Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Emm...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 11, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I am 23 and have been on NuvaRing for 6 years. This birth control was a lifesaver. I originally went on this because I had severe migraines due to hormones, and this by far was the best choice for me because there are no hormonal spikes. Also, I only get my period four times a year. I still get migraines once in a blue moon, but they're not nearly as severe as they once were. I did not experience any mood swings or weight gain, and I loved the fact that I was always in complete control of it, there was never any guessing if it fell out or moved like the IUDs. I highly recommend this product to anyone who has an unpredictable schedule and might forget to take a pill and anyone who might be plagued with severe migraines due to hormones."

• San...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 20, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Bloating, mood swings, anxiety, depression, no sex drive, made me dislike being intimate. I want to, but I can't make myself initiate sex with this birth control. It's so hard. I've never had this problem with any other birth control. I get sad too, out of nowhere, no reason, randomly. I like the ease of taking it, but it's not right for me. I gained weight, I like myself even less now. Thanks a lot, NuvaRing. It is still not as bad as Paragard, though."

• 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!"

• BCa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 2, 2014

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Birth control pills make me extremely nauseous, and the shot made me gain a ton of weight and caused bad acne, so the only method I can use consistently is the NuvaRing. It keeps my skin clear, is easy to use, doesn't bother my husband during sex, and it grew my breasts a cup size. Unfortunately, NuvaRing makes me so tired that I gained weight due to inactivity since all I want to do is sleep. I suspect it has caused anxiety and depression (although I can't be sure), and it gives me a terrible headache and nausea the first three days I put a new ring in. It dulls my sex drive a bit, but nothing major. I will probably stick with this method for a while unless something better comes around."

• 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!"

• Car...
• November 22, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started NuvaRing at 13 to regulate my heavy periods. I'm 23 now, still on it and love it. Here's the basics: -Never falls out, can't feel it at all (unless it's not put in right or if you have a wider/tilted uterus) -Husband is large and can't stand it, so I put it back in after intimacy. -If I forget/lose it, I just put a new one in for 3 more weeks (skip a period, whoop!) -I have never refrigerated mine, the teens don't need to see that in there lol -no cramps, bloating, acne, weight gain, etc. (I eat a lot so I'm not gonna blame my anti-baby meds for my own bad habits) -no mood swings, sex drive hasn't changed, periods are lighter/are over quicker than before. -no insurance? Forget it. These freaking things are $150 a pop."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I've never written a review about BC. I've been using NuvaRing for 2 months now, and I'm enjoying it. I think I've found the right method that works for me and my body. I was nervous about it because I still have not found anything wrong. This might just be the one! I was on the pill before, and I definitely felt the side effects... I was hungry all the time, breakouts, moodiness, and depression... and weight gain. With the NuvaRing, my weight has been stable (I did start a workout/diet plan, so this may be the reason why I haven't gained any weight). No moodiness, no nausea, no headaches. I don't feel it during sex, neither does my partner. Very easy process. The only thing I've noticed is that my libido has decreased significantly!"

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 12, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I loved NuvaRing. I was put on NuvaRing as a last-minute decision after the birth control pill I was originally on caused a lot of abnormal bleeding. I never really experienced any side effects, occasionally, I would have a lower sex drive than normal, and I also gained about 10-15 lbs, but you couldn’t really tell. NuvaRing also helped clear my acne a lot, which was great because I suffered from cystic acne for years. Unfortunately, a generic form of NuvaRing has been recently released, so my insurance will no longer allow me to continue NuvaRing. So my doctor decided it was best to put me back on the pill (a different brand than before), which is devastating because NuvaRing was really great, and I highly recommend it."

