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

• Lib...
• July 25, 2018

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "After spending 2 years on NuvaRing and ending up on blood pressure and anxiety medicine, I’m done and never looking back! An incident with insurance caused me to lose my coverage for a few weeks, so that when I needed a refill I couldn’t afford it and decided to go without it. I couldn’t be happier that it happened that way. I realized soon after not having it in my system that I felt like a totally different person. While on it, my blood pressure was up, which led to me being put on meds for that. And it caused all sorts of other problems! Such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, high heart rate and a pounding heart, constant nausea (I had motion sickness just moving my head), headaches when it got close to the time to take the ring out. Extreme weight gain and hunger, moodiness, anger, the list goes on! I just can’t get over how different I feel after coming off of it. I no longer need the anxiety or blood pressure meds, and my therapist even let me stop coming!"

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2018

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I took NuvaRing for years in my mid to late twenties. Loved it. I never gained weight, it prevented pregnancy, I had no cramps (except for the first two months), I loved the option of having a period or not, and I liked the monthly option vs. daily. The only downfall I experienced was more mucus “down there.” I then took a break from the Nring so we could have children. I am now 35 y.o., back on it, and my experience with NuvaRing is completely different... and I’m getting off it stat! I’ve had major weight gain (12 lbs), am extremely moody, I get the worst cramps, my sex drive has diminished, I feel less motivated/more tired, and I’m getting frequent migraines. I did read the risks of taking it if you’re 35 and older beforehand (blood clots), but I never had symptoms and felt I’d give it a try. I don’t recommend this at all for women 35 y.o.+ and those who have given birth. The estrogen that is added to the ring has been no bueno for me."

• pgh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 4, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started the medication in Jan 2015. I have 2 kids, so I wanted to ease of not taking a pill every day without having an IUD. This seemed like the perfect solution. Over the past year, I did experience decreased sex drive, fatigue, an increase in anxiety, and weight gain. I have NEVER had a problem with my weight before, and I consistently work out and count my calories. I was even training for a half marathon and still gained weight. In one year, I gained about 12-15 lbs. I took the NuvaRing out about 2 months ago, and I have noticed a difference in my attitude, and the weight gain stopped. However, it has been very difficult to get the weight off. It was definitely simple and easy to use, just not for everyone."

• Mai...
• November 15, 2022

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I would not recommend this to anyone. Like many other reviewers, I was on the NuvaRing and had no issue. Honestly, it was the ideal birth control. My insurance no longer can cover NuvaRing, and I was given this generic brand. I am never one to look down on generic brands (food, cleaning products, etc.), so I didn’t mind. However, 1.5 years later, I wish I would’ve taken the change seriously. I have gained so much weight. I don’t even look the same, I went from a size 4/6 to a size 10/12. On top of that, during my time with the birth control, I was so anxious to the point of nausea. Before any social event, I needed to drink so much to calm down. I was just an anxious mess! I decided to get off this terrible birth control at the end of July (about 4 months ago). I feel mentally better and I can actually go places without being drunk! I am working out and finally seeing results! I went from 215 to 193 - I have a lot more to go, but this is progress! I wouldn’t recommend this birth control."

• you...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 21, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started taking this 2 years ago. I chose it because of how easy it is to use, and you don't have to remember to take it every day. Big plus. On the downside, I did gain some weight. I also have experienced mood swings, and last summer I had sun spots on my face (NEVER had those before!). I'm going to stop using it soon because I'm tired of the mood swings!"

• Abb...
• December 11, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on it for over a year. I never got pregnant, which is a plus, but horrible side effects. I had yeast infections at least 3 times a month. Gained 30 pounds, headaches, and absolutely no sex drive. I switched to the patch, hope it works!"

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

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have been using NuvaRing for approx. 8-ish months. I had used it for a month previously a couple of years ago, but after a depression scare on the pill, any mood swing scared me off. This past 8 months have been great, some weight gain and a little more grumpy, but overall worth it. Periods have shortened slightly and cramping lessened a bit. Only issue is an increase in discharge and inflammation, which can hurt during intercourse. For these two reasons, I'm going to try out the Implanon, but if that doesn't work out, I'm definitely going back onto the NuvaRing unless I choose something else."

• k20...
• August 18, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have been using the NuvaRing for almost a year now, and I absolutely love it. I keep mine in for the entire month and usually replace it without allowing myself to have a period. I feel as if the pros definitely outweigh the cons. It has proven to be 100% effective, and it is so convenient for my crazy schedule. I have experienced around 25 pounds of weight gain. I was only around 110 lbs when I started this birth control, so the weight gain looks healthy. My breasts are very tender most of the time, and they have doubled in size. I am a little more tired than usual and sometimes have dizzy spells. I do think it is very convenient not having to worry about taking a pill every day, and I feel very healthy. My sex drive hasn't suffered much either!"

