NuvaRing and sleep

The worst thing for me has been finding birth control that I think works wonderfully only to find a few months later that I feel like a completely different person. It doesn't help that I have migraines all the time and they last for days (up to five) on end. They say you shouldn't take the ring if you have migraines but for some reason no one told me and I just kept getting them thinking it had nothing to do with the ring.

I had been on Seasonale in the past and it made me crazy. It took about six months to get the full effect but I was in a wonderful relationship that I was over the moon about, and then one day I just woke up questioning everything we had. It was ridiculous and completely unwarranted. And it didn't go away, it left me still questioning. So I got off of it, and this was about three years ago. I thought I would return to normal but it did too much damage. I still question my relationship, with or without birth control. It's awful. It's like the pill put all those ideas in my head that I wouldn't otherwise have and now I can't stop thinking about it.
I took Nuvaring thinking that would help me out, but instead I am back to square one. I have been trying to hang in there but I just can't anymore. Not only do I have headaches all the time but I feel so exhausted that it doesn't matter if I were to sleep two hours or fifteen, I would still be too tired to do anything. I feel fatigued and lethargic and don't want to do anything that I enjoy. I seriously don't even have the energy to read, and I absolutely love to read (And it takes almost zero energy). I am questioning my relationship again and I never want to have sex. The worse part is that he wants to have sex everyday and I never want it. I seriously feel that if I never had sex again that would be fine with me, but I feel so badly for my fiance but at the same time I get so annoyed that he won't just leave me alone. I want to be left completely alone. I don't want to be around anyone because everyone gets on my nerves nowadays. I have no patience for anyone and I feel so depressed. I just wonder what else I could be doing with my life, and I feel in a rut and instead of being happy with what I have, I have the Nuvaring, which takes all my problems and magnifies it. I hate hormonal birth control. I wish I could have some luck with any of them but I have tried almost all of them and they have all affected me like this. I just want my sex drive back, I want to stop hating my life and getting annoyed by everyone (Seriously I hear one mouth noise from my fiance and I want to bite his head off) and I just want to be me. I was hoping to wait until Sunday to take it out the ring since that is when I have to anyway but I don't think I can wait. Have people felt back to normal once they took this thing out? I need some hope!

I started taking NuvaRing after my son was born, 15 months ago. I loved the relief of not having to take a pill at the same time every day, I had a hard time remembering. I had no problem with the NuvaRing, I loved it! I don't have medical insurance, so i switched to a cheaper option. I had been rapidly losing my sex drive when I was on the NuvaRing, but i had just assumed that it was due to the lack of sleep from having a toddler. Within one week of taking the NuvaRing out, I had regained all of my sex drive. It has been AMAZING. I truly loved the NuvaRing, but this is a side effect that was just not worth the convenience of the NuvaRing.

I started using Nuvaring about 13 months ago after not having been on any type of hormonal birth control for many years. Other than being a little weird out about having it inside me all the time at first, everything seemed fine.

I am just now realizing that my year from hell could be linked to the ring, especially after reading the other testimonials. The least of my problems have been headaches and vaginal dryness. But it is much worse than that; I'm anxious, nervous and moody all the time. I know I shouldn't be upset about little things (or nothing at all) but I can't help it. And I mean screaming, yelling, tearful, throwing things upset. I have missed a lot of work because I'm just too anxious to be there. I have crazy thoughts about my coworkers being angry with me even though I know they are my friends and it's not true.

My poor boyfriend of 14 months thinks I'm unstable, emotionally unreliable and that I have anger management issues. We have come really close to breaking up multiple times because we just can't handle the stress of my mood swings. I even started seeing a therapist a couple of months ago to see if it would help. I can't figure out why I'm there and it isn't helping. Even when my life seems at it's best and least stressful I still tell her that my anxiety level is a 3 out of 10. When she asks me why, I have no idea what to tell her. I have moments in the day when I feel like I am going certifiably crazy and just want to crawl in bed and stay there but I'm too anxious to relax enough to sleep. I have panic attacks in the grocery store, I get an overwhelming sense of dread if my boyfriend leaves the house without me.

Before the ring I road and mountain biked all the time, typically for 2 or 3 hours at a time 5 days a week. I have a hard time motivating to do it now because I feel nervously distracted, fatigued and emotionally dragged out. I even stopped going to my martial arts class which was my life for years. I have dizzy spells and heart palpitations.

Basically, I'm a wreck. I have a great life-I know that there is absolutely no reason to feel like this all the time. I keep telling my boyfriend that I'm not like this, that this is not me. Poor thing has no idea what I'm talking about and doesn't believe me because he's basically only ever known me since I have been using Nuvaring. After another moody day, another near break-up, and another sleepless night I decided to get online this morning to see if I could find any side effect information. I'm so glad I found this site! I called my gynecologist's office as soon as they opened and told them that I feel like I've turned into a psycho and they told me to take it out right away. I hope this works-I am now feeling a little hopeful that I'm not seriously losing my mind after all. I just want to be the happy, energetic me that I used to be.

I started using Nuvaring about 13 months ago after not having been on any type of hormonal birth control for many years. Other than being a little weirded out about having it inside me all the time at first, everything seemed fine.

I am just now realizing that my year from hell could be linked to the ring, especially after reading the other testimonials. The least of my problems have been headaches and vaginal dryness. But it is much worse than that; I'm anxious, nervous and moody all the time. I know I shouldn't be upset about little things (or nothing at all) but I can't help it. And I mean screaming, yelling, tearful, throwing things upset. I have missed a lot of work because I'm just too anxious to be there. I have crazy thoughts about my coworkers being angry with me even though I know they are my friends and it's not true.

