Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel and Nausea: What Users Say

• Ker...
• August 25, 2014

For Birth Control "I'm always tired and moody! I always feel sad and get angry and rageful very easily. I'm emotional and I no longer feel the desire to do the things I used to enjoy. Waking up is a task every morning, my job has become more difficult, and I feel like I've lost all my motivation. I can't wait to be off the NuvaRing. I'm hoping I can go on an IUD or something better. I haven't gained any weight, and I've been on it for two years, but the side effects just aren't worth it. My husband and I seem to argue more and more. My breasts hurt all the time, I feel nauseous and sick constantly, and the smells of certain food make me sick. I might as well be pregnant."

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

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."

• Kim...
• October 10, 2014

For Birth Control "Maybe a day or two after inserting the NuvaRing, I began having sore breasts. They were so sore a bra hurt them, and touching them was out of the question. I also experienced nausea and/or vomiting every day. I wanted NuvaRing for the convenience, but it's not worth the side effects I experienced."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on Nuvaring for 8+ years and never had a problem, then was forced to switch to the generic because of my insurance. Within the first couple of days of having it in, I started having intense back pain and was so nauseous I could barely go for a walk outside. I finally took it out and got better, but now I'm off birth control and having problems with my moods and cramping. Really sucks that the FDA approved this generic that clearly is dangerous, and now I can't afford something that was working great for me."

• ups...
• January 23, 2010

For Birth Control "NuvaRing is effective in pregnancy prevention. However, the side effects were bad. The first month was fine, with only one bad side effect (diarrhea), and I wasn't too sure if it was even from my birth control that month. It was never listed as a side effect. When I got my period, it was light and lasted only about 2 1/2 days. After 2-3 months, side effects started to kick in: more abdominal cramps, normal discharge, extreme bloating very often, nausea, and headaches. Along with these, I became extremely irritable/very grumpy, had a major loss in appetite, and when I did eat, the diarrhea would hit (severely). Eventually, I had horrible back pain and became very depressed, which negatively impacted my life."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2014

For Birth Control "I'm gonna keep it short and sweet; I've been on about a week, taking it to help with PMS. No initial symptoms other than a slight increase in random emotional upheaval. After about 3 days, exhaustion kicked in along with unnecessary bursts of anger, frustration, or sadness. 4-6 days, mass fatigue, appalling headaches (I promise you, I'm not exaggerating!), crazy outbreaks of spots, nausea, and lightheadedness. I'm going to stick it through for at least another week and will update. I would obviously prefer to follow through to see if it settles down, but I have rather a lot to do in the next few months and would rather not be impeded by my hormones. Good luck! It's worth a try - you can always take it out if it disagrees with you."

• Dai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2020

For Birth Control "My insurance provider now covers this versus the NuvaRing that I have used for 11 years. NEVER a problem with the original, but this generic is worse than a menstrual cycle. I have had cramping, bloating, painful breasts, discharge, headaches, migraine, body aches, and nausea since I started this. So disappointing, it has caused issues I didn’t even have with a cycle. I am 46 and now trying to figure out how I can budget $75 a month for the brand. This is awful."

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 13, 2018

For Birth Control "Was on it for 8 years 1) crushing migraines 2) 30 lb creeping weight gain - Without changing diet - spontaneously shed to 20 pounds without trying when off it 3) SEVERE panic disorder 4) 100% loss of sex drive 5) dizziness and vertigo 6) perfumes caused nausea 7) extremely enhanced sense of smell 8) queasy 9) light sensitive.. pupils like pinholes, even in dim light 10) dry eye 11) chronic diarrhea 12) heart rhythm problems when standing for longer than five minutes 13) hair thinning on scalp 14) decreased sweating 15) hot and cold flashes - 23-31 years old 16) heat exhaustion while spending time outside in summer 12) hot all the time - kept the A.C. in my classroom freezing cold 13) vaginal itching 14) gum recession 15) hands and fingers puffy 16) A1C range verging on diabetes even only 15 pounds over healthy BMI range. And guess how many of these symptoms went away after I stopped NuvaRing? EVERY SINGLE ONE"

