NuvaRing and Acne: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Jes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 19, 2016

For Birth Control "NuvaRing was the first birth control I was ever on, and I've never had any terrible issues with it in the 4 years I've had it so far (18-21). My periods are so regular I can nearly tell down to the hour when it will start! My acne cleared up, but I did gain a little weight, but nothing crazy. The only issue is breast tenderness a week before my period that can get annoying, but otherwise this birth control has been great and super easy to remember. Also, I was able to change my schedule for a vacation, so I got my period a week before traveling, which was amazing, it didn't screw up my body... just read the pamphlet on how to properly do this (and don't do it all the time!)"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2013

For Birth Control "The only thing good about this product is that you don't have to remember to take it. You only have to remember the day you put it in. Lol, which I forgot the first two months. I've been on the ring for 4 months, and I hate it. I have never had acne in my life, and I now have severe acne along my jawline, hairline, and chest. It gets pushed out of my vagina daily, I don't think I'm able to push it up far enough. I've never had sex with it in, I always take it out, and it burns really bad during intercourse. I've hardly had sex since I've been on it because I have no sex drive. I'm disgusted by the thought of sex, and my vagina is painfully sensitive to the touch. I'm also really moody. This birth control is terrible."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2023

For Birth Control "I have been using NuvaRing for two months and a half, and I have experienced many of the side effects listed (nausea, migraine, acne (during the first week only), bloating, and low sex drive). I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is going through sadder than usual times or anyone who has had depression, as I can say it has definitely affected me and thousands of other women. I have never been diagnosed with depression, and yet it happened to me progressively since I started to use NuvaRing. The decrease in testosterone levels has impacted me the most since I now struggle with low motivation, irritability, and depressive thoughts. I have rated this with a 5/10 because of the number of side effects, but I have to say it is one of the most convenient contraceptive methods. It is very sad how the pharmaceutical industry doesn't do better for women."

• Emi...
• June 13, 2019

For Birth Control "Although the NuvaRing has kept me protected from getting pregnant, my acne from this is unreal. It’s taken almost a year to recover from, and I’m still breaking out. The entire lower half of my face was covered in cystic acne for the first 6 months of taking this. I didn’t want to change because I didn’t experience any other side effects. No weight gain, no mood swings, nothing. I had to couple it with another medication and two prescription gels to clear my skin. I’m most likely going to be going off this in the next month and try something else due to my skin still struggling."

• Emi...
• June 13, 2019

For Birth Control "Although the NuvaRing has kept me protected from getting pregnant, my acne from this is unreal. It’s taken almost a year to recover from, and I’m still breaking out. The entire lower half of my face was covered in cystic acne for the first 6 months of taking this. I didn’t want to change because I didn’t experience any other side effects. No weight gain, no mood swings, nothing. I had to couple it with another medication and two prescription gels to clear my skin. I’m most likely going to be going off this in the next month and try something else due to my skin still struggling."

• Jen...
• May 27, 2013

For Birth Control "I really like NuvaRing. It's my first experience with birth control, and I've found it pleasant. For the first month, I got a pimple or two (which was likely unrelated). I also would suffer from a sense of anxiety before I fell asleep. However, my skin became PERFECT, and anxiety went away after a month. The NuvaRing makes me a lot oilier than usual, but I actually prefer it; I usually have very dry skin/hair, and now it's more normal. Further, I've been able to lose like TEN POUNDS! I deducted two points out of ten: one for the ring sometimes slipping and causing irritation, and another for the overall awkward experience of your partner finding a plastic ring inside."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2016

For Birth Control "NuvaRing is great for me! I had no side effects, my partner doesn't feel it during sex, it never fell out, and I feel much safer with it. You put it in and forget about it for 3 weeks! I was on oral pills before, and they were very strong on me. I had less sex drive, but absolutely no acne. Now, with a lower hormone dose from NuvaRing, I have more acne, but also more sex drive, and I feel more comfortable."

