Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 5)

• PgP...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I just started the NuvaRing last month, my first 3 weeks on it were awesome. I had the implant in my arm for 2 1/2 years and bled all the time, so I decided to try the NuvaRing. My first month was the best! I didn't gain any weight (I weigh in daily), I was a little moody (but I'm naturally pretty moody/emotional anyways), and the constant irregular bleeding was stopped and regulated within days on it. The only downside of it for me was I started getting headaches from it - easily cured with water and Advil! Another issue I had was my doctors didn't describe how to remove it/location, so I was panicking about that, but it was easy once I figured it out! Just set it and forget it for 3 weeks - I love it!!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "NuvaRing has done its purpose in a very effective way to prevent pregnancy, considering it prevents without having to remember to take it every day. However, I have been overcome with horrible anxiety. Anxiety has always been a problem for me, but I was always able to manage with therapy and medicine for almost 5 years now. 2 months on the NuvaRing, and I feel crazy. I'm paranoid, constantly making up scenarios and pretty much convincing myself they are true, and not to mention I feel helpless. I am not a cryer, but I cry every day now. I'm also tired constantly and have experienced pretty intense headaches and a lower sex drive. My friends and family have told me as well that I seem off. I took it out today in hopes of getting better."

• Chi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2012

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I went on the NuvaRing because I get excruciating menstrual migraines. My migraine specialist suggested that I try it and have triptans as a backup. The first month had only a few issues - headaches, but Advil took them away. They were different symptoms than migraines. During the third week, I experienced spotting/breakthrough bleeding for 9 days until it was time to take it out and ended up not having a period. I was worried, but it turns out that you need to let your body adjust to it first, and then it will get normal because it is a very mild dose of hormones. Eventually, I'm planning to leave it in for 4 weeks, but in the meantime, I only had 1 migraine and could tell it was going to be bad, so I took a triptan."

• I...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2020

For Birth Control "So, I was also forced to switch to the generic version of the NuvaRing. I have been on NuvaRing for 6 plus years. No issues worth complaining about with my use. THEN, the generic happened in February 2020. March period did not happen. Pregnancy tests came back negative. I have had weight gain, mood swings, random cramps, and headaches as well. I waited 3 weeks before putting the new one in because I NEEDED TO BLEED! Never happened. Popped the new one back in the 3rd week of April. Just took it out, and I BETTER HAVE A PERIOD BECAUSE I am miserable! I am calling my doctor for other options. Can't afford paying over $100 for the brand (Nuva), and I BETTER NOT BE PREGNANT (would have happened St. Patty's Weekend...go figure). I blame the generic 1000000000000000%!"

• Vin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2020

For Birth Control "The generic version of NuvaRing has been a nightmare. It says it's the same dosage and everything, but something is very different. I used NuvaRing for several months, and my PMDD was finally under control, including my severe depression the week before my period and, most importantly, my intense cramps. After being forced to switch to the generic and having used it for the last four months, I get headaches the first week of insertion every time, I get random uterine pain throughout the month, ovulation is painful, I constantly find myself physically exhausted, and my cramps (that I didn't even need to take Ibuprofen for on actual NuvaRing) are back in full effect. I don't even take this for birth control, I literally just use it to help with PMDD, but this generic one doesn't even seem like it can manage that."

• han...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I am so glad I found this thread. My insurance switched me from the NuvaRing to the generic version back in May, and since then I have gained over 10 lbs. I have been extremely frustrated as I am eating healthy, lifting, and even completed a 100-mile running challenge in June, and I’m STILL gaining weight. And it’s not muscle - it’s all going straight to my stomach and lower abdomen. I could not figure out why this sudden weight gain was happening and why I couldn’t seem to lose a single pound no matter how hard I tried. I’ve also been experiencing more fatigue, headaches, and mood swings these past few months, but I assumed it was just due to quarantine and spending so much time at home. I truly think this BC is worthless, and I will be taking it out and never using it again once my next period comes!"

• Tka...
• July 30, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have been on the ring for about 2 weeks. I’ve had shortness of breath, vaginal irritation, and headaches. When having sex, my vagina would be so irritated, this has never happened to me. I took it out to see how I feel. The first day while the ring was out, my vagina already feels better."

