NuvaRing and stomach problems

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

My experience with nuvaring:
I thought it was good at first. I have been on it for 3 months (with no break). I have skipped my period, but I did have some spotting after the second month. Actually it was thick dark old blood mostly on and off. I have noticed I my sex drive has significantly decreased, but I thought it was because I started taking Zoloft around the same time and I know that is a side effect of zoloft. After reading this, I see that the nuvaring must be a factor if all these other people are saying the same thing. The reason I was doing a search though is b/c I have had reoccurring symptoms of BV. Once was really bad but the other times were mild (including now), but I know when something is not right.
I just took it out (today) b/c I thought maybe not having my period could be a factor or the ring itself. Im going to give it a break for awhile to see if things change.
I do not seem to have the mood problems like the pill has affected me in the past, but I have had nausea, and stomach problems on occasion; yet I don't know if the nuvaring is to blame. I have lost my sex drive, and have had a problem with dryness about the second month of using it (or earlier), yeast infections, and BV symptoms.
Has anyone else had BV more frequently since using the nuvaring?

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

I took the Nuvaring for 3 years. I switched to it from the pill because of the side effects I was having from that, and the nuvaring supposedly has a lower dose of hormones (plus I thought it would be nice to not have to remember to take it). On the pill I was an emotional wreck (I'm normally a very easy-going/happy person), which did get a little better on the ring. When I went on the ring, my libido completely disappeared, and every time my husband and I had sex, it was extremely dry and painful for me. I got frequent splitting headaches, and had several stomach problems (constant cramping and bloating). I still had some small bouts of depression and frequent mood swings. I went off the NuvaRing in Nov. '08. My last period lasted 2 weeks, and was very heavy and painful. I am very happy to not be on the ring any more, and all of the symptoms I have listed here have gone away since I took my last ring out.

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

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

I've been using the Nuvaring off and on for almost six years. I started using it after I had my son in 2002, and I never had any problems with it. I used it for a couple years, had to stop b/c of my insurance. I went back to it after the birth of my daughter, in early 2006. I started having a lot of problems around December, 2007, but I didn't even think that it could be because of the nuvaring, since I had been on it for so long already. I was having stomach problems, awful headaches, horrible anxiety, depression, mood swings, had no energy at all, horrible burning pain after sex. I started having spotting and periods that lasted for up to a month, and would pass huge blood clots. I talked to my obgyn in February and she told me to just switch my rings right away instead of keeping it out for a week for my period. That stopped the bleeding for about two months, then my period came back with a vengeance. I bled for over a month, stopped for a week, bled for a few more weeks. It was ridiculous. I've finally given up on the ring after yet another month-long period. I took it out a week ago and I have finally stopped bleeding. I've noticed a difference with other symptoms as well and I really hope my body gets back to normal soon. I found this site last week when I was trying to decide if I should stop using the ring or not and I couldn't believe how many women had the same symptoms that I've been having. I never realized that all of the problems that I've had were all due to my birth control. Now I'm stumped as to what birth control to try next. I've been reading up on them and they all seem to have horrible side effects like the ring. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

Like many others who have posted here, many symptoms have been present, but I failed to recognize that NuvaRing may be the cause. After another restless night, lying awake at 3 a.m. and considering seeking help for my increasingly unpredictable mood swings and depression, I had an epiphany, which led me here.
I’ve long suffered headaches, so I won’t pin that on NuvaRing, but I used to be one who rarely cried. I’ve felt absolutely crazy lately, both crying and being openly hostile to my husband. It’s a relief to think there may be a cause I can do something about. Now I can’t decide if I should remove it now and risk having my period while on vacation next week or leave it in and be miserable.
I’d finally been able to lose a few pounds, but only two months after beginning NuvaRing, it was all back, plus a few more. I hadn’t thought to connect it to the new birth control, as I’ve been on various pills since 1999.
Stomach problems are another issue I was already dealing with, but the possibility that they've been compounded by this birth control is frustrating.
Another symptom that I’m not sure is related: raised bumps on my upper arms and thighs, dry and slightly itchy. Has anyone else experienced skin-related symptoms with NR?
Many thanks to all who have shared their experiences.

