surferlove007

I've been on the ring for almost three weeks now and the first week I was a total wreck, I felt completely depressed and sad. Finally that went away, my breast grew a little bit I was a small C now a fuller one. I've been reading reviews on another forum about this method of BC and several women pointed out their emotions got totally out wack, crying spells over nothing, depression, feeling tired and headaches.
I've experienced the depression, which has diminished, breast soreness, crying spells, being tired and having headaches the past few days, present time included (my inspiration for this thread). I couldn't tell where the headaches were coming from, maybe the birth control, stress over school, or maybe caffine withdrawal. My breast have been sore a good chunk of this month, maybe still growing from the influx of hormones.
I took it for two months about two years ago with no problems but now I'm seeing signs of symptoms common for women on it, myself included.
I don't mind the breast growing, but the headaches and over-emotional status is kind of annoying. I love the convience of it, and my partner and I have taken advantage of that, I just don't like the extras associated.
Usually I don't get headaches or cry over stupid things.
I realized I'm more prone to start bawling then I usually would, typically I'm pretty thick skinned. The doctor said it's a lower dose of hormones, but hopefully after a few cycles my body will sort itself out.
I was wondering if anyone has been on this for an extended time and had similar side effects or advice?

Sage

Yeah... and sorting itself out might involve you throttling your doctor! S/he's not the one having to live with this!

I hate hormonal BC. Hate it hate it hate it- because it's pushed so hard as a contraceptive method in the US, overshadowing other options, and because rarely if ever do women realize the far-reaching effects the hormones have on their lives, ESPECIALY their sex lives and libido.

If your BC is not working for you, don't wait a few more months, stop taking it now and look for something else.

I can't recommend any one brand, but I have heard lots of good things about Yasmin- it uses a totally different type of hormone than everything else and has been getting rave reviews. But, like I said, some of the other ladies will have to jump in with opnions about BC because mine is decidedly biased

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snowy

Compared to most of the other forms of birth control, the ring was not only the easiest, but the one that messed with my system the least, even relative to the same hormones in a pill form.

The first week of it the first couple months were a bit odd as I was coming off of a tri-cyclic pill (which has different phases, or strengths, of pill in the same pack) and so moving to a more or less monophasic form of birth control was different. After my body got used to it, the hormonal side effects went away. The one that lingered was the breast tenderness, which is a very common side effect for any hormonal method.

However, if it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you. Go out and shop for a new method of birth control. Seriously, though--the best thing about the ring is not having to take a pill every day. For me, I was willing to take the breast tenderness in order to have that ease. And the possibility for less human error is appealing too

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

*Nikki*

I never had a single issue with the ring. I plan on using it again right after I have my baby. I used it for over two years with no problems.

Lady Sage

Everyone is different but what you have said has rang too true for me!

I was on the ring beginning at the end of January. After about the first month the headaches started. By the end of the third month I was living on motrin, midol and aleve.

Bawling for no reason, yeah I had that too but it got worse...

I began having severe mood swings. I would throw pringle cans against the wall shattering them, I broke a phone, a large cordless one by throwing it against the wall. I felt badly for poor Pan. I would scream insanely at him for the most minor things or things he hadnt even done. I scared the poor man half to death and while I knew what I was doing was wrong I felt no remorse.

Not to mention the nearly 100 pound weight gain that I am now losing! (After having lost 133 pounds before using that damn thing.)

I have been ring-free since September 29th of this year and the headaches are gone, the mood swings dont exist anymore and I no longer feel like I am going to have a nervous breakdown.

It was definately the ring. I loved the shot with all my heart but I have used it for 2 years already and any more than that can cause bone loss. So December 4th I will have a uterine ablation to destroy my uterine lining and my tubes will be tied and I will (hopefully) not have these problems ever again!

Hope this helps to know someone else went through it, and what I did to fix it.

