Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel and Bleeding: What Users Say

• Cal...
• May 29, 2009

For Birth Control "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."

• Jmi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2020

For Birth Control "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."

• Kan...
• January 1, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing for 12 years. NuvaRing has completely helped my endo, and I have had no problems for years. Since I have been on EluRyng (How can we even trust this if they can't spell RING right?), I have had nonstop breakthrough bleeding, cramps, headaches, leg pain and numbness, and of course symptoms like tender boobs, bloating, even horrible stomach issues. I also noticed the coloration on the ring itself is not like NuvaRing. NuvaRing goes in clear and stays clear mostly for about 2 weeks, 3 weeks, then starts to turn an off-yellow color when the hormones fade and it's time for your period. This EluRyng will only stay clear for about a week and lose its hormones QUICKER, which is WHY I think we are having all this breakthrough bleeding or off-time periods! This is not okay!"

• she...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 1, 2014

For Birth Control "Pros: ease of use, decreased acne, reduced headaches, which was wonderful. Cons: 15 lbs weight gain in 6 months, unprecedented! Reduced sex drive and slight depression. Discharge and yeast infection for the first 2 months, terrible breakthrough bleeding."

• Lia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2020

For Birth Control "Horrible! No issues with NuvaRing for years, switched to this because insurance said so. First month wasn't awful.... but second month... non-stop bleeding. Horrid, heavy period like I've never experienced. Two weeks later, still bleeding. I took the ring out. I will never use this again. It is doing something bad to my body. Be careful!"

• DM8...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2018

For Birth Control "For reference, I was previously taking Tri-Sprintec, which stopped agreeing with my body - I started to experience breakthrough bleeding during weeks 2 and 3. I was then switched to Sprintec, which also had the same side effects along with constant hunger. I thought I’d give NuvaRing a try as I liked the idea of not having to remember to take a pill every day. I do not feel it at all at any point, I’ve had no issues with it falling out, no hunger or other side effects, and my period is the lightest it’s ever been and down to about 3 days. Very happy. I know most people only leave reviews when they’re unhappy with something. I wanted to be sure the positive is also shared as everyone is different."

• tal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2020

For Birth Control "Like most others here, was on NuvaRing for a while, and everything was great: barely any periods, no hormonal acne, no nausea. Got swapped to EluRyng when my insurance suddenly stopped covering it. And it was bad. Started bleeding more, and randomly, and pain. I'm honestly disappointed that I came from no periods/hormonal acne to just bleeding on nearly all my underwear because now periods don't seem to have a pattern."

• Mam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 28, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I used NuvaRing for 12 years. I used it for an entire month, then replaced it with a new ring. This way, I wouldn't have periods. I was prescribed this because of heavy bleeding and severe cramping. In January, a generic came out, and I started using the Prasco brand intravaginal ring. The first three months, I bled almost continuously. I still bleed approximately two weeks out of every month. This generic is NOT the same."

• ske...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 2, 2014

For Birth Control "I love the NuvaRing! I chose to take this one because of metabolic interactions with my lamotrigine, and I think I would prefer the NuvaRing to pills even without the lamotrigine interaction. I love that I only have to remember to put it in once a month and remove it for a week three weeks later. Prior to starting the NuvaRing, I had awful period symptoms. I had really heavy bleeding for seven days to the point I became anemic due to the blood loss, and the NuvaRing has changed my period to being very light and lasting at most five days and reduced my previously awful acne. My only problem is that sometimes it slides down inside the vagina and can poke out or be uncomfortable, but it can be put back in place with your finger."

• Eri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 4, 2020

For Birth Control "I had a mostly positive experience with the NuvaRing, but ultimately discontinued use. Pros: I have a clinical diagnosis of endometriosis, and the ring made symptoms like cramping, heavy bleeding, nausea, and vomiting less frequent and more bearable. My skin was beautiful. My cystic acne disappeared, and I only got 1-2 small, almost undetectable pimples a month. I also loved how convenient the ring is. It’s so much easier to remember to change your ring every 3-4 weeks than to take a pill at the same exact time every single day. Cons: The first few months I had some mood swings and got frustrated and angry at little things. This did taper off. Noticeably lowered sex drive (but this might be more connected to endometriosis pain). Near constant spotting. I would spot 8 weeks on, 1-2 weeks off. Spotting was the only reason I discontinued use. I wish my body reacted better to these hormones because it really is a fantastic BC option. I would recommend it to a friend."