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2023

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "So, I have been on the NuvaRing for about 6 months now. These are the side effects that I have experienced: headaches, nausea, soreness just in the first couple of weeks, but I was told that was normal at the beginning, so I kept on. I skipped my period for 2 months, then the 3rd month, I bled for 3 weeks VERY HEAVILY. I also ended up in the hospital with cramps like I’ve never felt before and ended up having a large mass of tissue come out of me. I thought it was a miscarriage, but it was something called a decidual cast, which is where your whole uterus lining comes out. I got extremely depressed and irritable, lashing out at my fiancé. I started experiencing “breakthrough bleeding,” but it’s been going on for 2 months straight, and I cannot get rid of this awful odor that comes with it. I’m taking it out as soon as I see my doctor. I’m scared for what could happen to my mental and physical health if I stay on it."

• Anonymous
• January 17, 2012

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I've been on NuvaRing for over 2 years and never noticed my side effects until I forgot to replace it one month and discovered how much better I felt. Along with a lot of other comments, like serious abdominal pain (for the longest time I thought it was a stomach ulcer until I was tested for it and it came out negative). I lost all of my sex drive, along with natural vaginal lubrication (I now have to resort to lube every time). But I also experienced serious mood swings, headaches, and depression, and the heavy discharge. I just recently went back on it and realized all of these side effects started happening again and am IMMEDIATELY ending my NuvaRing prescription. I think you should seriously take these comments into your decision."

• Anonymous
• March 4, 2010

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "This is my first month with NuvaRing. The first week was awful. I had nausea and headache. It lasted for a full week. I was about to take it out, but I didn’t. Now I am at the 3rd week, and I don’t have nausea or headache. I didn’t want to tell my hubby about the NuvaRing to see if he could notice it. He said that he felt something there. I read before that you could take it out for less than 3 hours and still are protected. So next time I am doing that. Also, while we were having sex, it felt really warm/hot inside, so I would say that is a good idea (for me anyways) to remove it before sex."

• Jaz...
• September 5, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I only used NuvaRing for 8 days. I didn't have cramping or anything, but in the first 5 days, I gained 5 lbs despite exercising 5 days per week. I also started salivating a lot more (on the verge of drooling), had a much-increased appetite, was nauseous, and on the day I decided to remove it, I was very dizzy for most of the day, nauseous, and had a headache. I think I'll be going with a copper IUD."

• LCM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2022

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Awful!! Terrible!! I used NuvaRing for an IVF cycle, and since it has gone generic, my insurance doesn’t cover it, so I tried the EluRyng for the latest cycle. I have been feeling very angry with crazy mood swings, depression, and anxiety. I had to take it out because my mental health is severely suffering. I’m also starting to get headaches. I tried to wait it out - after 2 months maybe things would level out, but it just got worse. Big pharma and insurance companies don’t care about women’s health, and unless you do your research and advocate for yourself, they’ll just roll right over you. Would rate 0 if I could. This medication is dangerous."

• Boo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 10, 2018

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I used the ring for a little over 10 years, no problems, no weight gain, but about 5 years into it, I started having chest pains every so often, as well as really bad headaches and nausea. I put up with it due to the convenience of the ring, but then started getting really painful periods to the point that I took it off and all the symptoms went away. After about 8 months, then I got pregnant, no problem. Now my husband is just going to have a vasectomy to avoid all the complications that come with birth control medications."

• mwa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 2, 2018

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I had the NuvaRing in my early 20s and loved it. My insurance stopped paying the majority of the cost for it, though, and so I had to switch. I am now 30 and got back on it and hate it! I got through my first three months and felt okay. The next two months is where it got bad. My doctor recommended it for my PMS symptoms, but it made them worse instead of better. I was moody, and I mean MOODY! So much so that my boss asked if I am alright because I am typically a happy person. I felt extremely tired all of the time. Had basically all of the pregnancy symptoms. Gained 12 pounds in one month out of nowhere. Headaches all day, every day, and nothing would relieve them. I took it out a month ago and have already seen a tremendous difference in all of those symptoms."

• Del...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2018

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Have used NuvaRing twice. For roughly 4 months last year, after which I took it out because I was experiencing headaches, weight gain, and constant bleeding. NuvaRing did help to clear up my hormonal acne, which I get once a month before my period starts. I did not get pregnant, so it did work as birth control. I recently put the NuvaRing in again as a retrial, but it's only been a week and I'm taking it out. I have a constant headache, my appetite is haywire. I have stabbing chest pains, and after reading some of the dangers of NuvaRing, although rare, I've decided it's not worth the risk or side effects."