• Jen...
• May 5, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I've been on NuvaRing one month so far. I love it! No weight gain yet, my skin is staying clear, increased sex drive a lot. I feel a bit sad, but I've felt like this since the birth of my son 6 weeks ago. Overall, I would recommend this to any woman looking for birth control."

• sof...
• April 6, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started the NuvaRing about 3 years ago. At first, I had some pretty terrible mood swings and migraines. I did also gain a small amount of weight. Within 3 months of going on it, my acne got significantly worse, but then completely cleared up in 5-6 months! The trick with this birth control is to definitely give it time. My headaches and moodiness lessened (now I just get a bit emotional around my period), and my sex drive has returned to normal. PROS: super convenient, light 2-day periods, bigger breasts, helped clear skin. CONS: takes a LONG TIME to adjust, slight weight gain, headaches, occasional moodiness."

• cat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 24, 2021

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Was on NuvaRing for more than 3 years. First year it was perfect (after 3-month adjustment period when I had spotting). No other side effects. I used it to skip my period (left in for 4 weeks instead of 3, which is safe). Only had to remember it 1x/month. The second 2-3 years I was on it, my depression and anxiety got worse (not caused by NuvaRing but exaggerated by it). I had no sex drive. It started to cause some dryness and irritation, which made sex uncomfortable. I gained 15-20 pounds, and my boobs went up a cup size and were very sore all the time. I couldn’t lose weight no matter what I did, and I’m naturally very active and eat well. I stayed on it for a while after this because my initial experience with it was so good. Then one day I had a ring break inside of me (only in week 2), it caused a lot of pain. I went to the doctor thinking I had a UTI. At this point, I decided it was time to stop, the side effects were worse than the benefits for me."

• Kat...
• July 28, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "NuvaRing has been good to me. I have issues with anxiety, and so I feared that going on birth control would play negatively with my mood/anxiety. However, I've had a good experience with it and have experienced no negative mood symptoms. Sure, I get the occasional mood swing, however, this is nothing unmanageable. The one and only complaint is that I have gained a good 10 pounds. It honestly just feels like water retention, but slightly annoying, as I was very happy with my weight prior to NuvaRing. Otherwise, this contraceptive has been good to me, my health, and my mood."

• sab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I was on NuvaRing for about 6 months. I stopped because I started gaining so much weight, and it felt uncomfortable sometimes. I went from 150 lbs to 167 lbs in a matter of months. Other than that, the NuvaRing worked well for me! Did not get pregnant, kept my periods lighter and sometimes shorter. I did notice hair loss, and I did start getting leg cramps during my time on this medication. Good for teens!"

• Cam...
• March 18, 2014

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started using NuvaRing back in 2010 after trying many different birth control pills. I gained around 7 pounds, wanted to sleep all the time, and lost completely my sex drive. I had to stop using because the last 6 months I started experiencing severe migraines. So, the only good part about it is that NuvaRing didn't make me feel angry or in a bad mood all the time like the other pills I've tried before."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2012

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I've been on NuvaRing just over three months, and I love it. Had a little weight gain at the beginning, but that can happen with all birth controls. I only just had my first period on it, and it was short, painless, and no moodiness with it! Great! Also, my sex drive has increased, and both my husband and I don't feel it! No loss of ring or falling out! Wish I had heard about NuvaRing years ago!"

• Kat...
• May 14, 2020

For Birth Control "I was using the brand name Nuvaring for the last few years and just recently changed to the generic version. I didn't correlate the switch with my symptoms until recently, but it's been awful. My mood changed drastically. I felt down and depressed for no reason at all, which is unlike me. I usually get emotional around my period, but this was different. I would sob uncontrollably for no real reason that I could think of, and my sex drive tanked, like TOTALLY tanked. I normally have a high sex drive, and the lack of desire has affected my relationship and my mental health because I don't feel like myself. On top of that, I've gained weight, which just piles onto the mental health aspect because my self-esteem has gone down as my weight has gone up. I started working out more to counteract it (my weight doesn't usually fluctuate much), but it barely made a difference. Can't wait to get back to the brand name."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2020

"I used the NuvaRing from May 2015 to December 2019. In January 2020, I was given the generic ring made by the pharmaceutical Prasco. I have had nothing but bad experiences: random bleeding, random cases of BV, cramping, really bad indigestion, insomnia, mood swings like crazy, and weight gain. On the NuvaRing by Merck, I only experienced insomnia but got it under control. My insurance refuses to cover the NuvaRing, regardless of my OBGYN contacting them and providing proof of the issues. I wish I could fork out $200 a month for the name brand."