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If only closed minds came with closed mouths.
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It`s Easier to Change a Condom Than a Diaper
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hunnychile

I used birth control pills for years & years and I gained the weight and had all the horrible mood swings and head aches. It wasn't worth all the pain. The best thing I ever did was to stop using any pills for birth control and just carefully monitor my periods. Sounds old fashioned but it worked for me. Granted, I was happily married and OK if I got pregnant...but that never happened. Guess I wasn't meant to have kids. Happily, I feel so much healthier now. This post won't help those of you who want the ease of a pill or ring. But the rhythem method does work if you learn to watch your mucus and the calendar.

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"I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

Acetylene

The hormones can even themselves out over time and it is worth waiting at least one or two more cycles, but only if you are able to continue your normal life activities. If the depression is interfering with things like eating, showering, or maintaining social relationships, then it would qualify as a major depressive episode and could be very dangerous, so don't wait any longer.

That said, my experience is that the nuvaring made my periods ten times worse, with cramping and bleeding much more severe. Also, my partner could feel it and it annoyed him. Also, the patch was too heavy a dose for me and made me quite ill, and the shot made me have my period for 6 months straight. That got old fast! So it's the pill for me.

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There's no justice. There's just us.

Sorcha

I thought about switching to the ring. The pill made me experience all those things, and still is. I keep hoping it'll sort itself out, because I didn't have any problems until about a year into taking it.

My doctor recommended that I take a B12 vitamin. Apparently it helps diminish the negative effects of the hormones.

cadre

I started out on the patch and enjoyed it but when people started realizing the extra risks associated with it I was forced to stop taking it. Since then I have tried at least five different kinds of pills all of which either made my periods worse or caused me to be overly emotional. I finally got tired of that so I had tried to get an IUD but couldn't and so now I am back on the patch until I get the IUD.

I was told to try the ring or the shot but I am cautious about that because my sister blames her problems such as cysts and difficulties getting pregnant on them.

So far my vote is for the patch but it does have extra side effects, I've heard good things about iuds. Yasmin 28 didn't work for me though I've heard alot of people say they like it. It's the smaller amount of hormones that people like about Yasmin I believe.

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My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

*Nikki*

As far as problems getting pregnant with the ring......I got pregnant two weeks after I stopped using it.

hagatha

My doctor said the IUD is completely underutilized and very effective. She recommends it over all other forms of birth control and has had one herself for 15 years.
She said the hype around more severe periods is really no more so than other forms of BC.
Maybe you could look into it.

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Thats the last time I trust the strangest people I ever met....H. Simpson

Sage

I throw my hat into the ring with hagatha. I have an IUD and it's the greatest thing ever. I don't have to worry or even think about birth control for TEN YEARS. And it's even more effective at preventing pregancy than anything else except for a tubal ligation.

However, it's not for everyone, which is why I didn't mention it the first time around. Also, my husband reminded me that when I was all wonky from BC and about to drive him crazy, I was on the nuva ring. I don't really remember precicely how it affected me, but it did drive me insane (quite literally).

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la petite moi

I think the point I would like to make (that somebody has probably already made) is that everyone is different when it comes to BC. I have not tried the ring, but I sure as hell tried Depo Provera shot and I seriously hated that piece of shit.

I was moody, depressed, unhappy. I gained weight- nearly 15 to 20 pounds. I lost all of my libido, and life sucked ass.

Then again, many people on this board have said Depo rocked for them. So...try a different form of BC. Hopefully you will find one that works for you.

surferlove007

I considered the shot also...but the doctor didn't advise.
So far my first cycle of the ring has ended, got my period (yay..) and I feel pretty much like myself. School is completely stressing me out, but it happens. I did notice a weight gain...but only in my boobs which can be a good thing. Otherwise I've actually lost some weight just because I'm so consumed in schoolwork and I keep forgetting to ear dinner, which is not a good method or habbit. Once this week is done I can go back to normal for hope.
I totally recommend the ring, it has been really awesome.
After two complete cycles it is effective immediately after the 7 day break for your period, so no waiting a week after your period. Hooray!
Early on I was so depressed though, I hope that doesn't happen again. I think my body has or will sort itself out after another cycle.

