy to use!! I would NEVER remember to take a pill everyday, I would not like the patch, and the shot wouldn't go with me very well either.

Seems as if every birth control has side effects...here are mine from NR

EXTREME fatigue..
I asked my doctor about this. It has been going on since January. I sleep for 13 hours a day and am still exhausted. I cannot get enough sleep. I am a 20 year old that used to lead a pretty active lifestyle, but it seems the last few months that I have slowed waaaaaaay down. It isn't like me. I usually stay busy

Weight gain
I can accurately say that I have not been as active as I was in the past...but in one year I have put on about 17 lbs, and no matter what I do, the scale keeps climbing....I joined a gym for about 4 months, and I didn't lose a single pound. Before, I was able to LOOK at a treadmill and get in shape, now I spend an hour a day on it, and it does nothing for me.

SEVERE Headaches...with sensitivity to light and sound
I have not had this bad of headaches. EVER. It usually starts in the back of my head and moves to only one side. My doctor told me to wean off the caffeine. I did and they are still there. I drink no caffeine daily and I still am getting these terrible headaches. I work at a casino, so sometimes it really interrupts my daily life, with the lights and sounds and everything.

I AM ALWAYS THIRSTY!!!!!

I have NO sex drive
My boyfriend and I used to have sex every single day when I just started the NR, but now I NEVER want to. I have to pretend that I want to have sex, just so his feelings are not hurt. Sometimes I even catch myself thinking "is it over yet??" That is SOOOO not like me. I was an animal the first few months I was on NR. Now I have no desire.

I feel as if I am just living the motions of life sometimes instead of participating in it. Like I am just here everyday, not always feeling what is going on around me. I am semi moody, but nothing out of the ordinary. Week 3 of the ring is ALWAYS emotional, but the week before my period has ALWAYS been like that. I find it very normal.

My periods are WONDERFUL. I used to have a full 7 day period from hell. Now they last only 3-4 days, and I can basically tell you when I am going to start to the hour. It is AMAZING.

All in all, I love NR still. I am not going to stop taking it yet. I am just glad I found this site so I know the reason behind all of these changes in me. I have never put two and two together....that NR was causing all of these things...but now I know it could be. Or maybe it isn't. Who knows, but as long as I keep an eye on symptoms, I think I will be okay...

If any of you have any questions I have been on NR for quite a while, so feel free to email me at ******

I went on the ring about a year ago and I have loved it. I have been having a problem when I drink too much alcohol though and I am not sure if it has to do with the ring. Whenever I drink to the point where I don't feel good and I have a headache, I get really suicidal and freak out. My boyfriend noticed a few days ago that these episodes started around the same time I got the ring, but we aren't quite sure. Has anyone else ever had any experiences like these? I would like to know as soon as possible so I can take it out. Also, I would like to know if there are any other birth controls that people would recommend besides the pill. I don't like having to remember to take them every day.

My body must not be shaped properly for this thing because even after 6 months it still slides out partway all the time. I had to tie it in a knot to get it to stay in for more than 2 minutes. that aside, I had many of the side effects everyone else is talking about:

extreme anxiety. weird tingling in my arms and feet and 'on edge' all the time. waking in the night with horrible panic attacks and feeling sick to my stomach. so bad that I'd be afraid to go back to sleep for fear I may not wake up. I can't even describe how anxious I was. It was like I was outside of my own body all the time. I'd have to wiggle my toes or pinch my arms at times to make sure they still moved. In the night I'd wake up and intentionally wake up hubby or a kid just to know that I still existed.

Total bitch. I even hated being around myself. the sound of someone eating would irritate me so bad I'd have to leave the room before i hit someone or broke something.

totally down in the dumps. not suicidal, but didn't find joy in anything. I didn't want to do anything, yet felt bored all the time.

headaches non stop. Literally had 2-4 headaches every single day for 3-4 months. Not one day without. went to bed with a headache, woke in the night with a headache, woke in the morning with one... painkillers would take off the edge, but not eliminate it.

I seriously was terrified I was going mentally insane.

I had used the pill years ago with no side effects. I've been off nuvaring for 6 months now and don't know what to do because I have problems with cysts (and possible endo.) and their 'solution' is hormonal contraceptives.

I was better almost immediately after stopping the nuvaring. the headaches lingered for a bit more, but the rest disappeared.

