Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Per...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "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!"

• HRa...
• October 10, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Greetings, for the ones having problems with EluRyng, you can call your insurance, they add a note explaining you can’t tolerate the generic. I used this medicine as a substitute for NuvaRing, per my insurance. Physical: extreme ocular migraines for days, chronic fatigue, cystic acne, gained 30 pounds in 6 months. Vaginal smell and discharge even using the ring. Emotional: executive dysfunction, extreme anxiety, overwhelmed feeling all the time. This interacted severely with my ADHD medicine (Vyvanse). I told my psychiatrist how I was feeling, and he raised my dosage, it didn’t work. Now back to NuvaRing, balancing the EluRyng effects, I’m feeling the effects I felt taking Vyvanse for the first time, EluRyng interrupted my psychiatric treatment. The extra drug interactions list doesn’t have information about this, this is a very dangerous effect that can get a person to a really bad place. This medicine needs to be recalled, it's dangerous."

• Cal...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 4, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on NuvaRing for 6+ years and had no issues. It was honestly the best birth control I had ever been on! Flash to now. I got switched to the generic version that just came out. I am incredibly moody, anxious, and getting depressed. I am continually gaining weight even though I exercise and eat well. My libido is GONE. Like 100% gone. This is horrible. There is something not right about this generic version. I have decided to just stop BC because of this and switch to condoms. It's not worth it anymore."

• A O...
• November 12, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "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!"

• Anonymous
• February 9, 2010

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "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."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on this for 3 months (I usually have NuvaRing and they didn’t tell me they changed it), but I've had the worst 3 months of my life. I’ve gained weight, gotten stretch marks everywhere even though my weight gain wasn’t significant, I’ve had horrible headaches, missed my period all 3 months. I’ve been so anxious and moody, tired all the time. The other night I started having horrible heart palpitations, and I ended up having a panic attack and throwing up. I felt like my heart was going to explode. I thought I was insane, so I googled the birth control because there was no other cause, and I read all these, and I took my ring out a week early. I’m already starting to feel more normal. This shouldn’t be legal. I went and bought the NuvaRing out of pocket the other day for $177. I’m lucky I can afford it, it’s ridiculous that insurance will put women through this to save a couple bucks."

• A B...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "My month on EluRyng has been one of the worst of my life. Week 1: nausea/vomiting, fatigue, burning/irritation, and yeast infection. Week 2: severe anxiety and mood swings -- sobbing out of nowhere, massive unprompted panic attacks, and starting crazy fights with my partner. Week 3: severe, acute depression and constant really dark thoughts. Completely numb, crying 24/7, couldn't decide if life was worth living. Week 4: all of my other symptoms disappeared overnight as soon as the withdrawal/off week started. I started feeling back to normal within a day or two, so now I'm absolutely sure that my wild emotional symptoms were entirely caused by the ring. I would not recommend the generic to anyone. My mental health deteriorated shockingly fast and I've never feared for my safety the way I did during the third week. Given other people's similar experiences, I'm counting down the days until EluRyng is recalled so no one else has to go through this."

• Che...
• May 15, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on the NuvaRing for 4 years, and I only experienced swollen breasts. It went away after 3 months. I had no problems. In March 2020, I was switched to the generic because of my insurance. Within 2 weeks, I was needing antidepressants because I didn’t feel right. I was having yeast infections like crazy, and the fluconazole was not working (this is noted as a side effect). By April, I was having outbursts of anger, feeling alone all the time, anxious, my blood pressure was out of control because of the anxiety, I was arguing with everyone, libido was gone, and I was just flat out upset about everything. Now it is May, I feel so depressed and question life every day. I’m not motivated to do anything. I’m not happy about anything. I will cry about everything. I feel so alone. Today, we figured out it was the generic causing this. I have all the side effects listed on their website. Affect liability is a serious side effect of this ring. My mental health and, quite frankly, life is on the line."

• Gra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 6, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I had a horrible experience with NuvaRing. I’ll admit it was nice not having to worry about taking a pill every day, but I experienced awful side effects. It caused me to become extremely depressed and anxious and lowered my libido. My doctor told me I wouldn’t be able to feel it during intercourse, but I could, and it was so uncomfortable-sometimes even painful. If needed, you can take it out for up to 3 hours, but it’s inconvenient to have to do that. I also had severe period cramps while using this. I personally do not recommend NuvaRing."

• KHa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2021

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have never had such a horrible experience on birth control in my life! The EluRyng made my anxiety go through the roof, extreme nausea, irritable mood swings, my resting heart rate was around 110 bpm, and I started having suicidal thoughts. I thought it was just my anxiety getting worse, but after getting desperate to feel half normal again, I started doing research and realized it was the EluRyng (I don’t take any other medications). This stuff is scary and needs to be recalled ASAP!"

