Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Giving it two stars because it does serve its purpose-birth control. But it's so not worth the side effects I had for the first week after putting it in place. I had horrifying dreams on the third night and woke up in terror. I was mostly depressed and hated people around me. I was easily irritated by small things. I was negative and wanted to be alone. After noticing the change in my mood, I took it out five days later. Just in half a day, I have noticeable improvement in my mood. I wanted to be around my friends again. I'm happier. I wouldn't recommend this form of birth control to any of my friends."

• 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."

• Yog...
• September 25, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "After reading all of these reviews, I feel like I was crazy for staying on the NuvaRing for so long (3 years), but for at least the past year, I have been wondering why I’m not myself. I started the NuvaRing when I was 18/19 and have gained an extra 15 pounds that I can’t seem to lose no matter how much I eat/exercise. I also have had LOTS of mood swings and went through a depression last year, I thought it was my schooling since I am an engineering major, but now I’m not so sure. And the worst was that I lost my sex drive. My boyfriend and I have been together for at least 2 years before I started the NuvaRing, but for the past year, he always wants to, and I just am not in the mood. I feel like these changes started slow but became more clear after the years went by. It wasn’t all bad though, I love its convenience and ease of use, but for what it did to my mental health and weight is frustrating. Thanks, girls, for all your input, I thought I was going crazy!"

• 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)."

• 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."

• CRo...
• December 7, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "This is my last round of the ring after over 12 years of using NuvaRing. I can recall the first few months of using it having depression. After that subsided, I noticed my bad acne had completely gone away but also my sex drive as well. I was told by my doctor to continue to use it if it works well for me in other ways. Fast forward to now, I’ve had an insanely difficult time losing weight. And it’s now come down to the possibility that it’s the NuvaRing. While it wasn’t the cause of my weight gain, I’m strongly wondering if it’s the cause of my weight loss resistance. I’ve been consistently working out plus dieting only to lose a few pounds here and there. I’ve tried so many diet lifestyles and would stick with it for several months to no avail. So now, after much contemplation, it is now time to do without the NuvaRing. And it would be nice to have a sex drive again! And it will be interesting to see how much it affected me in other ways that I hadn’t noticed."

• 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."

• Pin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "So I'm still currently on NR. And I'm not sure how I feel about it, I'm finding that I'm a lot more dry, harder to get turned on, and really not wanting to have sex in general. I also feel like I'm having crazy mood swings-angry ones. Since starting this form of birth control, my relationship has ended because I'm too angry (he says, which I kind of agree with). I feel depressed constantly, I can't stop crying ever. And I'm normally a very happy-go-lucky kind of gal. Not sure what to do at this point, if I should take it out or see how it goes..."

• JLa...
• June 20, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "After my first month's removal, almost immediately my mood coming down from this was very angry. I take birth control to help with cramps and a heavy cycle. The cramps were there with the ring. The second month, which is currently my situation, is I'm 11 days in, and I haven't gotten out of bed in 2 days. I'm a happy person, not angry, never depressed. These past 2 days, I'm angry, sad, and depressed. I removed it today for fearing it getting worse. I do not recommend this to any woman."

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

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel "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!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 20, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing for about 6 years. PROS: I've never gotten pregnant. My boobs went up 2 cup sizes. It's not uncomfortable at all. It regulated my period. Much easier than the pill, you put it in, then you can forget about it for 3 weeks. But the BEST THING for me was that it cleared my acne. CONS: I am moody, more depressed, will cry for any little thing. I have always been 110 pounds my whole life with tiny fluctuations, now I'm heading towards 125 pounds! No sex drive at all. Broke up with my boyfriend of 5 years because we never had sex. It gives me constant BV and daily vaginal discharge, which is the worst side effect to me. I have decided to stop it. I'm sick of having BV, and I don't want to gain any more weight."