Anyone know if BC lightens your period? Shortens by days?

Sorcha

That happened to me too. Every time I get my period, I feel so clearheaded.

And yeah, it does for me definitely. Mine would last for two weeks, then I'd have two weeks off, then I'd bleed again for two weeks. Heavily, and my cramps brought me to my knees. Or my bed...I usually couldn't go to class or anything, so I'd just try to sleep all day. Was terrible.

Now, on BC it lasts about 3-4 days, I have minimal cramps, and a tampon lasts more than an hour. I think that might be the best part, and knowing when everything's gonna happen.

One more thing, the depression wore off for me 3rd cycle, but after I got back to school it was back. I'm pretty sure stress has a lot to do with it. You should be feeling a lot better this next time around

BlueEyes

I just started using the NuvaRing a few months ago......and have had the same experience that my body was completely out of whack for the first month, but I am slowly returning to normal. I am still not totally myself. Has anyone else had this kind of experience?

shoegirl

The first month my body was just a little out of whack, but now 3 months down the road, it's wonderful! I feel less of the cloudy effect I did when I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen - much more clearheaded now, plus some of the desire to have sex has returned. It's nice to not feel drugged up anymore. Plus, my periods are MUCH lighter than before. All in all, it was the right change for me.

Starkizzer

GG I was on the ring for a whole year, loved every aspect of it except that I had no sex drive! Trying something new, but I wanted to warn you that it happened to me but everyone is diff.
The thing I especially loved about it was a whole year with no yeast infections! A positive side-affect of the ring. I've been off of it for almost a month and I have already had one, I'm super stressed so that explains it. Something about the ring though makes your body tend to ward them off. I forget what side-affects label said exactly.
Good luck on the ring and enjoy not having to take a pill everyday.

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Frivolity, at the edge of a Moral Swamp, hears Hymn-Singing in the Distance and dons the Galoshes of Remorse. ~Edward Gorey

StellaLuna

Holy crap. I know this thread is old, but I had to respond... I had a yeast infection every month on the Ring! I'm jealous of you! I actually go in to get my IUD in 3 weeks, so wish me luck.

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Screw tradition!

Starkizzer

Wow, because on the side affects listing it states that it makes some women make ?bacteria? that inhibits yeast infections. I miss the ring for that reason. Not even off a month and I already have one, tho I think its because of my traitorous bitch roomie!!!! (Sorry ranting) A different story for a different time.

I would love to go on the IUD but can't afford it! So far YAZ has let me feel sorta back to normal. We will see tho. I miss my sex drive, but I feel it creeping back, dreaming of sex with my fiance since I haven't been able to have sex for a week.

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Frivolity, at the edge of a Moral Swamp, hears Hymn-Singing in the Distance and dons the Galoshes of Remorse. ~Edward Gorey

abaya

I've been on the ring for nearly 3 years now, and I only ran into problems when I was using it to purposefully mess up my period (I would leave the ring in for 4 weeks instead of 3--which is safe, my doctor has told me so--but after about 6 months of that, my uterus freaked out in the middle of the cycle and bled heavily for about 6 days!). Other than that, I think it's absolutely fantastic. The first few months were not different because I had switched directly from the patch (which I had been on for a year, and THAT screwed me up badly). So I'm a big fan of the ring, still.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

surferlove007

***FAST FORWARD 1 YEAR AND 4 MONTHS***
I can't believe how much time has gone by since I started this thread...
Crazy! Well I'm still on the ring to this day! I'm still not as happy with it as I could be...but what can you really expect out of something that's scrambling your hormones around.
The yeast infection stuff I've never really been prone to it...however...UTIs are the worst for me. For some reason I'm really prone to getting those! I keep a lot of cranberry juice on hand for that reason (it's a total lifesaver).
My prescription is good until next October or November so I'll stick with it until then and then after that I have to go get another annual UGH, I hate them more than anything but I know they're completely necessary.
One thing that I had noticed though was....a lack of sex drive recently. I've wanted too...but its not the same as it was before when we were using condoms. So I'm tempted to maybe get off the ring for a while and see if something changes.

