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NuvaRing for Birth Control User Reviews

NuvaRing has an average rating of 6.1 out of 10 from a total of 1141 reviews for the treatment of Birth Control. 44% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 28% reported a negative experience.

NuvaRing rating summary

6.1 average rating out of 10

1141 ratings from 1190 user reviews.

Compare all 280 medications used in the treatment of Birth Control.

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Reviews for NuvaRing

  • Anonymous
  • November 29, 2009

"I originally came on to this site to look for facts on Implanon, because I am thinking of switching from NuvaRing to Implanon. Out of the many comments, only a few were good. There were many negative comments, and it made me wonder if the majority of people who choose to comment do so because they are experiencing negative side effects, and those women who aren't experiencing side effects don't leave any comments at all. So I'm going to go ahead and add a GOOD comment about NuvaRing. NuvaRing has worked out GREAT for me. No side effects that I have noticed. No weight gain, no mood swings, no acne. The only thing is that I can feel it during sex, which is an easy fix to just take it out before and put it back in afterward."

9 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • June 5, 2020

"The NuvaRing has been the best form of birth control I have tried. I’ve been on many different BC pills over the course of several years, and the worst by far for me was MonoNessa. I had horrible side effects due to the Mononessa and nearly passed out every day on it until I finally switched to the NuvaRing. Everyone thinks it’s scary because it’s in your vagina, but it is so simple and you don’t even know it’s there. It’s especially nice when you want to skip your period and can leave it in. But just remember to change it every month! I have had no side effects, it’s been about 1 year, and it’s so much easier than taking a pill at the same time every day. It has never slipped out, and I 100% recommend at least trying it if you’re like me and have had a bad experience with the pill! I don’t get morning sickness, my acne is gone, my mood swings aren’t bad, no depression/anxiety anymore since switching, no weight gain... I can’t recommend this enough."

10 / 10
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110 Report
  • sar...
  • January 25, 2020

"I read A LOT of terrible reviews & was extremely hesitant to put my NuvaRing in, decided to try anyway & am super glad I did. The 1st 2 days I felt a little muted emotion-wise but after that totally normal. No weird feelings or anxiety or depression (which was my main fear/no-go), no irritation, no loss of sex drive. Actually, I feel like my hormones finally balanced out. My son was born 3 & 1/2 years ago, and I still didn’t feel quite normal. I’m so happy that I ignored the bad reviews and tried it for myself. People usually post about their negative experiences, rarely their positive ones, so I have made it a point to post mine. I, for real, feel better and happier than I have since before my son was born, like the ring balanced my wild, uncontrolled hormones and put them in check. Keep in mind, my ring has only been in for 1 week so I will post later about the long term. FYI, I cannot feel it during sex unless I’m on top (my man's very well-endowed), and then very rarely. He says he can never feel it."

10 / 10
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116 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • spi...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 11, 2019

"I just recently switched from the pill (Sronyx) to the NuvaRing. Not going to lie, I got on this website the day I got prescribed the NuvaRing and I scared myself half to death...all of the reviews were so scary, and I was terrified. Needless to say, I still tried it. I've been on the NuvaRing for about a month already, and I absolutely love it. I've pretty much forgotten about it, my boyfriend can't feel it during sex, and neither can I. People complain about a low sex drive on the ring, but if anything, mine has gone up. Everything is more enjoyable now than ever because I don't have to remember to take a pill. When I got on the pill, I gained 15 lbs and was literally psychotic and depressed, but with the NuvaRing, I feel normal again!! Do NOT let these reviews scare you. People are more likely to leave a review if they have a bad experience, and if all is good, they forget about it, move on, and never return to the website to leave a positive review. Don't be scared, try it out!"

