NuvaRing and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• November 29, 2009

For Birth Control "I originally came on to this site to look for facts on Implanon, because I am thinking of switching from NuvaRing to Implanon. Out of the many comments, only a few were good. There were many negative comments, and it made me wonder if the majority of people who choose to comment do so because they are experiencing negative side effects, and those women who aren't experiencing side effects don't leave any comments at all. So I'm going to go ahead and add a GOOD comment about NuvaRing. NuvaRing has worked out GREAT for me. No side effects that I have noticed. No weight gain, no mood swings, no acne. The only thing is that I can feel it during sex, which is an easy fix to just take it out before and put it back in afterward."

• Mis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 26, 2014

For Birth Control "I absolutely loved this birth control. Was on it for 8 years and would still be on it now, except that when I switched jobs, my new insurance didn't cover it. No weight gain, super clear skin, no mood swings, light periods with no cramping and the convenience of not having to take a pill every day. Couldn't feel it inside me at all and it never bothered my husband or me during intercourse. Highly recommend."

• Anonymous
• February 9, 2010

For Birth Control "I hate to be one of the many negative commenters on here, but I want others to know my side effects that were related to the ring that I didn't at first think was related to it. Severe anxiety and racing heart, back pain. Zero sex drive! My alcohol tolerance down to zero with severe vomiting, shivering, and hangovers. VERY moody especially week before the period. I have been off all birth control for about 2-3 weeks...ALL symptoms have disappeared...amazingly...and now I know it's related to the birth control, not me going insane."

• Aub...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 18, 2020

For Birth Control "I mean, I didn’t get pregnant, so that’s cool and all, but I gained thirty pounds, was suddenly covered in stretch marks, couldn’t bear the idea of sex anymore, and when I did try to have sex, it was immensely painful. Mood swings like crazy; crying one second, laughing the next. Really bad fatigue and paranoia. Migraines 2-3 times a week, body pains, horrible cramps, and it put me on my period for over 6 months! I mean, but I didn’t get pregnant."

• arh...
• February 17, 2015

For Birth Control "I had commented before, and I also wanted to say that I haven't experienced any mood swings, and I still want to have sex! The pill made me hate sex, but my drive hasn't suffered a bit with the NuvaRing. I love it and highly recommend it."

• Sin...
• March 15, 2014

For Birth Control "My partner and I finally decided to try some alternate methods of birth control. NuvaRing was my first choice because I'm too forgetful to try pills, and I must say I've had a mixed experience. I love the fact that I can insert it and forget about it. I don't feel it during sex, and it doesn't slip out. It got rid of my recurring yeast infections, I even grew a cup size. However, I can't help but notice that I've gained weight, especially around my waistline, which almost never happens, and my sex drive has decreased. I exercise regularly, so I know it had to be the hormones. I experience extreme mood swings, I'm a lot more angry, I find myself depressed, have random urges to cry, and my periods are just as painful as before. I just may switch soon."

• Que...
• August 6, 2014

For Birth Control "My doctor put me on NuvaRing just shy of 3 months ago as a temporary alternative to the Assure procedure due to needing to take birth control 3 months before the process. Previously, I had not taken any hormones in over 10 yrs. The first month was fine. No problems, and I had a lighter cycle than usual. The 2nd month, I started having crazy mood swings and bloating. At this stage, I just saw my OB/Gyn today because I have gained so much weight and bloat. I'm unable to wear my regular clothes. I work out 4 times a week, eat healthy (almost vegetarian), and my only caffeine is a daily cup of coffee. My doctor said I have gained 10 lbs and need to remove NuvaRing."

• Eri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 4, 2020

For Birth Control "I had a mostly positive experience with the NuvaRing, but ultimately discontinued use. Pros: I have a clinical diagnosis of endometriosis, and the ring made symptoms like cramping, heavy bleeding, nausea, and vomiting less frequent and more bearable. My skin was beautiful. My cystic acne disappeared, and I only got 1-2 small, almost undetectable pimples a month. I also loved how convenient the ring is. It’s so much easier to remember to change your ring every 3-4 weeks than to take a pill at the same exact time every single day. Cons: The first few months I had some mood swings and got frustrated and angry at little things. This did taper off. Noticeably lowered sex drive (but this might be more connected to endometriosis pain). Near constant spotting. I would spot 8 weeks on, 1-2 weeks off. Spotting was the only reason I discontinued use. I wish my body reacted better to these hormones because it really is a fantastic BC option. I would recommend it to a friend."

• Toy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I've been on NuvaRing for 2 and a half months, and I don't know how much longer I can tolerate its side effects, from the mood swings to feeling angry all the time, low to no libido at all, and feeling distant from my partner. I've been bleeding the entire time I've had it in. I'm hoping maybe in another month or two my body will adjust to the hormones, but we'll see if I even make it that far."