• Toy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I've been on NuvaRing for 2 and a half months, and I don't know how much longer I can tolerate its side effects, from the mood swings to feeling angry all the time, low to no libido at all, and feeling distant from my partner. I've been bleeding the entire time I've had it in. I'm hoping maybe in another month or two my body will adjust to the hormones, but we'll see if I even make it that far."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2020

For Birth Control "The absolute worst. I was unknowingly switched to the NuvaRing, to the generic by my insurance company in Feb. 2020. I bled the entire 4 months I was on the generic ring and was extremely depressed and very upset all the time. I had no idea why until one day I happened to realize this was not the same ring. It was the absolute worst experience, and my doctor tried to convince me that they were the exact same product and therefore it wasn't my birth control causing this, but the moment I got switched back to the NuvaRing, my period went away. I felt 100 times better. Please don't switch!!"

• Snd...
• April 23, 2014

For Birth Control "I am super happy with this form of birth control. I was on the pill for years, and I would become crazy. The first month on the NuvaRing, I did bleed for almost 3 weeks. I freaked out a little, but when I changed it the next month, the bleeding stopped, and everything is great. I would totally recommend this to anyone! I never feel it, it doesn't affect my sex life or drive. My boyfriend doesn't feel it. I am 100% happy."

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

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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2020

"I was on NuvaRing for years to regulate hormones and skip periods due to iron deficiency anemia. I’ve received iron infusions for years, but was able to regulate blood loss and space out my infusions for longer periods of time than normal while on NuvaRing. A few months ago, I was switched to EluRyng because insurance would no longer cover the brand unless deemed medically necessary. Since the switch to generic, I’ve had constant bleeding and spotting, cramps that feel like contractions, I’ve passed blood clots the size of an orange mid-cycle, had severe mood swings, heart palpitations to the point I had a heart monitor for a week, which showed PVCs, over 100 per day, fatigue to the point of tears, and constant hopelessness. I fight with my husband for no reason, and I’m so on edge my children don’t want to be around me. I don’t blame them. I don’t want to be around me either. This is the worst thing I have ever been on. Don’t do it!!"

• kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2015

For Birth Control "Don't let the internet scare you. Obviously, most people who write reviews are unhappy with the medication. Happy people are so much less likely to take time to write. I've been doing really well with the NuvaRing. I am so happy to not take a pill every day, and I don't have to worry about pregnancy. At the beginning, I had some nausea and dizziness, this lasted about 2 days. Other than that, pretty much smooth sailing. I'm in the second month now and have experienced some breakthrough bleeding on and off, but that's to be expected, and it's more annoying than it is actually troubling. No weight gain, actually, I have lost about 2 pounds, not sure if there is any relation there. For the most part, I forget I have it in."

• Boo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2020

For Birth Control "I'm so glad that I found this thread. So, the 1st month I got this generic EluRyng, I got pregnant. No joke. This is my 2nd time using it. Used it to the letter, and out of nowhere, I started bleeding. Bright red blood on day 21. This is so weird. I'm definitely going to have to get back to the original. I never had a problem with the original NuvaRing, even when I was irresponsible with putting it in late. Never got preggo, no breakthrough bleeding. Nothing. Now I'm in crisis mode. Out of town, randomly bleeding at my in-laws' house and scared that I might be pregnant again."

• kyl...
• November 13, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on the NuvaRing for almost 4 months. 1st month it was cool. My body getting used to it. 2nd month I was fine, no bleeding for the first 2 weeks of the month. Ever since then, I have bled. I've been bleeding for 2 1/2 months. It's so annoying and embarrassing. I haven't worn panties without a pad or something since. I was put on Estradiol to help my body get past the weird stage. But nothing. Now I know you're reading this and you're like, hell no! But everybody is different. This is just my story..."

