I HATE THIS DAMN RING! WOW, I FIRST HAD PUT THE RING IN OCTOBER 23RD, I INSERTED ON MY 2ND DAY OF MY PERIOD, HAD IT IN FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THE FIRST PROBLEM FOR ME WAS THE SEX...NORMALLY WHEN I HAVE SEX I GET EXTREMELY WET AND I OOZE VAGINAL SECRETIONS (THICK)..THE NUVA RING MADE MY SECRETIONS LESS AND VERY THIN AND WATERY!! I HATED IT AND SO DID MY BF. I WOULD GET DRY FASTER. ANYWAY I DEVELOPED A UTI AND TOOK THE RING OOUT AND PUT A NEW 1 IN EARLY NOVEMBER IN WHICH I HAD ANOTHER PERIOD...I MEAN THIS IS THE SECOND PERIOD LESS THEN 2 WEEKS APART...ANYWAY I PUT A NEW RING IN WHILE ON THIS SECOND PERIOD AND NOW AFTER THATS DONE I BEEN HAVING BROWN DICHARGE EVERYDAY FOR 2 WEEKS AND GOING...EVEN DURING SEX THIS BROWN STUFF COMES OUT....EWWW SO NASTY....SOMETIMES I FEEL IT DURING SEX....I DIDNT HAVE THIS PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I USED THE RING...SO...THATS THAT oh! I BEEN HAVING YEAST INFECTIONS AND UTI'S..BESIDES THAT I AM VERY DEPRESSED, MODDY, MEAN, NOT HAPPY ABOUT ANYTHING, NO ENERGY I SLEEP HARD AND SLEEP ALOT, I AM INTERNING NOW AND ITS SO HARD TO KEEP MY EYES OPEN...LOSS OF APETITE, MIGRAINES, JUST OVERALL A SHITTY FELLING AND ITS NOT WORTH IT I AM SO THRU WITH IT

So, after reading all these reviews, I thought I would share my two cents! I am a 26 year old woman. Ive was of BC, Fem Con, which was great, but I was talked into getting on the ring. I have been on the ring now for 2 months, this is the start of my second month. I love the fact that I dont have to remember to take the pill, even though that wasnt an issue for me. However, my friend talked me into trying the ring.

I now do not want to have sex, and the thought of my BF touching me makes me sick. I find some many ways to "get out" of having sex. My bf told me that Im more moody, and a little more "pyscho acting." I, ofcourse, didnt believe him and he told me about all the research he has done on this product. We used to have sex 3-4 times a week, now its once a week, and I sometimes feel obligated because my drive is gone.

Everyone reacts differently, so you must decide for yourself.

one last thing, it made my period last longer. Normally I my period lasts for 3-5 days, with the 5th day being light!...Well, its day 5 and Im still bleeding heavy. Hopefully since I inserted the ring this morning, it will make my period end......

I switched to the Nuvaring right before i got married and it ruined my honeymoon! I had absolutely NO sex-drive!!! I felt really emotionless in general the whole time i was using it. Nothing turned me on and i was soooo dry! I NEVER used to be that way! I was really concerned so I got online and read some of the reviews and realized that i wasn't the only one that was experiencing that!I didnt experience any of the other side-effects that i read about, but having no sex drive was enough for me to take it out. Within 3 days i was back to normal. I will never go back to it. I did like the convenience and effectivness of it, but it wasn't worth it for me. Its different for everyone and i would say dont knock it till you try it, but for me no way!

I have been reading the reviews on here and just wanted to say one thing. I am currently taking Nuva Ring and have had no problems or side effects. Do not judge the Nuva Ring until you have tried it yourself. Medications, especially birth control, affects everyone differently. That is a proven fact and I have witnessed it personally.

I'm 20 now and started taking the pill when i was 15 and hated it! I never noticed any horrible side effects from it, but it was such a pain to take everyday, nor was I good at it.

At the begining of this year i got into a serious relationship and had my yearly ob gyn appointment shortly after that. I then decided I needed to change my bc method because I DID NOT want any accidental "slip-ups" so my doctor recomended the nuva ring. I've been taking it for about 7 months now and HATE it!! I've always been a very positive, happy-go-lucky person, however, the nuva ring has turned me into an emotional, bitch. In my whole life I could count on one hand how many people have seen me cry, ever, now i find myself breaking down a couple times a week and snapping at my boyfriend for the dumbest things. It's ruining our relationship. I would give the nuva 5 stars for convenience but it's not worth the side effect. I hate the person its turned me into and am getting off of it asap. My boyfriend also hates the way it feels, good news as far as that goes though is you can take it out as long as you put it back in within three hours. I've also never been a dry person until I started taking nuva, which makes sex uncomfortable. At 20 years old I shouldn't need lube, its embarassing. So although there are benefits to nuva, the bad most definitely out weighs the good! not worth the side effects or cost

I started using the nuvaring to regulate my cycles and possibly assist with my PMS symptoms. the first few days i was dizzy ..then i started getting very grumpy and snapping at everyone. I would cry at the dumbest things....the 4th day i was on it - i ran a 5K and within the first mile i thought i was going to have a heart attack. my chest was burning. i couldnt breathe. It was like i was on speed. I was able to get thru the race but i just didnt feel the same as I always did when i run. I continued to stay active and bike and run but i just felt like i lost my endurance. I experienced bloating and acne as well. The kicker is I have only been on this for 12 days when I started to experience severe chest pains one morning. I tried to walk it off and think nothing of it but the pains kept getting worse. I worked at a hospital and called my obgyn who told me to take the ring out and go to the ER. I took it out while in the ER bathroom. The ER got me in right away and did a ekg, blood work, chest xray and cat scan and found nothing. Thank god..They were concerned i might have a bloodclot somehow. Needless to say I have been home for the last 2 days with chest pain but not as severe.