• the...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 6, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "The first 12 months were great. No noticeable side effects, and I didn't get pregnant. Then I started having side effects. I couldn't wear contacts anymore, they would literally fall out onto my cheeks. I had them refitted, and the problem persisted. At the same time, I started experiencing what were likely aura migraines. My forehead, upper lip, and hands would go numb. I would experience large blind spots and large dark moving objects in my vision. These problems happened multiple times a week. I was extremely fatigued and depressed. I stopped using the NuvaRing when I realized I didn't have the symptoms in the off week. None of the doctors I saw thought to recommend going off NuvaRing. Symptom-free for 6 months. Off NuvaRing 6 months."

• 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."

• Eri...
• September 1, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I am 33 and have been on NuvaRing for 3-4 years. There are some positives and negatives which I will list: Positives: - Clear skin: I have always struggled with acne, and my skin became very clear. - Light periods and no cramping. - Convenience, and you don't have to remember to take a pill every day. - Easy to use. - Effective in prevention of pregnancy. Negatives: - Highly increased appetite: I have gained 30 lbs in 3 years (start weight was 140, now 170). - No sex drive: Sex became miserable to endure because I had no interest in it. - Increase in mood swings, aggravation, depression, anxiety, and laziness. - Headaches: Occur very frequently and sometimes lasted for 2-4 days. - Sharp random pains in cervix. - Increase in discharge. I have been off the NuvaRing now for a little over a month, and I feel like my personality is back to normal. I feel like myself again. I have lost weight (6 lbs in one month, and I notice I’m not as hungry and don’t have severe cravings anymore)."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 22, 2022

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was in tears last week reading all of these comments. I used Nuvaring for 7 years with no issues. In July 2020, I was switched to EluRyng. Never had issues with my period while using it, so didn't connect the issues I've had for over 2 years now to the generic version being different. I shared with a friend last week that I think I'm already in perimenopause at 35 because there's no explanation for all the symptoms I have and all my tests come back normal. I've gained 25 pounds in the last couple of years, and no matter how hard I work out or cut calories, nothing works. I've had the worst extreme fatigue, migraines for days, crazy anxiety, heart palpitations, ZERO libido, leg cramps at night, insomnia, horrible mood swings, depression, dark self-harm thoughts, fogginess, and my vision has changed significantly 3 times in the last year and a half. I took my ring out 8 days ago and already have so much more energy. Getting the hubby snipped and done with this poison!!"

• cic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2021

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Awful product. My side effects included: yeast infection, vaginal irritation, painful heavy bleeding (6 weeks), acne on my jawline and ears, anxiety/panic attacks, nausea/vomiting, extreme breast tenderness, insomnia, insane mood swings, self-harm, and depression so severe I almost had to check into inpatient psych care. My relationship almost ended because I went fully nuts. I didn't experience a single positive emotion the entire time I was on this BC. The FDA should take this off the market. DON'T put this in your body."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I had been on the vaginal NuvaRing for the past 6 years and absolutely loved it! It was the only form of birth control that did not cause depression or other horrible side effects. Unknowingly, my insurance switched me onto the generic version of the NuvaRing in November, and I have had a horrible experience. I don't get my period when the ring is out of my body, and when the ring is inserted, I experience extremely painful abdominal pain and cramps that I never had before. It took me a few months to realize that the change from name brand to generic was what caused this. I decided to take it out and am no longer on birth control."

• Swe...
• May 20, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I originally had the Nexplanon implant. I had been on this birth control for six years. After the second renewal expired, I decided I wanted a birth control that was not long-term. My doctor recommended the NuvaRing. The first week, everything was fine. I was starting to like it. I couldn’t feel it, and neither could my partner during sex. Week two, the depression was through the roof. I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed for work. I ended up missing two weeks of work because it had gotten so bad. All in that time, I was in the darkest place in my mind. After the first month was up, I came to the conclusion that this was not for me. I would not recommend this to anyone."