• Was...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2017

For Birth Control "I had high hopes for this birth control. Heard a lot of great things... And then I tried it myself. 17 days is all I have lasted. Today is Day 17. I'm 37. I already have issues with depression and acne and have heard good things from others who had normally suffered from these things and that the ring changed their life. Well, Day 17 and I can't stop crying. I've been beyond depressed in weird stages. I've had a headache that has lasted over a week. And I have a handful of new cystic acne in weird places beyond my face. Placement was fine and I rarely felt it. Can't wear tampons with it. Not weird during sex either, except I haven't had an orgasm for two weeks! And this is my experience... Good luck, I know everyone is different...."

• Sar...
• March 26, 2015

For Birth Control "When I first started using the ring, I had absolutely horrible anxiety for about 2 weeks. It faded with time. I didn't have any other major side effects other than it made my face explode with hormonal acne. I had very mild acne, and it got worse every month that I used the ring. I had to stop taking it for that reason. I switched to Beyaz, and I have zero side effects, and my acne is 80% better after a week."

• Sar...
• March 26, 2015

For Birth Control "When I first started using the ring, I had absolutely horrible anxiety for about 2 weeks. It faded with time. I didn't have any other major side effects other than it made my face explode with hormonal acne. I had very mild acne, and it got worse every month that I used the ring. I had to stop taking it for that reason. I switched to Beyaz, and I have zero side effects, and my acne is 80% better after a week."

• Kat...
• January 21, 2013

For Birth Control "I used NuvaRing for 4 months. Loved that I didn't have to think about the pill, but I started to get very bad cystic acne on my face, then head and bikini line. If you start to get severe acne by the third month on the ring, visit your doctor to switch birth control methods."

• Kat...
• January 21, 2013

For Birth Control "I used NuvaRing for 4 months. Loved that I didn't have to think about the pill, but I started to get very bad cystic acne on my face, then head and bikini line. If you start to get severe acne by the third month on the ring, visit your doctor to switch birth control methods."

• Anonymous
• June 14, 2009

For Birth Control "I've been on NuvaRing for 4 months, and so far, it's been decent. I've been on roughly 8 different types of pill form contraceptives and had a variety of side effects from most of them, so my doctor finally suggested NuvaRing. I did have some side effects (mild bloating, headaches, irregular period, acne), however, most have subsided or become tolerable. Most of the side effects I've experienced are typical for me, especially for the first few months after switching to a new brand. Overall, it's great and convenient, stays in place and makes life easier."

• Vic...
• October 22, 2017

For Birth Control "I love it! I have been on it for 4 months now without any complications (yet)! I have even skipped my period for one month without any spots or irregular blood saying hi. I don't feel it during sex, and my partner hasn't felt it either. I used to be on the Pill before, and the transition was quite easy. The only thing that annoyed me was that I got quite a few pimples the first month, but it got under control using good products and trying not to eat too much dairy. My skin is back to normal now. It feels so good not to think about remembering the pill every day! It's just every 3 weeks! I have an app on my phone to remind me when to take it out."

• Anonymous
• October 28, 2016

For Birth Control "This is my second week with my first NuvaRing. So far, I don't like it, my face has broken out. I have the worst stomach pain and migraines! Yesterday, I thought I was dying, my whole body was shaking because it hurt so bad! Overall, the NR makes me feel like I'm dying from the inside."

• cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2013

For Birth Control "At first, I really liked NuvaRing. It's super easy to use, and it's nice to be able to forget about it for 3 weeks. I could feel it every now and then, but it wasn't uncomfortable, just there. After one month, I ended up with the worst acne on my back and chest that I have ever had in my life. The acne was so bad, I almost thought it was a reaction. I took NuvaRing out, and within a week, my skin was clear again. I didn't have any other side effects besides the acne, but acne isn't something I can deal with. I'm switching back to pills."