10 / 10
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105 Report
  • Cal...
  • May 29, 2009

"I have been using the NuvaRing for a bit over 2 weeks now. I love it. I was a bit cautious about having sex with it, and worried that my boyfriend would feel it inside my vagina. He can't feel it and I have never experienced a 'slipping out' or was afraid that I was going to lose it during sex. I know everyone's body is different. For me, I'm small 100 lbs, 5 feet. The other two oral birth control pills I've tried, Ortho-Tricyclen and Aviane, both made me horribly moody, and I had non-stop breakthrough bleeding on Aviane. Overall, I say NuvaRing is the best birth control yet. My sex drive is boosted, I can forget I'm even using birth control for three weeks, and I am not moody at all. I feel like a teenager again."

10 / 10
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225 Report

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  • Anonymous
  • December 3, 2009

"For those of you experiencing negative side effects... I was on NuvaRing for 4 years. During that time, I became depressed, and cramps and back pain were unbearable. I have discontinued use of NuvaRing and feel better. All side effects are gone! When I discussed this with my doctor, she stated that some women naturally produce a normal level of hormones. When these women are on birth control, it can cause all of these side effects due to having an elevated level of hormones. The opposite effect happens to women that don't naturally produce a normal level of hormones, leading them to actually feel better and not have all of these side effects. This is why some women do well and feel great on birth control and others don't."

3 / 10
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216 Report
  • Anonymous
  • March 3, 2011

"I have been on NuvaRing for over 4 years and it was the best decision I ever made after being on the pill for a few years. It works fantastic and even if it slips out during sex, you can have it out for up to three hours and still be protected. I never got pregnant using this method and have been having unprotected sex with my boyfriend the entire time I've been on it. I had no negative side effects and my periods definitely lightened. There are so many mixed reviews that I wanted to say how wonderful this method was for me but reviews can't tell you anything about how your body will react to hormones. All you need to do is try it for yourself and if it doesn't work, try something else."

10 / 10
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142 Report
  • Anonymous
  • May 5, 2009

"This is my second month on NuvaRing and so far I have absolutely no complaints. I love the ease of just inserting it once a month and just removing it three weeks later. I have had no mood swings, weight gain, nor depression. As a matter of fact, I think I have even lost weight because it seems to have subsided my constant cravings. I would definitely recommend NuvaRing to anyone."

10 / 10
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127 Report
  • Ker...
  • August 25, 2014

"I'm always tired and moody! I always feel sad and get angry and rageful very easily. I'm emotional and I no longer feel the desire to do the things I used to enjoy. Waking up is a task every morning, my job has become more difficult, and I feel like I've lost all my motivation. I can't wait to be off the NuvaRing. I'm hoping I can go on an IUD or something better. I haven't gained any weight, and I've been on it for two years, but the side effects just aren't worth it. My husband and I seem to argue more and more. My breasts hurt all the time, I feel nauseous and sick constantly, and the smells of certain food make me sick. I might as well be pregnant."

3 / 10
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87 Report
  • Jmi...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • February 15, 2020

"I have been on NuvaRing since November of 2017. I loved to be able to control if I had a period or not. I didn’t have any issues whatsoever until January 2020. I went to pick up my prescription and was given the newly released generic version of this. It has been absolutely horrible. It is now mid-February, and I have been sporadically heavy bleeding (pantiliners can’t even handle it) ever since I put this new ring in on 1/28/2020. The generic version of this is horrible, and besides the constant bleeding, I am now emitting a horrible and embarrassing vaginal odor. I called the pharmacy, and per insurance, if there’s a generic, I have to use it. So I’m probably just going to stop using it, and I hope to find another method of birth control that works great like the NuvaRing (actual brand) did."

4 / 10
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46 Report
  • Anonymous
  • August 28, 2008

"I LOVE NUVARING! I have NO side effects, and my doctor said it was safe to use it continuously each month. How convenient is that! I get to pick and choose when I have my cycle, and I insert it and forget about it for the month. It's the most idiot-proof product ever."

10 / 10
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113 Report
  • Per...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 4, 2019

"Personally, I have had extremely heavy and bad cramps on my period. I’ve been on birth control since I was 14. I started with the pill but forgot to take it all the time, then I went to the IUD but had extreme weight gain and headaches. My anxiety also worsened with the IUD. I switched to the NuvaRing around 5 months ago, and it has been the best decision I’ve made for my reproductive health. My periods are a light spotting, my cramps are tolerable, and I haven’t gained any weight. Plus, my boyfriend can’t feel it during sex. Don’t be afraid of the negative reviews, everyone’s body is different, and you just need to find what works for you!"