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 24, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started NuvaRing 8 months ago after being on 3 different IUDs the past 17 years. At first, I loved it. It did make my vagina swell the first week, but it wasn’t irritating or a problem. Periods are kind of all over the place, and cramping is worse than ever before. Had me laying with a heating pad 3 out of the 5 days. After 8 months, I have gained 16 pounds, and my anxiety and depression are through the roof. I had 3 panic attacks in the past 2 weeks, and it is definitely from this birth control. On a positive note, my cystic acne completely went away, and my skin is, for the most part, really clear. Also, I have not gotten pregnant. I would recommend this product but to pay close attention to your mental health. If you feel anxiety and depression coming on, you need to stop using it and contact your doctor. I’ve also had brief suicidal thoughts. I stopped taking this and am trying the mini pill. Wish me luck. I am writing my review because I feel birth control side effects are extremely underreported."

• Anonymous
• October 29, 2009

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "A very simple birth control to use. I couldn't remember pills, so I was on the ring for almost 3 years (I'm now 29). My sex drive has been reduced to nothing, except late in my period, not coincidentally when the ring has been out the longest. My periods are short, only about 2 1/2 days of light flow, but the cramps start 2 days before that and last right up till I put the next ring in. Worst of all is the depression and mood swings. I have a great life, but when my husband asks what I want for lunch, that has been enough to reduce me to literal tears lately. Also, I've gained nearly 40 pounds despite being more active than ever. I just came back from the gyno and got a copper (non-hormonal IUD) inserted today."

• Car...
• May 29, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started NuvaRing on 5/15/2016 and took it out 5/28/2016. I am 38 and have 3 children. I felt so depressed, emotional, and aggravated for the past week. I am extremely tired, have a headache, and just feel off. I'm nauseous and hungry at the same time. I don't know if it's in my head or if my body needs to adjust, but I am scared of going forward or symptoms worsening. What really made me nervous was my eyes felt like I had a fog over them, I took it out and flushed it down the toilet. 30 minutes later, my eyes were clear again. Maybe I was being paranoid, I don't know, but that wasn't for me. I'm getting my tubes tied."

• ab7...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 23, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I thought since I had such a horrible experience, I would write a review. So I did give it a 2 out of 10 just because I didn't get pregnant an entire year on this medicine, so it is technically effective and also convenient. But the side effects were just not worth it. I literally turned into a crazy person. No libido. I was so unbelievably depressed for months, and it came on slowly, so I didn't really notice how bad it was until I hit rock bottom. I would cry for hours about nothing. I almost broke up with my boyfriend of 6 years because I was so depressed, and I didn't understand why I was so unhappy. Bad experience for me. Not worth it, in my opinion, but everyone is different!"

• Ano...
• November 4, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I love that I only have to think about my birth control twice a month. It's easy to use. That being said, after about six months of use, I realized that I was noticeably more anxious, depressed, and emotional. Where I've had problems with anxiety before, I more frequently have panic attacks, a rapid heartbeat, and a tight chest. I find it hard to fall asleep at night and hard to get out of bed in the morning. Maybe the worst part is that I have a very low libido. There will be times when I do have a desire to have sex with my SO, but my body doesn't respond or tenses up quickly. Otherwise, I don't think about intercourse nearly as much as I used to."

• Anonymous
• September 7, 2009

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel 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."

• Car...
• October 19, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have tried Loestrin Fe 24 & Ortho Tri-Cyclen, both to no avail. Mood swings, depression, weight gain *permanently* of 10 pounds each time. I was ready to give up. But my cousin working in an OBGYN office gave me four months of the NuvaRing as a trial. I CAN TELL YOU I'M IN LOVE! I lost 10 lbs the first month, my appetite was cut in half. My period was light, barely any cramping, & no spotting or ovary pains from my PCOS. These fantastic results continued into the 2nd and 3rd month, I continue to lose unwanted weight. My one complaint: the first 2 months of the ring I had slight vaginal pain, kinda like a yeast infection & an increase in discharge. But the side effects went away as my body adjusted after the 2nd month. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!"