Nuvaring side effects

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

Hey all. I've been on the nuvaring for about a month and a half, and this has been my first experience with HBC. It hasn't been entirely horrible, but I've not been entirely pleased with the side effects. I'm mostly curious if anyone else had side effects in the first three months of use that eventually went away, since I am willing to stick it out for a little while longer.

I spent the first entire month spotting every single day, which I've read has been a common experience for most ladies. After I inserted my second ring, the spotting stopped completely. Some other side effects have continued though.

I get headaches a lot. For the first month or so, it seemed like I was getting them 4-6 days of the week. Lately it's been less, but I've had one today that's just killing me. They seem like dehydration headaches--like I haven't gotten enough water, but it seems like they're happening when I've had an adequate amount of water. It's like suddenly I'm hyper-sensitive to dehydration. It seems like it may be tapering off some, so I was curious if anyone else had similar headache problems in the beginning that eventually went away?

Another thing, before I went on the ring, I was having problems with depression (untreated currently because I don't have health insurance), and on the flip side of that I was having problems with arousal and sometimes didn't have an interest in sex. Before I went on the nuvaring, the lady at PP failed to notice I indicated that I suffer from depression, so she didn't warn me that the nuvaring could worsen that, and I didn't find that out until later. So I was already pretty emotional, depressed, etc before I started the nuvaring. Since going on the ring, I graduated from college and have been under a lot of stress trying to find a job and pay the bills, so my depression has worsened. So I'm unsure if that is situational depression or if the nuvaring is making me batty. I've also been kind of crazy lately when it comes to my boyfriend, starting fights with him and being emotional and moody in ways that seem irrational. Yet, I'm not sure if this is the ring, or stress in my life or what. I am supposed to start a new job next week, and hopefully the stress will level off, and maybe this craziness too. I just wonder if anyone else was kind of moodier or more emotional when they started the ring, and if that improved after their bodies adjusted?

Now, when it comes to sex, I'm not very interested in it. I am rarely aroused and I rarely enjoy anything. I do not enjoy PIV sex at all anymore. Since I went on the ring a month and a half ago, we've had sex only 4 times (down from 2-4 times a week). Three of those times, the entire time it burned horribly and I absolutely hated it (the other time, it didn't burn, but it wasn't enjoyable). I've read that other ladies have had that problem. My boyfriend thinks it's just because I'm not turned on enough, which is it's own problem. I don't know if this is related to stress/depression, the nuvaring, or a combination of all of them. Mainly, I'm curious if anyone else had problems like the burning sensation that went away eventually.

I'm willing to stick it out for three months it's supposed to take to adjust to the ring, but if some of these situations don't improve, I just don't know what I'll do. I mostly feel like I'm going crazy. There's just so much going on in my life, I'm not sure if it's actually the ring or not. So, some outside suggestions, or relating of your personal experiences would be nice to hear, just so I can't figure some of this out.

Thanks!

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/__justlikeyou/]

I've been on it since Januaryish, I think... I forget! Anyway, the only side effect I've had is that normally, I have a VERY low tendency of getting truly upset or having a breakdown of any sort. Since I've been on NuvaRing, about every 2-3 months so far, it seems like a little thing will affect me to the point of being severely upset and crying over it. I also have more security problems, it seems. Hahah... It's infrequent enough that I don't really care, but my boyfriend is used to me being stable, so I think he'd prefer I try another type. It's possible that it's not caused by NR at all, though, so I'm sticking with it.

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, your situation doesn't sound so bad. If I was like that, I'd stick with it too.

[absolutsweetnes.livejournal.com]

I'm currently in my first cycle without nuvaring since i started in October. It was my first HBC as well, and I liked it alright. But I just felt crazy on it, moody and more upset and just not at all motivated. And I also gained about 20lbs during that time, I blame the ring. But I was also going crazy changes, getting married and moving! I used to get killer headaches too! But during my off-week because of withdrawl, and it probably happened more when I stacking them. My periods were so light without HBC, that it bascially disapeared, which was nice, but a little strange. I'm enjoying so far not using it, we're just using condoms and I've started charting my cycles and using FAM.