I am a fit 41 year old who would rather suffer thru the PMS symptoms and irregular periods than sacrifice my health. This was a very eye opening experience for me....Dont use this product....

I have been on Nuvaring for 8 months and at first I really loved it...My boobs grew two sizes which my boyfriend loves and I dont have to worry about taking a pill all the time which is amazing...

But I have notice that I have lost my sex drive.and my boyfriend HATES that....and I am very moody...I have not gained any weight and I do not have problems with it except for moodiness and loss of sexdrive...I dont know why it is this way but it is...I also found I am very tired...

I left it out for this past month to see if things would be different and they have....I have had a great sex drive I am not as tired I have more energy!

I would definately say I am unsure about this product....

Oh and I only pay $15 for it with insurance.....

I was on the ring for about a year and a half...I didnt have a single problem with it and I used it as directed...thenl I found out I was pregnant...I was 4 months pregnant before I found out that I was even carrying. Luckily the baby came out perfect and now my fiancee and I have a third child and he is almost a year old! I will NEVER recommend this product to ANYONE and any of my friends that I overhear talk about it, I warn them..

I wish I couldn't even give this product a star. I'm 21 and was put on birth control very young do to medical issues and I hated having to remember to take the pill everyday! So when I went to the doctor to see what I could be put on they suggested the NuvaRing. It seemed like a wonderful idea at first.... then not so much.

I was on the NuvaRing for almost a year after being on the pill for almost 6 years. I had terrible mood swings. My bra sizes never stayed the same, it would go up and down all the time.

My biggest problem with it came when I found out I was pregnant. I did everything as it directed. For almost three months I had no idea I was even carrying a baby. I still my period like normal, or so I thought. Now I'm sitting here with a six month old. There is 2 other girls who have also gotten pregnant in my area while on the NuvaRing. I don't know if it was a "bad batch" of them but if your not looking to get pregnant I'd stick to the pill.

After having my baby I was put on the Depo shot. Thats a whole other story and its also BAD!

So I have been reading all the reviews and I am amazed to see so many negative reviews. I have been using the ring for 2 months now and I have to agree, it makes me really nauseous especially the week that i put it in. I have lost my appretite for food(which is not normal because I am foody)
So upside, it makes me control what I eat...most of the time a bagel or some other form of carb calms me down.. The nauseousness is a bit scary though, and yes it makes me a bit moody.

Plus side, my periods are less than 3 days with very light flow whereas it used to be 8 days before...

When I spoke to my doc about the nausea she asked me if I wanted to discontinue, its my first time any sort of birth control, so I think I just need to get used to it . Not sure how long that will take. I have not gained weight, but i am not loosing much weight either ..maybe a few pounds last 2 months but I have been working out and watching what I eat to avoid any water weight gain because of the pill.

I rate it 3 because its convenient and keeps me safe from accidents. I would rate it 4 stars if it wasn't for the nausea....

I have been on the ring for 4 months, and the first month was really good, no changes of mood swings or anything. I havent had any change of acne, my boobs did grow almost two sizes, and no weight gain. Now, its just given me horrible horrible mood swings. One second i'm happy, the next i'm to myself crying. Its almost made my loose my boyfriend because of this, so i've stopped using the ring. I hate it, and hate what it made of me. I only got it because I am terrible at remembering things, I mean the ring is good for that. But i would not recommend it.

I wouldn't even give the Nuvaring a star if I didn't have to. I decided to try it after being on the pill for 6 years (without any problems) because I was excited about the idea of not having to take a pill every day. Well, it certainly did that, but after the first week I became itchy all over my body scratching my arms and legs and body until it bled as a result of an allergic reaction to the ring. Thats all beside the point though because say you dont have an allergic reaction (im probably one of the few that have) I still would not reccommend it.

They say that your sexual partner can't feel it when you have sex. This is totally and completely NOT TRUE. Not only did he say that he could always feel it, but it also fell out pretty much EVERY time we had sex...its not as small as they make it sound and it's weird having to deal with a little plastic thing in the middle of passionate lovemaking. I am happily back to taking a pill every day...

I am 26 have been on Nuva Ring for about 5 years. When I first started it there were no major side effects except my period went from almost gone on Ortho-Tri Cyclen to about 3 days long after I switched to NuvaRing. I also had the massive discharge problem but it didn't really bother me that much. I started getting chronic yeast infections about 3 years ago (like, every 3 months I had one). My problems really began at the beginning of this year though. I'm have disgusting breakouts (I never had more than a zit or two), bleeding after sex, dryness, and discomfort during sex (all things experience by others using NuvaRing according to message boards like this one). I went to the doctor thinking I might have endometriosis (my mom had it). He didn't find anything on the ultrasound and told me to stay on the Nuvaring and start stacking (it means, not taking a break after the 3rd week but reinserting a new ring). I was miserable the first month - headaches, abdominal pain, leg pains, anxiety, bleeding for two weeks straight. I emailed him after the first month saying I couldn't take it anymore, I was miserable and I was scared because NuvaRing isn't approved by the FDA to be taken in the manner he prescribed, and he didn't even know if I had endometriosis to justify taking NuvaRing continuously. He replied that OB/GYNs often have to prescribe meds that aren't necessarily approved by FDA but if I felt uncomfortable he would switch me back to Ortho-Tri Cyclen. I have an HMO, so by the time I got his response a week later, only a few symptoms remained and I felt like a jerk trying to tell my doctor what to do. So, I've continued stacking for a total of about 4 months. I've had a UTI and believe I am in the beginnings of another one, have been bleeding straight for 6 weeks, am still dry, irritated that I'm 26 and have to use lube with my Boyfriend, and I have no idea if I'm bleeding after sex because I'm bleeding all the time!! I'm taking it out tomorrow, filling the Ortho Tri Cyclen and calling the ring quits. The feedback on here REALLY helps! I hope this has been the cause of my problems and that my body will adjust back soon.

