It seems like the ring either works great for people or people end up with lots of bad side effects. I also found a board with a LOT of people who ended up pregnant (seems more than 1%) esp if you've had a child already. I had 2 anxiety attacks in the first week, definite mood change, was hungry, nausea, and cried a lot. I'm a pretty stable person. I thought it would work great and didn't even relate it to the ring. My fiance def noticed a difference. Couldn't "give it long enough to adjust".....no thank you! But once you get rid of it it's all better!

Towards the end of the time I was on nuvaring, I started having severe painful burning sensations every time I had sex- It seemed fairly external and I have no idea what it was except that as soon as I was off of nuvaring it went away. It is not listed anywhere as a side effect so I am starting to think that it was just coincidence. Had anyone else had this side effect?

I am thinking of going back on it because I had no other side effects, but I am not sure.

I have had this side effect and only recently realized it was due to the NuvaRing.

I have been on the NuvaRing for 1 year, and was on the pill for 7 years prior to that. NEVER did I have painful sex while on the pill. For approx. the entire time I've been on the Ring, sex has been very painful afterwards - severely painful, burning sensation, external - just like you describe. I never made the connection until I did some searching on NuvaRing side effects and found that others were having the same problem.

I have also had a seriously decreased sex drive, which I thought was just because of the pain afterwards, but it may also be due to the ring as so many others have had decreased sex drive on the Ring. I've also been extra moody - especially in the last 4-6 months.

I quit NuvaRing and am now at the start of a month-long hormone-free break before going back on the pill. I hope to see a vast improvement.

I am so glad I am not the only one!!

Is this normal? now i get NO SEX. Used to be at least a few times a week. now that we have no worries about preggers, she can not be interested in the idea.
No period for 3rd cycle
overly sensitive, headaches, like PMS all the time with no release.
3 months and sex 3 times, maybe 4.... and not enthusiatic. should i move on or could it be the ring? I'm not the perfect guy and a bit brusque sometimes, but that's how i've always been.
Any body else see a similarity?
Sexless in Seattle

Yes, all of what you are describing seem to be normal side effects of Nuva Ring.

Personally, I had all the effects you are describing (and a few more). My sex drive decreased to practically nothing and I was extra moody. My pms was severe and I was even moody other times of the month as well. My headaches increased quite a bit too.

You said "no period for 3rd cycle". Is she using the NuvaRing to skip her periods?

You also said the few times you had sex she was "not enthusiastic". I also experienced this. Even though in my head I wanted to have sex, my body wasn't interested and didn't respond the same way it did in the past (i.e. no more natural lubricant!)

It is very possible that what you describe are all side effects of the ring. Personally, I experienced none of these side effects while on combination oral contraceptives ("the pill") but women can also have side effects from the pill too. Speak with her honestly and gently about your concerns. Remember that it's not her fault. She can speak to her doctor about her symptoms and other options for birth control.

Hope that helps.

I also have had severe hair loss, depression, and lack of sex drive, from the nuva Ring, It seems the effects come quick, being that I have only been on it for a month, I just had a baby and I thought this was why the side effects were occuring, I am thankful to read these stories as they make me feel like I am not going crazy, I thought I was seriously sick for a while because of the hair loss, Does any one know how long it takes for your hair growth to return and for the effect to stop once being off the Nuva Ring?

I don't know how quickly hair will regrow after stopping Nuvaring.

I'm very glad to hear you have already stopped using Nuvaring, since you just had a baby. Nuvaring should .N.O.T be used while breastfeeding. Side effects include feminization of the male infant i.e. breast enlargement.

Please research birth control methods carefully before choosing one, as most hormonal birth control methods are not advised for use while breastfeeding.

I was on the Nuva ring from April 7th till July 1st this year. Around June 21st I began to have pain in my side behind my left breast. I had a cough with the first onset of pain, but I chalked it up to my history of asthma, thinking maybe bronchitis was setting in. Then a week later, I woke up with the worst pain I could imagine in my chest and I couldn't catch my breath. Asthma meds weren't helping. My husband watched me go through this for about 4 hours trying to convince me to go to the ER. I refused. Around 6 that evening I was sitting on my porch and I started to cough and blood came up. So away to the ER we went. To make a long story short, I was diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary embolism, pulmonary infarction and deep vein thrombosis which were all complications from too much estrogen in my system. To make matters worse, a gynecologist told me to have another child would cause me serious complications or even death. She said that the Nuva Ring was directly related to this illness. For those who don't know what pulmonary embolisms are, they are blood clots in the arteries in the lungs. So be aware ladies, if you smoke, even lightly, or are overweight, have had a child within the last 4 months, or have hereditary factors that contribute to blood clotting disorders please don't do the ring. I will be strugging with the clots that are already there for years, and will be on blood thinners for the rest of my life to prevent new ones from forming. Am I am only 27 years old. Good luck to you ladies who are on it, get tested if you can for DVT it can save your life.

Thank you very much for this information!

There are indeed risks with any medication. I'm relieved that yours wasn't fatal and that you've been able to give this information. This is good info to tell a doctor for any other woman who is thinking of going on the ring or similar medication.

I tried the pills (alesse, yasmine, ortho tricycline low) and they all made me have extreme mood swings. My obgyn attempted to help me and put me on the nuva ring. I thought that it was great! Put it in forget it... you can take it out for up to 3 hours (for sex)... Now I've had it in for 1year and 7 months and I've gained an extreme amount of weight. I didn't mind when my breasts got bigger but now everything has. I went from 96 lbs to 137 lbs and no matter how much I work out and eat less my weight is continuing to grow. Im nervous to go back to the pills but I also dont want anymore weight!