My poor boyfriend of 14 months thinks I'm unstable, emotionally unreliable and that I have anger management issues. We have come really close to breaking up multiple times because we just can't handle the stress of my mood swings. I even started seeing a therapist a couple of months ago to see if it would help. I can't figure out why I'm there and it isn't helping. Even when my life seems at it's best and least stressful I still tell her that my anxiety level is a 3 out of 10. When she asks me why, I have no idea what to tell her. I have moments in the day when I feel like I am going certifiably crazy and just want to crawl in bed and stay there but I'm too anxious to relax enough to sleep. I have panic attacks in the grocery store, I get an overwhelming sense of dread if my boyfriend leaves the house without me.

Before the ring I road and mountain biked all the time, typically for 2 or 3 hours at a time 5 days a week. I have a hard time motivating to do it now because I feel nervously distracted, fatigued and emotionally dragged out. I even stopped going to my martial arts class which was my life for years. I have dizzy spells and heart palpitations.

Basically, I'm a wreck. I keep telling my boyfriend that I'm not like this, that this is not me. Poor thing has no idea what I'm talking about and doesn't believe me because he's basically only ever known me since I have been using Nuvaring. After another moody day, another near break-up, and another sleepless night I decided to get online this morning to see if I could find any side effect information. I'm so glad I found this site! I called my gynecologist's office as soon as they opened and told them that I feel like I've turned into a psycho and they told me to take it out right away. I hope this works-I am now feeling a little hopeful that I'm not seriously losing my mind after all. I just want to be the happy, energetic me that I used to be.

I have been on Nuvaring for 2 months now and after the first month I went back to the doctor and she said that the side effects were normal and would go away after a few months. I don't think I believe that, cause I just feel so bad. I use to never fight with my boyfriend and now it is an every day occurrence. I get headaches all the time now it seems almost everyday. I feel so depressed and before I got on it I was happy go lucky and the peaceful one and now I am just on edge all the time and I hate it. I get nausea and for a moment i was thinking maybe I am pregnant but I am not and it is just frustrating and irritating. The best things about the ring is I don't really get cramps and no period pimples and no weight gain and no pill everyday. I never had there problems on the pill lo overall or on the patch. I must say though that it feels great to know I am not alone cause I was beginning to think it was just me and also i don't know if anyone has this but does your chest or heart feel tight at time like a palpitation? I am 24 and I never had this until now and I am so tired that all I want to do is sleep and I feel faint from time to time. I feel like i have all the bad symptoms except a few and no yeast. I honestly think this is my last month on this and thank you all so much it is such a relief to know I am not alone. Oh and I do get hot too and everything.

I have been on the Nuvaring since about July of 2008, so just over a year. I am glad I found this sight because I didn't even connect some of these things, but they seem pretty common. I noticed after I had been on the ring for a couple months I was just exhausted and had no energy. I would sleep as late as possible and still go to bed earlier than I ever did before. I just thought it was because we were in a basement apartment without many windows. But now we are in a new house and I still have that. Has anyone had problems with dryness? It seems that no matter how long we foreplay or how much lube we use...I am always so dry and I am getting to the point of hating having sex and it is hurting my marriage. I have a lot of viginal discharge, but never any itchiness or infections. I have actually really liked the nuvaring because it is simple and I haven't had to worry about it. But with the dryness and pain with sex, I am contemplating taking it out to see if it helps. Advise?

I had just gotten married and never been on any type of birth control. i decided that since i was a forgetful person the best option was the nuvaring and my husband agreed. my gyno gave me the script and i swear not 8 hours after i put the thing in i was more sensitive. i stayed on the nuvaring for 8 months. i had serious depression, i slept the majority of the day, i'd even sleep at work. i had no sex drive, which doesn't make since, b/c i was a newly wed. i would be angry with my husband if he didn't say i love you in the right way. i had never had any problems in the vag department, and then all of a sudden i had cramps that you couldn't imagine, yeast and bacterial infections and itching that could not go away. i thought my body was just transitioning or something. i had to eat like 24/7... i was always snacking and i have hyperthyroidism so its hard to gain weight but i gained like 15 pounds one week then dropped 20 the next. i hated my life and my family. when my husband would ask me what was wrong i just couldn't tell him b/c i barely knew who i was.

ive been on sronyx for about 3 weeks, and besides forgetting to take it here and there, i am back to my old self, i can have fun and i don't cry if someone tells me i look nice. lol i would definitely caution anyone who is even thinking about the nuvaring, to really do your research!

Hi there, i have been with my boyfriend for 3 years now, i recently gave birth to our son 3 months ago. when i was pregnant i ballooned to a size 16 am back co a size 10 now however my boyfriend still wont get intimate with me, we dont even sleep on the same bed anymore! I do understand that after witnessing the birth of his son he was left a bit traumatized, however when will it end, ive tried so hard to getting back into shape, looking after my appearance more just like the way he first met but his totally gone off me, am scared to even make any type of sexual move just in case he rejects me. Its really making me moody to the point i cry myself to sleep at nights. I am loving motherhood so much and he is the best father my son could ever have. Were a very happy family however i really miss us making love.

I've been only a week with NuvaRing. I've experienced depression, vaginal dryness, vaginal itching, after only 3 days of using it I got a nasty yeast infection, I didn't find my boyfriend attractive anymore, I got offended easily, Also I got this BAD headaches, and cramps "down there" very frequently. Also I got a strange rash on my vag, accompanied with the itching. I don't like NuvaRing at all. I took it out today, since I couldn't sleep because of the itching and the cramps. Bad experience. When is my boyfriend going to get fixed... Back to condoms it is.

