Annovera and Spotting: What Users Say

• Old...
• January 22, 2021

For Birth Control "I’m a 35-year-old woman who has Hashimoto's thyroiditis, EDS, and PCOS. I do terrible on most hormonal birth controls, and IUDs make my anemia and pain worse. I put Annovera in on day 2 of my period, the period stopped. Had a headache for a day. I started spotting around day 20, with some cramps, heavy breakthrough around day 21. On day 17, I was irritable, but fine after. I can’t skip my period with any of the low estrogen BCs like this. I did have some cramping when spotting, took Ibu, period/cramps a little heavier. I used NuvaRing in the past: depression, no sex drive, and weight gain, none on this. My hormonal acne stopped. Partner can kinda feel it, but not enough to bother him, I can’t feel it. I really like it, hopefully, I will stop spotting after this period because it would be nice to find a birth control that doesn’t make my PCOS worse."

• Add...
• November 15, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been using Annovera for over 5 months now, and I am sad to say it did not work for me, and I will be switching back to the pill very soon. The first few weeks were great, but then, for some reason, I have been spotting ever since. Always bleeding and spotty is horrible, and using a tampon is super uncomfortable. For the most part, my mood, anxiety, and depression have remained the same as they were when I was on the pill. Overall, I think it’s very convenient, but the excessive bleeding I have every single day is just horrible and makes sex pretty sketchy, lol. Hope this helps:)"

• Nat...
• April 29, 2021

For Birth Control "I started Annovera on March 28, 2021, to eliminate having two periods a month. My doctor instructed me to insert it the first day of my period. Bleeding completely stopped on day two. On day four, I started having cramps, spotting, breast tenderness, and extreme bloating. I’ve never experienced cramps on any other form of birth control. Since March 31, 2021, I have been experiencing spotting, some days heavier than others, but it has been continuous for a month now. It is horrible! Having to wear a pad or a liner every day and just not feeling clean makes me so upset. A few days ago, the spotting turned into actual bleeding. My doctor told me I could keep this birth control in for a full year and not have any more periods, but this has not been true yet. I almost miss just having the two periods each month because there was no breakthrough bleeding or continuous need for feminine products. I want to see if this thing changes up, but right now I’m leaning towards discontinuing use because it is so frustrating."

• 19...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 20, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been on ANNOVERA for a year and 1 month. I just got my new ring this month. The first 9 months went very smoothly, no side effects, no mood swings, no pregnancy scares, no spotting. At months 10, 11, and 12, I noticed spotting happening about a week before my period. This was frustrating and made me feel like I was bleeding for half the month. Getting a new ring solved this issue. Maybe the amount of hormones was becoming less? Regardless of the spotting, this is the best method for me (the pill and Nexplanon made me moody and my periods were more irregular)."

• Ove...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2020

For Birth Control "I have a bleeding disorder that makes my periods VERY heavy. I have used birth control to keep my periods short or so I can skip them. I spoke with my doctor about this, and she said I could leave it in for three months and then take it out for three days, then go back on. Well, right away, I had headaches, now, three months in, I have been spotting EVERY DAY for the past 52 days! I am done. No sex drive, feel angry, mad, and upset all the time. I'm ready to be done, but my doctor won't change it. I will be looking for a new doctor if she does not help me out at my appointment in five days! Worst birth control I've tried!"

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

For Birth Control "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 NuvaRing. 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!"

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

For Birth Control "I'd give it a 6 out of 10. It was way too expensive, and my insurance refused to cover it. 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 it 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)."

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

For Birth Control "I have digestive issues, and when I was on the pill, I would get many episodes of spotting and, after a while, 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 the pill, no other side effects. At first, I did have nausea and increased discharge, but that 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 the 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."

• So ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2021

For Birth Control "This is day one on this birth control. I had been on Depo-Provera, but I didn’t go for my last injection. I have mild spotting, but it can be from the Depo, not this birth control. I had cramping last night into the AM, but it seems to have stopped. No nausea at all so far. I will give an update once I have been on it a bit longer."