Side Effects from NuvaRing?

Dear K.,

This may not be helpful, since I haven't used the NuvaRing, but I have taken different birth control pills over the years, and have had trouble with headaches. I hate having these terrible headaches. My doctor found me a wonderful birth control pill that I can live with - it's called Mircette, and it does have a generic. What works for me is that the last week of the month doesn't drop me off a cliff estrogen-wise. No estrogen meant huge headaches for me, and only 2 of the pills lack estrogen. The other 5 don't have as much as the rest of the month, but having some is so much better and prevents my awful headaches. So if you can't continue with the NuvaRing and want to consider switching to a birth control pill, you might ask your doctor about Mircette.
D.

I used it for 3 months (my gyn said it took that long for your body to acclimate) but my body never "acclimated". It threw me into early menopause with everything that accompanies it. No periods, hot and cold flashes, dry as a desert (6L of water/day and astroglide didn't even help much) mood swings like a manic depressive....i could go on. Within two mos of discontinuing use i was back to normal. plus there was noticeable uncomfortableness associated with intercourse. but apparently alot of ppl love it

Sounds like you may be entering the same territory. I'd quit and try something else....

Good luck!

K.,
i was also on the nuvaring and loved it for quite a while until i spend most of my days on the sofa unable to work due to migraines. I actually worked in a gyn office and when i told him what was going on he immediately told me to remove the ring and no longer use it. I felt better than ever when i stopped, however, i wish it had continued to work for me because it is a great little invention!

K., I am a pharm tech and I know there should have been an attached sheet to your RX bag that had pertinent information that should have some info regarding the NuvaRing.

If you read all the way to the bottom of my post you will see something that might be a concern to you that is related to using the NuvaRing and Migraine Headaches... Please consult your DR.

Here is a link that is a consumer realtions regarding the NuvaRing.

http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/user/patientSupport/side...

Below is some info but you may still want to check out the link.

Side effects & symptoms

The common side effects reported by NuvaRing® users are:

* Vaginal infections and irritation
* Vaginal discharge (leukorrhea)
* Headache
* Upper respiratory tract infection
* Sinusitis
* Weight gain
* Nausea

In addition to the risks and side effects listed above, users of combination hormonal contraceptives have reported the following side effects:

* Vomiting
* Change in appetite
* Abdominal cramps and bloating
* Breast tenderness or enlargement
* Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
* Changes in menstrual cycle
* Temporary infertility after treatment
* Fluid retention (edema)
* Spotty darkening of the skin, particularly on the face
* Rash
* Weight changes
* Depression
* Intolerance to contact lenses

Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the symptoms listed below. They may be signs of a serious problem:

* Sharp chest pain, coughing blood, or sudden shortness of breath (possible clot in the lung)
* Pain in the calf (back of lower leg; possible clot in the leg)
* Crushing chest pain or heaviness in the chest (possible heart attack)
* Sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, problems with vision or speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (possible stroke)
* Sudden partial or complete loss of vision (possible clot in the eye)
* Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), especially with fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark colored urine, or light colored bowel movements (possible liver problems)
* Severe pain, swelling, or tenderness in the abdomen (gallbladder or liver problems)
* Sudden fever (usually 102°F or more), vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, or a sunburn-like rash on the face or body (very rarely, toxic shock syndrome)
* Breast lumps (possible breast cancer or benign breast disease)
* Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting that happens in more than one menstrual cycle or lasts for more than a few days
* Swelling (edema) of your fingers or ankles
* Difficulty in sleeping, weakness, lack of energy, fatigue, or a change in mood (possible severe depression)

Here is yet a few more websites that might interest you.

http://www.nuvaringsideeffects.com/

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/nuvaring_ad.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/etonogestrelethinyl_estradiol-...

http://www.drugs.com/mtm/nuvaring.html

What is the most important information I should know about ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel?
This medication can cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

Do not use this medication if you have any of the following conditions:

a history of stroke or blood clot,
circulation problems (especially if caused by diabetes),
a hormone-related cancer such as breast or uterine cancer, abnormal vaginal bleeding,
liver disease or liver cancer,
severe high blood pressure,

****migraine headaches****,
a heart valve disorder,
or a history of jaundice caused by birth control pills.

You may need to use back-up birth control, such as condoms or a spermicide, when you first start using this medication. Avoid using a diaphragm with the ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel vaginal ring. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Taking hormones can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack, especially if you smoke and are older than 35. The ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel vaginal ring will not prevent pregnancy if you wear it only during intercourse. You must wear the ring for 3 full weeks, followed by 1 full week without a ring. The timing of ring insertion and removal is very important for this medicine to be effective as a form of birth control.