Also...James and I have discussed me getting an IUD. I'm ok with the idea but reading the possibilities of it falling out or getting caught on tampons etc. kind of freaks me out beyond belief. The convenience would be wonderful though plus no more birth control on a monthly basis. So...yea...that's an update on my BC 15 months later. I will miss my boobs though. Also I'd kinda like one that would clear up my face too..that ortho tri cyclin stuff is supposed to do that.

abaya

Do you go pee immediately after having sex (within 10 minutes), every time? That should take care of IUD's beforehand... especially if you pee a lot. I try to drink a glass of water before I have sex, so that by the time it's done, I have something to pee out.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

JustJess

Ditto on the peeing. I'm also pretty prone to UTI's, ALL the time, so I have a prophylactic script for 10mg Macrobid. I take one after every bootycall. Dr. says it's not enough abx (antibiotic) to cause secondary issues like yeast infections, etc., but I've only had one mild UTI since I started!

As for the libido, yeah, I found that my sex drive was much reduced on the Ring. It picked up pretty quickly after I dropped it.

As for IUD horror stories... wow. Caught on a tampon? That's just bullshit. There's nothing hanging out that could be caught. It CAN be spontaneously ejected, but that's pretty rare. Make sure your dr. leaves the string LONG and doesn't cut it - to avoid poking James in the midst of lovin'. If it were to eject, it would feel like really bad cramping (in the beginning, getting used to it, I thought I *had* to be ejecting it b/c my cramps were so bad).

The upsides: no hormones w/ copper (libido intact, s/e from BC gone), less UTIs (no condoms), no other BC needed (in my life!), almost foolproof in effectiveness, immediately effective, no long term effect on fertility

The downsides: heavier cramps/bleeding (bad if you already have those, fine if you don't), possible scary shit: ejection, higher risk of ectopic pregnancy, perforation of uterus. All of those = very low odds. Read up on the stats.
This means that if you get the copper IUD, your chances of an ectopic are no greater than they were before you got the IUD.

Re: spontaneous expulsion and perforation:
The summary: IUD is a good option, but you have to know that as a "nulliparous" woman (never gave birth before) and a young one, it is a higher risk that you'll expel the IUD. The first 6 months are an adjustment - your cycle will be heavy and crampy, but it will settle down. That's also when you're most likely to expel if at all. Advil is your friend - it works almost perfectly for cramps. (ibuprofen blocks prostaglandins, and those are the source of the pain and crampy during your cycle.)

Other than that... go forth and get an good gyno - one with a lot of IUD experience. One who is not stuck in the middle ages.

Oh yeah, and if you've had any PID (pelvic inflammatory disease, and you'd know if you had), forget it!

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My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.

Starkizzer

GG I hated Ortho tri cyclin. That one really messed my hormones up! Crying at random, getting really upset over nothing, I actually felt more normal on the ring. When you go in ask about Yaz or Yasmin. Yaz is none for clearing up the skin and I don't feel crazy on it.
When I told my gyno that I had no sex drive the first thing he suggested was the IUD. Problem is he said that since he has moved to California, the insurance companies won't reimburse him for them. They cost like 300-500 dollars for the device and inserting and the insurance comapany would only give him like $100 back. I can't afford that so I have to wait. Maybe its different elsewhere.