• dtl...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 3, 2020

For Birth Control "If you want to fart and cry for a week every month, then NuvaRing is right for you. Aside from not wanting to get pregnant, I use this because I’m on a category X drug. I’m not allowed to take this medication unless I’m on birth control. I’m forgetful, so the pill was never my friend. Depo made me gain 20 lbs. I dismissed IUDs because of the risk of infection, but after 10 years of week-long mood swings, irritability, crying, and farting, I’m going to talk to my doctor about making the switch. It works, but at a cost."

• sar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 25, 2015

For Birth Control "I was on the NuvaRing for 6 years or so, and I LOVED it while I was on it. I didn't have issues with feeling it, or it coming out during sex. Sometimes if I was having sex, we'd take it out just because it can get uncomfortable being (essentially pounded) in the same place. I went off of it about 4 months ago. I only went off it because the hormones started to mess with me. My libido dropped, I couldn't get wet, and freaked out emotionally before my period every month. I wish the hormones didn't affect my body like that, because I really liked this birth control."

• Kel...
• June 23, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been using NuvaRing for a year now and have decided to take it out. In that year, I gained almost 30 pounds and have had insane mood swings. I kept it in so long because I thought other things were causing this until I talked to my doctor."

• Yog...
• September 25, 2019

For Birth Control "After reading all of these reviews, I feel like I was crazy for staying on the NuvaRing for so long (3 years), but for at least the past year, I have been wondering why I’m not myself. I started the NuvaRing when I was 18/19 and have gained an extra 15 pounds that I can’t seem to lose no matter how much I eat/exercise. I also have had LOTS of mood swings and went through a depression last year, I thought it was my schooling since I am an engineering major, but now I’m not so sure. And the worst was that I lost my sex drive. My boyfriend and I have been together for at least 2 years before I started the NuvaRing, but for the past year, he always wants to, and I just am not in the mood. I feel like these changes started slow but became more clear after the years went by. It wasn’t all bad though, I love its convenience and ease of use, but for what it did to my mental health and weight is frustrating. Thanks, girls, for all your input, I thought I was going crazy!"

• Mom...
• June 7, 2019

For Birth Control "So I’ve been using NuvaRing for about 2 months now after having my little girl in March. This birth control has given me so many symptoms, I’m going crazy! Nausea, increased appetite, cramps, headaches, and mood swings! I have to apologize to my husband when he gets home from work tonight because I’ve been so mean to him, and I know he’s wondering what the hell is going on! This is my first time being on birth control in 5 years, and I absolutely hate it. Even growing up, my body hated birth control, and I always advocated against it. I let my doctor talk me into not getting my tubes tied because I have 2 kids, and I’m only 27. But I know we don’t want more kids, I’m content with my 2, and we plan to adopt a child when they’re older. I’m scheduled for a consultation in 2 weeks for tubal ligation, and I’m going through with it. This experience with NuvaRing has been the worst! I’m not compromising my well-being for birth control when I know I’m physically done having babies."

• Anonymous
• December 27, 2009

For Birth Control "I have been on and off NuvaRing for the past...oh, maybe five years. Before that, I did the pill and HATED IT. I was always forgetting to take it and would count the pack at the end of the month and freak out. With the NuvaRing, I never had that problem, just stuck it in and was good to go. Occasionally, the weeks would slip by and I'd forget when I put it in, but overall it wasn't too bad. I wanted to write a good review about NuvaRing because it is a wonderful product. In all the years I had it, I didn't really gain weight or see a big change in my skin or experience major mood swings. Just try it and see if it works for you."

• Ada...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on the NuvaRing for 6 years. I loved the convenience of it and had minimal symptoms up until maybe a year ago. I did have mood swings on it, but not much worse than the typical PMS ones. The last year or so, I kept getting UTIs. My partner gets scraped by the ring every time, and the pain during sex brought me almost to tears every time. We decided it needed to go. Talked to my doctor who explained that as we get older, our bodies can react differently to hormones. So a birth control you start at 25 may have horrible side effects at 30. Weird, I thought, but oh well. I switched over to the pill, and although I'll miss the ring, the anxiety I didn't have before, the pain during sex, the UTIs-those I won't miss. Also, it randomly made my legs go numb and had some other issues the doctors swear the NuvaRing didn't cause. My advice: try it, it could be great for you. It was great for many years, but as our bodies change, so does our tolerance of hormones and such."

• Pin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2016

For Birth Control "So I'm still currently on NR. And I'm not sure how I feel about it, I'm finding that I'm a lot more dry, harder to get turned on, and really not wanting to have sex in general. I also feel like I'm having crazy mood swings-angry ones. Since starting this form of birth control, my relationship has ended because I'm too angry (he says, which I kind of agree with). I feel depressed constantly, I can't stop crying ever. And I'm normally a very happy-go-lucky kind of gal. Not sure what to do at this point, if I should take it out or see how it goes..."