I've been on the ring for about 3 days. I've had headaches, heavy nausea, light cramps, and no sex drive, today i came home from school and slept for 5 hours and still feel tired. I'd gotten plenty of sleep. When i had sex the ring kept slipping out and I had to leave it out till we were finished. I felt a little better after the ring had been out for about 45 min. I thought that i just needed time to adapt to the ring but after reading this site i'm happy to see that it might be the ring and not me. Thank You!!!!!

Hi I'm 19 years old, I've been on the NuvaRing for about 4 months now and I'm taking it out this weekend to switch to the pill. I loved the convenience of it and not having to worry about taking a pill everyday and it was always comfortable. But I've noticed in the past 3 months or so that all I do is sleep! I've experienced the worst fatigue of my life and I've been really depressed for no reason and have no interest in doing anything which is not myself at all. I've had crazy mood swings where I'll be screaming or crying one second then laughing the next, absolutely no sex drive and always dry during sex, every little thing irritates me, i'm always hungry but have only gained about 5-10 lbs, I'm bloated, my skin is always itchy and extreme vaginal itching, I've had a yeast infection, a urinary tract infection and bacterial vaginosis all in one month of using NR, and I've noticed I've been stuttering here and there as well? I was always recommending the NR to my friends because of it's convenience but after reading this I realize that all of my symptoms are due to NR and I do not recommend this anymore!

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

nuvaring was recommended to me because i am absolutely terrified of needles and my mom didn't trust me to remember to take the pill everyday.
i just started the nuvaring yesterday. and ever since then, i have felt simply AWFUL. i feel so weak that i can hardly stand up. i've had a headache all day. all i want to do is eat. i can't seem to sleep enough. i woke up this morning sweating. and i've cried twice today for absolutely no reason. i get irritated at EVERYTHING. and reading all these negative stories is freaking me out. should i just take it out now? i don't know what to do.

Hello... and I want to thank everyone for thier comments. I am 23 and have been on the nuvaring since my son was born two years ago. Since I have been on it I am tired, irritable, and had no sex drive. Every doctor I went to said that the s/s were from being a busy mom. Over time things have gotten worse I never think about sex EVER (my poor husband). I have been gaining weight in my stomach, butt, and thighs for no reason. For the past 2 months my vagina is completely dry and it was always the opposite. I barely have a period. I freak out on anyone for no given reason, even to hear someone speak. I sleep 24/7 and it is not enough. I am nauseated 24/7 to a point I feel like I am going to vomit. The only plus is I use to be a large A cup and in 2 months am a large C cup. And I am not pregnant.
Sooo...I asked my MD to check my hormones. To find out my Estrogen level is 40. With low estrogen this causes all of these s/s I have been having. Did the nuvaring cause this? Am I going to be able to have anymore children? I am taking this nuvaring out and I never want to see one again!

I always thought my "hives" aka really itchy skin was from stress. I've now linked it to 2 different birth control pills and the NuvaRing. The first week, I was fine, but steadily my skin got worse and worse. There was NO visible rash, my skin just itched, and I could not sleep for a week. I gave up and removed the NuvaRing, a week later, I'm back to normal. This reaction to birth control did not start for me until my 20s. Beware.

I'va been on the nuvaring for 2 weeks now and wasn't on any birth control prior to the NR. I have been so tired, feeling sick, and very depressed the past couple of days. Not to mention extreme cramping and sex just isn't working with this. I thought maybe I was already pregnant or just so depressed I just want to sleep and eat the way I'm feeling until I read these issues other women are having. I am taking it out now.

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

This is my 3rd month on NV, and so far this month I've had it in for almost 2 weeks....I am tired, breast tenderness, gas, increased appetite, can't sleep at night, get headaches in the afternoon and evening. I also don't have much interest in sex. I have a 6 month old boy and I want to be happy and active for him but it's hard. It seriously feels like I'm pregnant, but i know that i'm probably not. I hate worrying, and i hate this symptoms even more. I feel like crap right now. I think I might switch back to the pill. I am so glad i found this site cause I thought it was just me!!

i am 18 and i wanted to try the NV due to the fact that i tend to forget the pill some days, i thought this would be perfect. i have started the NV 3 weeks ago and since i have been on it i have been having headaches that will not go away, they are constantly there when i go to sleep and when i wake up again it just wont go away even if i take Tylenol. i have it out now for the week its supposed to be out and the headaches are worse when its out which is really concerning me. also something else i have always used tampons and never once had a problem putting them in or using them and this week i find then very uncomfortable and a little hard to put them it find that it hurts. has anyone had anything similar to this i would like to hear about it and if you suggest that i not continue to use it. Thank You very much! :)

So I decided to stop my nuvaring this week, and while I do agree that every person has a different experience with hormonal birth control, this route was just not for me. I have been on BC since I was 15 and have had mixed experiences. Started with Ortho-Tri Cyclin which made me crazy, went to orthocyclin which was great until my insurance stopped covering it, did lo dose Apri for 6 years and found that it made me very lethargic and moody with use over time and i think caused me migraines, switched to the patch and ended up in the hospital with elevated blood pressure during the first week (I was 23 and 130lbs), then tried nuvaring for the last 6 months. Started off well, my period became predictable to the hour and my migraines disappeared. However, I gained 15lbs! I am 5'3" and I know it is the nuvaring because I have been training for a marathon, running 4 days a week, 2 days of weight lifting and eating perfectly! Also, my sex drive is gone, like non-existent until my no ring week when I have my period. I am tired all the time and even though I sleep 8-10 hours a night. I also seem to be waking up once or twice a night. Worst of all, I am depressed and moody for no reason, all the time. I feel so bad for my poor boyfriend who has been walking on egg shells around me because he knows I cry and snap at anything. So I am stopping for a few months to see what will happen, and then maybe consider a copper IUD. I will update this post in a few months and let everyone know what happens.