I thought I was going out of my mind! I had been on NuvaRing for almost 1 year, then quit (b/c of insurance reasons), then went back on it in April. While off it for over 6 months, I noticed my sex drive increased and I lost some weight without even trying. I went back on it because I have severe cramps in the middle of the month, and NuvaRing really helped.

I had no problems (that I can recall) the first year except for slight weight gain, 8-10 pounds. But these last 3 months have been awful! I am short with my husband and kids, and I worry about things non-stop. I am SO tired, but I get in bed and cannot sleep. I lay awake worrying about things like car accidents. I am not normally a worrier. I also have felt very down and cry often. I was starting to think I had an anxiety disorder.

I have no reason to feel depressed, and have not struggled with depression in the past (I am a mental health professional, so work with mental illnesses on a daily basis; enough to know there was something not right with me!). I have also put on 10 pounds in the last 3 months. Partly due to low energy. My hands even get tired when I color with my 3 year old.

I have taken 1-2 Excedrin Migraine a day to ease (not cure) my headache that has lasted for over 30 days.

Just this weekend, it occurred to me maybe it was the NuvaRing. After reading all these posts, I took it out a week early. I would rather live with some cramps instead of all of these side effects!

I started using the ring exactly two weeks ago. I started taking naps almost every day. Sleep during the day has NEVER been an option for me let alone a necessity. I decided to research the ring today when I noticed that my belly was extremely bloated. After reading some of the side effects, I can recall a strange feeling of hopelessness and sadness that I've had these last couple of weeks. (I've never been depressed in the past). I've also had very strange dreams. I should have known that an easy BC fix was too good to be true. I was on Depo before I had my daughter 5 years ago and it caused serious bone loss. I loved it because of the convenience and never had an indication that it was causing bone loss (thankfully a new GYN decided to take a bone scan as a precaution since I had been getting shots for 5 years. Luckily I was young enough that my bones are now normal.) Needless to day, I pulled the ring today!

Thank goodness for this site!

wow....I am so happy i found this page. I just texted my boyfriend saying I'm going crazy I'm taking my ring out! And then I find this page!!!
Ive been on the ring for about 2 years....but right now after two weeks of having it in I just had to take it out. My nipples are sore!! And my lower tummy is bloated ohh and I haven't been sleeping well! :( . I freaked out and took the ring out to have my period. But while I am on the ring I do get so much more irritable! And recently I've been waking up so early! I'm only 20! I love to sleep!! But sadly I can't. I love the easy image of nuvaring but hate these horrendous side effects.

I am 45 and on BC to help control perimenopausal symptoms. I tried BCs (including NR) a couple of years ago but had to stop because I became severely fatigued and depressed (slept through the month of November!). I'm trying BCs again, and yes, NuvaRing again. I am exhausted, can't think or remember anything, all I want to do is sleep. I have gained 15 pounds and haven't changed my eating habits at all. I noticed that some of you posted increased cholesterol levels. I have not experience this, but I have recently (3 weeks ago) been told I am anemic (B12 deficiency). I wonder if BCs can contribute to this? Any thoughts?

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

Hi! I have started the NuvaRing almost three weeks ago, and I have been feeling sooo tired that I have lost all my interest in everything-except sleep.Also-I have had these weird, charley-horse type cramps in my calfs which swing down and around the arch of my feet. The cramps started exclusively on my right side; but recently I have started feeling them on my left. I would wake up in the morning, get up and I could hardly walk until sometime in the early afternoon. Today, fed up with this crap, I took the damn thing out-and almost immediately the charley horse tightness and pain dropped off. I also knew it would not be long before I would start to gain weight, as I have slacked off my exercise program due to major fatigue. It has been only a day, but I am feeling great,knowing I made the right decision. I have varicose veins in my thigh and calf area-and I fear the blood clots that the ring would predispose me to. I don't need birth control as my husband is infertile; this was prescribed to clear up a cyst.

I absolutely love the convenience of the NuvaRing, and it has pretty much eliminated the mood swings I had on the Pill. Unfortunately, it has completely killed my sex drive, too. I want to go to bed around 9pm every night, and sleep for 12 hours, and I've noticed that I barely even feel affectionate toward my boyfriend any more. Now that I've read this, I think NR may also be the reason I can't get a good night's sleep -- I get very hot and restless all night! I don't know what to do. NR is so easy to use, but I'm way too young to give up on sex!

