Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel and Depression: What Users Say (Page 4)

• ban...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 23, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "(21 yr old) I've had the NuvaRing in for almost a year now, and I'm taking it out. The first few months I loved it because I had minimal side effects, so I thought my body needed some time to adjust, but it's gotten worse. I'm moodier, have low motivation, ZERO sex drive (I used to have such a high sex drive, now sex is repulsive). Constant debilitating cramps and bloating, headaches, chest pain, depression, and anxiety. I've also gained about 10 lbs recently, despite eating the same. The heavy discharge I can handle with some pantiliners, but sometimes there's a strong, horrible scent. I've always had heavy periods and cramping (lasting 7-8 days), but now it lasts about 14 days. I've never been able to skip my period on this because I bleed when the ring is still in, it just gets heavier on the day I'm supposed to take it out. I liked the ease, but it's taken a toll on my body, mental health, and life. I wish I had taken it out sooner."

• Jus...
• September 19, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have been on the NuvaRing for three weeks today. I have a history of seizures, depression, and anxiety. I haven’t had a seizure in almost 12 years. My depression and anxiety were under control when I started. The last three weeks have been some of the lowest in my life. I ended up having a seizure a week ago, and my anxiety and depression are back in full force. I literally cry over everything and anything, have had the worst mood swings and emotional outbursts, and just feel overall awful about myself. I have experienced such heavy bleeding for the last three days with horrible blood clots (worse than I normally have each month). I have also had a feeling that I can only describe as “brain fog” since starting the ring. Today was my scheduled day to take the ring out, and I did, and I am not putting a new one in. I honestly feel so much better mentally, and this thing has only been out for an hour. My experience has been awful."

• Sea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "The 6th day I took it out. Usually, I am calm and pleasant to be around. This stuff made me hateful, I was violent and intolerable. Depression and anxiety were a big issue. The day after I removed it, with it still in my system, the depression got worse, and I was having suicidal thoughts. I am NOT that kind of person, but this hell ring turned me into an emotional nut job. I do not recommend it at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 26, 2022

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Worst birth control EVER!! I was on the NuvaRing for years and have had no problems, I loved it! This thing is crap. I’m constantly spotting. My periods were super regular and always lasted 4 days. Now I will be on my period for weeks, then I spot randomly when I’m not. It’s sometimes painful to have sex. I have legit had such bad anxiety and depression! One night I broke down and told my husband I was suicidal!! Horrible headaches, feeling nauseous and tired all the time. I have thought multiple times I’m prego because of the side effects I was having. HORRIBLE birth control, I would rather use condoms than deal with this rubbish. Do NOT use this. It honestly should be recalled."

• Lzm...
• February 18, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "So, I'm young, no pregnancies, etc. I was on the pill for a while, I had no negative side effects, but wanted something a little more safe. I then was on Depo, which was absolutely miserable. I was depressed, sex hurt, and my libido was gone. When I switched to the ring, all had been restored. It took 3 or 4 months to regulate, but I am so happy I waited. I am finally happy. And, the best part, my libido is back! This is the best, most fool-proof low-hormone birth control, and it is perfect for me! I only have 3 complaints with this: 1. My boyfriend can feel it and says it sometimes hurts, but I usually remove it during intercourse. 2. There is more discharge. 3. This product is expensive. I receive it for free, but if I had to pay for it, I might not be on it."

• Cat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 5, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Yesterday, I stopped using NuvaRing for the 2nd time. The first time I quit, I wasn't sure if it was the ring causing my depression or just the things going on in my life at the time. A year later, I went back on it because I became more sexually active, and I loved not having periods and the clear skin it gave me. The first 2 months, it gave me horribly sore boobs, I also noticed I was a little moody but thought it would go away once I regulated after 3 months. 7 months in, and I'm a full-blown basket case with life-ruining depression and anxiety. I'm mad I was in denial that NuvaRing was causing it for so long. Do your relationship/mental health a favor, do not use NuvaRing. I feel so bad for my boyfriend for putting up with me for so long."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 28, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started using the NuvaRing in January 2016. At first, I thought of it as a worry-free BC where I don't have to worry about taking a pill at a specific time each day. However, as the months of me using it piled up, so did my mood changes, killer cramps from hell, and increased anxiety. I'm depressed all the time, anxious all the time, and I get mad at my boyfriend for no reason at all. He's asked me to see a counselor. That's how bad it's been. I also have a decrease in sex drive, vaginal dryness, and discomfort when having intercourse. I spoke to my gyno about my situation, and she suggested leaving the ring in for 4 weeks rather than 3. After reading all these reviews, I decided to take out my ring today, and I'm going back to my gyno tomorrow."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started NuvaRing about 5-6 months ago. It started out great because I LOVED not having to remember it every single day. I didn't notice the subtle changes, which makes me disappointed. Side note: my medicine is delivered and NuvaRing had to be refrigerated. The postal carrier kept refusing to deliver it if no one was home and would never try to redeliver. The last time my postal carrier refused to deliver, I came off of it completely - and I'm SO glad I did. I thought that I'd been moody due to recent life changes and all. I had no sex drive, I was angry all the time, I was constantly depressed, and my anxiety was through the roof. After the initial 'ring-free week', everything started getting clearer and clearer every day. It was INSANE. The part that sucked was not being told by anyone that I was becoming more irritable every month. Definitely not birth control for me..."