After all the bad ratings on the nuvaring, I am suprised it is still recommended for use. My doctor told me to try the nuvaring because I have a history of having break through bleeding every day and he didn't want to put me on the medicine (northindrone) that will stop it and straighten me out quickly. Not sure why but I might have to switch doctors. The first month I had break through bleeding every day during the 2nd and 3rd week. When I took it out for the 4th week, the break through bleeding stopped which I find weird. My cycle didn't start until 3 days later. I'm currently on the 2nd month and I experienced large amounts of discharge the first week and just moving into my 3rd week I am starting to experience break through bleeding, cramps, and bloating. I have never bloated before in my life. During these past two months I have also experienced episodes of extreme hunger and then episodes where even the thought of food makes me sick. I have ZERO sex drive, am extremely dry (doesn't make sense with the increased discharge?), and there are times when it is too painful to even have intercourse. I have not experienced the real bad mood changes/ depression but I am tired all the time. The tiredness gets to the point where I can barely stay awake and I always get more than 7 hrs of sleep a night. I'm going to give nuvaring one more month and if it straightens out my breakthrough bleeding I will stick with it because bleeding every day is the most frusterating and depressing thing I can think of. It doesn't even compare to the side effects I experience while on the ring. I have tried 6 different forms of BC with no avail and bled for a year straight once before.

I started the ring and about a week later got intense itchiness and break through bleeding. It was supposed to be time for my period, and I thought since I timed it wrong possibly I was going to have it anyways. So I took the ring out. The itchiness went away immediately. Also, I could NEVER get the ring all the way in. It dropped down considerably, and I made many attempts to move it. Two days after I took the ring out I had HORRIBLE depression, thoughts of suicide and self harm. Also I was exhausted but unable to sleep. I feel a bit better, and I have no idea what it's half life is and if it will wear off, or if a new medication is needed to rebalanced the hormones. I hope not, as I had a bad experience with hormone balancing medications in the past.

I began NuvaRing about 2 weeks and today I had to take it bc I could not stand another day- I was on it about a year ago and my body seemed to tolerate it better then with fewer side effects.
2 days after being on it i experienced sudden sharp pain in my upper back- i couldn't even carry my power book. For the rest of the week I experienced extreme fatigue and serious depression. I am generally a very positive person and I haven't experienced something as intense as this. By the end of the weekend I was having period like feelings in my pelvic area and EXTREME breast/nipple soreness. My breasts seem to be firmer and a little larger, but the pain was so intense. My appetite seems to have decrease, but I am bloated and still so sluggish.
I felt slightly anxious as well.
The worst part was the lower back pain. It was so uncomfortable that I couldn't sleep well and haven't for about 5 days. I took the ring out this am and within an hour the back pain had subsided.
I am not sure how this will effect my period- that is- if it will come early- or if it will disrupt my cycle. Any experience with this anyone?

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

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

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

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

I have been using the Nuvaring for about 5 months now and I can say that I wasn't a fan from day one.

I have been taking BC since the birth of my second child 6 years ago but I often forgot to take my pills and I wanted something easy. I thought the NR would be perfect until I got one.

I have been extremely moody, I have terrible headaches, occasionally the anxiety is so bad that I get nauseated, and all I want to do is sleep.

I was on Yasmin and decided to switch to nuvaring because I kept forgetting the to take pill. I have experienced really bad headaches 1-4 times a week to the point where I can not sleep, or feel sick. No sex drive. No fluids for sex (No matter how much water I drink ) Waking up 2 - 3 times a night...being on edge all the time and easily annoyed. I went to the doctor to find out about my headaches and she told me to monitor them and see what I found in common. I could not think see anything until it finally hit me last night that it could be my birth control.. So I went in and asked about it today. The doctor told me that Nuvaring was comparable to Allesse which made me not happy because I had gotten really sick off of allese when I was taking it.. It's crazy to see all of the comparable symptoms that this dumb thing is causing women and now I am 100% convinced that this ring is the issue. I am switching back to Yasmin because it was working for me for about 2 years - minus the fact that I kept forgetting it, I guess I will have to try a little harder now. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good pill. Because it is low dose it does not have many side effects. The only thing it did to me was make my boobs grow and I can't complain about that.

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

After reading all your posts, I just went in the bathroom at work and removed my nuvaring. I have been having many of the symptoms described here. I have been on NR for a little over a year and have noticed the dryness, irritation and decreased sex drive. I have also had extreme tiredness, but attributed it to having 2 small children and working full time. Now, I'm not so sure. My symptoms have all gotten worse in the past few months. I force myself to have sex w/ my husband 1-2 times per month. I have hip and knee pains to the point I can barely walk and then I'm fine the next day. After getting 7-8 hrs of sleep, I am dozing in my office at 11am. My temper is out of control sometimes. I feel like I want to get in my car and drive away from my life...and my life is not bad! Also, I imagine all the terrible things that could happen to those I love and it makes me cry. These are all out of character for me and I was chalking them up to stress, but now I'm not so sure. I have an appt to see my gyn tomorrow due to the fact that after putting in the ring for the last 2 months, I feel like my crotch is ON FIRE...burning, itching, but no discharge like a yeast infection. I also tried to speak to my gyn about the pelvic pain after insertion a few months ago and was encouraged to stay on it and told it was my vaginal muscles adjusting to the ring. Also, I have gained 5-8 pounds with no other change in routine that I cannot seem to lose. I actually took 3 pregnancy tests due to mood swings, weight gain and breast swelling/tenderness a few months ago!
I just hope I go back to normal soon. Anyone know how long it takes?

