Annovera for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 3)

• Hally
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2022

"I’m about to be on my fourth cycle with Annovera and overall it’s really not that bad. My boobs are huge and sore but not unbearable, I find it very comfortable and it’s easy to remove/insert once you get the hang of it, and my periods are normal and easy to track. HOWEVER, I will be taking it out. Unfortunately this has completely got rid of my libido, and I’m now suffering with dryness and pain during intercourse. I was on the pill prior and it hurt my libido but I never experienced pain. I’m planning to go hormone free for the rest of the year just to see how it goes. I don’t see any point in taking BC if it makes me not even want to have sex???"

• Linby
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 10, 2022

"I switched to Annovera because I was forgetting to take the pill often enough, and birth control that you don’t have to worry about as often was really appealing. I’ve been using it for 6 months now, and don’t really experience any major side effects besides headaches. When I first started, I experienced really bad nausea. That usually occurred when I would first insert it back in after the 7 day break. The nausea went away after about the 3rd month. I also experienced pretty severe headaches/migraines that I never got before. They were pretty bad and I would get them as often as 2-3x a week up until the 3rd month again, but they started lessening in severity and frequency since then. Now, I only get occasional headaches that aren’t too bad. I would definitely recommend sticking it out past the 3 month mark to see if your side effects go away, because it seems like that’s the usual amount of time it takes everything to regulate out on Annovera."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 25, 2022

"I started using Annovera October 2020 and used it for 1 complete year. In the beginning there was some nausea and headaches. After a couple months I had no symptoms, except Eczema! All over my ears and inner thighs. Yes, who would have thought that birth control causes eczema. I have never had eczema in my 34 years of living so initially I chalked this up to stress and being a teacher in the middle of a global pandemic. Finally once my relationship ended I decided not to renew the prescription for another ring. I took the ring out and almost immediately the eczema went away and has not returned. I have been 3 months eczema free. I did like the ease of use, and not getting pregnant, no weight gain, no acne. But itchy eczema patches was ultimately my decision to end usage."

• Ericadp
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2022

"I been on the birth control for 2 weeks now. I had no problems so far. It’s the perfect birth control for me because I didn’t like taking the pill everyday. I would forget. And it made me nauseous. With this birth control I have no side effects. Before I decided to get on this bc I read all the reviews. I have not experienced no stomach pains. My sex drive actually went up. No nausea or vomiting. I can’t even feel it. I forget I’m even on birth control. So everybody’s body is different. Just because someone went through something doesn’t mean it will happen to you. It was easy to insert and remove. I love this bc !!!"

• Lila
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2021

"Initially, I really liked Annovera. It is fairly easy to insert and remove. I used it for 4 months. It didn't interfere with intercourse or feel uncomfortable. I was doing well on it until recently when I started having yeast infections and vaginal irritation. I take a 50 billion women's probiotic and never had issues with yeast infections, etc. so I attribute these changes to Annovera. My OBGYN also just confirmed I have PMDD so we are going a different route for birth control. Annovera seemed to heighten the PMDD symptoms for me. Overall, I think it's a great option and less "maintenance" and I would have continued to use it if it weren't for the problems I started having."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2021

"I was so excited to have a birth control option that didn’t cause weight gain. I had the worst cramps with Annovera and I’ve been on Paragard before, which made that experience seem like a walk in the park. My cramps were so crippling, I couldn’t move. I thought I needed to be admitted to the ER. I discontinued it and now I am completely lost in terms of finding the right contraceptive for me."

• MeganC
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 8, 2021

"I started using Annovera in November of 2020. Prior to switching I was on the NuvaRing for the last 5 years. I only switched because my doctor told me about a new vaginal ring that lasts a year. I figured one piece of plastic to throw out is better than 12 per year. I have experienced side effects every time I get my period. The first few days on my period I am so fatigued I can barely walk without feeling faint. Luckily that only lasts a few days. I also have very heavy bleeding, which I did not have on the Nuva Ring. I brought this up to my doctor and she suggested I leave it in during this cycle. I have left it in and still had the fatigue. Instead of the heavy bleeding I have been spotting for almost 3 weeks. So far not a fan may be switching to a different method here soon!"

• Joelle
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2021

"I was so excited to find this birth control after researching different birth control options. 5 days in, I had to take it out. Very intense migraines almost all day long for 4 days straight and I typically never even get headaches. I was nauseous and bad body aches. The concept and idea of this birth control is genius but I just cannot handle the migraines. Otherwise it’s very easy to put in and take out and I didn’t feel it at all."