I have been using the NuvaRing for anout 6 months now also and I feel sick to my stomach A LOT! I have little faint-dizzy spells and I feel bloated one day and the next I don't. I have some sharp paind in my stomach every now and then, but it is about 5 times a day. I have had MANY mixed feelings about the birth control method and think that I am about to switch.

I have been on nuvaring for over a year and have all sorts of issues that I never even considered to be linked to the NR. I suffer from bipolar disorder, severe anxiety and depression and all my symptoms have increased while on the NR. I have terrible headaches on a daily basis and have had alot of stomach problems. Nausea, cramps, vomiting etc but I just thought I was sick. I have also had issues with weight gain and I have absolutely zero sex drive. This has been really hard on my partner and I's relationship and is extremely frustrating. We've been together 3yrs this fall and this is really hurting us both.(I'm 20yrs old) We have been thinking my headaches were caused by grinding my teeth. I'm currently on a number of medications including lamictal, ambien CR, adderall XR, allegra. I'm always exhausted and ill tempered and just had several blood tests to try and determine what could be causing my constant exhaustion but nothing was irregular. I have an appt with my gynecologist tomorrow and I'm going to talk to her about other options but because all BC forms have about the same degree, if not worse, side effects I might stop the BC all together.

It really sucks that I am having so many issues from NR because it is by far the easiest BC I have ever used. I always forgot the pill and the patch hurt like BLEEP and always fell off.

I have a history of stomach problems (H. pylori infections and acid reflux) and was doing great until I started the nuva ring. Since then, I get sick every night- my stomach hurts and i feel nauseous and I just feel cruddy. I don't know if these things are connected- anyone else have stomach pain with the ring? I also tried to skip a period with the ring and my period has been going on for a week now, when it usually lasts about 4 days. grrrrrrr...

starting this month, i will be on the nuvaring for 3 years. i took the ring out yesterday, and my period is due Wednesday but this morning I was spotting. Which triggered me to do some internet researching, hoping I'm not pregnant. During my search I have read so many forums regarding side effects to the Nuvaring. And surprisngly, I guess I have a lot of them. First and foremost, I've lost my sex drive, just about completely which is so frustrating because I'm in a fairly new relationship (its only 8 months old). In addition, a year ago I started having incredibly bad anxiety attacks. Which I read that the booklet with the Nuvaring says not to take it if you have anxiety problems. Further more, since October of this year I have stomach problems that are unexplainable. If I have a day where I do not complain that my stomach hurts, its amazing. And I've tried many remedies- from Tums, to Nexium, to Apple Cider, anything that says it releaves stomach pressure. I'm almost 26 years old and in the last year I have been warned about my high cholesterol (I do not eat meat regularly), put on Zoloft for anxiety/depression, terrible terrible stomach issues, and sexual issues (such as the no sex drive, it is painful sometimes to have intercorse and sometimes after)... and after reading all of this I'm starting to think it might be all due to the birth control I use (which is Nuvaring). I do not know what to do because I really enjoy the light periods, the ease of not having to remember to take a pill at the same time every day, and that I have not gained that much weight as compared with Ortha Light that I was on previously for 2.5 years.

I've been using the NuvaRing for about nine months. I had used it about 3 yrs ago for a 1.5 yr period. At first I noticed similar symptons to the first time that I used it- very intolerant to alcohol, slightly depressed, naseaus frequently. But wasn't too concerned- I have a number of stomach problems, so I though that it just was agrivating that, and didn't worry too much. Then last month, my period came 20days after the previous, for about 15 days, with extreme itchness around my vulva. (Before going on the ring I would get my period every 33-35 days for about 3 days-no cramping, which increased to 30days/8-9 day length with light cramping on the ring) Now again, 13 days after I put a new Ring in I got my period again- really heavy. I'm going to try and see my gyno this week about it.
The most concerning thing is that my Cholesterol has increased 30 pts since last year- I'm practically vegan- only eating cheese on a rare ocassion, an active rock climber and road biker, and eat less cheese then last year, so it's a drastic increase. Also, my Triglyceride level was high- which I have never experienced before.
Also- about 4 months into using the ring I had an ovarian cyst pop in me. It was a random occurance that I ended up in the ER for and had never had anything like that occur before- can't say for-sure if it's related, but it was really scary and I couldn't move for about a month of my life.