i got on the NUVARING at the beginning of March, the doctor said it was the best thing for me while my schedule and since i did not like having to take a pill at the same time every day. a month and a half later IM OFF! i was SO moody, wanted to sleep all the time and had headaches all the time. one night i was driving home and my arm just started hurting, like throbbing pain, and i freaked out and my doctor claims that the NUVARING had nothing to do with it but thats the only reason i can come up with. ive been off the nuvaring for about 2 days now and i will NEVER put another one in AGAIN! :)

I thought I was going crazy. I am engaged and so happy to be getting married! But since I started NuvaRing in November, lots of these symptoms listed in this blog have crept up on me. I too thought this was the most wonderful birth control... Put it in, take it out. So easy! But the past 2 months, I started having serious break through bleeding. To the extent I need to wear a tampon with it. I immediately figured it had to be because of the nuvaring, because in 31 years, I've NEVER had this. Well, the stupid ring fell out some how the beginning of this week. And I had kindof decided to change to a different method of birth control and just forget about it after that. So that whole bleeding, falling out episode led me to do a bit more research on the ring, rather than just reading their website. I came across this blog. I now looking back realize that I have been experiencing depression, crying, anger, all the emotional related side effects. I dismissed it as just extreme stress. Now, I realize that I think it was the ring because prior to getting on it in Nov. I wasn't feeling like that. I'm also an avid exerciser, gym lover, runner, biker... Not since November. I've just wanted to go to sleep. I just want to sit on the couch. Going to the gym is so hard! I gained about 8 lbs since Nov. too. I thought it was me going crazy. Now I've stopped the NuvaRing. Hopefully I can get back to my happy go-lucky self. Can anyone tell me how long it took them to feel better? If you had breakthrough bleeding, did it stop after you were off the ring? How long did that take?

Hi Ladies! I'm soo glad to have found this site and to read others' feedback! Yay, I'm not going crazy! I am 37 and have been on NuvaRing on and off for about 5 years. Well, I loved it at first for the convenience as well as the fact that it relieved my sometimes unbearable PMS. I went back on the ring last April ( about a year ago) after taking a break from it for about 6 months. I don't know if they changed the formula in it or something, but I have had some changes for the worst that I was chalking up to stress. My weight was normally always consistent, but since last august I have gained around 10pds. I have also had a lot of emotional ups and downs and very irritable. Always tired as well and feel like I haven't had enough sleep. Sex drive?? What sex drive? My husband is not sure what to think of it all with my mood swings as well. Don't even get me started on the migraines I had out of nowhere! The last month and a half I have had pelvic discomfort and pain as well during sex. I'm suspicious of an infection or some sort of inflammation going on in there.Has anyone else experienced this? I did not bother putting my ring back in after my last period until I go to see my GYN next week to figure out my other options. I am gradually feeling better since removing the ring a week ago. I will update you all on my outcome in the next couple of weeks!

UPDATE: I took out my ring Monday, 4 days early. My period started yesterday, about 4 days earlier than it should have. I feel like my body is going back to normal. No more crazy mood swings and I can sleep! Wanted to note that everything I experienced is in the list of possible side effects; they just seem extreme. I will not be using Nuvaring again. I see my doctor on the 19th and will ask for a rx for the pill. Also, Tuesday, the day after I removed the ring, I vomited and felt awful all through Wednesday.

I am 24 and used the NuvaRing for almost 3 years. As I finished up college at 21 and directly afterwards I was becoming more and more depressed, which I first attributed to the transition. It was while I was still in college that I also noticed a change in my ability to concentrate and remember. Focus and decision-making were abnormally difficult. My moodiness and depression increased over the next two years, my sensitivity to other's comments became more acute and I constantly felt at the edge of tears. I had little to no enthusiasm for even my favorite activities, no energy for sports/physical exercise, and no interest in sex with my partner. I required more sleep, always feeling tired when I woke up. I also began to have headaches, which had never been a trouble before.
I have been off the NuvaRing for about 3 weeks. Like some have posted earlier, I feel like a dark cloud has lifted and I can enjoy life again. Notable changes over the last couple of weeks have included:

1. Waking up naturally in the morning, almost 2 hrs earlier than before
2. Dramatic increase in ability to focus and remember (effectively study)
3. Happy mood and few to no self-deprecating thoughts
4. Increased energy
5. Enjoyment of flavors
6. General clarity of thought
7. Return of interest/enthusiasm, competitive spirit
8. Interest in sex
9. Decrease in headaches

I am absolutely thrilled to have identified the NuvaRing as the source of these issues and having eliminated it from my routine. I feel like I have my life back.

I was on Nuvaring for three months. The first few days were very unpleasant. I had a lot of cramping and just felt generally lethargic and bad.

I've been extremely emotional over the time since I went on the ring. The intensity of my feelings, especially my sadness, has increased over this time. I have also felt very lethargic. I've been tired every day regardless of how much sleep I got. I have had crazy dreams every night and wake up tired. I've felt like there is a weight on me (and there is a literal weight - I've gained 10+ lbs).