• Lei...
• November 5, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have been on the NuvaRing for about 2.5 months at this point. The first month was fine, but my boyfriend and I couldn't have sex because I was in so much pain, even a slight touch to my vagina set me into shooting pain. Once I hit the 2-month mark, the pain started to subside, and we are able to have sex again, but not often because if there is too much irritation to the area, I will be in pain again. The side effects I have noticed are lack of sleep and overall exhaustion, decreased hunger, constant nausea, cramping most of the month, acne, weight gain, bloating, and mood swings. I have also noticed that my discharge has become three times more prominent and that it has a different odor from anything I have ever smelled before (gross). I have been very sad the last month, and I am keeping track of all these side effects. However, if they do not subside or stop within another 2 months, I will be going off of it."

• tuf...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 12, 2021

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I thought it was not noticeable when inserted. I just left it in during sex, but if you want, you can take it out and put it back in after. I went off it recently, and I'm so glad I did. Each month, before my period, I would get really bad migraines and cramps. Also, I consistently had anxiety and no confidence. I would always have a few very depressing days before my period, which made me want to do bad things. I'm thankful I did not act on those thoughts. I thought it would be a more local form of birth control, but it certainly had an effect on my whole body. I also gained weight, about 10 lbs when I started it, though they claim it doesn't cause weight gain...."

• Anonymous
• October 22, 2012

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I had been using NuvaRing for just about a year when I decided to call it quits. The first few months were great. I loved the convenience of it, and my boyfriend could not feel it. I also never had a problem with it slipping out. After 3-4 months, I started getting intense cramps, bloating, and breast sensitivity for about a week before my period that lasted until I popped the next one back in. Meanwhile, I was getting crankier and moodier, and the smallest things would make me cry. I started breaking out on my face (which NEVER happened before), and I gained about 10-15 lbs (not that I was doing anything differently that would cause this). After about 6 months, I started losing my sex drive, and when I did have sex, it would be painful."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on the NuvaRing for about two months. I took it in hopes of clearing up some acne I had, first mistake. Well, after about a week, I was already feeling depressed, emotional, and easily angered. I had also gained weight, had sore breasts, and might I add, experienced no change in my skin (it was possibly worse). Not saying this won’t be for you, but it definitely wasn’t for me!"

• Ean...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on the NuvaRing for about 3 months and had horrible side effects. My doctor recommended the ring because of the low dose and how easy it is. For the first few weeks, I had random sharp pain in my uterus and my cervix. I had put on weight (I was 5'3" and 110 lbs) and my boobs went up 2 cup sizes in just 3 months on this medication. I had depression before the ring, but my episodes had been way less frequent than they used to be, and after going on the ring, I was constantly depressed and had no motivation or energy to do anything. Along with the depression came the anger and mood swings. I'm not an angry person, but while I was on the ring, I got so mad over the stupidest things and couldn't calm down for hours afterward. I also spotted the entire second month of using the ring. The only benefit to the ring is that I could skip my periods, and it made my skin clear up. Overall, I would never recommend this bc to anyone."

• BOS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was using NuvaRing for about 3 months, and at first it was fine, but then I lost any and all sex drive. It was to the point where I was getting mad at my boyfriend because I wanted nothing to do with him in that way. My moods were all over the place, and I gained a few pounds, but nothing extreme. It is convenient to leave it in for three weeks, but it's a hassle taking it out before sex and remembering to put it back in within the time frame. Just wasn't a match for me. Your doctor won't tell you about sex drive loss because it is not that common, but definitely know it's possible! Hope it works for you."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 3, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "This was the first form of birth control I took. I was on it for about 5 years. It's a fantastic form of birth control; you only have to remember to take it out every 3 weeks, no mood swings, no weight gain (I actually lost 20 pounds while using the ring from switching to a healthy lifestyle), and my boyfriend doesn't feel it during sex. I recently switched to an oral contraceptive, only because the ring was costing me $60 a month. If cost isn't an issue, I highly recommend trying it."