The NuvaRing is pure EVIL! I am 23 and I started it on a Saturday and today is Tuesday and I just took it out after only four days. I have had a migraine since the day that I started using it. Migraines that wake me up in the middle of the night. I have tried Tylenol, 600mg Ibuprofen, plus Imitrex and although the pain seems to go away slightly, I still have a dull throbbing in my face and back of my neck. And its gets so bad that my eyes start watering and I can’t even drive home because its hard to keep my eyes open. I will NEVER, EVER use NuvaRing again! Its not worth the pain that I am in. Oh yea, my doctor had previously prescribed me Elavil (which is an anti-depressant medication) for migraines. I was on Elvail before in February (not on NuvaRing then) and the Elvail worked perfectly to cure my migraines. But not even the Elavil will help with my migraines now since I started NuvaRing. NuvaRing is horrible and I DO NOT recommend anyone take it. I will never use it again. I am praying that my body goes back to normal in a couple of days since I stopped using NuvaRing.

Other side effects I experienced with NuvaRing:
-Always tired, could sleep all day
-No strength to work out (I LOVE working out!)
-Moodiness
-Tender, swollen breasts
-One episode of vomiting

Ladies, NuvaRing is not worth it to me. The risks/side effects just outweigh the benefits, that’s just my opinion. I hope this helps. I will keep you posted as to how I feel ANR (After NuvaRing, lol) Good Luck Ladies.

I have been using NuvaRing for a little over a year now. I am 38 years old. Over the past few months I have been experiencing incontinence problems...nothing major, I just sometimes felt like I had dribbled on myself. I had to wear pantyliner. I thought I was just getting older and had this to look forward to....I have since realized that the week I take out the ring I don't have this problem. I have also been experiencing major depression and am unable to control my temper...the least little thing sets me off! I want to sleep all the time and have no energy. Three months ago I started having migraines. My husband complains because I have NO sex drive, but when we do have sex I burn so bad afterwards I can't stand it. I have also been to 2 dermatologists for severe acne! I have felt like I am falling apart! After reading everyone's comments, I think that the NuvaRing is to blame.

well i have been on the nuvaring now for about 4 months now and well the one big problem i have had is that i am always tiered and sleeping, now that maybe caused by me not having a job and getting out much, buti am 19 turning 20 so i thought i shouldnt be that tiered but the problem is that i also cant go to sleep till like 3 or 4 in the morning then sleeping till like noon or so after.....some of the other side effects that i have gotten that i wonder if anyone else has is like this weird feeling in me liek bubbles and always feeling like i need to pass gas...i have gained weight but common girls every birth control makes you gian weight...and well as of the headaches, i dotn know about those becasue i have always had really bad headaches though.....oh and my boobs are very tender and my dirve for sex has gone done sorry ladies i dotn mean to sound gross but my fiance can not get me to well orgasim or you know cum does anyone else have this problem too....then my last question for you ladies is does anyone know if i go off of this pill will it make my boobs down size i am afriad that they will go down and i will get strech marks beacuse i was a size 32 A and the ring made me a 34 B so going off of it i am affraid of the strech marks if they down size.....

I've been using Nuvaring for about 8 months and have gained at least 10 pounds. Also, my cholesterol went from 200 to 250 and LDL from 120 to 168. Has anyone else experience increase in cholesterol? I too have expererieced memory problems and have noticed that I wake up more often feeling as if my arm or hand "fell asleep".

I was on NuvaRing for a year before experiencing any side effects. My January period was horrible -- it lasted 4 1/2 weeks with clots the size of a half dollar coming out -- my general doc thought it was some strange side effect of a back injury I was recovering from. February was fine. Then, the same thing happened in March, except I was going on week 5 of these clots with no end in sight. I happened upon this website and realized that the loss of sex drive, exhaustion, lack of sleep, and depression were possible side effects of the ring! I have been on antidepressants for over a year, and now believe I was medicating the wrong thing. I have had more headaches in the past six months than I have ever had in my whole life...and my husband and I were experiencing many issues over the lack of sex drive, which used to be very healthy until starting on the ring. Thank God I found this website! I have taken out the ring (my blood flow stopped in just a few hours after removing it), and have a call in to my doc to find a new birth control option!