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 13, 2018

For Birth Control "Was on it for 8 years 1) crushing migraines 2) 30 lb creeping weight gain - Without changing diet - spontaneously shed to 20 pounds without trying when off it 3) SEVERE panic disorder 4) 100% loss of sex drive 5) dizziness and vertigo 6) perfumes caused nausea 7) extremely enhanced sense of smell 8) queasy 9) light sensitive.. pupils like pinholes, even in dim light 10) dry eye 11) chronic diarrhea 12) heart rhythm problems when standing for longer than five minutes 13) hair thinning on scalp 14) decreased sweating 15) hot and cold flashes - 23-31 years old 16) heat exhaustion while spending time outside in summer 12) hot all the time - kept the A.C. in my classroom freezing cold 13) vaginal itching 14) gum recession 15) hands and fingers puffy 16) A1C range verging on diabetes even only 15 pounds over healthy BMI range. And guess how many of these symptoms went away after I stopped NuvaRing? EVERY SINGLE ONE"

• Gan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I initially googled NuvaRing side effects because I was concerned about its impact on childbearing and then came across this site. I’ve been on the ring, I realized just now, for over 10 years. I’ve never had any problems with it at all besides it falling out during sex a few times. However, for the last year, I have been having some weird things happen to my body. Random passing out, very intense migraines, nausea, and random leg dumbness. Up until reading others’ stories, I assumed it was just getting older and my body changing into its mid-30s. Now I wonder if it’s due to the NuvaRing. I’m going to try going off it and see what happens. Thank you for sharing your stories."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing since 2007 and have never had any issues. I was given EluRyng in September of 2020. It has been a horrible experience! I have bled 14 days straight. I also experienced fatigue, headaches, and nausea. I’ve also experienced mental changes. I’ve been unhappy and depressed. I am usually the happiest person in the world. My NP suggested I stay on it for 3 weeks for my body to adjust. I told her that I would never use it again! Worst birth control ever!"

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

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!"

• Ela...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2023

For Birth Control "Only lasted 5 days before I had to remove it. 24 hours after insertion, headaches started. Then my vagina completely dried out and became very itchy. Nausea kicked in so badly I started vomiting, and my face broke out in severe acne. Every joint ached and started stiffening up. My mental health plummeted, and I started having crying fits out of nowhere. I removed it at 5 days, and 10 days later I am still suffering headaches, extreme fatigue, and nausea, which is slowly getting better, and every other issue stopped within 24 hrs of removal. Do not recommend for anyone sensitive to hormones, as this knocks you about quite a bit. Only plus is it can be removed easily when you decide it is not for you."

• kel...
• October 30, 2015

For Birth Control "So I just felt the need to come on here and put in a good word. It has only been 4 days for me, but I haven't had any crazy side effects. The bad so far is: a little nausea and definitely some dizziness, which is improving. I had some fatigue day 1-2 also, and some cramping and headache day 3. My sex drive has been insanely high. I feel like I am more sane than normal and kinder, lol. I don't feel the ring when it's in really, and I do have this compulsion to keep checking to make sure it's still in there. I have had sex and no change (so far?) in ability to orgasm or vaginal lubrication. Previously, I was on Loestrin and was experiencing more side effects than this from the get-go. So overall, I am happy. I will update after a few weeks and see how it's going."

• 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."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2014

For Birth Control "I was recently diagnosed with endometriosis, and my gynecologist initially recommended the Mirena to help manage it. The inserting process was impossible and so dismissed. Next up was the patch... worst decision of my life. Nausea, vomiting, extreme fatigue... that lasted me three days. Next up was the NuvaRing. I'm going into my third week, and so far it's doing better than anything else I've tried. My side effects are awful headaches and cramps here and there. Other than that, I feel perfectly fine. If the headache gets bad, I simply use a painkiller, and voila! I'll definitely recommend it to anyone that can't use a high-dose contraceptive like me. I think the low dose in the ring could make a huge difference. Can't knock it till you try it!"

• Aa2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2013

For Birth Control "At first, I had the Paragard for four months, and it was excruciatingly painful. Come to find out, I have endometriosis, and that's why I was in so much pain. My doctor prescribed me NuvaRing as treatment for my endometriosis and as birth control. So far, I love it. I keep it in continually, so I don't get periods. The only downside is it makes me very nauseous when I first put a new one in. Other than that, I love that I don't have to remember to take it every day, and my sex drive hasn't changed a bit."