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Frivolity, at the edge of a Moral Swamp, hears Hymn-Singing in the Distance and dons the Galoshes of Remorse. ~Edward Gorey

snowy

Go to a Planned Parenthood. They charge on a sliding scale, and they use whatever state/local/federal funding they can get to make it as cheap as possible for women to get the birth control they need. From what I've read, Planned Parenthood participates in a program in California called Family PACT, which is meant to provide free family planning services to low-income women and men:

A lot of states have similar programs; here in Oregon it's called FPEP, and it pays for everything. I love it.

This is for the college students: use your student health center! Because of the population they work with, family planning is one of their primary concerns. Most of them are very IUD-friendly, and again, they typically try to subsidize their family planning services to make them as cheap and as accessible as possible.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

StellaLuna

$15 copay. That's it. I'm so glad!

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Screw tradition!

BlueEyes

After a few conversations, I've decided to give up on the ring and go back to the pill. I'll miss the convienence of it, but hopefully I'll start feeling back to normal. Thanks for all of the advice!

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The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.
Horace Walpole

surferlove007

I use the bathroom immediately after sex...actually it's kind of funny to imagine.
After we finish usually James carries me over to the toilet so avoid messes. So it's 2 in 1.
As for the UTIs...I don't know whenever I begin to think about them I seem to develop the symptoms which is probably a psychological thing but either way they suck and I hate them. Once my ring prescription is out we'll pursue the IUD route..but until then the ring is totally fine. Just a lack of sex drive sucks.

Eowyn_Vala

Wow, this is an old thread. I used the ring for a year when I was 19/20. I loved it and I don't remember any side effects. I know that I still had a very healthy sex drive. Now about 3 years later I'm back on the ring. I was off BC for a while then on Yasmin for a year - off BC for about 6 months and I've been back on the ring for 3 months now. On Yasmin I didn't really notice much except a huge decrease in my sex drive and I gained some weight. Back on the ring I haven't really noticed any side effects, but there's a lot going on in my life right now, lots of stress and huge changes, so the mood swings could be from either the BC or the changes. Since I'm not sure I'm going to stick with the ring for the rest of my prescription to see what happens. I hope I don't have all the issues everyone else has mentioned. But I can say that my period is much shorter on the ring and my cramps aren't nearly as bad as they used to be. That's part of why I went back to it, plus I hate taking a pill everyday.

I'll have to look into the IUDs. I know they are expensive so that's why I never got one before.

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surferlove007

I'm getting off the ring soon.
I'm so emotinal, I cry when I'm just slightly upset over something. Definately affecting my life in a negative. James says I'm less indepedent, clingy, and just over-emotional. Which is insulting. But I agree that the ring is probably the cause. It seems the longer I've been on it the more my emotions go crazy. Not in a good way.
It's straining the relationship to a point where he's so frustrated about it he's losing his kindness.

serlindsipity

So after 5 years, i quit using birth control. I have started losing weight and discovering my long lost friend MY SEX DRIVE! i want to fuck everything and everyone. its wonderful.

Save yourself, save your relationship, and save your sanity. Pay attention to what youre gaining and losing. thanks =)

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surferlove007

I hear you...I have lost my sex drive gradually..which was hard to notice while we were in extended long distance.
This is the last month I will be on the ring.

cadre

I was forced to go off bc this month and immediately I could feel the difference. But for me it's a bad difference. I'm a lot more emotional, cramps already and they are much worse than they are when I'm on bc that works. And yeah, I did just get off so that makes it a lot more of a rollercoaster.

I saw a new doctor and we decided the ring won't work because of my anatomy but I'm going back on a pill after this next week or however long it takes.

I have noticed a change in my sex drive for the better but that can definitely just be because of relationship ending and all that fun stuff.

Just to point out though, no two women are the same and so birth control options both hormonal and non hormonal are hit and miss. If only it were simple

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My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

StellaLuna

Well, the IUD is in... that hurt like nothing else. Holy crap. The cramps are gone, I'm not bleedy anymore, and I still can't get over the fact that I don't need to take a pill again! Hee!

