Going off Nuvaring, how long until I'm back to normal?

darcy1106

Im new to using birth control, I started the Nuvaring and was reading alot about not being able to get pregnant right away and weight gain and those are things that I don't want to experience. Tell me, how long after removing the ring after just one week of using it should I expect my period and was one week enough time to throw my cycle off too?

Ahook2006

I am glad i came on to this blog as well. I have been on NR for two years because i have ovarian cysts. Also my Dr told me that i needed to stop taking it because my mother and my grammother (my dads mother) both have breast cancer. So as of Feb 6th. Last month my period was normal and this month i am as of right now 15 days late. I have taken 3 pregnancey tests all coming back negitive. I dont want to freak my self out so i am going to the Dr Monday. But could this really be me getting off the birth control or could it be i am pregnant and the hormone just isnt enough to show up on a home pregnancey test?

Arountree5

I like the others that spoke is so very glad that I found this blog. I too have been on NR for just about two yrs. and boy has it been rough. I have been to my doctor so many times, I told her that maybe I am that few percent that is having the worst side effects. Pain all over, little to no sex drive at all, depression, mood swings and man have I been losing hair with a tender scalp. I don't know why the doctors don't tell women these things. Okay blood clots can kill you, but these other syptoms altor your life in a major way as well. I just stopped NR, I have 5 children so I don't want to get preg. but like others I will not use another hormone drug. I can't wait to speak with my doc. who is a woman, this really makes me wonder how much companies know, and how much do they really need to know before allowing people to use a product.

poi2kie

Hi, this message board has been great, thank you all of sharing! I am still deciding as to whether or not to put the NR back in. My boyfriend and I are NOT TTC and still use condoms every time, but I guess I am just curious to see what sort of changes (mood swings, weight, etc) I will have without being on the NR. Do any of you regret taking it out?

chrissato

I've been using nuvaring for 9mo. 1st few days off now and im bleeding hevily. I've had every possible symptom described and more including random excessive bleeding causing me to faint and bleeding during sex or even just masturbation without  penetration. First few months i was fine and had no bleeding at all until random bleeding after 2-3mo. I feel like ive been dying from the inside out. Worst experience with bc for me. I am young and getting ready for college in 3mo. I hope that my body will be back to normal before then, though after reading other post i see i will most likely have an unpleasant summer. did anyone else have these extreme side effects?

aermels

I am so glad I found this post like others said!!  I just got over the NR about 3 weeks ago in preparation of trying to get pregnant again.  I for some odd reason never considered my lack of sex drive, energy and weight gain could be attributed to the stupid bc...it was gradual over time though...I had been taking NR for probably 4 to 5 years and really did love it until I considered all the things that were going wrong with me were due to using it!!

Land2t

I am having the same exact situation. Been on nuvaring for 4 years and just now realizing all the stresses and changes it's contributed to my life; weight gain, acting crazy, lack of sex drive, and lack of energy. I want to go off of it so because you were on it about the same time I have been can you share what symptoms you have had since ou have been off? Has it made you less moody? Less hungry? Less tired? I realize every woman is different but I would like to know what you are experiencing , because despite all the issues I really do love the ring. 

sassykt17

I have been on NuvaRing since 2009. I just recently discontinued use 3 weeks ago. Yes, I am fatigued, boob soreness, bloating, cramping (feels like gas), emotional. However, I have the best sex drive now. I have never had this much fun since 2008 prior to NuvaRing. Now, I attribute this to the fact that my body is trying to adjust itself. Wow, if this lasts-it would be the best thing for my body, self esteem, and sex life. I now use condoms and since we are getting ready to concieve in 2013- I had to clear out the hormones regardless. Best thing for me.

little lindsay

I thought i would do some reserch on this instead of calling the doctor. I dont know why tho. i read everyones post about it and yours was more alittle more towards me. i have been on the ring for about 4 years now. i liked it because you didnt have to worry taking a pill every day and my husband did not like the fact i was on the shot also.i did notice that i have read that i did lose that sex drive, and i cant really say i have loss weight or gain either. anyways i stop taking it about 3 weeks ago considering we are going to be trying for another child her soon. i wanted my body to get back to normal. will there be a normal time? i had just got another period and the last one was about 3 weeks ago. its heavy and im useally lite . my husband thought i was pregnant and should call the doctor beacuse this is not normal. i know you had posted this about two months now i just didnt know how things were working out for you?