*****UPDATE*****

I could not be happier being off the Nuva Ring for the last three weeks. I have not been bleeding - there were a few days of very light spotting which is an amazing improvement. My sex drive is back, my mood is better, my face is clear, no bleeding/discomfort/dryness/burning during intercourse, no unexpected breakthrough bleeding for an unknown length of time, no UTIs, no yeast infections! It's fabulous. Never going back, EVER. Should have listened to my gut feeling 4-5 months ago and switched immediately. I cannot tell you how good it feels to have a normal sex life/vaginal health again! Taking the pill every day is not the most convienent thing - but it's 150% worth it to not be in the misery I was having on the Ring. Think about these reviews if you're thinking about the Ring - they're honest experiences and your GYN may not know the Ring is the problem for your health concerns. If you decide on taking it, please watch out for the symptoms myself and others have experienced so you can get off it ASAP!

Truthfully: 1 star because it nearly ruined my relationship and my self-esteem. 1 extra star only because, well, I never got pregnant!

I went through argument after argument over BC pills with my OBGYN. I don't remember to take them and they increased my migraines. She begged me to try Nuvaring and said I would love it - never want to go back to anything else. I used Nuvaring for exactly 1 ear. It was wonderful the first few months! That baby just slid right in and I never felt it. One time I thought it had fallen out because it was so well hidden. No more gross condoms and my bf never felt it.Then, my sex drive started disappearing. I panicked and thought maybe I was falling out of love? Slowly I became angry, resentful, bitter, rude and had an overall hateful outlook on everything. My first thought when my boyfriend, whom I was obsessed with for a year and have been dating for 2 years, would show up is inconvenienced? WTF? I refused sex, didn't want to kiss him hello, bitched about everything, said mean things to him and didn't care about how it made him feel. Then it came time every month for that 1 free week of no ring and suddenly I couldn't keep my hands off him and I smiled and laughed. I broke down to him that I couldn't control it and was stopping using it right then and there. It has been 27 days of no Nuvaring (or hormonal BC for that matter) and I feel completely different. It's a change I cannot full describe but I feel happy. We make love like we used to when we were first dating. I can't wait to see him everyday! He is a stronger person than I am because I would have broken up with my bitch ass MONTHS ago... I am making an appointment to get Paragard!

Aside from the emotional drama, after about 7 months it wouldn't stay in. It would sit right at the opening of my vagina and OMG so uncomfortable! Like a tampon falling out. No matter how I put it in: sitting down, standing up, lying down it would just bob out.

It did the job perfectly of keeping me from getting pregnant but at what cost? Emotionally destroying the most important person in my life and someone I love. That in itself is not worth it.

I would never reccomend the nuva ring to anyone. At first it was the greatest thing in the world. what could be easier than inserting a ring for three weeks, remove it for one and the put in a new one. Simple right? Well the nuva ring isnt all its cracked up to be. I was using nuva ring for a year and was happy with it for the first few months then slowly things started changing. I noticed more mood swings and anger when im normally a happy easy going person. I started seeing myself getting annoyed with my kids for really no reason. My sex drive and sex life became non exsistant. The thought of sex made me cringe and every time we had sex i would be in pain the whole time and would bleed sometimes after sex. it really put a burdon on my marriage. my husband hated the fact that i didnt want him to look at me, touch me, or heaven forbid ask me for ANYTHING sexual, because I would freak out on him. My marraige pretty much went from great to my husband and i talking about divorce on a weekly basis. I was not the person he married is what he would say to me all the time. I knew i wasnt being myself but i didnt have an answer as to why i was acting the way i was. Just a few days ago i went to bed fine and woke up looking 20 lbs heavier from how bloated i was! The bloating turned into severe abdominal and back pain, by the end of the day I couldnt even get out of bed. That night my husband sat up all night with me while I cried in pain. The next day I knew something wasnt right. I talked to my doctor and she told me I needed to take out my ring. Within the next 24 hours I notced a huge difference in everything, the swelling in my stomach went down and the pain was slowly going away. That was 3 days ago and today i feel great. I now know that everything I went through was caused by the nuva ring. Ladies its so not worth it, trust me. If you are currently taking it or just thinking about trying the nuva ring. Save your money, Save your time. DONT TRY IT!!!

I was on the NuvaRing for 1 whole year last year. I normally don't do reviews on anything but while researching the new BC method i'm currently trying 'OrthoEvra Patch', I decided to help other women out there and tell my side of the story with 'the Ring'.

I had a love hate relationship with the ring.

The Good: I absolutely loved the fact that I could 'stack' the rings and have NO period. I never 'spotted', I never had cramps/bloating/etc..

The bad: It made me VERY dry, VERY fast during intercourse. My sex drive diminished to the point where I didn't even want to be TOUCHED. (Don't hold my hand, don't look at me, etc.)

The ugly: I was a completley different person. My 6 year relationship almost shattered with my boyfriend. I thought it was stress from school and work, but the moment I forgot to change out the next ring and couldn't afford to buy the next months until next Friday was when we realized really how much different of a person I was without the ring.

Reccomendation: Yes ONLY to those who plan to stay single but be careful with the mood--your friends and family will even see the change too. No ONLY to those who are in relationships and sex is something that means something to you.


As for the ortho evra patch... BLAH. It's only been ONE month and I'm ready to get this piece of SH** off my body! (The only reason it's on is cause i have a CYST on my overies and it's very painful without BC) My mood isn't changed (yet), it's harder to get 'turned on', and I'm very dry during intercourse. The stress is most likely from working full time and going to school full time.