• Lau...
• September 5, 2019

For Birth Control "I started this at the end of my postpartum bleeding after having a baby. I was told it wouldn’t make me gain weight, it would help keep me acne-free, and as someone with a history of depression and anxiety, I assumed (since I was asked) that it wouldn’t interfere with my mental health. However, I haven’t even been on this birth control for three weeks yet, and I already started my period. What’s normally four days of light bleeding has been a week of heavy bleeding. I’m bloated, I’ve gained weight, my face has broken out horribly, and I fly into a rage over the littlest things. To be clear, I do not have postpartum depression. I am able to be happy and enjoy being a new mother again (I have two other children). Not to mention, it’s hard to even be confident that you have it in correctly. I’m assuming it is, as the instructions are simple: shove it up there as far as you can. It falls out during sex, it’s extremely painful with a tampon. I wouldn’t recommend it."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2019

For Birth Control "I've just gone off it, and holy moly, I’ve never been so itchy down there before. During the month I had it in, there were no problems aside from a little acne and a little bloating. My partner did feel it but just ignored it. It did mess with my sex drive a little."

• Anonymous
• April 19, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been on the ring since February. At first, the side effects were acceptable-my chest broke out like crazy, it looked like I had a severe rash, but that was nothing since my ridiculous cramps went away. Month 2, it got worse. On top of the horrendous rash-like acne, I also cried a lot. Then again, my period was so incredibly light and pain-free. Month 3, I had the ring in for about a week and a half and took it out this morning. I've cried every day, flown off the handle at the littlest things... I'm angry and aggressive. I actually want to fight people, and I'm so not like that! I took the ring out this morning, and I'm not doing this again."

• Pun...
• July 9, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been using NuvaRing for about 6 months now. In the beginning, everything was great. I loved that you could always know which day you were going to start your period. Was easy to use. But over time, I noticed my face start to break out a little more, had weight gain, and my vagina was always dry, which led to problems within our sex life. My sexual drive also decreased. As soon as I showed my husband all the side effects, he agreed that I have been experiencing all the side effects listed, and he said I was getting off of it ASAP."

• dre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2015

For Birth Control "I transitioned to NuvaRing from Sprintec two months ago due to lifestyle changes that made it impossible to take a pill at the same time every day. Pros: don't need to remember a daily pill... and that's about it. I've been bleeding for a month straight, my face has broken out, my appetite seems to have gone through the roof, labile moods, and the ring seems to always want to work its way out of place... Have to constantly push it back up. My first month's ring actually must have fallen out because it was just gone when I checked it one day. Not cool. Plus, my insurance only covers part of it, so I end up paying about $50 a month for it. I've had enough, I'm getting Mirena placed in a few days."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been using NuvaRing for a month now (started on April 14th), and I'm in love. Things may change in the coming months, but I don't foresee them being bad changes. I feel more complete, confident, and it's SUCH a relief to know when I'm going to get my period as opposed to playing a guessing game every month. I am not having sex, so I am not using it for birth control at the moment, but I'm trusting it will do its job when the time comes. Because my experience has been almost entirely positive, the only con I can think of is a few of my friends who have been on it tell me how awful their acne was. Negative side effects took place within the first month and continued until they got off of it (3 or so months in). I'm in love with it!"

• Das...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 19, 2015

For Birth Control "After consistently being on NuvaRing for over a year, I left it out for a month, so I had no birth control, and within that month my acne cleared up, so I assume that the birth control is causing me to break out more than I should. Other than this, I think this is the best birth control in the world because it has never once fallen out or been noticeable to me, and I don't have the hassle of taking a pill at the same time every day. I've always been sensitive to birth controls, getting sick if I missed it, but I've never had a bad experience with the ring. It also increased my cup size, so that's a plus!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 14, 2018

For Birth Control "This was a big mistake. I went in for a consultation about an IUD and got talked out of it and was told I should try this first since I can do it myself. I thought it was perfect. BOY, WAS I WRONG. The ring put me into a worse depression than ever before. My hormones were all out of balance, I got acne, it constantly fell out and was uncomfortable, had heavy periods, gave me yeast infections, etc. I stuck it out for 3 months and finally took it out and went for an IUD. Getting off this birth control was one of the best decisions. Be very careful when using this drug..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2017

For Birth Control "I am a 21-year-old female, and I used NuvaRing for 2 months, but it was affecting my moods (making me really depressed and unmotivated), and I couldn't take it anymore. I tried it again a few months later, hoping it would be different, but I spotted for the whole month, I got acne, and my moods took a dip again. I had it for a month but have since switched to Skyla."