• Vic...
• February 25, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "As a 37-year-old woman getting back on BC for the first time in 10 years, I was suggested NuvaRing. I explained to my doctor that I am easily affected by hormones and I had already tried every type of BC out there. Still, I was told NuvaRing was the answer. Wrong! I've never had acne in my life-not through puberty, not through any of my pregnancies, etc. After 4 months of NuvaRing, I have acne like a 15-year-old just starting puberty, I've gained about 15-20 lbs in 4 months, and my appetite is off the charts. Ever since starting NuvaRing, I'm hungry all day, every day. Sometimes at 3 a.m. I'll be awake (insomnia is another side effect for me), and I'll just want to eat-completely uncharacteristic for me. Irritability and motivation decrease are also present. I just took it out for the last time yesterday, and I'm praying this gets out of my system very quickly. I feel fat and gross and unmotivated. I need my old self back with a quickness!"

• Twi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 28, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I've used the NR off and on for almost a decade. It's fantastic, but does have side effects. Typically regular, short, and light periods. This was huge for me not being regular ever without it. But for me, it causes about a 10 lb weight gain and kills my sex drive."

• AC2...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I have used the brand name NuvaRing for over 12 years with zero complications. In Jan of 2020, my insurance started me on the generic. I can tell you it is not the same. I have had major mood swings and have gained 10 lbs, which is mostly in my abdomen. I look like I am in early pregnancy. I work out and eat clean, and the only change was going from name brand NuvaRing to generic."

• 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."

• oli...
• March 21, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was put on NuvaRing after trying several different pills that didn't work for me (weight gain, irritability, headaches), and the NuvaRing has been amazing! I did gain about 5-10 pounds, and my boobs got bigger, but it was worth it because I didn't have many other side effects. The first month I cramped a bit, but it gets better! To insert the ring, I take out the cotton from a tampon and put the NuvaRing in the tampon applicator and insert it that way, and it's so much easier than trying to manipulate the ring with your hands. I recommend the NuvaRing to all of my friends that are miserable on the pill."

• Men...
• October 4, 2018

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I've been on this medication since 2006. I didn't want the patch or pills because I knew my body is susceptible to weight gain and the possibility of getting a blood clot (especially at the time, they were finding the patch was causing clots). I have a family history of heart disease and stroke. I'm 31 years old right now, and I'm still using NuvaRing. The ring is convenient for me since I can leave it in continuously, according to my doctor. It has fallen out once, and I took Plan B for extra measure, but overall it is really, really difficult for it to dislodge. In my experience, I may have to get off birth control to revive my libido. I've noticed a decline in sex drive, and it is annoying me because now my boyfriend thinks I don't want any, which I obviously do. NuvaRing has caused me dryness and may correlate to not desiring sex because dry sex equals discomfort after sex."

• I...
• August 1, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I switched to NuvaRing because my weight gain with the pill was excessive. When I switched, the side effects were fine, the only difference was I had headaches more often, but it did help my weight problems. I felt better and had less water weight. However, I wouldn't suggest this for someone who has sex often. The doctors told me I could keep it in and I wouldn't feel it, and it wouldn't be a problem. Every time I had sex, it hurt, and my partner could feel it also. So I began taking it out each time, which was a pain. I was always worried I would forget to put it back in, and I ended up having to switch back to the pill."

• Anonymous
• May 7, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing for a year now, and it is the most effective and worry-free method of birth control I have ever used. I did gain some weight on it, but I'm a stressed-out college student. While I think the ring is great, it has had some adverse side effects for me personally. I have terrible back pain with my periods, even though they are short, lasting 3-4 days. I have such a decreased sex drive, and it is so affected and sometimes puts a strain on my relationship (I have been with him for 3 years, so he's been through the birth control changes and has noticed himself). And the ring has probably made my anxiety worse. I did not have anxiety problems until using the ring, they are mild episodes, but still annoying to have. Haven't gotten pregnant, so it's good for that."

• may...
• March 31, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have been using NuvaRing for two years. And I LOVE it. I don't have to think about it, very low hormones. Before I started using the ring, I had terrible periods. I would be stuck at home for at least a day because my cramps were that awful. My periods would also last up to ten days. After I started it, my periods became normal, five days long, and significantly fewer cramps. I gained maybe 10 pounds and two cup sizes."