POTENTIAL NUVARING USER...After taking NuvaRing for 5 months, I decided to go off birth control for good. there was no need anymore. That was 10 months ago. I still havent' had a normal scheduled period (maybe one every 4 months) and my face is breaking out acne like crazy. My whole life before bc i never had acne or irregular periods. So within the course of these 10 months, I've gained 10 lbs, one breast is slightly larger than the other, I have oily skin with painful acne on my face and back, and I've recently discovered I have a terrible bladder infection turned UTInfection. What do I do? I'm afraid I'm infertile and will never be acne/symptom free again! I've been reading up on the NuvaRing now and found all sorts of articles for it to be recalled etc. So scary!!! Are my problems caused by the NuvaRing??? I think so!

Caused terrible bloating and lowered my mood considerably. I felt extemely tired all the time. I also thought I was on the verge of a yeast infection the whole time I had it in. I discontinued after the third one.

I have been on the nuvaring for about 4 months. Before I was on the pill for 9 years. I love the ring, i don't feel it, i don't have any problems putting it in. It's very easy, and my husband never feels it. My only concern is, sometimes I get an itching feeling on the outside of my vagina area. It may last a few days, I use some cream and its gone. I think its mostly the dryness/chaffing effect of the ring. I recently switched because I could never keep track of the pill and I would get very nausea on it. So three months before my wedding I decided that I can't have my period on my wedding day or honeymoon. Doctor recommended the ring, and I didn't have it, I planned it perfectly. Before I was getting my period every two weeks!! Now if I want I can just keep putting the ring in if I want. I do recommend this product, it has saved me from cramps, headaches, and long periods. Now my periods are 4 days and I really enjoy that!

I just started taking the Nuva Ring and I'd love to get feedback from women over the age of 35 who are using this form of birth control. So far, I have no problems but after reading all those with problems, I'm wondering what to expect.

I've been on birth control pills in the past with not many problems (perhaps a little weight gain, slight moodiness).

Also, I haven't had a child yet but would like to in a few years. Does anyone have any input? Has any woman out there had a child over the age of 35 after using birth control--particularly the Nuva Ring? As someone who has a career and isn't quite ready to devote my life to a child yet, I'd love to hear from those in similar situations. Anything about having a child over 35, comments about the Nuva Ring from those over 35, etc.

Thanks!

I am extremely happy with the nuvaring! Ive been on it for three months now, and i am loving it! My periods are all 4 days long, they are a little heavy but not unreasonable, and i am noticing more of a loss in appetite, which is probably a good thing! I still am hungry but i dont eat as much in one sitting, and i never have to remember to take the pill everyday. Before nuvaring i was on the pill femcon and it was making me have longg periods, like month long periods. My doctor recommended nuvaring and it hasnt effected my sex life at all!! I've always had a high sex drive, and its still up there!! i would definitely recommend nuvaring to any person who is sick of taking the pill!

I have just removed The Ring after being on it for only 10 days! I had no idea it would cause such terrible mood swings! In the last 5 days, I noticed I was slipping in and out of a state of depression. I was crying, angrier than i should be and yesterday had a panic attack...for no reason! I even refused to see my boyfriend for the last 3 days because of my sudden spirts of anger! I think I noticed so soon because I am normally a very happy person. I found myself no longer enjoying very much of anything, including my children. Once I read online other stories of similar side effects, I decided this birth control is not for me.
I have previously been on Othro and The Patch and never had roller coaster mood swings like I am/was. I decided to try the Ring because I loved the idea of once a month birth control. I hope I can find a different method that works with my body and don't end up with a different mood swing motivator called another kid!

But at least I won't be writing on Facebook that I want to go to a deserted island, like I did yesterday!,

I used the Nuvaring for almost three years, and finally stopped using it about eight months ago. Although happy with its results, and ease of use, I experienced a variety of emotional symptoms while using the ring. These eventually led me to stop using it. My emotions varied from anger, irritability and a general sense of “zombie-like” feelings that never seemed to go away. I could not get a sense of calm in my life, and often felt nervous, or panicky.

Now that I have been off the ring, I am finally feeling my emotional self come back to life. I feel like I’ve been asleep for the past three years, and wondering how I could ever have let myself stay on it for so long a time. I would still recommend this product for people who want a low hormone, easy to use option for birth control. Like many birth control options, its hormonal effects may just be too strong and foreign for my body. But, if you know you are someone like me who may be easily affected by its emotional side effects, I would find another option.

I love the NR, I've only been using it for 3 months but so far, so good my husband loves it as well. I have noticed that i can get a little more angry that wk b4 my cyc, 3 months ago i also started eating healthy and excerising so i haven't experienced any weight gain, i've losted 20 lbs!!! I hope nothing changes and i'd recommend it 2 anyone! I've tried the pill (ortho tri-cyclen lo), but wanted something more convienient so i chose the NR, and was glad i did.

Hi, I've been on the NuvaRing for 2 years now. I have been reading many horrible reviews and I truly have to say I have nothing bad to say about it. I was never on any birth control for 22 years of my life and was extremely skeptical about going on anything that could potentially affect my hormonal balance. I began the NuvaRing and kept waiting for "the big change" and nothing ever happened. I do have to say I get emotional the week before and after my period but I also have to say I was emotional off the nuvaring as well. Overall I have loved the convenience of it. I have a regular annual OBGYN appt. and everything turns out fine. Every birth control has its risks and side effects but the NuvaRing seems to have the least practically none for me. Hope this can help someone!