• Del...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2018

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Have used NuvaRing twice. For roughly 4 months last year, after which I took it out because I was experiencing headaches, weight gain, and constant bleeding. NuvaRing did help to clear up my hormonal acne, which I get once a month before my period starts. I did not get pregnant, so it did work as birth control. I recently put the NuvaRing in again as a retrial, but it's only been a week and I'm taking it out. I have a constant headache, my appetite is haywire. I have stabbing chest pains, and after reading some of the dangers of NuvaRing, although rare, I've decided it's not worth the risk or side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2022

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on NuvaRing several years ago before trying an IUD due to minimal side effects. I recently had my IUD removed and wanted to go back on NuvaRing but received EluRyng instead. I am experiencing awful side effects - mood swings, fatigue, nausea, weight gain, headaches. I don’t ever remember feeling this way on NuvaRing, but I will be going back on it."

• lac...
• June 2, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "First couple of days it worked out okay, I had a headache here or there and was pretty moody, but other than that, it was okay. I loved not having to remember a pill every day, and I couldn't feel it at first. However, around day 4 on it, I got a yeast infection from hell. Before the NuvaRing, I only had one yeast infection in my whole life, and Monistat cleared it up without a problem. I used Monistat to treat the one I got from the NuvaRing, and it itched like crazy and felt like I had pepper-sprayed my own vagina. Needless to say, I'm switching back to the pill."

• Tab...
• January 2, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on the NuvaRing for 6 years. When I first started it, I had the typical headaches and nauseous feeling that's normal when starting BC. Over the course of those 6 years, I began having mild depression and lost my enthusiasm for life or anything, really. I would have sharp and intense pains in my lower abdomen area (uterus/ovaries), which at some points had me bent over in pain. On 2 occasions that I can recall, I had very irregular and very heavy bleeding, which is very unusual for myself, especially because both times the bleeding lasted nearly a month. When I finally got fed up enough with NuvaRing and took it out for good, I was bleeding extremely heavily for 2-3 weeks straight after my regular period. Within 2 days, bleeding was done."

• Lfs...
• August 3, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I had this in for about two months, at which point I started experiencing horrible headaches. I had a migraine once, too. This happened for about a week straight. That combined with the almost constant fatigue (two naps a day sometimes) made me decide to take it out. It also killed my sex drive, but I kind of expected that."

• CWI...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 30, 2021

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on this medicine for 7 years and then got off of it to get pregnant. After getting off of it, it took me 8 months to conceive. After delivering, I decided to get back on the NuvaRing. I was on it for an additional 8 years. During those 8 years, I would get the worst headaches of my life on the Tuesday after I took the ring out. The headaches were on one side of my head and were so bad I couldn't put my head up. My anxiety was also constantly high while on the NuvaRing. I decided to get off birth control 6 months ago, and I have not had a headache or severe anxiety since. I rated this medicine as a 10 because it did prevent pregnancy."

• ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Make sure you are aware of the side effects of the NuvaRing if using for the 1st time. My Dr didn't give me much info other than the brochure, and I wasn't prepared for the roller coaster 5 days I had (yep, that's all I lasted). Nauseous, sweaty, extremely tired, lethargic, unhappy, starving then not hungry at all, cramps, itchiness, headaches, dehydrated, fuzzy head, cough, teary, EXTREMELY teary, anxious, nervous, irritable... you name it I had it! After a very scary panic attack driving home from work, I ripped it out and will not try it again. Two days later I feel myself again. After using the pill for 14 years, I'm not new to hormonal BC, and I would not recommend this to anyone I know. It was extremely scary becoming a crazy person!"

• Anonymous
• April 30, 2010

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing since January 2010 and love the convenience. Of course, I experience many side effects, such as headache, cramps, breast tenderness, bloating, breakthrough bleeding (first month only), and feeling pregnant all the time. After 4 months, it came out for the first time during sex. It hurt for a bit, then I had light bleeding. I would recommend NuvaRing because of convenience, and as with most birth control, there are always going to be side effects."

• Bub...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2021

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I've been on this birth control, going on 3 months. I've felt sick. Almost throw up. I have headaches and a lot of pain where I insert the ring. It's causing me to not get any sleep. Waiting to be put on the pill. I suffer from PCOS, and my bleeding hasn't stopped. This is day 4 of 3 months I've been on the ring. I'm so ready to take it out."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Literally could only tolerate it for three days before removing it. Was getting headaches, couldn't sleep, had an anxiety attack out of nowhere, and the brown discharge was gross plus it made my vag sore and itchy. I guess it's one of those things that you really like or just can't stand. If it works for you, run with it, but if you have symptoms, from what I've read, be prepared to have those symptoms for at least a month. Can't say it doesn't do its job, but are the side effects worth it?"