• Sop...
• June 8, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "NuvaRing caused anxiety and depression for me. After 3 years of the ring, I was experiencing severe anxiety and feelings of loneliness, restlessness, irritability, fatigue, sadness, and I could not understand where it was coming from. After putting two and two together, I removed the ring and within 24 hours that awful fog lifted, and I'm back to myself again. I think NuvaRing is a super alternative to the conventional pill, but please watch out for signs of anxiety and/or depression. The difference after I took it out was shocking, and I really wish that I had been told this could happen. I hate to think how many women are suffering from this debilitating mental health issue without realizing that it is their contraception. In terms of application, wear, and comfort, the NuvaRing is easy, convenient, and overall great. It is easy to apply and causes no problems whatsoever, it has never dislodged or caused discomfort."

• Jaw...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 2, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I’m 29, and I’ve been on NuvaRing for about 4 years, with a short break where I experimented with the pill again while I was between doctors, but the pill made me a psychopath. I chose NuvaRing because it was near impossible to get an IUD without having given birth because of the way my cervix is tilted. I have nothing but positive things to say. I have bipolar disorder with adrenalized anxiety and noticed no increase in anxiety as a result of NuvaRing, which seems to be a major issue for many women on this forum. However, the change in hormones during the off week has a drastic effect on my anxiety. Another complaint someone had was 'the worst yeast infection' of their life; I have had a yeast infection with the ring that felt like it would never go away. Turned out I just needed to take the ring out and rinse it more frequently in addition to the normal treatment. Overall, I was very satisfied with my experience."

• Sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I am an 18-year-old who was relatively healthy before starting the NuvaRing. (I had the Nexplanon before I started the ring.) I kept the ring in literally for 2 weeks, and I will have to say that this experience has changed my whole view of birth control. I immediately experienced depression and anxiety, both of which I’ve never had a history with. My legs would swell up, I felt dizzy, and I had pains in my chest. I had been to the doctors three times in the past two weeks because of these things, and I could quite put my finger on why it was happening until recently. I also never thought that vaginal dryness would ever be an issue with me, but it was. My sex drive completely disappeared. My body immediately hated this birth control, and I am still suffering from the effects of it a week later. Please look at all possible risks and side effects for this birth control before taking it, because if I had known, I would have steered clear of it."

• Mea...
• July 11, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on hormonal pills that caused anxiety and OCD tendencies. My now husband was a saint through that. After becoming pregnant due to a faulty IUD (arm did not fully deploy, and luckily I did not need a surgery), NuvaRing was recommended. I almost made it through my 2nd ring. Over the last few weeks, I noticed an increase in anxiety, being quick to anger, and intense depression. After having days of panic attacks (exacerbated by reviews and thinking I had blood clots) and feelings of complete misery, I decided I needed to remove it. It’s been over 12 hours, and overall I feel better, just exhausted. Everyone reacts to medications differently, and maybe I was more sensitive to it, but I thought it was important to share my experience because I wonder how many people feel that way and think it’s them when it’s not. Even this time, it took my husband to point out there was something altering my system and snap me out of it because I was convinced my feelings were all my fault."

• Woo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started this EluRyng a month ago. I take it out tomorrow. My doc gave me the NuvaRing, but I went to the place and got an EluRyng instead or whatever. I've never had fatigue like this. I call it beached whale syndrome. I can't get up or do anything, and I feel loopy. I also don't sleep. I have conflicting moods like anxiety and depression and am on edge easily. I can't eat food a lot. I feel prego. I have vertigo and migraines. The migraines feel like I got stung on the head. And I can't walk straight, so I had to call out for work, which I already have anxiety over. These migraines last all day. Sometimes I'll take a glass of hard liquor to help. I've been eating a crazy ton of bananas, though, for it. I don't think I wanna continue this medication. My sex drive is nonexistent. But hey, I do love estrogen. My IUD caused me lots of problems, and this makes me wetter and less uncomfortable. So at least the infections are gone."

• For...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Like others here, I’ve experienced more than noticeable side effects after being switched from NuvaRing to the generic brand by my insurance this May. I had been on NuvaRing for more than a decade with no issues whatsoever. Since being on the generic, my periods have been heavier with spotting in between, along with a 30 lb weight gain. I would say that about 10-15 lbs of this weight gain was due to quarantine (not being as active with gyms shutting down, spending more time at home and snacking, etc.), but in the last few weeks since I’ve been on the generic, I have ballooned in size. Truly alarming. I have also experienced increased anxiety, fatigue bordering on narcolepsy, and have been restlessly kicking in my sleep, where I previously never had any sleeping issues."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2014