• Shan
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 22, 2021

"I switched to annovera for bc because nuvaring stopped being covered by insurance and its generic version has terrible reviews. Annovera was great for a few months but I tried to skip my periods and I ended up getting a 2 month light period. Then I used it properly and it was good for a while but now I'm getting two week periods. They are not painful and my PMS has been better on annovera but I can't accept two week periods."

• Bc2001
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2022

"I started the ring about a month ago & it is nice because it’s a yearly thing, I don’t have to go monthly to the pharmacy to pick up the once a month ring. However, my boobs have been sore/tender the whole time and it’s uncomfortable. I’ve been on birth control for 6 years now and I like that I don’t have to remember a daily pill or when my month is up on the Nuva ring. I like that it stays in during sex as well. My only issue is that it keeps sliding down and it’s an uncomfortable feeling. I have to push it up multiple times a day because I can feel it."

• Sarah
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 19, 2022

"I absolutely love it. Completed 2 full years with 2 rings and am about to start my third. I’m SO grateful that I now have a birth control I can insert once and forget about (I do take it out to get my periods but you can leave it in if you want to skip them or delay a period a couple days). My partner and I don’t notice it during sex and I never feel it throughout the day. Before Annovera, my gyno was pushing me to get an IUD since I had issues with the pill but I was really dreading having an invasive procedure done…Annovera came just in time and saved me. Love that it’s a long term birth control option that I’m totally in control of. This ring is great win for women's health in my opinion."

• Still...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2021

"This was my choice of birth control since I loved the nuva ring and with 3 kids now I hated going to the pharmacy for a new one every month. However, I started the second day of my period it’s been two weeks and I’m still bleeding. I am suppose to take it out on the 5th which is in a week. This sucks! I hope it stops soon. Other than that, I’ve had no other side effects."

• Victo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 27, 2022

"Tried it 3 times 2 months, then a month and last time after 3 month break got it in give it another chance, but had to discontinue due to severe depression. All 3 times the day after I took it out was back to be a normal person. I only had a history of depression when I was a teenager. Now 35 and it was just as bad. So if you have similar history, be aware of it."

• Rosea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 26, 2022

"I'd give it a 6 out of 10. It was way too expensive and my insurance refused to cover. I paid five hundred USD out of pocket. The only birth control that didn't seem to make me feel horrific, although my libido tanked (I'm assuming because of the action of SHBG generally making testosterone unavailable for use by the body, to be scientific about it). I used this to skip my periods for months and as a result have incurred endless spotting for the last six months of the life of the ring. I am generally intolerant of most birth control. Left it out overnight on accident because it does cause an uncomfortable sensation during sex. Not sure if using continuously made it more effective, no pregnancy scares. I didn't want to be pierced with a tenaculum again for an IUD so I chose this ring. It may have affected my moods for the worse but I am not certain. This silicone ring is definitely way better for me than PEVA nuvaring(the chemical in that left a mark on my partner, ouch)."

• liv
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2023

"I started taking Annovera and was really nervous about weight gain. I’ve now been on it for about a month and a half and absolutely love it. The first 3 days of having it in I was nauseous but that passed pretty quickly. I get really moody and depressed before my periods and this seemed to do the same thing. I haven’t gained any weight and I feel like myself still so I’m very happy about it."

• Unhappy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2022

"I was excited about trying Annovera since the IUD was awful and I had a lot of break through bleeding with the pill. After 2 months I’m taking it out for good. Pros: it stopped my break through bleeding, and you don’t have to think about it. Cons: horrible horrible cramps all the time, thick constant mucus discharge, I’m crying at the drop of a hat, but the worst thing is that I’ve been having heart palpations. Overall it’s not worth it."

• Locce...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2021

"I was on Annovera for 6 months. The only negative side effect I had was a decreased sex drive. The ring was great. Easy to insert. A few times I had trouble removing it and had to get my partner to (TMI), but otherwise it wasn’t troublesome. No interference during sex. I wish I could continue to use it, but the affect on my drive was enough to make me take it out for good."

• BadRash
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2022

"I wanted to really like this option - and I still think it's a great one lifestyle-wise. This was my first time trying hormonal birth control. Insertion was easy, and me nor my partner felt the ring (it also worked well in terms of the birth control indication). The first cycle went fine with very minimal mood swings. The second cycle, I started to notice that my skin was very dry (which I didn't note as too abnormal) but then my neck started to get this horrid rash - not scaly but red and intensely itchy. I had to sleep with an ice pack on my neck, and my eyelids also became intensely dry, sensitive/itchy, and red. I had about 3 incidences of this rash in the same places over the course of my 2nd cycle on Annovera before I decided to quit it. In the following month without Annovera, my skin barrier slowly began to recover and the rash on my neck cleared immediately while my eyelids took a while to adjust. I would not go on this again."