Some drugs can make ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, including vitamins, minerals and herbal products. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

I hope you find the answers you are looking for and do what is best for you and your family.

Hi K.!
I have used the NuvaRing for eight months. Recently I have tried to increase my activities and actually starting walking for my health. But what concerns me is lately I have been having hot flashes as well. I try not to freeze my family when it's 60 something degrees outside but I have had to drink an ice cold bottle of water or use a cool, wet washcloth to cool myself down. I have three children and I am D-O-N-E and I thought because of health problems, NuvaRing would have less side effects than anything else. I have also been having a series of slight cramps for a few months. I think I will make an appointment as well. Thank you for the posting!

i loved the idea of a monthly birth control and had been taking the nuvaring for about 6 mths until 2 weeks ago when i stopped. i had been having extreme uncontrollable mood changes along with headaches and cramping. since i was out of rings, i decided to take this time to stop and see if these symptoms improved. after only a few days without, i noticed an overall sense of well being. i just felt "better" - no headaches/ cramps/ craziness. even now, i still feel good. i def blame the ring.

I have had side effects, but not those particular ones. And I was on NuvaRing to help level out my estrogen/testosterone levels b/c of other problems I was having. Once I started using the ring, though, instead of not having periods every month, except occasional spotting, I spotted constantly for about 6 weeks! That caused its own set of problems, like vaginal infections, and resulted in not being able to be intimate. I figured that must be how it works - keeps you from being able to even have sex to get pregnant! :)

But I decided I could live easier with the acne and facial hair problems I'd been having since my last child was born, and I took the ring out after letting my GYNO know about the problems. It just wasn't for me, but I never had the headaches you are speaking of or the hot flashes, etc... Every person's body is different, and if nothing else is causing these symptoms (like early menopause), your body is just rejecting that piece of rubbery plastic in your body! Makes sense, I guess...

Best wishes for your health and any future pregnancies!
A.

I had the NuvaRing before the birth of my second child. It made me feel really, really yucky as well. But, it made me feel bad within the first couple of months. The fact that you've been using it for two years and are just now experiencing trouble makes me think it may be unrelated. But, it gave me horrible headaches and nausea. My husband and I were discussing another child too, so I removed mine.........I got pregnant a mere 19 days later! =0) Good luck to you!

I too used the Nuvaring for almost 2 years and loved it. But about 3-4 months ago I started having very bad headaches (I wouldn't call them migraines, but painful none the less). I was having weird cycles- not having my period when I was supposed to then having one for 2 weeks straight. And I was so moody and crazy and out of control with my emotions. I took it out at its regularly scheduled time and didn't replace it. I felt better within days - only good side effects from taking it out. I don't think taking it out will cause you to feel worse or cause you to have "withdrawl" symptoms or anything. I hope whatever you choose to do you feel better soon.

Hello K., my name is L. and I'm a nurse practitioner with a subspecialty in Endocrinology. I also have Migraines diagnosed when I was 9 years old, at the time I started my menstrual cycle. There is a lot of data to implicate any of the birth control methods in stimulation of Migraines because of altered estrogen patterns. These headaches do not occur immediately with all people. It takes some time to sensitize the body to the changes in levels. Why don't you begin by taking the NuvaRing out for 2 weeks, then 3 weeks, then completely cease use. This could take you 2-3 months to wean and control the Migraine pattern as well. Good Luck. L..

If you are prone to migraines, any birth control with hormones may trigger them. I get migraines and use non-hormonal birth control (Paragard IUD). It's either that or a barrier for me. Have it removed. Don't let them give you tons of migraine pills instead. It won't work, and you'll get all those side effects, too.