I am 38 and I have been using the NuvaRing since 3/23/08. My GYN thought it would help regulate my hormones, as I was experiencing vaginal dryness and decreased libido. I have been on BCPs since I was 18, except for 2 pregnancies and breast feeding. I had no problems on BCPs, except the vaginal dryness and decreased libido (which have been coming on gradually). So far, I have breast enlargement and tenderness, emotional lability, and I have not slept well since it went in (waking up frequently and vivid dreams). I'm going to stick it out a little while, but WOW, I didn't sign up for this. If this form of BC has less hormones then why do I feel this way?

I am in my 4th month of using Nuva Ring. I have loved it (and recommended it to everyone) until now. The past two weeks, I have felt like I am "high" or something. The only time I have gotten any sleep is when I was on my week off last week. Since I have started researching side effects and reading others' experiences, I didn't really realize some of my symptoms may be related to my birth control. The weird, almost drunk, feeling just started last week, but the sleeplessness, cold hands, bloating, weight gain, nausea have been going on for a while. I'm really not sure what I will do b/c I really love how easy it is to use, but if these symptoms do not go away, I can't handle feeling like this every day. I have NOT experienced depression, lower sex drive, or any vaginal issues like some of the other postings mentioned. I do remove the ring during sex, then wash it and insert again afterward. Has anyone who experienced these side effects ever had them lessen or go away.....or is this permanent for as long as you use the ring? I guess I will be making a phonecall to my doctor today. Now I feel a lot less crazy after reading everyone else's experiences. I am sooooo glad I started researching this topic!

3 weeks after putting in the NR, I went to work explaining to my co-workers that I "had a hangover" and needed to eat some bread , as my 3 glasses of birthday wine from the night before really had done me in. After a baegal, and an energy drink, I noticed my eyes had this weird kinda haze, and my head over my ears was really starting to ache. The worse it got, I finally voiced to the girls how "weird" I felt, and with their own experience, we figured out it was a migraine. A migraine? I had never felt a headache like this before. this alone made me anxious, and made my heart palpitate (which I was already familiar with) I left work early because I was having difficulty concentrating, and i felt bad for having everyone work in the dark with me. I got home and did nothing but sleep ALL night into the next morning. When I woke, it felt like just breathing was making me more nauseated by the minute. I vommitted all morning, had no lunch and am still queezy 6 hours later. I was glad to find this site to answer the question of this being due to the ring or not. I took it out, with no plans to re-insert, and my stomach is still in knots. as a nurse my advise to other women is: reconignize the common/small symptoms, before the big/scary ones occur.

I have wasted a year and a half of my life on NuvaRing. I just feel so stupid not to realize this sooner. My hands were always cold, go white and painful. My back went numb when sitting in a chair. My happy go lucky attitude turned into a depressed and sad life. Sleep...what was that. My poor husband had been shut out. No sex drive-at all-nothing. I felt so numb. Stop crying and pay attention to your symptoms!!

I started using the Nuvaring 6 months ago because my doctor didn't want me on the patch anymore due to the threat of stroke. I was on the patch for two years and had no problems (I was 5'9", about 180lbs, so the higher dose of hormone was fine for my size). Since I started the Nuvaring I've had excessive discharge (soaking onto my pants!), I'm tired all the time but can't sleep at night, I've gained a lot of unexplained weight (hence, I said I WAS about 180, I think now I'm up to 200) despite increasing workouts and no diet changes, and I have NO sex drive, which really freaked me out. At first I thought it had something to do with my boyfriend, like I had lost my attraction to him. Then I thought, "If Brad Pitt walked in my house right now, would I want to have sex with him?" and I realized the answer was no. Talk about freaked out! Also, during my period I had a day of intense cramps, which I've never had in my life! Something about that just isn't right.
After I found this site I realized all of these side effects are common, so I'm calling my doctor to go back on the patch and feel normal again! Tell me, though, ladies, if I take the ring out after only being in for 1.5 weeks, will I get my period after a couple days like I usually do or will it wait until the normal time?
To anyone wondering about the Nuvaring, you'd have to try it to see if it works for you. Some women love it, and I have to admit the convenience is the best I've had, but for others the side effects are life-altering. Everyone's different!

After my initial post I decided to leave it in even tho i felt freaked out by all these posts. For the next 2 days i felt like i was on drugs. i was smoking again, anxious and a bit loopy. I felt like a zombie walking around during the day, blacking out if i got up too quickly and couldn't sleep at night AT ALL. After tossing and turning til 4am i pulled it out and threw it at the wall in a fit of rage.