I would just like to say that I know of a girl that is 21 whom just got out of the ICU due to the Nuvaring. She developed blood clots that traveled to her lungs. She was not a smoker! I am just letting you know if you are thinking about this BC method. I know it is very rare to develop blood clots but it does happen. . So please make sure this is 100 percent right for you :).

I am on my second month on the ring so far. First month my boobs got a bit bigger, but very sensitive as well. Nausea was worst. little bit of weight gain, and a tiny bit of acne...
I have noticed I get alot angrier alot easier now...Like when I get angry I get so angry I can cry. Its kind of crazy. the only thing that worries me is the nausea. Im experiencing it now as I JUST today put in my second month of it. It seems worse when i take it out for the week for my period and put it back in.
I love the convenience but god, the nausea is strong. the worst part is I CANNOT THROW UP. I just FEEL like im going to puke on myself pretty often


its convenient, and it made my boobs bigger (which i loved) but sadly they went down...
weight gain i didnt mind/ (only weigh 98 lbs..)
I guess its different for everyone but
all around, I love it (SO FAR!)

Someone please read this! - I'm desperate for feed back. I will try to keep this short.

I was really skeptical about starting Nuva-Ring. It was honestly a last resort, I've been deemed "hormonally unbalanced" and was suffering from serious depression as well as various other medical complications. I've been light headed, dizzy, and suffering from extreme headaches for the last 4 years of my life. Prior to Nuva-Ring this included having crazy mood swings, painful and inconsistend periods, and all the awful shit us girls get to endure.
I've been on the ring for the past 5 months or so. At first I loved it, I mean I wasn't thrilled about having to insert it and what not but it was so nice to only have to do something twice a month- major points for convienece! I was still experiencing crazy mood swings and i'm told it "comes with being a women" but I refuse to settle for feeling miserable all the time. Atleast on the ring I could see the major break downs coming - I notice I am super emoitionally "sensative" on days I take the ring out and put it back in (which makes sense becasue my body has to readjust).
Any how I became sexually active for the past 3 months almost worry free.
I had a pregnancy scare a while ago, took a test it turned out negative but since then i've been getting increasingly dizzy and exhausetd (this is really nothing new so it didn't alarm me at first.) But I'm getting absurd sinus headaches around 6 pm if not sooner EVERY day and feel INCREDIBLY nauseated when I think about eating anything and it's very hard to keep anything down I have to really focus on controling my gag-reflexes. I also noticed my breast are super tender, I've been getting all sorts of discharge, and honestly my vigina hurts a little. I'm pretty new to the whole sex seen so some of that is expected but this just strikes me as a really odd combination of things. I did a ton or research on my own.
I really want to leave the doctors out of this because in every experience so far I get diagnosed, treated and then I come back with more complications (talk about job security).
Any how the game plan right now is to run out, take another pregnancy test (hopefully rule that out), and if that's not the answer (*fingers crossed) then I'm seriously considering discontinuing Nuva-Ring. But this scares me because 1- my body will most likely be even more weird having to adjust to being ring-less again (Nuva ring was a good choice for me because I had low estrogen so back to more imbalance- if I was ever stable in the first place). 2- I actually have sex now and the birth control aspect is nice because i'm not actually ready to have a kid - and I still use condomns but have bad luck and do NOT want to end up with a baby right now(grant it I would accept responsibility and cope but I would prefer to avoid it). 3. This could not even be Nuva-Rings fault but a huge inconvenience and I can't tell if i'm better with or with out it because I've been so messed up either way.

So any advice/i.e. suggestions would be GREATLy appreciated, i'm noticing alot of similar issues among previous comments but also a few differences. Thank you for you time!

I am about to start using the NuvaRing for the first time. I was on Yaz for about 2 years, but became really unhappy with it. I was having really bad anxiety and had pretty much no sex drive. So I went to the Dr. and she initially told me to use NuvaRing. I prefere taking pills so I've been on LoEstrin for a month, but there has been no change. I just think it is odd for my Dr to prescribe NuvaRing and then read this blog and so many people said it decreased their sex drive as well. I know everyone is different, so hopefully it will work for me!
But, to everyone who has just began taking birth control or who only gave Nuva Ring or any other birth control a week or 2 or whatever, your body NEEDS TIME to adjust! You should give it a month or so before you decide you hate it. Give your body sometime to get used to a new birthcontrol!

I was on Ovcon for a few years and HATED it, the Nuva Ring is infinitely better. On Ovcon I experienced weight gain, depression, irrationality, you name it, and these side effects literally never went away. I was pretty emotional the first two months on the Nuva Ring but now my body has adjusted and I feel much more balanced (I've been on it about eight months). It lightens my period and makes it entirely predictable; it has also alleviated my cramps almost completely (they used to be absolutely mind-numbing). I love not having to remember to take a pill each day, as I was always forgetting to take my pill (which only threw my hormones out of whack even more and heightened my moodiness). I cannot feel the ring at all and it's very easy to insert and remove. My boyfriend can feel it, however, which is a bit of a deterrent. Unfortunately though, my main complaint is that it seems to cause fairly frequent yeast infections. I hadn't had one in YEARS before I started the Nuva Ring and now I feel like they come on every couple of months (very mildly, but still a nuisance). I think it may have also lessened my sex drive a bit, not severely, but enough to make it worth noting. Honestly though, I think it's hard to find a birth control that won't cause some occasional side effects and mess with your body's equilibrium in some way, so I'm thankful I've found a method with effects that seem to be comparatively minor.

I have had the ring in for 5 days. I can constantly feel it, especially when I go to the bathroom it is always pushing itself forward. My fiancee has experienced some discomfort during sex b/c of the ring. I have also had increased dizziness, do not feel like myself, and a lower sex drive. I have taken the ring out and am awaiting advice from my doctor about what I should do now. I would NOT recommend this form of birth control.