dlherbest

I am so happy I found this site! I have been trying to find some information about after-NR symptoms and haven't had any luck. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it has helped me to understand a little more of what I have been going through. I have been on NR for 3 yrs now (right after my second son was born) and I love the convenience of it- not having to remember a pill every day! However, my husband and I both noticed a decrease in my sex drive. I did not gain or lose weight with association to the NR- but more my eating habits - I always want sweets. I found though, it was hard to lose weight when I tried to. I did have breast tenderness though. Also, I am more tired. I just though that was in connection with stresses, but after reading everyone's experiences I am curious if maybe it is related to the NR. Anyhow, my husband and I are TTC a little girl this time around. Yes we understand you can't choose, however, we have done research online for natural ways to help increase your chances. And if we don't get a little girl, but another little boy, we will be just as happy and in love with him, so please do not take that the wrong way! As long as our baby is healthy is what matters most! I did not replace my NR on the 14th when it was due, and instantly I was in a lot of pain. I felt like I had the utmost worst menstrual cramps I've ever had and I was very nauseous. These recent feelings is why I searched online to see if this is normal, and now after reading everyone's experiences, I am happy I stopped taking it. For anyone who experienced this severe cramping- how long after stopping the NR did they go away? Thanks!

schoemkm

Hello!

I see that you have been off NR for over a month, so maybe you have found your answers by now. But if you haven't, I can at least tell you what I went through.

I was on NR for about 3 years before taking it out, mid-cycle, on 9/19/2012, so my husband and I could TTC. I had break through bleeding 2 days later and about 1.5 weeks later I started experiencing heartburn, slight nausea, light stomach cramping, swollen cervix, bloating, fatique, and changes in my breasts, including nipple soreness, breast soreness around the edges, then very distinct veins.. in that order. I thought for sure I was pregnant, yet all my test came back negative. On the morning of 10/18/2012, I got my period. By that night, all of my symptoms has vanished, except for the veins, which took another day to go away. Also, I've gained about 10 lbs and have not changed my diet or exercise program. The thing I am happy about is that my first period came about on time.. some say you count your cycle starting with the break through bleeding. I'm hoping my body regulates itself and we can conceive soon!

I hope this was helpful.. I know I felt like a crazy, maybe pregnant, person for my first month off NR!

CCretarolo

I've personally been off of NuvaRing for about 3 weeks now since I was experiencing major mood swings that were effecting every aspect of my life. I also had lost my sex drive and responsiveness so I knew that I needed to get the hormones out.  I had 3 days of extremely heavy bleeding (went through 3 super tampons each day) when normally I had pretty light periods. My sister has 3 birth control babies so I figured that the hormone fluctuation was most likely an m/c since I have had several while on birth control. 

 Now, my main concern is pregnancy since my SO is condom adverse (although he doesn't want kids...) while I have personally weighed the pros and cons and think that I can deal with an accidental pregnancy if it happens. For the last few days, I've been feeling exhausted even after a full night's sleep, very nauseous for most of the day, and my breasts/nipples are now more sensitive then they ever have been in my life... I've also been running to the bathroom once an hour or so, convinced that I needed to pee to only dribble a tiny bit.This is also the first time in close to 10 years that I haven't been on hormonal birth control.

 It's nice to know that my symptoms could be a result of my body trying to self regulate hormones. Hopefully I'll have a normal period in the next couple of weeks. The women in my family are super fertile though so I'm personally not counting on it. 

KatieKitten

Hello,

 Like so many others have said I am happy to have found this board. I am 23 years old and I have been on birth control since I was 16. I started out on the patch, then went to the ring when I was 17 and have been on it ever since. I took out the Nuva-Ring for my last period and just didn't put in a new one on time. It wasn't for any particular reason other than not having the funds to pay for the new one. I figured it wouldn't be a big deal to not be on BC for a month and then get back on after my next period. Woah have there been some things I have noticed. First off, super-enhanced sex drive (it's like nothing is enough to satisfy it), facial acne, dull and persistant cramps, slight bloating, light brown to dark brown vaginal discharge, feeling just overwhelmingly exhausted, a much more cheerful and light mood, sore and tender nipples, and my breast size got smaller. I wanted to look up post- NV symptoms because of the exhaustion and lack of motivation I feel. Also I have some other health related symptom changes that seem to be affected by me taking out the NV that some other women might be curious about so let me describe it for you guys:

Ever since I was in high school I've had chronic yeast infections. When I say chronic I mean every month. For years. After asking my doctor about it numerous times, getting tested for every STD imaginable, tested for parasites, yeast, everything, the tests still came back negative. I was clean. Yet, I still had sore, raw and sensitive skin around my clitoris, white discharge, burning, itching, the works. I eventually moved on to see another doctor and she was just as confused and had no answers for me. When I took out the Nuva-Ring guess whats starting to go away with it? Yeah, all those "yeast-infection" symptoms. When I think about it, those symptoms started when I started taking Nuva-Ring back in high school. 

jillgrand123

Hi, I am 5'1 and weighed 115 lb prior to starting the Nuva Ring. Within 4 months I have gained 25 lbs! I am super bloated, moody/sluggish and my sex drive has gone way down. (The weight gain may also be due to tapering off and finally going completely off 300mg of Wellbutrin, but I have a feeling it has more to do with the Nuva Ring.)

My main concern is the weight gain and my question is, if I go off it will I easily lose the weight? I know every body is different, but in general does going off make it easy to lose this weight? 

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

amorrow1116

I definitely think I gained some weight on the Nuva Ring. HOWEVER I found that it was the best possible hormone for my body while I was on it. I was on it for about six years and it really worked out well for me. I did notice an increase in my sex drive after going off of it pretty much right away. I haven't lost any weight though which I was really hoping for. 

The first month I went off I had a very light period for just a few days. It was so light I didn't know if it really counted. This month it seems to be back to a normal period and I'm hoping my cycle is back to a normal schedule. I was worried that since I had been on it so long it would take me much longer. Here's hoping for a regular cycle after being on birth control for more than 10 consecutive years!

Kyohteh

I was on NR from 2007 to December 2013, and never really noticed any dramatic side effects. After reading other posts, I realize how hard it was for me to try to lose weight, and that I gained probably 10 pounds, over about a year; also that I was a bit more moody, emotional, and sometimes depressed than I had been before. Anyhow, since removing it, I have had some bizarre menstrual cycles: in January 2014, I bled for 2 days, spotted extremely lightly, and then bled for 4-5 more days. Then, I spotted some more for a week or so, and then cramped (on NR I did not really ever cramp/my cycles were extremely light and very regular), and bled again for another fully cycle, only about 2 weeks after the first. So far into February, I've spotted a couple of different days, including one day, when I expected I was beginning another cycle because the spotting was so heavy, and seemed like it may have been sparked by intercourse. 

Finally, no one else has mentioned this, and I know it's an embarrassing thing, but I'm going to bring up the subject since it seems that it may also be a pretty common thing: vaginal odor. I went to my GYN to see what the heck was up because I was experiencing a very strong, somewhat metallic (not fishy) odor, that was persistent no matter what I did to try to clear it up and no matter how many times I washed myself. I suspected that it could be Bacterial Vaginosis based on some superficial internet searching, but my GYN took a culture and said I was free of infections. BV, for those of you that don't know, is simply an imbalance of "good" and "bad" bacteria that live in the vagina (too little "good" and too many "bad" bacteria present). At any rate, it seems that there has been a ph imbalance, and there are some easy solutions for any of you that may be experiencing the same: Rephresh ph gel has worked well for other reviewers of the same symptoms (and I'm using it currently); as well as a mixture of 2 tbsp. vinegar (apple cider vinegar or white distilled), and water (in a 1 liter bottle) - inserted into the vagina with a douche applicator (do not actually use any douching products, which have fragrance in them and could worsen the problem!). As I read, "The reason this works is because the vinegar makes your vaginal PH more acidic (the way it’s supposed to be) so that the bad bacteria die out." I'm going to try this next if the Rephresh gel doesn't help enough. I hope this helps, ladies!

FionainFlorence

I've been on the ring for 8 years. When I first got on it, I wanted to eat all the time and as a result of eating, I gained weight. The ring by itself doesn't just make one gain weight. But my appetite eventually stabilized. And, so did my moods. Before I was on the ring, I was more sensitive and prone to sadness. When I got on the ring, I felt normal and nice, and more confident. It was great! That's why I've been on it for so long. (Also the no-pregancy thing, of course) But I feel I should get off of it eventually, though I don't want kids. I'm a little nervous to go off of it, because I was late putting it back in by 5 days once and whoa was I an emotional mess. I realize that's just withdrawals. I love the hormonal stability it has given me, and I'm hoping in the past 8 years I've grown up enough to where I won't need to rely on birth control. I wish I knew of more instances of people going off of it after having been on it for a while.