• Anonymous
• February 20, 2020

For Birth Control "Within the first month, I had dramatic mood swings. After the first month, I started to notice that I did not smell normal. I went and told my healthcare provider, and they tested me for BV and a yeast infection, and both came back negative. Month two, I had prolonged bleeding. The smell got worse, so I went to my gynecologist and told her I was concerned. She told me that it takes three months to fully sync with my body, so I kept using it. I just finished my period, month three was at a networking event, and I caught whiffs of fish. I pointed it out to my coworker, and he responded, “Yeah, I smell it too, I’m trying to ignore it.” I left the event early, and once I was alone, it turned out it was me. I have not been sexually active and maintain self-hygiene, so I believe it is nothing other than how the NuvaRing is reacting with my body. I’ve taken it out and am no longer continuing with this birth control method."

• Anonymous
• September 7, 2009

For Birth Control "I have always used Natural Family Planning until my husband and I started working at the same hospital, and our hours made it impossible to keep track of everything like we had previously. I decided I'd try the lowest dose of birth control, which is the NuvaRing. I had it in for less than one week because I became extremely depressed, had crying spells, was constipated, and felt nauseated. All of this mattered, but I felt like my body needed to adjust to this... until, after sex, I was bleeding, and the left side of my vagina was very painful."

• Nik...
• February 15, 2015

For Birth Control "Pros: No remembering pills, easy insertion/removal, never feel it/think about it, significantly less cramping with periods. Cons: First 1.5 months had constant bleeding (but that is very rare now), occasional pain with intercourse (but I just remove it for the time and replace it later), some dryness during intercourse."

• orc...
• January 18, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on combo birth control pills for years and switched 9 months ago. I have always used my birth control to skip my periods, so breakthrough bleeding was usually an issue, but it got better on the ring. I had the typical issues of the ring sliding down and causing me discomfort, but I got an applicator, and that fixed it. I have noticed a drop in my sex drive, and my vagina is drier than usual, which has led to tears and bleeding after sex. I assume using lube would fix that issue. My partner had issues with chafing when I left the ring in during sex, so I take it out now. I also have issues with cramping whenever I insert the ring. It doesn't last long, but I feel like it's my vagina rejecting the ring. So far, I haven't gotten pregnant, so it does a great job at that, and usually, I just forget that the ring is there. Overall, I like that I don't have to take a pill every day, and it's pretty easy to insert, but there seems to be more side effects than the pill."

• orc...
• January 18, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on combo birth control pills for years and switched 9 months ago. I have always used my birth control to skip my periods, so breakthrough bleeding was usually an issue, but it got better on the ring. I had the typical issues of the ring sliding down and causing me discomfort, but I got an applicator, and that fixed it. I have noticed a drop in my sex drive, and my vagina is drier than usual, which has led to tears and bleeding after sex. I assume using lube would fix that issue. My partner had issues with chafing when I left the ring in during sex, so I take it out now. I also have issues with cramping whenever I insert the ring. It doesn't last long, but I feel like it's my vagina rejecting the ring. So far, I haven't gotten pregnant, so it does a great job at that, and usually, I just forget that the ring is there. Overall, I like that I don't have to take a pill every day, and it's pretty easy to insert, but there seems to be more side effects than the pill."

• KAC...
• September 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I actually loved the NuvaRing! I did have some side effects such as cramping and breakthrough bleeding, as well as the ring actually sliding out. I know it is unheard of, but I did gain weight on the NuvaRing, nothing major but a good 5 pounds! I used the ring for about three months. I recently switched to Lutera to see if I like that better. I will post a review on Lutera when I use it longer."

• tha...
• February 19, 2016

For Birth Control "This is my second month on it, and I love it so far. I read the side effects and was scared to be moody or have a low sex drive. I experienced none of that so far. I already get migraines and have acne, but I do notice I don't get migraines as often now. I did have some bleeding at the end of the third week that lasted about 5 days. I read the information pamphlet, and I guess that was normal. But there's no bleeding now that I'm on my second ring. It's not noticeable for my lover and me during sex, but you can take it out if it is and put it back after 3 hours. Read the pamphlet front to back before the first use until you're confident. Also, refer to it when you have any questions."