I took the ring out 3 days ago and I feel like a different person. It's like a dark cloud lifted in my life.

It's a huge relief, but I am also very angry I was never informed of this side effect. I did ask my doctor about the side effects, and the only one she told me about was excess discharge.

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

I really don’t like birth control, and that includes the nuvaring. After my son was born 15 months ago, I was on the depo shot. I did not have horrible side effects, besides having no sex drive. I decided to change to the Nuvaring because a friend recommended it.
I really don’t like it. I still have no sex drive and now it burns, so I feel like I have to force myself to have sex with my husband, which is not fare to him.
I have also had horrible acne. My skin has always been sensitive, but this is ridiculous. The last time I saw my mom she asked why my face was so broken out. That is not something you want to deal with when you are 27 years old.
I also have an extra 10 pounds I can’t shake. I work out 3 to 4 times a week and I eat fairly healthy, but I just can’t shake the weight. I had a few pound I could not shake after the birth of my son. Around the time I started using the nuvaring, I joined a Gym thinking I could loose the weight, but it is just not happening.
I have also found it very uncomfortable. It is constantly falling out and I have to push it back in every time I use the bathroom. I have had problems with irritation and itching and I have problems with bladder control. I have problems with leaking. The week I have it out during my period, the problem goes away. I have not seen anyone else with this problem. Is it just me?
I am also very tired. I had some tests done to make sure everything is ok and they all came back fine. I just figured maybe it is because my son does not always sleep through the night, but even when he does and I have plenty of sleep, I still feel exhausted.
I also feel a change in my mood. Sometimes my son does not sleep through the night and I have no patience with him. I get so frustrated when he cries and I feel like I just can’t handle it. This was not a problem when I was on the Depo shot.
I am still using the ring, but I think I am going to make an appointment to try something else. Not sure what, but there has to be something better. Right?????

Just started with Nuvaring a week ago. Haven't been on any birth control in over 5 years. I don't know if these are common to all hormonal birth control methods but have been experiencing nausea, dizziness, anxiety, mood swings, pelvic soreness, and I can feel the ring; in general and during intercourse. My boyfriend can feel it, too. Also, there is some vaginal discharge that smells funny. Not strong, just funny. The mood swings are intense, from crying for almost no reason, to a strong sense of anxiety. My sleep has been disturbed due to a general sense of nervousness. I think after this month, I will switch to the pill.

I can't believe I didn't find this sooner! I was on the Nuvaring for about 4 years and just last month traded it in for the Mirena.

At first, I was thrilled to find the Ring as I have a very hard time taking pills because I've always had a sensitive stomach. The patch was messy and sticky so I was excited to find the ring. For the first couple of years, the only problem I had was keeping it in place (it would continuously fall out) so I just got used to having to push it back into place every time I used the restroom. Every. Single. Time. But it was worth it because it made my periods much, much lighter and more manageable (i usually am down for the count for a few days). I also did the ring continuously without taking a week off because I still had some pretty terrible periods.

About two years ago, I started gaining weight uncontrollably, became very depressed, lethargic and achey. One day I came down with a terrible case of bronchitis and was put on a heavy duty round of antibiotics and steroids. After, I started having terrible heartburn and IBS symptoms which lead me to a gastroenterologist. Every test imaginable was performed, but nothing was found. I was told I had a nervous stomach. Unsatisfied, I got some bloodwork done and had abnormal blood glucose levels. My diabetic husband gave me a glucometer and I realized my blood sugars were totally out of range. I ended up at an Endocrinologist and all tests came back normal. I was also referred to a Rheumatologist for my achy body and joints. I found a list of symptoms of hypothyroidism and was convinced this is what I have, so I was put on a very low dose of Synthroid. At the same time, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and put on a whole mess of anti-inflammatories and pain killers.

Unsatisfied with my diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and totally unwilling to admit this is something I have to live with for the rest of my life, I began working with a nutritionist who has helped me get off all the medications (except Synthroid). But still, I hadn't slept through the night in years (getting up 3-4 times a night to use the bathroom), I was terribly achy, irritable, nauseous, constipated and still gaining weight.

Recently, my insurance changed and I decided to get the Mirena. Within a few weeks, most symptoms have drastically improved, my family notices a major change. I actually slept through the night last week, only 3 weeks after using the Ring for the last time. I haven't lost any weight yet, but the fact that I even CAN exercise is monumental. More than anything, I'm thrilled at the prospect that everything was caused by the Ring, the one constant no matter what I tried, and maybe I won't have to live with Fibromyalgia for the rest of my life.

I can't say with total certainty that the NuvaRing caused all my problems, but it is absolutely astounding that all of us are experiencing the same terrible symptoms and none of our doctors have bothered to think that it could be the Ring. I'm angry about this. Why don't they know about these side effects??

Yes these side effects are listed in the package, but they're the same side effects from pretty much every medication... and I don't know about all of you but this thing came damn near close to ruining my life. I couldn't work, sleep, eat, exercise, clean my house, etc. etc. It's no heart attack or stroke, but definitely life altering.

I think health care providers need to be alerted to these symptoms and the possibility that the Nuvaring could be causing it all. It would have saved me thousands of dollars in medical bills and despair. Patients should be warned that the side effects are very real and can be debilitating. I'm almost sorry I found this so late (after I already got rid of it!) but I'm glad I found it nonetheless.

Good luck to all of you!