Some of my friends do use the ring and love it. I, however am not one of those girls. I preferred the Depo Shot, but b/c of the decrease of bone density and my history of Arthritis in my family I had to stop after a year of using the shot. I guess my only option is going back to the pill as I am allergic to the patch and don't want an IUD.

Anyone out there is thinking of trying the ring, it does work different for every person. My experience has definitely been unpleasant, but you can always try it for yourself, it may work.

I used birth control pills for a couple years then the depo shot for 3 years, which was great to me. I might have been on depo a little too long because I did experience bone density loss (which is one of the side effects) but I wish I could've stayed on it because it was low maintenance. Since the doctor only recommends a couple of years, I had to switch to something new.

Now I've been using Nuva Ring for 5 months. I experience the breast soreness from time to time and they are a little bigger than before. The discharge is a big side effect that takes getting used to. A couple of times during or right after sex, the ring has come out but other than that I don't feel it. I think in the first week or so, it might have made me feel not myself but that passed. And overall I think it is a good fit for me although a little expensive. I'm not good at remembering to take a pill at the same time everyday so this is what I've settled on.

Hi, Im an 18yr old female. I recently went to my gyno because im starting college in a month and a half and I thought getting on bc would be a good idea. I went in on the 24th of June, and she told me to try nuvaring. She told me to start that day when I got home. she told me to leave it in until the 1st of July then take it out and wait to the 5th to put a new one in, and progress in that cycle.
Well, less than two weeks into having the nuvaring, I got a really bad uti infection , I have had a history of utis..so i try to do the most I can to prevent them, but this was different. I felt like my bladder was going to explode!. It was so painful and it felt like it was contracting, I was spotting blood and I felt like I was going to pee my pants all the time.. . and horrible burning sensations. I put the ring back in on the 5th, and that day I spotted blood a little heavier and clumpy but not a period. I took it out on the 9th because I did not feel like the infection was getting any better...the ring has been out for 3 days now and I feel so much better bladder infection wise, but I have been having horrible headaches, and nausea. Any ideas?
The only problem is that I have no idea what is gonna go on with my period.
Before the ring, I would usually start anywhere between the 10-14..and I have not had unprotected sex.
Anyone have any ideas on the whereabouts of my period?.

Hi so I am writing this only for the future users that decide to try or are thinking too well ok here it goes... I do not like it and its not a personal problem against it after the third day of using nuvaring I had a uti for the whole day and I just was like how cause i always drink a glass off water before i go to bed then i go to sleep and wake up and have a bottle of water and go to the batheron.. then I went to the bathroom and vaginal disharge came out (not std ..Like when you are about to have sex and you get a sensation that is what it was) and that happened alot and then it caused my vagina to swallen it hurt so bad and then when me and my boyfriend tried to have sex i cried cause it hurt and was pushing against my cervix and he said it was stabbing inside his hole. and my vagina was dry. i got sick alot i thought i was pregnant the whole time and I threw up and my mom drove me to the er cause blood came out and i was having a uti and bad cramps .I was not on my mensrtal cycle i was in the second week. Look more happened but I am telling you it is a bad decision and after i tried it and saw these symptons i looked for reviews and wow I found reported deaths and more probabilty of getting pregnant. oh and call nuvaring customer care cause i did and the medical person i talked too told me percentage wise the pill is more effective. oh and there is many cases against them ..dont be anothere...Vanessa

OMG, I am 16 years old and have been on birth control for 3 years. I used to be on Lo/Ovral and it was really great I just sometimes forgot to take it everyday and i didnt want to take any more chances so I switched to the Nuvaring. I've been on it for 3 months & i didn't really notice anything until I came to the personal realization that I am always ANGRY at everyone and everything. & then I cry because I am so ANGRY,, I mean ANGRY,, like threatening people! I used to be such a nice person but now I feel like i've lost all of my personal goals. I can't think of any other birth control that I won't have to use everyday and this was soooo convenient. I'm losing my personal relationships with people and my boyfriend hates me because I treat him horribly. I just don't know what to do anymore!!

I'm 17 years old and I've been on the nuva ring for almost a year now. It is terrible. To start I am irregular. Not completely irregular though, I start to spot a few days before the nuva ring is actually taken out. Also my doctor told me that I should be able to keep it in for the fourth week and not expierience a menustral period. Well needless to say that didn't work.
When I'm actually on my period, my cramps and back aches are so bad that I begin to vomit. I get so weak that I can barely walk to the bathroom without feeling faint. I remember I fainted at school once I had to have two of my friends carry me to the nurse. I spend half of the day in the nurses office laying down because my teachers are all telling me I look sick/faint/pale.
I have constant headaches no matter what I do. I also get sick feeling VERY easy.
About 6 months into having this I got a SERIOUS Urinary Tract Infection and my doctor told me it could have been because of my nuva ring. Ontop of that - I am the third woman in my family to get pregnant on this form of birthcontrol. I did loose the baby due to a condition that also runs in the family.
And last but DEFINATELY not least - my sex drive. I've been with my boyfriend for over 3 years and we've never had any trouble before this. I know it's not the attraction factor, and I know it isn't anything but this because i've never had a problem before now. I too have a hard time producing a personal lubricant.
Ontop of ALL of that is the mood swings, the PMS, and the infinate flow of discharge. (Some days it's so bad I've got to wear pads.)

Honestly, I DO NOT recommend this to ANYONE.

I do not suggest this birth control at all, it really messed me up! I switched to nuvaring because I am not very good at taking a pill at the same time everyday. But after about 2 months I had to take it out and go back to loestrin 24 (very good birth control!) Nuvaring made me very depressed. I am a usually happy, social college student and nuvaring made me reclusive and sad all the time. I sat in my dorm room all day doing nothing. I would call my friend and start crying for no reason at all. I haven't felt the same since.