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

For Birth Control "Terrible. I was on Nuvaring for about ten years on and off, and it was perfect: light periods, barely there, and zero side effects. Because of my insurance, I was switched to EluRyng, and it went downhill from there: heavy periods, never consistent, super irregular, always spotting. Haven’t stopped bleeding in over a month. I've been on it for about four months now. I’ve been nauseous, with cramps and lots of headaches! Not impressed and figuring out ways to afford Nuvaring again!"

• Mom...
• June 7, 2019

For Birth Control "So I’ve been using NuvaRing for about 2 months now after having my little girl in March. This birth control has given me so many symptoms, I’m going crazy! Nausea, increased appetite, cramps, headaches, and mood swings! I have to apologize to my husband when he gets home from work tonight because I’ve been so mean to him, and I know he’s wondering what the hell is going on! This is my first time being on birth control in 5 years, and I absolutely hate it. Even growing up, my body hated birth control, and I always advocated against it. I let my doctor talk me into not getting my tubes tied because I have 2 kids, and I’m only 27. But I know we don’t want more kids, I’m content with my 2, and we plan to adopt a child when they’re older. I’m scheduled for a consultation in 2 weeks for tubal ligation, and I’m going through with it. This experience with NuvaRing has been the worst! I’m not compromising my well-being for birth control when I know I’m physically done having babies."

• Ale...
• June 16, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on the ring for a few months. I have had an increase in appetite, times where I feel nauseated out of nowhere, I have gained 12 lbs! I am highly into fitness and can't seem to shake this extra weight off. Moods definitely change, my boyfriend thinks I'm crazy now, lol. I have dryness and irritation in my lady parts. Kinda sucks feeling you got a yeast infection 24 hours a day, and sex is not so great. I plan on taking this out tonight. Now, looking at all the reviews, this definitely is not for me. Thanks, everyone, for sharing! I am not alone!"

• Yel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 24, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing for 3.5 years. I almost immediately experienced major mood swings, crying, getting offended by things that normally don't bother me. However, the convenience and the fact that my severe cramps and heavy flow greatly diminished made it worth it to me. But as time went on, after the first year or so, I began to notice my sex drive wasn't as strong. Two years in, I had zero sex drive whatsoever, and three years in I experienced many more side effects. These include severe cystic acne, 12 lb weight gain, headaches, nausea, and my mood swings have worsened. I feel anxious all the time. So, tonight I took it out and don't plan to put one back in again. I did go off the ring once before for a month and felt normal again."

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

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."

• Hey...
• May 1, 2021

For Birth Control "I have tried many different birth control pills, and none worked for me very well. NuvaRing was 100% the best birth control I have ever been on. The only reason I stopped it after a few months was because it was giving me extreme nausea to the point it was hard to function. That was the only side effect I experienced, though. I loved that I didn't get mood swings, vaginal dryness, headaches, or anything else. I heard about a different vaginal ring called Annovera, which supposedly had less hormones, so I tried that one too and had the same experience: awesome birth control with no side effects EXCEPT extreme nausea and throwing up. If you're considering a vaginal ring, I would give it a try because the day after I took the ring out, the nausea went away, so it is definitely worth trying. I was so disappointed to have to give up on this ring because it really did work great for me, just couldn't deal with the nausea."

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2020

For Birth Control "This was the absolute worst! I was on it for 2 weeks and could not fathom the idea of dealing with the side effects any longer than that! I felt sick, had a headache, felt constantly on edge, my stomach was upset, nauseated, bloated, and my breasts were swollen. It interrupted my entire day! I took it upon myself to pay out of pocket for NuvaRing, and I have no regrets about that decision. What’s awful is that all the medication coupons online are only for EluRyng! How can you force a medication on women that is making them feel so incredibly ill?"

• rai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2020

For Birth Control "Where do I start? I started this medication on July 25, 2020, and ended it on August 4th. I am going back to pills unless I can get my hands on the name brand. First of all, the nausea. The prolonging of my period after I inserted it. Then, on day four, I was rushed to the ER because my leg started going numb out of nowhere. I began questioning a lot of things I was doing in life, including a new relationship and graduate school. My depression worsened, and my anxiety shot through the roof. I am never taking this again. I'm not even sure why this is on the market! Check if your insurance covers the NuvaRing before deciding to go on this one. I took it out because I began having chest pains out of nowhere, and it mimicked having a blood clot in my chest. No."