I have been on NR for 15months. I liked it for a few months, but then it hit the fan. My face broke out with huge painful cysts and welts, the scars will always be there. I started to gradually gain weight (135lbs to 210lbs). My Dr told me that it was not NR over and over again. I trusted her (she was wrong). My sex life ENDED! I started to have Phsyco PMS Symptoms. Also my sleep was messed up. A mild head ache for months at a time. eventually my cysts started to spread. I stopped it even tho she told me not to. and since i have lost a lot of weight. Im down to 180lbs and i have not changed my diet at all. that was a month and a half ago. If you are having these problems STOP TAKING IT! its a new med and the doctors don't know all the side effects yet. Stop Before you end up like a 22yo with terrible stretch marks and scars all over for the rest of my life. Yazz is Wonderful. I might add.

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.

I'm 21 years old and I started using the NuvaRing over a year ago. It was great at first not having to worry about my birth control every day. I was able to control my period, and it was always light.

Slowing I started experiences certain side effects that go along with the NuvaRing, but I didn't realize that they could be related to the birth control until my mom showed me this site, and strongly believes that the NuvaRing is the reason for my horrible headache, weight gain around the stomach, irritability, and mood swing, fuzzy vision with contacts, depression, and just wanting to sleep all day.

I plan on using a new type of birth control instead of NuvaRing, These side effects are too much for me.

I am 23 years old and started the NuvaRing in November. The first month was great the 2nd month started with:
Crippling heart burn, Huge mood swings, Anxiety, Fogginess in my contacts, decreased libido, 15 lb weight gain, Inability to sleep through the night, vaginal irritation, debilitating leg cramps in the evening, and an insanely itchy rash on my stomach and legs.

After reading through the symptoms to go to your doctor with I decided to throw the bugger in the trash. I am outraged to hear the apathy of everyone's health care professionals. They should be brought before the medical board for such negligence. Short of death what side effects do they need to see that this is a HORRIBLE form of birth control.

The nuvaring should not be legal. It made me insane and violent and gave me racing thoughts. I could never sleep. I was mean to people. It made me itch like hail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S.- Here is a comment from my boyfriend who got very upset because of my side effects on the NR:

"She went crazy one night and threw something across the room for no reason, because she said something to me that made me furious. She was completely irrational and i though she was being possessed by Satan. Than, we found out it was THE NUVARING ALL ALONG!"

To this day, I am not sure if Nuvaring is the cause of all my problems. But after reading about the side effects and finding many commonalities in my own experience, I took it out today and will not continue using it.

I've been on Nuvaring for the past year. Just before I started using it, I had an episode in the gym where my heart started racing very uncomfortably and I felt like i was going to faint after running. Two visits to the ER and numerous specialists' visits later, they concluded I have generalized anxiety disorder.

Over the past year since that incident, I've become much more anxious than I ever remember. I've gained about 20 pounds. I get headaches all the time. I'm CONSTANTLY tired, to the point where it doesn't matter how long I sleep, I still don't want to get out of bed. Most of the time, I don't want to have sex. I have spells where I feel like I'm about to faint (but never do). Of course, the doctors attribute this to my anxiety, and I'm pretty sure that's what it is since it doesn't seem to be anything else really serious.

Like I said, I don't know if the Nuvaring has had a hand in putting me through this ridiculousness, but I'm not taking any chances. I read somewhere the Nuvaring isn't good for people with anxiety problems because it just makes these problems worse.

At least if these symptoms continue for a while after I've stopped the Nuvaring, I'll know it may not have been it. However, every month I feel my best the week of my period. Coincidence???

Thank you to all of the ladies that have written to this site. I've never sent in feedback, but it has been so helpful to read these stories and try to diagnose my issue. I am in the second month of the NR and will remove it tonight. We have 2 children (2.5 and 18 months) and are unsure about more so we have been hesitant to get my husband fixed. I found the site while unable to sleep because of a migraine during the first month. I have never had migraines before, but figured it was from a head cold Then the almost intolerable itching began...that has been awful, but I thought it may just be the "adjustment period". Because of 2 small children and a stressful career, I didn't notice the loss of sex drive right away. But recently, I noticed that NOTHING turns me on. I have always been able to orgasm almost every time we have sex (or even on my own), but now I cannot even stimulate myself or get turned on from sexy shows or ANYTHING. I am only having sex for him and it burns like crazy in my vagina right after we have sex. It was bad enough with babies in the house, but now I seem to have no sex drive AT ALL. So, the whole point was to get away from condoms but since I don't want or enjoy sex...guess that logic goes out the window. To sum up...migraines, crazy crotch itch, and no sex drive. I'm sure this works for some women, but if it is not working for you, take it out. I'll write again after I am clear of it to update.

I have been on the NuvaRing for 4 months. And I have to say, Ladies beware!! My story is basically this... I had two children during the age of 25 years old, so my midwife wouldn't release me from the hospital unless I had a birth control plan because if I have another child again so soon it will put my health and life at risk (2 c-sections with back to back children is apparently a bad thing no time to recover!).... I had problems with having anger with other forms of hormonal birth control so I was very nervous about taking the pill or trying the depo shot again. So she suggested the NuvaRing and warned me that because it is hormonal that I may have the same problems with this that I had with the others. She told me that it would take being on the NuvaRing for at least 2-3 months before my hormones would regulate and we would know for sure how my body would handle it and I would react to it. These have been my side effects so far:
Explosive Anger: Every other day my husband and I are fighting in which I over react blow everything WAY out of proportion and threatening to leave.... And I have no right to do this because I literally am treated like a princess.
Depression: Generally after feeling the anger I hit an extreme low.
Sleeplessness: Feeling horrible about myself for acting the way I have, small issues bother me that shouldn't and I'll stay up all night thinking about them not being able to sleep, always feeling like my mind is racing.
Loss of Libido: I have sex because he wants to and it's a rarity at that. When before we were having sex 3-4 times a week, now, it's been about once a month.
Unable to reach orgasm: He knows how to get me there, and I know how to get me there and all of a sudden, neither one of us can get me there no matter how hard we've tried.
Vaginal Itching: Mostly external to the point where it's red, swollen, sore to the touch.
More Discharge: (which is probably causing the above problem)
Headaches: Almost daily and completely out of no where.
Chills and freezing: I live in Sunny Arizona in the South West corner where the average coldest temp is around 70 degrees out and I'm constantly freezing when every one around me is completely fine or way too hot.

