Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with nuvaring and sideeffects

Are the side effects of birth control reversible?

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:30:29 -0800

I want to start taking birth control, but I'm afraid of potential side effects. I really do not want mood swings, weight gain and I especially do not want bigger boobs. What if I start on the Nuvaring and my boobs go up a cup size, if I stop taking it, will they go back to their normal size? Also, how long does it take for any of the side effects to develop, and how long would it take to go away? If I stop taking it for a while, and then go back on, will the same side effects return? I'm 31, fairly petite and slim, and in a long term relationship. Might have kids in the next 5 years, so getting an IUD is out of the question. Also, am completely absentminded, so taking the pill is not an option I want either.

How long does it take for the hormones to leave my system?

schroedinger — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 18:52:18 -0800

What can I expect from taking a break from hormonal birth control? How long does it take the hormones to clear out of your system? Which hormonal birth control side effects disappear and which stay? Factual and anecdotal advice welcome! I am currently on NuvaRing and have decided to take a break from hormonal birth control for at least a few months. I would like to let it all clear from my system and see how my body and mood changes when everything is "normal", then possibly start again-- though probably with the Mirena IUD. I'm wondering what to expect from this "off" period. How long does it take for the cravings and moodiness to stop? Will my boobs shrink immediately? When will my period go back to pre-BC flow? Is this a gradual process or abrupt? Will these BC side effects disappear at all? Does it depend entirely on my individual chemistry?

I would love to hear your experiences on going off, and whether or not you went back on and why.

Is NuvaRing giving me an unstoppable period?

schroedinger — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:16:52 -0800

Is my NuvaRing making my period wonky, and will it eventually stop? Has anyone had similar side-effects from starting on the Ring? Womanly cycle details inside. I was on Ortho TriCyclin Lo until the end of April. I stopped because it was making me crazy and crave chocolate all the damn time. I used no hormonal birth control during May. This month I began NuvaRing. A week-and-a-half ago my period started (though three days late). On the second day of flow I inserted the Ring, as per its official instructions booklet. Now my period has yet to stop, though for the past week the flow has been very light.

Previous to OrthoLo I usually menstruated six to seven days. I had no initial side-effects switching to OrthoLo, and when I was on it my periods lasted about five days or less, and were much lighter than previously. This whole ten-day period thing is an entirely new and unwelcome development.

Has anyone experienced similar side-effects from switching to the Ring or birth control in general? Do I need to wait it out or see a doctor? It is going to stop some time, right? God, I hope it will stop.

Ways around Nuvaring side effects?

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 11:17:46 -0800

Problems with the NuvaRing. What can I do? I started the NuvaRing two weeks ago. I had sex for the first time (on the ring) last night and I immediately felt an intense burning in my vagina that didn't go away for 45 minutes. I did some investigation and it seems that other people have complained about this in various forums but the only solution seems to be to take out the ring during sex. Are there any other ways around this? Also, when looking at the side effects, I saw sinusitis listed. I've had a cold that I can't shake for a week. Related?