What a disappointment...what a waste of $90. I want my money back and my 2 days back.

I have only been using the NuvaRing for about 2 weeks and have noticed a ton of side effects that my doctor didn't seem to mention. My boobs hurt really bad, it's very painful to even put my bra on, I want to eat everything in sight, I have been on my period for 12 days and it doesn't look like it's going to let up any time soon (I'm 25 and have never went longer than 6 days), and I get raging mad or really sad over nothing, when normally I am very patient and unemotional. I also am very tired during the day and cannot sleep at night. I have had severe headaches, but didn't think anything of them until I read the comments on this site. I'm definitely going to take the NuvaRing out and try something else. I want to try an IUD, but the insertion kind of freaks me out.

I just want to say that all the nuvaring is good for is regulating periods. I would not recommend using it if you are in a relationship. I have been using birth control since I was 16. I've been on ortho tri-cyclen and the low dose version before I switched to the ring only because I started to forget doses. I refused the patch because that is not cute on a black girl when she wants to wear a bikini. It's kinda hard coordinating a BC patch into your sexiest outfit. I've been using the ring on and off for five years. It's not until I got into a serious relationship that I noticed that I had no sex drive WHATSOEVER. I've been off the BC for a week after being on it for a year and have noticed that I'm horny as hell. My GYN and I have a lot to talk about. I haven't had any weight gain at all while on any BC, nor have I had to start anti-depressants. I should have though because I was having suicidal thoughts and moody as all hell and could sleep the entire day away and will be up all night wishing I could sleep. I know I have depression, just never found someone I trust enough to get help. Everything got worse these past few months. I'll say this though, I never had a day of nausea on the ring the whole time. I pray the depression and other things get better. No more hormones for me though. I'm DONE!

I'm 33 and have been on the ring for about six months now, until last night when I yanked the blasted thing out for good. I'm bipolar so I already knew I was crazy (lol), but over the past few months my symptoms peaked then flew right past the 10 on the 1 to 10 scale. Severe depression accompanied by headaches with suicidal thoughts that simply would not go away. I'm familiar with depression, but the thoughts of suicide are NOT normal for me. Also, I was massively tired and could sleep for days at time. I missed work and even checked myself into the loony bin (lol) because I could not get a handle on things. My doctors adjusted my meds and with the proactive steps I was taking on my own, I should have started feeling better, when in fact, I felt worse. I was beginning to feel like a hopeless cause when I decided to research side effects for the NuvaRing. To describe how I felt when I saw that I wasn't alone and that I might not be dealing with the "normal" symptoms of bipolar disorder: shock, anger, and then hope! I'm always forthcoming with doctors when discussing the meds I take, but there was never a question raised about the Ring so I disregarded it as a contributing factor as well. After reading so many posts detailing side effects that were so familiar I had to get that bad boy out and I'll be sure to post how I feel one way or the other. Either way, I'm grateful for the women who shared their feedback in such a candid way. It helps to know I'm not alone.

I actually started using Nuvaring a little over a week ago to regulate my periods. I had a tubligation after my last child, but I have PCOS and my periods had been acting up again. So, my doctor told me how wonderful this form of birth control was and that I would love it. Well, I don't and I actually removed the ring last night. I have been extremely irritable, cranky and VERY sad. I have cried alot and even thought about suicide. I am going through a divorce, but it is amicable and I have a boyfriend. So, in general I have been pretty happy until about two weeks ago. I have had NO sex drive and I am 34 and absolutely love having sex. I have ate everything in sight, gained weight and feel bloated and fatigued. I could sleep and eat all day and do nothing else. I would rather deal with my period 3 weeks out of a month than the side effects from Nuvaring. I DO NOT recommend it and wished I had read this sight before I started using it.

I have been on the NuvaRing for exactly a week and I can already feel the side effects. The biggest problem has been insomnia. For the past 3 days I have been waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to sleep until the morning, when I need to get up anyway. So for the rest of the day I'm tired, and unproductive. Second, I have not been able to deal with my regular problems, as I normally would. I'm sensitive, and have cried more the past 2-3 days than in the past few months. I have had a amazing increase in appetite, (and therefore probably weight gain, but have not checked), have breast tenderness, and absolutely NO SEX DRIVE as I normally do. Strangely, I've had this itching sensation everywhere when I wake up at night, specially in the genital area. I feel like I wanna get off of it immediately, specially after reading all your posts girls. What do you suggest???