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started NuvaRing 3 weeks and 2 days ago. I loved it because I didn't have to remember to take a pill. That was the extent of my happiness. Within 1 week, I started to get complaints about my attitude, and people were genuinely concerned about what was wrong with me. Within 2 weeks, I had severe anxiety and depression with suicidal thoughts. I know people say it takes time to get used to, but I would've been dead by then. Prior to the 3-week mark, I had stabbing pain near/in my heart. That occurred for 2 days, on the second day, I said goodbye to my NuvaRing. I did research 2 days after I removed it and found out that it isn't recommended if you have ever had depression, and I had PPD very badly (psych ward for 3 days, yeah, bad)."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was prescribed the NuvaRing after talking with my doctor about different options. It was pretty easy to insert, and I feel that was the only good thing about this birth control. You could feel the ring during sex and it even caused bleeding afterwards (which had never happened before on any kind of pill). Then came the emotional part. On day 5 of having the NuvaRing in, I became so emotional I cried for an entire day about nothing and had no interest in eating or wanting to get out of bed. I took the ring out the following morning, and within 30 minutes, I felt so much better. I am normally a very outgoing and happy person, but this birth control really affected my emotions. While everyone is different and many probably will have better luck with the birth control than I did, I am just sharing my experience. I only used this birth control for 5 days, so maybe I would have had better success if I had tried it a bit longer, but I just couldn’t take the emotions it made me have."

• MeS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2014

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I switched over to the NuvaRing from Gildess FE 1/20 simply for the convenience. Gildess worked great for me, no side effects, so I figured I would try NuvaRing. I had to stop it after two months. The second month on the ring, I experienced off-and-on anxiety, depression at times, feeling unmotivated, and just not like myself. I attributed it to it being finals week in college... but when I didn't feel at peace at all during break, I knew something was wrong. I even flipped out on my boyfriend for no reason and ignored him. The final straw was the random crying outbursts I experienced. Nothing was bothering me, but I found myself fighting back random tears. Back to Gildess for me! Thank God! I can't sacrifice emotional stability for convenience."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 13, 2020

For Birth Control "This thread made me feel less crazy! I had been on the NuvaRing for 11 years, then Cigna refused to pay for it and tried charging me $120 a month for it. So I was forced to switch to the generic ethinyl estradiol with etonogestrel ring. My mental health declined, my anxiety got unmanageable, I gained 30 lbs that I can’t seem to lose no matter what I do. Do not use the generic! It’s terrible."

• Ean...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Lord... where do I start. I’ll preface by saying this is my 2nd month of being on the NuvaRing. The anxiety; the insomnia; the stomach bloating and added love handles. The damn constipation and gas—OMG!!!! Emotions through the roof; paranoia and the cramping and leg pain. WHAT IN THE WORLD????"

• Bri...
• April 24, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I've been using NuvaRing for about 3 months now, and I thought that the extremely bad anxiety was caused by other problems and that it'd go away, but it hasn't and has only gotten worse. My face has been breaking out more than when I was in high school. My sex drive has decreased tremendously! I've never had depression until I started NuvaRing, and it's probably become the worst part of all of this. I started getting leg cramps, which usually never happen and are supposed to be a sign of blood clots, as stated in the side effects. I WOULD NOT recommend this to anyone. I could go on and on about other side effects from this, but I wanted to point out the ones that have affected me the most."

• Ada...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 13, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on the NuvaRing for 6 years. I loved the convenience of it and had minimal symptoms up until maybe a year ago. I did have mood swings on it, but not much worse than the typical PMS ones. The last year or so, I kept getting UTIs. My partner gets scraped by the ring every time, and the pain during sex brought me almost to tears every time. We decided it needed to go. Talked to my doctor who explained that as we get older, our bodies can react differently to hormones. So a birth control you start at 25 may have horrible side effects at 30. Weird, I thought, but oh well. I switched over to the pill, and although I'll miss the ring, the anxiety I didn't have before, the pain during sex, the UTIs-those I won't miss. Also, it randomly made my legs go numb and had some other issues the doctors swear the NuvaRing didn't cause. My advice: try it, it could be great for you. It was great for many years, but as our bodies change, so does our tolerance of hormones and such."

• Rac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I am 36 years old and have been off and on birth control medications over my lifetime. I have tried NuvaRing before and had no issues. I barely felt I was on birth control at all with it for over a year. Then I went off to go all natural. Then, as my periods got longer over the year or so off, I decided to get back on. I was given EluRyng instead of NuvaRing, and it was rough. I only stayed on it one cycle because I had every side effect possible. I was moody, angry, anxious, and tired. I also got my period on day 15 and spotted for a week after. It was the worst experience I’ve had on any birth control!"

• KMP...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2021

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I thought at first that this medication would be the holy grail... no problems the first week and the second week a few changes, some anxiety and increased discharge. The third week is when it all drastically changed for me. I started going from being ruthless and uncaring to crying and being overly emotional the next. I was getting horrible migraines and did not feel like eating. I got severely depressed and anxious very quickly over the smallest things. I was numb, almost like how an antidepressant would make you feel. I have since taken it out, but it says it can take up to 2 menstrual cycles to get the hormones cleansed from your system... so be cautious about if you are experiencing signs and symptoms now that they do not just go away when you take it out. It was very scary and upsetting... I would not recommend."