My BFF is on it, and she's sticking it out, she's trying to sort out everything else in her life first. I would try sticking it out and see how it goes. But you are not locked in by anymeans. If you don't like and if you think its not the right fit, try something else. Do you have any resources for therapy nearby? I used a local university's counseling center that was open to the public, I was on a sliding scale, I paid like $10 a session.

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

I want to stick it out as well, and see how things will be when my life calms down and I've been on it for at least three months.

In regards to therapy, I really am not sure what's available around me. I live in Chicago, and it seems like to get anything cheap or reduced, you have to be poorer than I technically am. I haven't done too much research about it since I just haven't had time. I hope I can progress at my new job and have benefits by the end of the year, but who knows if I can wait that long. I will check and see if any of the universities around here offer a similar program as the one you used.

[cyouintea.livejournal.com]

some people adjust. my doctor took me off when i started having horrendous abdominal pain (resulting in two ER visits). talk to your health care provider... if the side effects are just an inconvenience that you're willing to wait out, great. but if they're negatively affecting your everyday routine, then maybe it's worth looking at a switch to something else.

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

I'm surviving fine for now, but if it continues, I'll definitely want to look at some other options.

[stellamaris.livejournal.com]

I was on NuvaRing for 4 years. I got migraines quite frequently and it TOTALLY FREAKING ZAPPED my libido. Even on the rare occasion that I thought I felt aroused, I never got wet. My doctor kept arguing with me that it was in my head.

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

Wow, I can't believe you stayed on it for that long. I feel like if I don't improve within two months then I'll have to try something else.

[http://users.livejournal.com/sarahashley-/]

Well see, I'm having different effects them most of you guys! This is my 4th cycle on the NuvaRing after no BC for 3 months and 4 years of being on the Depo Shot. I notice that I do get a lot of headaches, but I'm also contirubting that two working 3 jobs and being a full time student...so my lack of sleep and healthy eating habits could be effecting the severity or even the occurance of them.
As for my sex drive, mine is GREAT!!! I say this because with the Depo, I was dry as a desert, and I was not interesting in sex what so ever. I would still have sex, but it took a good 30 minutes for it to even start to be pleasurable, and even then, it was still painfull because I would dry out very fast.
Now, on the ring, I'm really wet when aroused and aroused very easily. I want it all the time. Although I've noticed that if I pleasure myself a little and bring myself to orgasm before we have sex, it's much easier. Or if he teases me for a long time, I'm much more lubricated.

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad to hear I'm not alone when it comes to the headaches. I am jealous of your sex drive. I have nothing near that, but I'm still not sure if it's because of stress or the ring. I'll have to wait for things to calm down in my life before I can figure that out.

[loveofdaisies.livejournal.com]

I'm on the ring and I love it, but a lot of what you describe, especially the emotional stuff and the disinterest in sex, reminds me of how I was on yaz. it was horrible and after putting up with it for 6 months, I decided to find something different.

I do have to say I experienced the sensitivity/burning thing the first month and that went away. so I'm not sure if that's an adjustment symptom or not.

either way, good luck!

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

Hmm, yeah I don't know what's up with the burning. Because I had it the first time we had sex on the ring, but not the second time, and then it started again during my second ring.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

All of your symptoms (depression, relationship problems, lack of libido, etc) can certainly be attributed to situational depression - I've never in my life been as stressed as immediately before and after my college graduation. In my case, as life stablilized, things got better. For you, either wait it out or go off the ring - just be aware that going off might not be the magic fix you're hoping for. Good luck!

[archangelbeth]

On the other hand, if life is stressful, and one can remove one chunk of it as simply as stopping taking a pill, that's an option... (It's probably the one I'd pick, myself; my own hormones jerk me around horribly enough on their own. I wouldn't stand for it from any upstart synthetic hormones. O:> )

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's pretty much what I've been thinking. I want to wait and see how things are once my life stabilizes, and if things haven't improved, then I'll have to look at other options. Of course, if the burning during sex doesn't improved in the next month, then I definitely want to go off, because I know that didn't ever happen BEFORE the ring.

[teasailor.livejournal.com]

Lack of sex drive is an extremely common side effect with any HBC. Many doctors don't really want to address that issue I feel like because they often make money when they prescribe us HBC.

I have been on HBC 2 1/2 yrs now and my libido has been zapped since I started taking it. When I requested that I get an IUD, my NP wanted me to get a testosterone test before I got the IUD. I got it, and I was normal over all except for one level a little below normal and she suggested supplements, but I said no, and I'm getting an IUD tomorrow.

I have read that a lot of woman since getting an IUD have an improved or completely resorted libido.

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

I actually would really like to get an IUD. I only hesitate because I am a menstrual cup user and I know there's issues with the suction on menstrual cups sometimes dislodging IUDs. Also, I don't have health insurance (and have no clue when I would have it), and the PPs here do not have a sliding scale, so getting an IUD is a little more than I can afford right now. Also, I don't really have a lot of confidence in the Chicago PPs, and would prefer to get one elsewhere.

I am keeping it in mind as an option for in a few months. I probably just need to find out more about it and the specific costs and see if I could save up or budget it in.

[teasailor.livejournal.com]

I'm a menstrual cup user but I'm getting a Mirena and a lot of women loose their period after about a year of the Mirena. But for you, since you've had so many problems with hormones you may want to consider the Paragard instead, since it's hormone free. I haven't had problems with HBC except for sex drive, but I think since Mirena has like 1/7 or something of hormones that NuvaRing has... I think my problem will probably be solved.

If you want any info, go to iud_divas.

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. I will check that community out.

I originally was interested in Mirena, until I began to wonder if the hormones are messing me up. I dunno. That may be something to discuss with a doctor.

[ashleyksu912.livejournal.com]

After being off HBC for over a year, I agreed to try out NuvaRing b/c my BF was really freaked at the risk of me getting pregnant. I didn't really want to go back on HBC but he was really worried so I agreed to give it a shot. Anyway, I spotted the whole time I was on it every. single. day. and when we had sex there was bright red blood (this never went away either). The ring also made me go from weepy to happy to b*tchy all in the course of about an hour. I was picking fights with my BF and crying almost every day, which is very unlike me. And to top it all off, I had no interest in sex, and when I would try to get aroused my body just wouldn't cooperate. Finally, my BF said all the side effects and seeing me struggle with all this just wasn't worth it and he felt bad for asking me to go on it. I was only on it for 4 weeks (I left it in the whole time, trying to go for a 5 week cycle) but I wasn't willing to stick it out to see if things owuld have gotten better. Needless to say I took the ring out and haven't looked back. We're using FAM now (very conservatively since my cycles still haven't regulated) with withdrawal and/or condoms as our back-up methods. Luckily, the financial circumstances that would have made a pregnancy so terrifying then are a little better now, so we're both comfortable with the slightly increased risk. Of course, whether or not you want to stick it out with NR is totally up to you, just thought I'd share my experience with you since we had a lot of the same symptoms.

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, your experience sounds similar to mine. I'm willing to stick it out just a little bit longer, just so I can be sure and confident that it isn't going to work out, because I really like the concept of the nuvaring.

I was fine before with just using condoms and having plan b as a back up in case anything went wrong, but like your situation, my boyfriend was all freaked out (even before we were having PIV sex) and worried that I would get pregnant, so I got on the ring. Of course, I'm no longer worried about getting pregnant because we hardly have sex anymore.

PS. I love your icon.

[ashleyksu912.livejournal.com]

"Of course, I'm no longer worried about getting pregnant because we hardly have sex anymore."

Haha . . . this exactly. I know it's birth control but jeez ;)

Seriously though, give it another month or so and if it still isn't working out you can always try one of the pills. I had a lot of luck with Mircette for years and years.

[tiffownsthis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I figure there's a lot of options. Surely something will work.