I was on the Nuvaring (until tonight!) for 2.5 years. I loved it at first, even up until the last 8 months. The convenience is, of course, wonderful. My periods were much shorter and a little lighter for someone with usually very heavy periods. I also had a decrease in PMS symptoms before my period and a slight decrease in cramping and headaches during my period.
HOWEVER...the last 8 months have been a different story. It started with PMS being a little worse than usual. Then sex started hurting. Not only did it feel sometimes like I had never had sex before, but there was almost no natural lubrication. How do you explain that when there is SO much discharge at other times? That leads me to the next part. I started having extreme discharge at all times of the month. It feels like I am peeing a little or like I am starting my period, so I always have to run to the bathroom to make sure everything is okay. Then all I find is a huge amount of discharge. This is not normal, especially when I am completely dry for sex.
I have been with my fiance for over 5 years, and I do not feel any less attracted to him or any less love for him, but I have not wanted to have sex with him for months. Thankfully he is understanding, but I feel like it is a chore to do almost anything sexual. Any sort of sexual contact we have had has been a huge effort on my part to do it so that he wouldn't feel neglected. I feel so apathetic about even kissing him sometimes!
So as of tonight, the Nuvaring is out for good! I don't care what I have to do to prevent pregnancy, which isn't even an issue since we almost never have sex, as long as I get this horrible thing out of my body.
I'm glad I read the other reviews of people experiencing the exact same thing so that I don't think I'm going crazy. I think I'm justified in thinking the Nuvaring is definitely the cause of my problems.

I had an IUD for the whole 5 years and went in to get it replaced. Because I wasn't on my period, it was hard to insert so they gave me the ring to use to wait till I got my period to get another IUD in. Having the IUD for the past 5 years has been awesome, the ring however, eh - nothing special.

I liked the fact that it is so easy to insert, and if you don't do it right, you can feel it. I haven't been able to feel it walking around, having sex, exercising, showering etc. That part is nice. My skin is clear, I didn't really experience any cramping or bleeding, so really the only obvious side effect is zero sex drive.

I was wondering why my sex drive plummeted to the ground the past few weeks I've been using the ring, so I came to check these reviews and realized I wasn't alone, what a sign of relief.

I just graduated college and have no stress whatsoever so I know the lack of sex drive is because of the ring. My boyfriend and I have been together for a few years now so I know it's not him. I'm a little irritated about that, I'm not in the mood to really do anything. I'm not moody/bitchy, but just not in the mood to be close. That part sucks. I really can't wait to get the IUD back in because that had zero side effects (for me anyway).

unlike most, i actually enjoy the Nuvaring.
my sex drive is normal and the only time i have experienced spotting is when i had it for the first month. For the first month, it is actually normal to experience these things because it is irregular to your body to have it in. after your body realizes it is not coming out, it adjusts.
my period is MUCH lighter and MUCH shorter, and i am way less moody and have no cramps and small short headaches. this is a much bigger improvement to my regular period.
if you have it in correctly, it does not slip out at all. it is also a much easier method than the pills for you do not have to remember to take a pill every day. It is very easy to put in, as easy as a tampon.
i really enjoy it.

After using the ring for one month I got a kidney infection and it made me extremely nauseous. I vomited copiously, and nothing ever makes me vomit. Another sad trial in my quest for decent birth control that I don't have to remember take daily.

I was so excited to try NuvaRing! Putting in in was so easy and I didn't feel it at all.

20 minutes later I got a wicked migraine. Then came the nausea, vomiting and chest pains and numbness in my arms. Determined to not strike yet another birth control method off my list, I grabbed some Advil and took a nap. Woke up feeling a bit better, but soon after had this incredible feeling of...sinking - dizziness I guess. The crazy chest pains and numbness came back too, so I took it out.

A shame.

I am 17 years old and I have been on NuvaRing for about a week now, which seems a little early to write a review on it...but...here goes.
I have yet to roll in the hay with it, school and stress (and quite possibly Nuvaring) has made my sex drive go down significantly. Of course, it is difficult to really observe your side effects due to so many (negative) contributing factors in one's life.
The side effects I've noticed THUS FAR are: mild cramping, decreased appetite, light but extended period (over a week of gross brown discharge), nausea and a gurgly tummy--I had diarrhea the first couple of days, (I don't know whether it was the Ring or something bad I ate), and moodiness, but don't trust that one, I've always been the more hostile type.
But rest assured, you can't feel the thing AT ALL if it's applied properly--Like a tampon. On the subject of tampons, the ring can come out with a tampon--Be Cautious!!! (its happened about twice!)
Again, I don't know about how it feels during sex yet...I will give an update. I think I'll just take it out for sex....(Unfortunately, our sex lasts no longer than a few minutes anyhow..T_T)

Good Luck!

I have been on nuvaring for 4+ years now. Although its obviously been awhile since I started using the ring, I don't remember having any out of the ordinary side effects when I started taking it. I started using the ring when I was 17 years old. Overall I have to say that I have had a generally good experience with this drug. My skin is clear, my periods are shorter and lighter, my PMS (which before was awful) is hardly noticable and most importantly, I can't recall the last time I had a cramp. My sex drive has not gone down at all, although I sometimes feel the ring during sex, for the most part, I usually forget its there! I have tried other forms of bc and have not had such luck. Other bc forms usually made me rather moody and made me gain significant amounts of weight. Maybe its because my body has adjusted to the nuvaring over the years, but I actually initially lost a ton of weight on the ring and have maintained a rather healthy and stable weight since I starting using the ring. Overall, an excellent experience with the bc and I would recomend it to anyone that asks, and this is coming from someone who has used this product for a number of years.