Well, i had use it once before, and i love how you only change it out once a month. I was using it for 3 mos before i decided to get pregnant. I did gain wieght but less than 10lbs within 4 mos. Then i did notice my mood swings. Crying was a routine. Now i had my baby,(7mos now), and wanted to go back on the ring. Well its been 3 mos, No weight gain cause i have been trying to workout 5 times a week, yet it could be delaying my results. I dont notice any hair loss yet. Im starting to get worried about my moods. Its not as bad as when i was pregnant, but just sensitive and alot more worried. Also my breast are more tender. But today, i notice i had spotting, then in an hour it was like an early period! I called the info line and they couldnt tell me much, they had to report this to the FDH and was transferred to some male, talking about my periods. It was uncomfortable. Although they were nice to me. I want to keep the ring, but i dont want these breakthrough bleedings anymore. ugh!!

Hi, I'm 18 and I've been shedding hair like a cat. So this probably isn't a sign of aging. I've had plenty to be stressed out about, but I was never this moody before I went on the ring - furious for absolutely no reason, crying, being generally PMS-y all the time. I haven't had trouble with weight gain and I THOUGHT my sex drive was all there - I definitely enjoy it - but I don't know if I've ever had an orgasm... and this seems to be something one would notice... any thoughts?
The discharge is a bit gross but tolerable. I got terrible cramps at first but they went away after the first couple months and I love the convenience of the ring. Can anyone recommend another method? I've used the ring on and off for a year and I'm much happier off it.
Other considerations -
My mom was terribly depressed when she was on the pill. I also have trouble swallowing pills and I'm forgetful (so the low hormone levels and convenience of NuvaRing appealed to me).
What should I do instead??? Anything non-hormonal, reliable, and easy?
HELP

Yes, there are many non-hormonal kinds of birth control. I'll give you the link to the section of the boards that lists the most common forms of birth control, both hormonal and non hormonal.

http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic100896 .html

I am so glad to have found these postings. I have only been on ring for 2 weeks and I have lost so much hair. My hair line is receding like a mans (in the front corners). I also have been very depressed and moody. I took it out after seeing these messages.

I asked at the doctor's office yesterday about the hair loss issue and was basically given the answer that no way could the ring be responsible. I know it is.

I was on Nuva Ring for about 2 years. I loved how easy it was to use but did experience side effects including mood swings and weight gain especially in the stomach. I have been off of the NuvaRing for almost a month and already notice changes in my mood and am hoping that the weight will be easily lost in my stomach. My husband and I are using condoms. At first I was aprehensive to the idea but we've gone through a couple different brands and styles and found several condoms that we really like! So I am no longer hormonal AND we have great sex!

Hope everything works out for you!

I just took the nuvaring out last night because i am sick of losing my hair! I had taken the pill for almost three years with no side effects but decided to try the ring bc of convenience. Well, four cycles later i am sick of wanting to cry everytime i take a shower, brush my hair, even touch my hair because it is falling out. Good thing i have naturally thick hair and no one says they can notice, but i can. I am terribly angry that hair loss was not listed as a side effect of the ring. I know that it's the ring because everything else in my life has been consistent. I'm just hoping my hair will return to normal soon. so sad in upstate NY--

Did your hairloss finally stop. I went on Nuvaring in March 2006. In November 2006 i started noticing a hair loss. I didn't try to let it worry me too much because after both of my pregancies i had lots of hair loss due to the hormones all messed up. so i figured starting the new BC was the problem and my system need to get balanced. So since Nov 2006 to present Sept 07 my hair has been falling out. I had all the thyroid tests that can be done from Dermtologist/OBGYN (twice) and all were normal. So the dermotologist said the only thing he can figure is that is the Ring. I think i;m going to stop ( i just hope this doesn;t put another shock to my system) so that is why i wondered if your hair loss stopped

I have been on the Nuva Ring about a year and have had increasing hair loss. I also had a very full head of hair and attributed it to ending nursing and hormonal changes. I had my hormones checked and they were fine, my thyroid checked and that was fine, and it's definitely not genetic. So I suggested to my OBGyn it might be the NuvaRing and they said no, and referred me to a dermatologist. After reading all these testimonials, I know I need to get off this, but am wondering, will it grow back? It looks pretty bad now and I'm confident if I go off the Nuva Ring it will stop falling out....but is there anyone out there who's had it grow back?

My obgyn did refer me to the dermotologist. They did all the thyroid test, etc. My dermotogist referred to his PDR "physicians desk reference" and under the drug it did list hair loss as a possible side effect. i strated the ring in april 07 and around nov 06 i started noticing the hair loss. i did stop the ring for one month because i messed up on my cycle. so i first thought the hair loss was due to starting/stopping the ring. but i continued the ring and the hair loss has continued and still is and it Oct 07. so i stopped the ring last month sept 07, hoping that it will stop in couple of months. after both my pregancies i had hair loss that lasted arounf 4-5 months and then it finally returned to normal. That's what i thought after i got straightend out on the nuvaring cycle, but that didn't happen. I just think it is the ring, maybe switching from patch to ring, i don't know. but your obgyn is wrong, have him look in his pdr