• JLa...
• June 20, 2019

For Birth Control "After my first month's removal, almost immediately my mood coming down from this was very angry. I take birth control to help with cramps and a heavy cycle. The cramps were there with the ring. The second month, which is currently my situation, is I'm 11 days in, and I haven't gotten out of bed in 2 days. I'm a happy person, not angry, never depressed. These past 2 days, I'm angry, sad, and depressed. I removed it today for fearing it getting worse. I do not recommend this to any woman."

• Yel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 24, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing for 3.5 years. I almost immediately experienced major mood swings, crying, getting offended by things that normally don't bother me. However, the convenience and the fact that my severe cramps and heavy flow greatly diminished made it worth it to me. But as time went on, after the first year or so, I began to notice my sex drive wasn't as strong. Two years in, I had zero sex drive whatsoever, and three years in I experienced many more side effects. These include severe cystic acne, 12 lb weight gain, headaches, nausea, and my mood swings have worsened. I feel anxious all the time. So, tonight I took it out and don't plan to put one back in again. I did go off the ring once before for a month and felt normal again."

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

For Birth Control "I started using this product when I became serious with my boyfriend. I'm very scatterbrained, so using it has been amazing in regards to never worrying about missing a pill. I can just leave it in and not worry. After being on it for only 3 months, I noticed an extreme weight gain, loss of sex drive, virtually no vaginal fluid, breast tenderness, anxiety, and severe mood swings. But I stayed on it, hoping it would pass. It hasn't. 2 years later, I'm only on it for convenience. I'm switching this week."

• Fol...
• July 19, 2016

For Birth Control "I absolutely love the NuvaRing and have been using it for one year. I did notice slight mood changes at first, but my moodiness eventually went away. My doctor taught me a great tip for inserting it. If you use a tampon applicator (minus the tampon and replace with the ring) to insert, it works great! It has never fallen out during sex. However, it has to be the plastic kind. Definitely noticed an improvement in my skin as well!"

• Eri...
• September 1, 2019

For Birth Control "I am 33 and have been on NuvaRing for 3-4 years. There are some positives and negatives which I will list: Positives: - Clear skin: I have always struggled with acne, and my skin became very clear. - Light periods and no cramping. - Convenience, and you don't have to remember to take a pill every day. - Easy to use. - Effective in prevention of pregnancy. Negatives: - Highly increased appetite: I have gained 30 lbs in 3 years (start weight was 140, now 170). - No sex drive: Sex became miserable to endure because I had no interest in it. - Increase in mood swings, aggravation, depression, anxiety, and laziness. - Headaches: Occur very frequently and sometimes lasted for 2-4 days. - Sharp random pains in cervix. - Increase in discharge. I have been off the NuvaRing now for a little over a month, and I feel like my personality is back to normal. I feel like myself again. I have lost weight (6 lbs in one month, and I notice I’m not as hungry and don’t have severe cravings anymore)."

• All...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 22, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been on NuvaRing for one year now. Overall, I like it. My experience is as follows: I heard that I could bleed irregularly at first. The entire first month was a very long, miserable period. I heard that it could make me emotional. Boy, was that an understatement. Granted, I was going through a tough time in my relationship; the hormone changes ultimately forced the demise of it. I was borderline suicidal for the second month of using NuvaRing. Luckily, month 3 I was almost back to the right levels of hormones, and my period was coming 3 days after I took the ring out. The last few months have been weird because it comes 4 or so days after removing it. Perk: Insurance covered it and saved me all $108 it cost each month!"

• Anonymous
• August 31, 2009

For Birth Control "I've been on NuvaRing for 3 months. I chose NuvaRing because I knew I couldn't be trusted with taking a pill every day but wanted birth control to help regulate my periods, ease mood swings, and clear skin. On NuvaRing, I still have mood swings, more headaches now, at times feel very tired, still have bad breakouts, and also an almost non-existent sex drive. I assumed all this was because I was home with 3 little kids until I noticed a pattern while on the NuvaRing. Three days after I take the ring out, I have a surge of sexual desire (also this is when my period starts, figures). I'm going to stick with it for another 2 months to see how it goes, meanwhile, I'm going to talk with my doctor again about better options."

• Al ...
• August 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I LOVE THE RING!!! Ladies, I seriously recommend the ring to anyone and everyone. The ring has given so much freedom in college, and it's amazing. I've been on it for a year and have had zero side effects. ZERO weight gain, no acne (in fact, my skin is clearer than it was before being on the NuvaRing), no mood swings, no decrease in sex drive, etc. Five of my friends have tried the ring as well, and they love it too!! You can't feel it once inserted, and it stays in place during sex and won't move until you take it out. It's super easy to put in as well! It has helped make my period super manageable, and I have no PMS. I used to suffer from painful periods, and now I don't have to worry about any of that. It's great! Give it a try!"