I've been on the ring for 6 days now and have felt strange the whole time. My stomach feels growly and anxious and crampy all the time. I woke up at 2 AM last night and could not get back to sleep for 3 hours because my stomach felt so strange. I can ALWAYS sleep! At least once a day I feel like there is liquid dripping out of me. I have been on the pill for 16 years before this and wanted to try something less "invasive" to my body, but i think i went awry. Should i hang in there for the rest of the month? Will this get better? I have already noticed a drop in my already low libido!

Just to put my two cents in as well... I began NuvaRing three weeks ago and it crept into my life like a disease.
~ My co-workers thought I was constantly mad at them.
~ I had a look of 'disgust' on my face all the time.
~ I haven't smiled for the past three weeks.
~ I CAN sleep all day--> no question about it.
~ My sex drive is gone.
~ I was having extreme leg cramps.
~ I could eat everything on the face of the earth.
~ I feel fatter than ever before.
~ I felt constipated for three weeks...as soon as I took it out for 'the week
off' I had extreme, severe cramping diarrhea.
~ I have had the uncontrollable desire to drink alcohol excessively (??)
~ Yesterday I wanted to kill myself and the world--> It was best for all
mankind that I lock myself in my bedroom

Next month I am going to switch to a different kind of BC

I'm so glad to have found this website! i have been on NuvaRing for a year i think, and about half a year ago started to feel weird: all i wanted to do was sleep, or sit on the couch covered in blankets (was feeling cold all the time), not go out to exercise and eat eat eat! i am an extremely positive person, i love to go running and doing outdoor things, am almost never cold and never need more than 8hrs of sleep. a friend told me it might be the Ring, so i stopped with it for 2 months. immediately felt better and became my happy self again. just a week ago i decided to put it in again, because of a new boyfriend and leftover rings, not wanting to get pregnant. I've been on it for only half a week, but after reading all this took it out again immediately. i am not crazy, it really is the ring thats causing it all. i had a big fight with the boyfriend this morning, and it was only after i talked to a friend that i realized it was the ring. i understand that for some ppl it might work really well, but for now, I'm just gonna have another massive dinner and wait for the side effects to go again. good luck everyone, listen to your own body and talk to friends who know you, they'll be able to tell you somethings different.

Dear friends,
After being on the NuvaRing for nearly two years, I just took my last one out two weeks ago and haven't replaced it. This site made me realize I wasn't going crazy and there wasn't something wrong with me. I really liked the Ring for the first year because it was easy, convenient, and maintained the secrecy of being unmarried in my culture and having sex. I'm 27 years old and am in an amazing relationship with a great man who is really understanding. This was my first form of birth control and maybe my last.

Here are some side effects I experienced:
Numbness in the legs
Loss in desire to have sex
Pain while having sex
Sinus issues
Feeling sleepy and tired all the time
Anxiety and emotional problems

I know people react differently to medication and I was fine until year 2 but if you're taking this or considering it, please do all the research you can and also pay attention to your body. You're not going crazy and you have to know that so you don't medicate for all the symptoms caused by the Ring.

I saw a Neurologist for the pain in my legs. I had an MRI taken. I never took the prescribed medication but there are women on the Ring going through surgery and countless medication treating the very things caused by the Ring. It's an endless cycle.

I don't think there is any form of hormonal birth control that is safe and symptom free. Just be careful because it's not worth losing your loved ones, your work, or your sanity over.

I'm Ring free for 2 weeks and I'm afraid of what that will cause but hopefully one day my body will be back to normal and hormone free.

I'm still tired all the time and am experiencing some spotting. I hope that's the worst of the after effects.

Take care of yourselves....

I had been on BC since I was 19 yrs old (Early 1999). I started off on Depo shot. I liked it at first. I stayed on it until early 2001 when I started to get severe anxiety attacks right after I got the shot. Then my Dr put me on Alesse. I had problems with it within 2 months of being on it. I had severe headaches and by the end my period was lasting almost 2 weeks at a time.