• Abb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 7, 2020

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Like a lot of other people on here, I didn’t get any side effects until a long time (4 years) on NuvaRing. I’ve taken this since high school through college, and for the first 3 years, never had an issue with sex drive or weight. Without changing my environment or diet, I gained 30 lbs over the last year. I also had no interest in sex whatsoever during this time - would have sex once, MAYBE twice a month. Sometimes not at all. This is compared to my partner and my previous ~2 times a week. I’m not sure what happened last year, but the side effects sucked. I stopped using NuvaRing on my last cycle. I’ve only been off it for a few weeks, but I’ve already lost some weight and have returned to a normal sex drive. I’m sad to conclude that these, while they may not have been caused by NuvaRing, were worsened. This was my favorite birth control, but I’m now going to be looking into a copper IUD."

• LNC...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing for a little over 4 years now. Very effective birth control. Pros: No weight gain (I actually dropped the weight I gained from the pill soon after I started), very clear skin, even moods with no major mood swings, don't feel or notice it, no daily remembering required, periods significantly lighter, shorter, and with less discomfort, effective immediately at regulating my cycle and has continued that way throughout use, it even has enough hormones in a ring to leave it in and skip your period if you prefer. Cons: Can be a little costly but totally worth it (and the brand website lets you print a 50% coupon), intercourse can be uncomfortable with your 'more endowed' partners (just remove it and replace after)."

• Chi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I don't like it! Bad depression, bad temper, bad cramps, sensitive breasts, weight gain, tired, and not in the mood for anything. The only reason I'm doing this is to regulate my periods, and it's the only thing that's working."

• Vba...
• May 19, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on NuvaRing for 3 years, and I love it. Recently, I went to my pharmacy (Walgreens) and picked it up, and it was the generic kind. I didn’t think anything of it, but after using it for 2 months, I got extremely sick, had bad migraines, and weight gain. Even my food tastes off. So I decided to call my insurance, and they told me that the name brand NuvaRing is still covered, and to call the pharmacy to see what’s going on. So I did, they said they were sorry and that they would order more of the name brand for me and they would put it in my notes: NAME BRAND ONLY. More than likely, your doctor knows nothing about it, it’s all on YOUR PHARMACY! Check with your insurance too and complain. Good luck, ladies."

• Don...
• November 19, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I took it for 3 years. Starts with a tummy ache. Then, after 1.5 years, I gained 10 lbs, had tons of problems with my hair breaking, headaches off and on (never had a headache in my life), moody (unusual for me), chest pains, breasts sore and plumper. As soon as I came off it, within one week I dropped 5 lbs. Now on my fourth week off, I have lost 7.5 lbs. I have never had to count calories and had to watch everything I ate on this medication. I always took it out and rinsed it off after sex. I did not get pregnant. Just a gut feeling I should not use it anymore because of clots. I had no acne, my sex drive was not affected on or off it. My skin glows off it, and I feel great."

• RMo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2017

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "This has been a horrific 3 months for me. Let me start by saying I have gained about 15 lbs in 3 months, and my breasts have grown 2 cup sizes. They are tender, to the point where hugging my boyfriend hurts. I am extremely athletic and just couldn't understand why suddenly I couldn't work out. I have no energy, I've been drinking triple the amount of caffeine that I usually do. My biggest change was a COMPLETE loss in my sex drive. I've barely touched my boyfriend in 3 months. I am moody, emotional, feel drained all the time, and literally hate myself. I read all these reviews, ran to the bathroom, and took it out! I do not recommend this to anyone!"

• Dsh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 6, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "Went on the ring two years ago. Was okay with it. No babies. But after about a year, I noticed I gained about ten lbs. Then my moods got very odd. I hadn't noticed, but everyone around me did and thought I was going crazy. Then my hair started falling out. My doctor says that the dosage was too high for me. I switched. But for what it's worth, no babies in two years, so there's that."

• Lau...
• September 5, 2019

Ethinyl estradiol / etonogestrel for Birth Control "I started this at the end of my postpartum bleeding after having a baby. I was told it wouldn’t make me gain weight, it would help keep me acne-free, and as someone with a history of depression and anxiety, I assumed (since I was asked) that it wouldn’t interfere with my mental health. However, I haven’t even been on this birth control for three weeks yet, and I already started my period. What’s normally four days of light bleeding has been a week of heavy bleeding. I’m bloated, I’ve gained weight, my face has broken out horribly, and I fly into a rage over the littlest things. To be clear, I do not have postpartum depression. I am able to be happy and enjoy being a new mother again (I have two other children). Not to mention, it’s hard to even be confident that you have it in correctly. I’m assuming it is, as the instructions are simple: shove it up there as far as you can. It falls out during sex, it’s extremely painful with a tampon. I wouldn’t recommend it."