8 / 10
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46 Report
  • Ano...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • March 27, 2014

"The NuvaRing has been absolutely wonderful for me. I've been using it for about 2 years and I just can't say enough good things about it. It's so easy it is to use and it's been extremely effective; not just in the obvious prevention of pregnancy, but also with controlling my acne and maintaining my weight. No moodiness, no depression. I understand that there isn't a 'one size fits all' when it comes to birth control, but I would recommend to anyone that they at least give this a try to see how it suits them. Since it seems that everyone goes online to post their horror stories, I just wanted to say something positive about the NuvaRing because I think it's one of the best forms of birth control out there. I'll never go back to the pill!"

10 / 10
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77 Report
  • Don...
  • December 30, 2020

"I am 31 years old, and this was my first time using BC other than condoms. I do not recommend. I am naturally a very relaxed and happy person, and this ring made me extremely depressed and contemplating suicide. I was so angry after only about 3 weeks of use, and it scared both myself and my partner. The NuvaRing shook my relationship and caused my partner and me to fight so much because of my uncontrollable anger. The night I removed the ring (3 weeks in), I remember feeling suicidal. That’s terrifying! I hope no one ever feels this way—especially due to birth control. Stay safe out there and please do your research! This ring is way more harmful than I ever expected it to be. Now (1 week out), I can finally say I feel happy and so relaxed again. Never again will I use the NuvaRing."

1 / 10
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35 Report
  • Anonymous
  • December 21, 2009

"Just so everyone on here knows, it is not just NuvaRing that kills your sex drive, all hormonal contraceptives do it. As far as the people gaining weight, my doctor said he's never heard of it with NuvaRing, and if you do gain weight, it's just water weight. NuvaRing is a great birth control, I have tried Yaz and Yasmin and had severe mood issues. If you have that with NuvaRing, you just have to try something else because it does not work for you. Not all birth controls work for everyone!"

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89 Report
  • Fru...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • August 27, 2020

"I used NuvaRing for 2 years without much problems, but the month I discontinued it, I developed vulvodynia. This is an extremely painful condition that does not have good treatment options. I have become disabled and unable to have children. There are published studies on the effects of hormonal birth control and the risk of vulvodynia. Please be careful and do your research first. I unknowingly took this medication 13 years ago, and my body will never be the same."

1 / 10
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33 Report
  • Tha...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • January 4, 2021

"At first, NuvaRing was amazing. I’ve been on every kind of birth control imaginable (all with bad side effects), and this was by far the best... until it wasn’t. I had a major depressive episode and felt absolute despair for months without realizing it was caused by this medication. I was in the process of finding a counselor because I felt miserable and was making everyone around me miserable. I was so angry all the time and had no interest in doing anything, ever. I had chalked it up to stressors in my life until we decided to try for a baby. After about a week without it, all of a sudden, it was like the sun was shining and the birds were singing again."

1 / 10
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31 Report
  • Mis...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • December 26, 2014

"I absolutely loved this birth control. Was on it for 8 years and would still be on it now, except that when I switched jobs, my new insurance didn't cover it. No weight gain, super clear skin, no mood swings, light periods with no cramping and the convenience of not having to take a pill every day. Couldn't feel it inside me at all and it never bothered my husband or me during intercourse. Highly recommend."

10 / 10
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59 Report
  • Anonymous
  • February 9, 2010

"I hate to be one of the many negative commenters on here, but I want others to know my side effects that were related to the ring that I didn't at first think was related to it. Severe anxiety and racing heart, back pain. Zero sex drive! My alcohol tolerance down to zero with severe vomiting, shivering, and hangovers. VERY moody especially week before the period. I have been off all birth control for about 2-3 weeks...ALL symptoms have disappeared...amazingly...and now I know it's related to the birth control, not me going insane."

