NuvaRing and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

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

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!"

• Lei...
• November 5, 2019

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."

• Anonymous
• October 22, 2012

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."

• Giv...
• October 6, 2015

For Birth Control "I was on the pill for about 2 years, and it became so hard keeping track if I had taken it or not. I had always heard great things about the NuvaRing, so I decided to try it. My favorite thing is knowing that it's just there and I don't have to take it every day. On the other hand, I have broken out what feels like everywhere, I've never had a problem with acne before. Also, the day after I put it in, I started getting really bad headaches, and I felt upset. I thought I was just stressed, so I kept the ring in. It continued to get worse, and it got to the point that if someone even walked by me, I would get angry. Yes, birth control is different for everyone, but I took it out two days ago, and I already feel so much better!"

• Moo...
• October 16, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on the NuvaRing for 2 years, and I absolutely love it. I have no worries about pregnancy, it controlled my severe acne, but my attitude changed a bit (controllable). With intercourse, I find myself dry as well as painful at the beginning, but my partner doesn't notice it. I do notice it slips down when I'm doing activities, which can be annoying, but overall, it's the best form of birth control that fits my life."

• Tif...
• May 28, 2019

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."

• Vic...
• February 25, 2019

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!"

• Nin...
• November 13, 2014

For Birth Control "This will be my third month on NuvaRing, and I am having really bad headaches and acne problems. I haven't gained any weight from the pill, but my acne issue has been worse since I have used the ring. But the ring is comfortable and very convenient, but I think the hormones are too much for my body."

• Ajn...
• June 5, 2015

For Birth Control "NuvaRing has worked just fine for me. I stayed the same weight, but I will say it caused me to have a major breakout, which is abnormal for me. That was setback #1. The second was, my period is 2x more painful than it normally is. I will say I struggle with painful clotting periods when I'm not on birth control. I plan to start using the ring back to back and simply eliminate my period altogether. I was afraid to use this method, but it ended up being great."

• Vel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been on the ring for almost two years, and I am ready to switch! It works great for the whole 'not getting pregnant' thing, but my acne is the worst it's ever been, and my migraines are hell. They're predictable at least. I've been getting them due to estrogen withdrawal, so they occur within days (recently only 1 day) after I take the ring out and last 3 days, but they've been getting worse and worse every single month. I can't do this anymore. Anything is better than waking up hourly to dry heave while in severe pain (my most recent and worst episode to date). I do recommend it, but not for longer than a year."

• Sun...
• June 7, 2018

For Birth Control "This ring was hell for me. Week 1: Excited to try a convenient form of birth control. For the first two weeks, I experienced mood swings but thought this would stabilize. I also had a surge of acne, which I normally do not have. Week 3-4: Acne went away, but mood swings continued. Week 5: same. Week 6, 7, and 8: horrible. I started bleeding heavily every day, heavier than a period, for three straight weeks. This was accompanied by cramping and an upset digestive system. Week 4: I passed a blot clot vaginally, which hasn’t happened since I had my daughter 3 years ago. By the end of the second month, I was physically exhausted from the blood loss and pain and an emotional mess from being unstable for 2 months straight. I took it out...and it’s like the sky became blue again, slowly I returned to my normal self. No birth control method is worth this type of hell. Done and done. Back to the pill."

• Hay...
• August 16, 2016

For Birth Control "I switched to the NuvaRing from the pill several months ago. The plus side is no more having to remember to take the pill every day. The pill gave me bad body acne and cystic acne, which the NuvaRing cleared up. However, the NuvaRing gives me crazy mood swings every month like clockwork. My poor boyfriend will do something, and I snap and can't control my anger. I feel like it's the end of the world and cry excessively. I think this is the end of hormonal birth control for me. Would not recommend if the pill or another hormonal BC did not work with your hormones. Also, the pill and the NuvaRing give me horrible canker sores that I have to take prescription medicine for. Going to try the copper IUD next. Hope this helps anyone in their BC quest :)"

• MIc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on the ring for 3-4 years now, and I know everyone's body responds differently, but I have had zero complaints about the NuvaRing! I absolutely love it. It does not come out during sex, no dryness down there, high sex drive! It's great, the only downside is it doesn't help with acne, so I might just have to change. But I am really considering it very hard because I honestly love this form of contraception."

• Sam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I had been on the NuvaRing for over 2 years now and have just decided to stop using it. The convenience of it was great, as well as its effectiveness. After 1 year on it, I completely lost my sex drive, and sex became very painful. My periods became very light, which was amazing. My headaches became unbearable. I never had acne before, and during the last 6 months, I had terrible breakouts. I have now taken the ring out for 3 weeks, and my sex drive is already back, and my face is clearing up. If you’re using it to regulate your period, I definitely recommend it."

• Sam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I had been on the NuvaRing for over 2 years now and have just decided to stop using it. The convenience of it was great, as well as its effectiveness. After 1 year on it, I completely lost my sex drive, and sex became very painful. My periods became very light, which was amazing. My headaches became unbearable. I never had acne before, and during the last 6 months, I had terrible breakouts. I have now taken the ring out for 3 weeks, and my sex drive is already back, and my face is clearing up. If you’re using it to regulate your period, I definitely recommend it."