• Happy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 7, 2022

"For me, Annovera has been life-changing! While taking the pill, I struggled with frequent nausea, weight loss (due to the nausea), hair loss, and loss of libido. I was not comfortable with getting an implant or IUD; I wanted something I could remove on my own. I was at the end of my rope until my own research led me to Annovera. Studies on the progestin used in Annovera have shown it is less likely to negatively impact sexual function in women because it is not androgenic. Fortunately, I've found Annovera to have no negative impact on my sex life. A major win! You can download the Annovera app, and your insertion/removal schedule for the year is all mapped out for you. I have had some nausea during the first 24 hours after inserting the ring, but now that I'm in my third year using this product, it is rare. 0 other side effects, and 0 pregnancies! I don't know what I would have done without Annovera. It has had such a positive impact on my quality of life."

• Aurora
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 2, 2021

"I have digestive issues, and when I was on the pill, I would get many episodes of spotting and after awhile having to have a withdrawal week - which I was avoiding due to bad migraines on the placebo week. I’ve been using annovera for almost 6 months. I feel mixed still and not sure if I will continue. The hormone levels seem great for me, less moodiness compared to pill, no other side effects. At first I did have nausea and increased discharge, but the went away pretty quickly. My real issue is the size. It doesn’t seem to work that well with my anatomy. They say to keep pushing it in until you can’t feel it, but I can feel that it’s past my cervix and yet almost sticking out still... When it gets really annoying, I switch to pills for a week (take pill one day, take the ring out when I take the second day’s pill). Still has been the best hormone experience, but wish there was a size choice."

• GGG
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2022

"I just got Annovera around a month ago and the most notable side effects that I’ve noticed are increased anxiety, genital itching, and (a lot of) acne. I’ve never been a person to get acne, not even in my teens, and since I inserted it I’ve been getting huge pimples. Also, the genital itching is very bothersome to me. Aside from that, it’s doing its job. I don’t feel it inside me like some have said."

• SarahFE
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2023

"Annovera is great most of the time. However, after using it for 3 months, at exactly 16-18 hours after insertion, I vomited continuously for over 5 hours. I tried it for another month and had the same result. Despite that it is easy to use, doesn't shift/fall out, doesn't interfere with sex, doesn't require me to remember a pill daily, and I can take it out if I need to, unlike the IUD. I have had mild weight gain and sadness, and some decreased libido, but all of this could be from the seasonal depression I get, so it's hard to separate out. I might continue using it if I can control the vomiting."

• pvsre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2023

"I tend to be very sensitive to medications in general. Prior to using Annovera, I was off birth control for 2.5 years because I couldn’t find one that I could tolerate. I started having short cycles that were painful, so my OBGYN suggested trying Annovera. I took Annovera for one cycle - I had it inserted for three weeks and then out for one to get my period. At first, I didn’t notice any side effects which I was thrilled about given my generally bad experiences with medication. I had a day or two of nausea and was a bit tired but that was it. Around week 3, I started to have significant mood changes. I found myself being incredibly irritable and feeling more negative/depressed. By the time I removed the ring, I had spent 3 days in a row crying at work and after work, having two anxiety attacks at work, and feeling very depressed. After I took out the ring, I felt normal within a week. Please beware of any sudden changes in your mood!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2022

"I have very heavy short periods and I was looking for something to lessen the flow or stop periods altogether. I'm very sensitive to the hormonal effects of systemic BC so was hopeful not to have that with Annovera ring. Doctor told me to leave in continuously to avoid periods. I didn't have mood effects that I could tell. I did have some bloating and slight weight gain. I was very happy the first 4-5 weeks with it, no period, no problems. But then I started bleeding through it. It didn't stop and was getting heavier so after 3 days I removed the ring and dear god I never thought I'd stop bleeding. Extremely heavy like before but lasted like 10 days. Massive clots coming out. And the cramps. I don't usually have cramps but these were so painful. So I'm not going to use that again. Experiment over."

• Tasha
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2022

"I am two weeks into using this birth control. The only down side is that I will have random chin hairs growing as my body adjust to the hormone. I will have occasional cramps but my period kind are severe so this type of cramping is a minor annoyance. My mood was actually affected. I suffer from anxiety and depression. Using this birth control has taken it away. I was on Prozac and all the antidepressants and none of them worked. This is a great new birth control. I have energy. My sleep is amazing compared to without it where I used to have choppy sleep. I used to have random uterus pain and a high sex drive (it’s not that great when you’re religious and single and constantly having to distract yourself) and now the pains have stopped and my sex drive is low (sounds horrible but it’s a blessing for my lifestyle). I haven’t had any yeast infections. I had one head ache. I haven’t had any spotting or any terrible side effect. This helps with my severe pmdd periods."