3 / 10
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79 Report
  • No...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 17, 2014

"2 months into using NuvaRing, I found myself never wanting to leave the house, everyone and everything annoyed and frustrated me. After a fight with my best friend, I had realized that I wasn't myself. NuvaRing was the only difference in my life, and I stopped using it that day. Within days, my mood adjusted back to normal. But I will never put up with that depression again, not saying that happens to everyone."

1 / 10
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59 Report
  • Ann...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 21, 2017

"Some of you females here are so uneducated about the NuvaRing. It effects people differently. Don't fear another female from getting contraceptive just because you didn't know how to take care of yourself. - You take it out before having sex. That way it is not irritating you when you have sex. - you insert the ring so that it loops around your cervix. That way it doesn't fall out. -your mood swings can be managed with other medication. Learn to calm down & not respond. -Everyone has had acne. My review. I'm naturally a bitchy person who lacks emotion. I had no issue properly inserting the ring. I also downloaded an app reminder. I feel more happy & personable. I maybe losing weight also. I feel secure having an easy form of bc."

10 / 10
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45 Report
  • Wom...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • September 22, 2020

"I used to be on multiple different pills, all of which gave me the WORST anxiety and mood swings I have ever seen. I literally used to be scared of aliens in my closet?! So crazy. However, my doctor switched me to NuvaRing, and oh my goodness, it has been a blessing. I do not have any side effects at all! It works so well with my body, especially since it’s a consistent low hormone dose, I don’t get the hormonal mood swings and ups and downs like I did with a daily pill. I love this birth control and am so glad I switched 6 months ago. Each method works differently for each person, you have to find the one for you. Just be patient, it will happen like it did for me. I love you, NuvaRing!"

10 / 10
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28 Report
  • A O...
  • November 12, 2019

"I was recommended the NuvaRing by a friend, and I have been on it since the beginning of August (so 4 months). At first, it felt fine, no noticeable side effects. My skin looked really good, which was a huge plus for me. But then I started noticing a general malaise. A deep sadness and anxiety that would wake me up every single morning around 4/5 a.m., and a sadness that would linger throughout the day. I attributed this again to stress (job change, applying to grad school, long-distance relationship). But I felt really different. I started to feel like my personality was shifting, like all my happiness and joy completely disappeared and I was becoming a shell of a former self. I've been extremely stressed and depressed before, but this is a whole new level of feeling anxious. Crying at the smallest things, feeling so sensitive to anything. Of course, it could just be stress, but how can you differentiate between what is real and what is hormonal? You start to go crazy!"

5 / 10
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32 Report
  • Nyl...
  • September 23, 2014

"I have never had a great experience with birth control in the 10 or so years I've been using it. I seem especially sensitive to hormones, though some affect me more severely than others. I love the ease of NuvaRing. I often forgot to take my pills, and this completely solved that problem. I am on my third month of using NuvaRing, and here are the side effects that are causing me to consider not using it anymore: moodiness, agitation, strong food cravings, really painful gas, abdominal pain, irritation during sex, fatigue. It feels like month-long PMS. I snap at people, eat Cheetos and fries several times a day (before NuvaRing I never ate chips or fast food), and have constant pain and pressure from gas. I can't take it anymore!"

6 / 10
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50 Report
  • ADD...
  • October 6, 2008

"I have used several pill-form birth controls, and the NuvaRing is my first non-pill method. I really like the fact that it is hassle-free. I always had a hard time remembering to take the pill. Also, unlike the patch, it is not visible. I am the type who likes to have a period each month as an additional reassurance that I am not pregnant, so it is a better option for me than the shot or other period-free methods. The side effects that I have experienced were mostly common—some water weight gain, shorter and lighter menstrual cycles, and some cramping during my cycle. Some new side effects that I do not enjoy are a regular (heavy) vaginal discharge, which is stated as common for the ring. Also, I have random abdominal cramping."

8 / 10
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68 Report
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.