• E71...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 10, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "NuvaRing is very convenient to use, but after 3 years, I am finally getting off of it. I get major mood swings, anxiety, depression, leg cramps, and not interested in sex. At first, I did not think it was the NuvaRing causing this, but after reading reviews, I can relate to a lot of women! It was very convenient, but I will be changing to another method."

• Tif...
• May 28, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on the NuvaRing for four years and six months. No periods after two years of being on it. No breakouts. No nothing. After the fourth year, I noticed my face was becoming extremely broken out. My blood pressure was getting worse, I am still on medication. I did not have blood pressure issues before the NuvaRing. My blood pressure issues started during my fourth year of using it. I gained weight like crazy. My depression was horrible. I had awful nightmares. I could never sleep peacefully at night. My body always ached. Keep in mind, I never had bad migraines or headaches until being on the NuvaRing for so long. They would be so bad, I would vomit profusely. I would stay so tired. My body was literally attacking itself and the NuvaRing. My appetite was like a man's appetite. I could never stop eating. Let's talk about the sex. I never had sex. I hated looking at a man or even thought of sex. My libido was gone. So my OBGYN finally said enough is enough."

• Pro...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 16, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I love the NuvaRing. I started on it after my son was born 6 years ago. It's easy to use, gentle to put in and remove, doesn't move at all while in there, and I never ever feel it during sex. After I started using it for about 3 years straight, I came off for 2 years as my fiancé was out of the country. I just started back in June 2013, and love it even more now. It doesn't decrease my sex drive, and although I am newly married, I have to admit my sexual desire has increased. With every birth control, there are bouts of sadness and anxiousness, but you distract yourself by watching great movies and eating popcorn, not tons of goodies which probably increases weight gain. I have never attributed weight gain to the NuvaRing, but my own diet."

• Ken...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 16, 2020

For Birth Control "Very glad I found this thread. This year I was switched from NuvaRing to the generic version of the NuvaRing and have felt increasingly depressed over the months. Has anyone switched back and noticed a difference?"

• Jig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been using NuvaRing for 16 years, and my pharmacy just switched me over to the generic recently. I didn't think anything of it because I'm a pharmacist, and most generics are OK, but I did question something that would be inserted in me being generic. I started getting headaches, being depressed, high anxiety, and what made me question taking it was my dizziness/nausea. After reading these reviews, I am sure it is the generic that caused all of these problems."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Got the NuvaRing about 10 days ago, prior to it, I had been on Depo for over 17 years until 2015 when I went off it. I had the ring in for 7 days, I was extremely fatigued, fell into a dark hole of depression, gained about 8 pounds of water weight, so much water in my hands that I could barely bend my fingers. I became unmotivated and started to cry over everything. I had gas and bloating, and my breasts swelled up. I took it out 2 days ago and tried to go to work today but only lasted 3 hours and had to go home sick. What a horrible experience, I need my life back!"

• Dan...
• January 18, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I will say, the only good thing about the NuvaRing is that it has effectively prevented pregnancy. My fiancé and I don’t have a hard time getting pregnant, so I tried the IUD and my body rejected it. My OBGYN recommended the NuvaRing. I’ve been using it for 10 months and I am done. My depression has gotten worse, I had to start antidepressants. My anxiety is through the roof. I always have headaches, and I’m so angry all of the time. It’s either I’m mad or crying. I don’t like this feeling. I do not like the NuvaRing. I’m also sensitive to medications, and it could be the hormones, but still. Not a great experience."

• Bba...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 2, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I used to love NuvaRing because I have irregular periods, and normal strength estrogen pills did not help to regulate them like the NuvaRing. Been on it for about two years now. I’m only deciding to stop it now because I’ve noticed my moods have been super crazy, and I’m normally not a very emotional person. My anxiety levels are up, and even though my life is pretty great right now, I still feel depressed. Possibly because this birth control lowers your sex drive like no other! I used to have such a high libido, and now it’s like it disappeared. I’m only 20! I’ve been with my SO for 3 years now and can definitely tell the difference from when we first started dating till now. I even did an experiment just taking it out for a week and then putting it back in for a few weeks and now taking it out again. My moods have calmed down, and my sex drive is back! Never getting this medication again unless I’m single, haha. A real relationship roller coaster with this."

• ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 2, 2022

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "The first couple of months, I noticed the changes I was feeling, such as being very anxious or upset, but I didn't think anything of it and basically got used to the feeling. This was in 2018. Now, 2022, after having a serious talk with him, I have decided to stop the NuvaRing. For about 3-4 months now, I have noticed a dramatic change in who I am and how I view things. I was sleeping about 80% of my day, I always felt super sick with terrible migraines, constantly so depressed, or crying, or so ticked off over the slightest things. I noticed I wasn't loving myself the way one should. My breasts were always hurting and no sexual desire. A week off, and I feel so much relief and so much happier, positive! I will say NuvaRing did cut my periods down to 3 days and did help with cramps, but my overall well-being is more important than anything."

• Cic...
• June 13, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I've been on NuvaRing for 6 months, and just recently, I've been feeling really depressed, crying for no reason, and accusing my boyfriend of cheating. I've just been really moody and not really wanting to do anything. Could it be a mood reaction from it? I need help so I could switch to a new birth control. It only happens 1 week before I have to take out the NuvaRing, and when it's out, that whole week I just become a disaster."

• Ema...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 14, 2021

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I love the fact that I can’t get pregnant. I hate the fact that it’s made me gain weight, and I now go through mood swings like crazy, and it has awakened my long dormant depression again. I stopped taking it after college and just started it again. I’ve used it for about 8 years total because I can’t remember a pill every day."

• Coc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Okay, so I used NV when I was a late teen with no complications whatsoever. I'm 32 years old now and just recently started back on it again after my c-section. This has been the worst birth control experience of my life. I've used it for 3 weeks and ended up with horrible headaches, extreme cramping in my stomach for a week now nonstop, feeling delusional, and very irritable with no sex drive whatsoever when before taking this I've always had a very high sex drive. I've been breastfeeding, and flow isn't all that good anymore, but worst of all, I have found myself so hard on myself and so depressed, and it's been beyond my control. Felt like I needed to seek help. After reading about side effects, I have figured out where the problem was coming from. No more NV for me."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "First, let me just say, NuvaRing was a horrible experience for me. I've only been on this BC for two weeks, first day spotting, which is normal from what the doctor said, 4 days in blood clots, tiny blood clots, acne, depression, and anger issues. I literally bled for two weeks straight. Took it out today because I had the worst backache ever. I couldn't even breathe. I was waking up every day at 4:30 am, not sleepy at all, made me so hungry. I was working out every day. All of a sudden I started using this and I went from working out hardly ever, fighting with my boyfriend, had vivid dreams, just horrible dreams. One day I had a sharp cramp in my stomach that literally went to my heart, and I felt that. This was horrible, and I have decided to not use birth control, just condoms. But this was horrible."

• 5an...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "The NuvaRing gave me NuvaRage! Can’t even begin to write how terrible of an experience it was to have the ring in. It made me anxious and so depressed. I cried every day for no reason and felt the lowest I have been in my entire life. The doctor told me I was crazy because there is no way that low of a dosage could have done that, but the minute I took the ring out, I was back to my normal self."

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on the pill for 8 years and went off it for 2 years for a natural lifestyle - holy cow, I didn't realize while on that pill how depressed I was and had zero sex drive! Now being 25 and single, I thought I would be more responsible and try the NuvaRing to ease my mind. Being very in-tuned with my body, I knew after 1 month this was NOT for me. I’m very active and eat healthy, so within 1 month I gained 10 lbs, got extremely bloated, was always constipated, and I began feeling extremely unmotivated. My appetite was through the ROOF! The mood swings were severe too, and after just a month I knew I couldn’t put myself through this. I took the NuvaRing out last night and already feel happier 24 hours later. I would rather rely on condoms/my cycle than jeopardize my happiness and health. This forum helped me so much knowing I’m not the only one that had these symptoms. Listen to your body, ladies!"

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was put on NuvaRing because it was supposed to be a very low-dose birth control, and I was already on a pill that was making me super depressed. The first week I was okay, and I wasn’t so depressed anymore, but after exactly a week, the migraines were nonstop, and I believe I have colitis now. I also got heightened migraine symptoms that caused my legs to become numb and tingly, I thought I had blood clots. After 24 hours of removal, I already feel better. Birth control is poison."

• Chi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "This birth control sucks. And I mean suckas. If you already have mood swings, anxiety, and/or a history of depression, please search for other options because this thing will intensify what you have like no other. I've never been on BC prior to this, and I did mention to the doctor if it'll make your mood swings worse, and she assured me it wouldn't. Complete opposite. I feel like I already struggled with some depression and mood swings, but being on this just takes it to a whole other level. The suicidal thoughts come when I'm most anxious, it just flat-out sucks, man. And the worst part is that I never asked to be on this bull, I only need it so I can have a normal period, and this is what I get? Life is hard enough as is. Just stay away from it."