I was on it for about 2 weeks. I read all the reviews but decided to try it for myself anyways... for the first couple days i was incredibly nauseas. I left it in thinking this would go away. One morning I got incredibly moody and emotional... that didnt go away for about 4 days... my sex drive way totally gone.
My boyfriend said he could not feel it, but certain positions I deffinitly could.

By the beggining of the second week I had incredible chest pains. Just breathing severly hurt me. I took the ring out and withing an hour the pains were gone and I havent been back since. I wouldnt go back on it but I do recomend to try it for yourself if thats what you want to do because everyone reacts differently.
Just keep in mind if anything feels funny maybe take it out sooner rather then later!
Just in case!!

Good Luck

I might as well just use a condom.

I've been on it for 2 weeks now and all the side effects are kicking in. My boobs hurt, i am always having cramps, and to top it off It definitely interrupts our intercourse as I have to trekk to the bathroom to take the damn thing out each time. At first I couldn't feel it but for some reason now I can and it doesn't matter how I put it in , it keeps slipping down to the point of feeling it when I am walking. It's making me sore in the area, and sex isn't fun anymore. I don't want to eat. I have been on the pill and tried all different pills and yasmin for a while except for the POP which for some reason my doctor is reluctant to give to me. I don't know if I can afford it either, it's 60 dollars every 3 months and I have insurance that covers Iuds , pills, the implant, for 20 dollars. =[


I guess the side effects aren't very bad considering other birth control i've been on. But the most bothersome is having to feel it in my vajayjay (and it hurting it), and taking it out for sex.

I have been on this for 2.5 years and just took it out for good. The only positive thing is that for someone who cannot remember to take the pill everyday, this is much more convenient. However, the increased discharge, uncomfortable chafing, dryness and headaches are things I have been dealing with as well. My sex drive has gone from very high to rarely in the mood. The worst is my attitude. I cry for no reason, and I snap and lose my temper constantly. I have no patience, I feel depressed, and I just want to pull my hair out at times. I didn't put it all together until I read these reviews. Needless to say, I will be switching to something else or sticking with good old condoms and spermicide!

I've been on the NuvaRing for about 2 weeks now. Before the ring i was on ortho-low. I like the ring because it's so easy to put in and take out. I didn't have any problems until the last few days. Before the ring my sex drive was through the roof, now i don't even want my boyfriend to touch me. Anything he says makes me extremely angry or i spend 2 hours crying. I have never had mood swings like this. I have started feeling a little nausiated but compared to the pill this isn't so bad. I've also had extreme vaginal dryness, which has also never been a problem. I wish i could quit the ring but because i can't remember to take a pill on time everyday and i can't afford to have another baby, the ring is my best option. I'm hoping these side affects go away soon. I've also expierianced headaches more than usual although they are controllable. My breasts have gotten larger, i can't complain about that though. They haven't been tender at all. I'm afraid if this doesn't get better i won't have a boyfriend anymore and i won't even need to be on birth control lol. Good luck.

I was on the ring for almost 1 year. I hated it, I hurt all the time, my sex drive went from as much as possible to do we have too? I was constantly getting infections, mood swings, upset all the time, extremely tired, and much more. Now that I have gotten off of the ring I started my period almost 3 weeks ago and there is no sign of stopping yet, the "brown discharge" everyone had talked about. I am hoping someone can tell me there is hope to it stopping sometime soon. I am still very tired now that is out and I am hoping my energy comes back, I am a very athletic person and I have no desire to excerise at all. The only thing I can say is I haven't had any weight gain yet, hoping I get to skip that part.

I was on the nuva ring for 4 years. I decided the ring was no longer for me due to migraines (which I have never had before), severe lack of sex drive, pain during sex, and overall lack of interest in my partner.

All of these things combined have out weighed the convince of the ring.

I have never experienced drug side-effects until the ring - maybe due to the length of time I used the medication?

Anyway... after having sex just to 'be nice' to my fiance, having to stop half way through bc of the pain, and hating him afterward bc I'm in pain and not seeing any of the benefits, I decided for our relationship it was time for a change.

I can't wait for the headaches to subside, and to start loving my fiance again... the ring is quite the beast. I'll write back in a month or so, and let you in on the progress! Wish me luck :)
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** New Post **

Just over 2 months later:

The gyno put me on the birth control pill w/out estrogen. Due to severe headaches, she actually sent me to a neurologist bc of the issues I was experiencing (vision problems, possible blood clots, severe headaches). Since I have been off the ring for just over 2 months now, my body has completely changed. I have A TON of energy. I've been out running with the dog daily since about a month and a half ago... sex drive is back up, and I think ever increasing back to normal. Also, sex does not hurt any more. I have only had one major headache since I've been off of the ring, and that was in the first month after I stopped use.

I honestly cannot believe the ring had such a big impact on my normal functioning. I don't normally experience the 'side effects' of medication, and I suppose since it all happened so slowly over the course of 4 years - I just brushed it off, like I was just getting older and slowly falling apart or something.

I would say while the ring is oober convenient, it is not worth basically losing yourself. My mood and temperament has already dramatically change back to ... I guess who I was about 4 years ago. I didn't even notice I had changed until I was off the ring. Kinda scary. I feel awake, more rejuvenated. Still don't know how my fiance managed with me for all that time ~ guess I gotta keeper. :)

Good luck to you - get off that ring!

FYI, with my initial review over 2 months ago, I gave the ring 5 stars... convenient, easy. I just knocked it down to 3... tempting down to 2... due to how I feel now, and how unaware I was of everything that had gradually changed.

-Ché