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Screw tradition!

ItWasMe

I've always been very irregular. I had 1 to 3 periods a month, then I'd skip anywhere from 1 to 6 periods in a row. Very moody, from happy to hostile in no time flat.

BC pills made me regular, with short periods. Was only very moody certain times of the month. But it about killed my sex drive completely.

Condoms tend to give me UTI's for some reason. Maybe an allergy, who knows? But I'm married and gave them up.

First IUD, 8 years ago, was the old fashioned copper kind. UGH! Painful cramping, on a heavy period for 5 months straight. Sex drive was low with all the cramping. I was extremely tired, possibly from all of the blood loss. Called it quits after 5 months of trying to control it all with BC pills on top of the IUD.

Second IUD, 5 months ago, is the Mirena. I think it is plastic, and releases a low dose hormone (like the mini pill). Very short, very light periods 0-2 days each month. Minimal cramping during that time. My moodiness seems to be gone. Even tempered, and actually happy most of the time. Sex drive has gone through the roof, all month long. Now I just have to worry about wearing out hubby, poor thing.

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"Ok, no more truth-or-dare until somebody returns my underwear" ~ George Lopez

I bake cookies just so I can lick the bowl. ~ ItWasMe

surferlove007

You guys are freaking me out about the IUD...
I'm going to talk to my doctor sometime this week or next week.
James and I are planning on getting me an IUD as opposed to the NuvaRing.
I wish it wouldn't have destroyed my sex drive.
Does getting an IUD really hurt that bad when they put it up there?!

abaya

Are you absolutely sure that it's the ring that's causing you all these problems, and not the long-distance in itself? As I mentioned in your journal, for me it was my inability to cope emotionally with the long-distance relationship that caused all kinds of havoc with my mind and body, and it wasn't related to the BC at all, as I discovered.

Have you ruled out all hormonal BC by trying other forms first (the pill, etc)? Do they all depress your sex drive? To me, that's something I would consider before going for the IUD, but that's because I'm not a fan of huge amounts of pain and bleeding in my nether regions before I give birth to children. So I plan to wait until after having kids to start that method. But each to her own. I know JustJess has an IUD (no kids) and she could tell you about how to minimize the pain of insertion somewhat, as I recall.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

ItWasMe

It might depend on your doctor. But neither of mine hurt more going in than a pap does. Not sure if it makes much difference, but I had 3 kids by then. I could swear they applied something to numb the cervix, though. My cramping was afterwards, during what should have been my period. And just with the first one. Stay away from the copper ones and look into the Mirena.

*side note* FYI... The IUD has a string, like a tampon does, that 'hangs out' of your cervix and into your vagina a little bit. The string feels like fishing line. It can feel sharp to men and poke, actually leave small scrapes and punture marks on him. It kills the mood. It can take up to 6 months for the string to finally soften and wrap itself around your cervix, after which it does not hurt him. You can use contraceptive sponges until that time. They work like a padding for him, protecting him from the string.

Consider what Abaya said about other reasons for being emotional. I think you've been through alot of stress with school and separation.

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"Ok, no more truth-or-dare until somebody returns my underwear" ~ George Lopez

I bake cookies just so I can lick the bowl. ~ ItWasMe

abaya

From what I've heard, that makes ALL the difference. Not having had a large bowling ball forced out through one's cervix (3 times, in your case!) makes a huge difference in what kind of pointy/sharp objects are able to be pushed up there (a hole normally the width of a pencil eraser or something, from what I saw during my colposcopy viewing) without pain, I think. As I said, though, JustJess survived to tell the tale, so maybe she could give some more helpful advice on the pain aspect.

And yeah, like I said, I would consider other forms of BC before you do the IUD. Not that I am a big fan of hormonal BC either, but as I said, almost all of my emotional instability/sex drive came as a result of the relationship dynamics, not from the hormones.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran