NuvaRing Side Effects?

Updated on June 25, 2008
A.H. asks from Hampstead, MD
22 answers

I just started NuvaRing on Wednesday and have now read of women having TERRIBLE headaches and other side effects..yeast infections, vaginitis, etc. I read all the material and the website very carefully and a few times. I'm wondering how many of the real women on here have had nasty side effects that I should be aware of. And how many people really like NuvaRing and have had no side effects.

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J.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I used NuvaRing for about 5 months with no side effects. It was convenient to only change once a month, but it would sometimes start to come out a little bit, which was a hassle for me. I stopped using it when we wanted to get pregnant, and now that my twins are 9 mo, I am going to try the IUC, either Mirena or the other copper one as my friends have all had good results with them and you can leave them in for 5-10 yrs.

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S.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I was on NuvaRing for almost three years. I didn't have any side affects. I absolutely loved the ring and reccomend it to everyone. (I'm not on it right now, as we are trying to have another child.)

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J.H.

answers from Richmond on

Hi - Just wanted to put my scratch mark in the loved it column. I never had any side effects, and it was easy to use. I also had light/short periods which was great. Good luck!

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R.A.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi A. -

I have used NuvaRing for over a year now and love it. I have always gotten bad headaches and have not noticed an increase, if anything they are a little less. I honestly think that if you look you're going to find side effects to anything as everything is going to affect people differently, I would at least try it for a while and see how you do, good luck.

R. A

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N.F.

answers from Washington DC on

I used it for about a year. I loved it at the time (no side effects that I was aware of)! However, now that I'm trying to get pregnant and haven't had a period in 1 year (which is when I stopped using the ring), I wonder if it was because of the nuvaring. Just a thought (Although I do know people that have stopped using it and got their cycles and pregant right away).

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K.S.

answers from Harrisburg on

I used the nuvaring for only 6 months. I had no side effects and thought it was great for me. I stopped using it for 3 months and got pregnant quicky with no problems so far either. I think a lot of woman have bad side effects to any birth control no matter what the type. I've never really had problems with any type I have used. Sometimes worrying yourself adds to the intensity of any side effects/problems you might experience. I like the name Jameson! :)

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S.A.

answers from Washington DC on

I really liked the NuvaRing a great deal. It was a very easy and effective form of birth control for us. I had no side effects, but I have never found my body to be sensitive to hormones, medications, etc. There are others with a different threshold for tolerating medicines.
My husband also didn't mind the NuvaRing from the perspective of feeling it during sex, etc.
It did fall out once, but at this time I don't even remember why. But then I slipped it back in and it stayed in after that.
I used the NuvaRing for 2 years before deciding to try to get pregnant, and it took me 8 months to conceive. Now after having my baby and since he is weaned I think I will go back on the Ring, since it was my favorite method of birth control.

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S.S.

answers from Richmond on

Every one is going to have a different opinion based on their personal experiences...I wasn't so lucky with it but haven't had much luck any contraceptives...I have headaches and get horribly mean and moody - not just from nuvaring but from others as well.

One woman who responded said not to believe the "scary stories" and she was a nurse. I am a little disappointed in her response to you because she is a nurse and has now said discount any response you get that was negative or counterintuitive to her experience. But that's just it an experience and every one is different.

I say give it a try, but know that yes there are "real stories" out there that may be "scary" but that doesn't make them untrue. Nurses have been know to be wrong - just as doctors have! Good luck!

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K.H.

answers from Washington DC on

I've been using NuvaRing since December and I LOVE it! I haven't had any of the side effects that I've heard of other women having.

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H.W.

answers from Norfolk on

I was on NuvaRing for about a year. I never had any infections but I did have a lot of TERRIBLE headaches and very very very moody. I had never felt that way with any other birth control method it actually scared me. I stopped after my husband and I decided to have a vasectomy. The NuvaRing is very easy and I liked it better then pills or IUD's, I never forgot about it, but with all medications there are side affects. If I could go back I would not use NuvaRing because I was scared of the mood swings I had. I would just talk to your doctor and see what other recommendations he/she may have for you.

A Little about Me:
Mother of 4 children, 3 boys, ages 5, 7, 13 and one beautiful little girl 2 years old. Married to a wonderful man that is in the NAVY.

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L.R.

answers from Norfolk on

I took it about 2 years ago. I had serious problems. I was having problems with my abdominal area. It was causing me to feel like I had to vomit and use the restroom, headaches, dizziness, and I couldn't sleep because I was in constant pain. I couldn't work. I had to go to the doctor and the emergency room. I had ultrasounds and x-rays done. I only took it for 1 week but it was one of the worst weeks ever. Once I removed it, I still had pain for several weeks then I was ok. But I vowed to never take it again.

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D.H.

answers from Washington DC on

I used the NuvaRing for about 9 months then noticed I was gaining weight and having terrible night sweats...to the point where I had to change my pillow cases every morning. Within a week after stopping the NuvaRing the night sweats stopped and the weight gained slowed down. I'm in my early 40's and sometimes age, diet and lifestyle can play a major factor when it comes to different side effects when using contraceptives.

D.S.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi A.,

Had you thought about getting an IUD device called Mirena?

Additional hormones released into your system is causing your side effects. What was the reason for the Doctor ordering this kind of BC?

Just wanted to know. Hope this helps. Good luck. D.

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I.S.

answers from Washington DC on

My experience with the nuvaring was headaches but the worse thing was the abdominal pain and heartburn, I sufer from acid reflux and I tell you I thought that I had an ulcera, at first it just felt like heartburn but then the pain on my sides increased so I went to the doctor not knowing this ring was causing it, I was sent to a GI doctor and did all test for stomach and nothing, at the same time I decided to remove the ring and my symptoms went away, the next month I started b/c pills and the same thing happened, I figure that it had to do with the bc, one doctor told me that it is very likely that the b/c was doing this to me because the way my body was processing the hormones from the bc. I hope this method works for you, good luck.

I.

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S.A.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi A.,

I am a nurse in a Nurse-Midwifery practice and a user of Nuvaring. Personally I love it! Nuvaring has the lowest amount of active hormone of any contraceptive on the market right now...so weight gain shouldn't be a problem. Also, having a constant release of hormone in to your system should reduce the amount of headaches you have if they are related to your menstrual cycle. If you have menstrual migraines, like me, you should talk to your provider about continuously cycling (leaving the ring in for a full four weeks then immediately replacing it with a fresh one....so you never have a period) This has worked wonders for me and is perfectly safe.
Also, about vaginal infections, women who use the ring have been shown to have more "good" vaginal flora (bacteria) than the types that cause irritation....so therefor LESS vaginal infections!!!!
Don't believe all of the scary stories!!
Good Luck,
S.

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B.B.

answers from Washington DC on

A., I was on the Nuva ring for almost 3 years and loved it however about 21/2 yrs in to using it I started wih headaches.I thought my eyes needed check , well wheather it was all in my head or what but,getting glasses helped, for a short time. I was getting to the point of magrine headaches, and two mths before I went off of it I started to keep track of when I had them.I had a headache on Sun ,took the ring out Sun nite, woke up Monday with no headache all that week no headache. The next mth I went though the same thing. Thats when I called the Doc and she changed me right away. I have'nt had near the amount of headache that I did when I was on the ring. Good luck I hope all works out.

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J.G.

answers from Norfolk on

I used nuva ring for about 2 years and did not have any problems at all--I loved it! I also have several friends, one of which is a dr, who all use and love nuvaring.

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J.S.

answers from Norfolk on

I have been using the Nuva Ring for about two years now and love it. I haven't had any bad side effects at all. Sometimees I get very mild cramps the first day it's in but nothing bad! Good luck!
J.

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A.N.

answers from Charlottesville on

I've been using it for about two years now, and I haven't noticed any side affects. I've also tried a variation of the continuous option at the suggestion of my OB/GYN (one in for four weeks, second one for four weeks, and then out for a week before using the third one). Unfortunately, I've found that my body doesn't like that so much, and I'll start spotting around week 6. So, I'm going to try 3 weeks in for the first one, 3 weeks for the second one and one week out to see if that gets rid of the spotting.

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M.J.

answers from Norfolk on

I LOVE THE RING! Honestly, I never had any side effects on it. Once it's in, I forget it until I need to take it out. But remember everyone is different and well..they have to tell you the worse that can happen to CTA. I am sure it will be fine!

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M.I.

answers from Norfolk on

I used it for a couple of years and loved it. I had to stop because insurance wouldn't cover it anymore. I highly recommend it.

M.J.

answers from Dover on

Hi A.,

I used the ring for about 3 months last year & didn't care for it at all. I got the headaches along with significant weight gain. The other issue I had with it was that my husband & I were definitely "aware" of it which neither of us liked at all. A couple of my friends have used the ring also & nobody I know has cared for it for various reasons.

After talking to my doctor about it I switched to Implanon last August & I love it. All of the weight came off & the headaches stopped, I don't have to worry about it for 3 full years, I only spot about once every 6 weeks or so & best of all, with my insurance, I only had my regular $20 co-pay!

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