• Nta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 12, 2016

For Birth Control "I am getting ready to end my 3rd month on the NuvaRing... I used to be on BeYaz but couldn't stand the mood alteration, and it was making my anxiety levels very high. When I went off of it, my acne (which was nonexistent before) popped up like crazy! My gyno recommended the NuvaRing because, unlike the pill where you get one high dose of hormones, the ring gives you a continuous dose of hormones. Here is a list of my pros/cons for the ring. Pros: no mood alteration at all, no weight gain that I can tell, not pregnant. Cons: discharge, you can feel it, I got a UTI within the first month of using it, your partner can feel it during sex, it's difficult to get wet, and it doesn't help with acne at all."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2019

For Birth Control "First, let me just say, NuvaRing was a horrible experience for me. I've only been on this BC for two weeks, first day spotting, which is normal from what the doctor said, 4 days in blood clots, tiny blood clots, acne, depression, and anger issues. I literally bled for two weeks straight. Took it out today because I had the worst backache ever. I couldn't even breathe. I was waking up every day at 4:30 am, not sleepy at all, made me so hungry. I was working out every day. All of a sudden I started using this and I went from working out hardly ever, fighting with my boyfriend, had vivid dreams, just horrible dreams. One day I had a sharp cramp in my stomach that literally went to my heart, and I felt that. This was horrible, and I have decided to not use birth control, just condoms. But this was horrible."

• Aur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been on and off birth control for over twenty years. I went back on two years ago to help with very heavy periods and tendonitis caused by low estrogen. I was still having breakthrough bleeding and periods every 19 days on strong pills, so I asked to be switched to the ring. I've been on the NuvaRing for two months now. I have not had any breakthrough bleeding. My period started two days after removing the ring and was very light. Unfortunately, the side effects are not great. Bad backache, abdominal tenderness, diarrhea, breakouts along my jaw, upper back, and hairline, vaginal irritation, headaches, occasional low-grade fever, abdominal pain after sex, lack of energy, lack of concentration, and I'm extremely cranky."

• KH2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on NuvaRing for 6 months. I previously had the arm implant, but the hormones caused cystic acne and irregular bleeding. No problems with the NuvaRing aside from slight weight gain (a couple of pounds), which I can live with. My periods have been very regular, no spotting, no mood swings, no change in sex drive. I experienced minimal cramping the first month and continued bloating during my periods. This is a good option for those who have a hard time remembering to take the pill every day. Once a month is phenomenal!"

• Chr...
• March 3, 2015

For Birth Control "I used birth control pills for 6 years prior to trying the NuvaRing. I had pretty good experiences with my old brand, but wanted to try something different and thought not having to remember to take a pill every day would be awesome. I was on the NuvaRing for about 6 months, and I noticed extreme breast tenderness, increased acne, and the worst part was the 15 lb weight gain. The weight was extremely hard to lose while I was on the ring, but after I switched to another contraceptive, the weight I had gained melted off. The one plus was that my moods were great on NuvaRing and my anxiety decreased."

• CC9...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm going on my third month of NuvaRing. I have had about a four-pound weight gain (I attribute it to my eating habits), increased moodiness, and my acne has progressively worsened. However, this is the best and most convenient birth control method I have had. My sex drive has not decreased, no vaginal irritation but excessive lubrication, my period lasts 2-3 days, and no spotting while the ring is inserted. My breasts are tender around the second to third week, but nothing severe. Additionally, during my second month, I did have a case of nausea and vomiting for about two days; I'm not sure where this stemmed from, though. Overall, I give NuvaRing a thumbs up for me."

• wil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2015

For Birth Control "I started NuvaRing 2 months ago. It is easy to remember once a month. I can't feel it at all, and it increased my breast size. But my period cramps are awful! I usually can get through the days by taking Midol and Tums, but this was incredible. No amount of medicine could make me feel normal. Walking, sitting, pooping, eating, breathing - it all hurt. My periods usually are heavy and last 7 days, and the NuvaRing didn't change much. Maybe a lighter flow. Also, I have been really moody and am feeling more and more depressed. I love the ease of this product, but there are some big negatives. I also have a few zits on my back that weren't there before I started NuvaRing... I'll wait a few months to see if anything changes."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2017

For Birth Control "Great birth control that was easy and convenient. All I did was just put it in for three weeks, forget about it, and then take it out after the three weeks were up. Sometimes I would have to take it out during sex, although other than that I did not experience any discomfort or it slipping out. This birth control did not make me gain any weight except for my boobs. I did experience vaginal dryness and extreme decrease in my sex drive, which really made sex unpleasurable at times. This birth control made me extremely tired all the time. I would just sleep for hours on end and had little to no energy. I am currently off this BC due to that side effect. It caused me to have cystic acne after five months."

• Mag...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 16, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on NuvaRing for 7 years before I decided to stop taking it so I could have a baby. It worked well as a contraceptive. In those 7 years, not once did I get pregnant. It took away all my face, neck, and back acne. I did gain 10 pounds even though I exercised weekly and ate less. My libido was not great, but manageable. No other side effects but those. After I stopped taking it, it took 2 months for me to get pregnant. Now I have a 2-year-old boy."

• Swe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on NuvaRing years ago, and while my husband (then boyfriend) didn't say anything, he later told me it made me 'crazy.' I didn’t remember that. All I recalled was that my adult acne cleared up and I didn’t get the brown upper lip I got from other BC. I went back on it recently for 3 months, and the only pros were: no pregnancy and I skipped my honeymoon period. I was a newlywed, and I was supposed to be happy as ever, instead, I was clinically depressed. I had mood swings. I craved sweets constantly with no self-control. I’m usually a health nut and a gym junkie. I was weak and tired. I got home and would climb in bed when I used to hit the gym. I hadn't worked out since I started the BC due to utter exhaustion. Since I quit, I’ve got energy and I’ve regained control of my appetite. I think everybody reacts differently to meds. Give it a try, but be advised of possible side effects. Don’t just live dragging through life when there are other BC options."