Finally my OB put me on the NuvaRing in 2004. I really did not want to go on it because I just did not feel right having to wear it inside me. For the first 8 months, I had no problems. Then right at the end of 2004 I started to have breakthrough bleeding. I did not know that this was just the beginning. I started to have IBS. There were times I had diarrhea and then I was constipated. I thought nothing of it. Then in April 2005, my body went crazy. In one night I had 3 anxiety attacks within 45 minutes. For the next two weeks I had heart palpitations. I could not sleep. My doctor checked me out for everything. My heart was fine. All of the blood test came up negative. Then while all of this was going on I started my period a week early. My Ob told me to go ahead and take it out then put it back in a week later. I did what my Ob said and after having it in me within 5 days I started to have a hot flash. I took it out immediately.

My OB said not to use it anymore. It took 6 months for almost all of my symptoms to go away. They were so severe that I actually lost my job. My ob told that bc are now out of the question for me.

Before you decided to go on the ring..you have to wonder can too much of the medicine come out of the ring? They say it is timed release..but can too much be released....I recommend taking the pill before you use the ring.

I've been on NuvaRing for 3 weeks now and I know after reading the other posts here that I am experiencing major side effects. I have been having horrible headaches off and on for 2weeks now. I've also been very depressed, isolating my husband and my kids. I can't seem to ever get full enough I could eat all day long. I also have random cramping and bleeding. I have no energy and could sleep all day and night if left to. I also have had the itching all over and low sex drive.The headaches are so awful I can't get rid of them, nothing works.I just pray that this headache and pain in my abdomen go away asap,I'm taking this thing out right now.I wasn't on it for BC I had my tubes ties 18 yrs ago I was having a lot of cramping so they said I have endometriosis so they treated me hormonally like that was smart I'm just gonna get a hysterectomy and be freaking done.Thanks to all and to all good luck

This is wild that I googled NuvaRing side effects and found all of these recent posts. I have been on the ring for only a month but the breakouts on my face and CHEST have been horrible..Yes, I said chest. I have never had acne in my life and now I have it on my face and chest. I am 28 years old, I don't feel this is normal. I have also been exhausted. I will sleep for 12+ hours and feel like I could take a nap an hour later. Also, I never want to have sex..my fiance has no idea what has happened to me.

I'm taking this out immediately. This is not normal for so many women to have these side effects.

I'm 24 and have been using the NuvaRing for 4 months now. I've been waking up to find myself drenched in sweat which I have never experienced before. I started looking at different web sites to see if that is a side effect (which I couldn't find anywhere) when I found this site and after reading everyone's comments, I realized how many side effects I am having. I have no sex drive at all, I am depressed and want to do nothing but sleep, and I find myself eating way more than I used to. If anyone else has been having night sweats, please let me know.

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

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

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

THANX
Alicia-

I've been on NuvaRing for 3 weeks now and I know after reading the other posts here that I am experiencing major side effects. I have been having horrible headaches off and on for 2weeks now. I've also been very depressed, isolating my husband and my kids. I can't seem to ever get full enough I could eat all day long. I also have random cramping and bleeding. I have no energy and could sleep all day and night if left to. I'm taking this thing out right now! Hopefully It doesn't' take long to stop experiencing these symptoms. I wish you all luck in your own situations and STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST THE USE OF NUVARING!

I was so excited to start a birth control that was only once a month - until I started having side effects. I was on NuvaRing for a couple of months during which time I became an emotional basket case. I have a history of GAD and panic attacks, however I experienced extreme depression and anxiety like I have never felt before. I have lost 15 lbs in a month because I am so worked up I can't eat or sleep. I took out the ring and started taking an antidepressant. This was 2 weeks ago and I still don't feel that much better. I can't blame all of this on the NuvaRing for sure - but it is very coincidental that all this happened within a few weeks of starting the ring. Anyone know how long it takes to feel better?

**I got on the NuvaRing because my gyno said it was good, she didn't want to prescribe the patch anymore which I loved. I was totally freaked out by putting it in and leaving it inside my body but I did, it was giving me trouble at first pains in my lower stomach. I had sex and it wasn't as bad anymore but to tell u the truth I don't know if It fell out during or if its still in there. I tried finding it inside of me of course I cant so I'm nervous as all hell. I've been tireddd all the time sleeping 14 hours at a time and still can sleep more, I have horrible pains in the mid, of my lower stomach and bloating. I cant live like this anymore it feels like the stomach flu and not only that I have a 5 month old son and its making things hard me sleeping all the time but my body is sore. Theres no way it could have maybe went in my cervix or something right? I think my boyfriend would have told me if he found it... its been almost 2 months now since I started it. If anyone knows anything please email me because I probably won't be able to find how to see replies

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!