All of these side effects started with in 1-2 weeks after I started the NuvaRing. I gave it 4 months to see if my body would regulate and change, and some of these issues would go away and they haven't, if anything they are getting worse. So with that said, we're going to good ol' fashioned condoms!! No more NuvaRing for me.

I hope this helps someone else who might be questioning to stay on it or not... I know you guys helped me! Thanks to all these responses!

I am glad I read about all these women and the side effects of the nuvaring. I have been using the ring for around 7 months and even though I always suspected it had something to do with my mood swings, I never really knew for sure (at least to this extreme) until I read other girls explaining their situations. I have a strong character so It is hard for me to differentiate what is the hormones acting out or just my personality. I specially have fights with my boyfriend for no reason, feel sad and want to cry (I have never been a big crier), can't sleep parts of the night (I just lay in bed widely awake with my head going 1000 miles per hour as if I had done speed). Basically I was starting to think that I was loosing it and that it is my head (not the hormones). I considered therapy (which I haven't done) because I even had suicidal thoughts and this really scared me. I am really desperate for not being able to control my emotions. While using the ring I have felt misunderstood and blamed my boyfriend for not being empathetic of what I am going through. I want to break up with him all the time and then I regret it. At the same time it makes me really frustrated since I cannot explain when I am asked WHY acting like this? which also makes me insecure.
But this is not all. On top of all the mental issues I also experienced physical problems which are not caused by nuvaring directly. I think my emotional instability didn't help. I believe that your head controls all your body even the physical part. Years ago I had my first bartholine cyst in the vaginal area. This is a painful and depressing thing to go through as a woman. The cyst gets infected and grows to the size of an orange making it hard to sit or even walk. When infected you have to get it drained (cut it open basically). In the past 7 years this happened to me twice. Since I put the ring on (7 months) it has happened to me 3 times so I am finally getting surgery to remove the 2 bartholine cysts. All this has obviously affected my sexual life and my relationship with my boyfriend.
I am really disappointed with the fact that doctors don't inform you of all the terrible side effects. They just give you a leaflet but don't really talk about it. It seems like the nuvaring is a serious thing to be prescribing it that easily. Today I have decided I am not using the ring anymore. I hope this helps someone else like the stories I read helped me.

So I have only been on the NuvaRing for about 3 weeks and just took it out. I feel SO down but I didn't feel down till about a week ago. Would the depression hit that fast? I keep getting in fights with my boyfriend and I'm feeling like we aren't going to last even though before this we've never had any real issues and I was positive he was the one I would marry. Now I feel like I'm doubting us but I have no reason at all to doubt us, nothing has happened except I started using the NR. I keep denying that it's the ring but the more I look back on it I feel like it could be since only a few days after I started using it I felt very irritable. I guess it's time to switch again? I don't like feeling like this and I don't want birth control of all things to be the reason our relationship fails. I feel so down and depressed but it isn't constantly, it just comes on randomly and stays till I go to sleep pretty much. Has this happened to anyone? Do you think that the effects would happen that soon after starting the NR? Any help would be great! Thanks!

I started using the nuvaring about three weeks ago...I've experienced:
Serious emotional changes (mood swings, unexplainable crying), Nausea, Stomach Cramps, Headaches, and just today started experiencing some pretty painful leg cramps....My boyfriend mentioned that we hadn't had sex in over a week so my sex drive has decreased immensly!!! He and I both don't know how to deal with my raging hormones...I'm taking it out...thanks for your input ladies.

I've been on Nuvaring for about two and a half weeks. I was previously on the patch and had done pretty well with, but I thought it was worth trying something new with a new doctor that I trusted. Or so I thought. I worry a lot about my health and I always feel like I may be imagining things, but I have noticed in the past two weeks a scary pain in my chest below my left breast that has been getting worse. It has been hard to sit certain ways, sleep on my side, and even breathing is sometimes uncomfortable. I am so glad I read this blog! I had a feeling the change had to do with the Nuvaring, but I have several other medical conditions that I didn't want to rule out either. I think this was it, I only hope it goes away. I also am breaking out like I did when I was sixteen overnight and I'm losing some hair in pretty much one spot directly in the front of my head. I have been extremely lethargic and very hungry. Also extra anxious and I don't want to go anywhere and do anything, even necessary things like going to the grocery store or the pharmacy or gas station. I can't function and I have to!! This thing is ruining me. I also can tell you all that I feel Nuvaring is damaging b/c I have been on anxiety medicine for years and have been fairly happy with it, but in the past two weeks I feel more nervous, shaky and uncomfortable in public, I also tend to cry easily and have been in just a pretty bad mood. It has been hard to just be happy, even when the situation is light hearted. I feel like Debbie Downer or something. I have also had gastric bypass surgery and cannot eat much and do not easily gain weight, but since the ring I have felt more appetite and feel like I may have gained a pound or two, which is rare for me. This ring is bad news, beware!