NuvaRing Side Effects
NuvaRing side effects including blood clots, stroke and heart attack have been reported by women using this relatively new form of birth control. Side effects of NuvaRing are associated with the hormone desogestrel which can cause changes in the blood clotting system allowing blood clots to form more easily. NuvaRing birth control was approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) on October 3, 2001 and first marketed in the United States in July 2002. Nuva Ring is used by approximately 1.5 million women worldwide.
NuvaRing is a flexible polyethylene vinyl acetate ring around 2 inches in diameter. Nuva Ring is considered a third generation combination hormonal contraceptive. It contains a combination of the hormones estrogen and etonogestrel which is a synthetic form of the progestin desogestrel. NuvaRing uses a different form of progestin compared to older contraceptives. Third generation contraceptives containing desogestrel have recently come under fire due to the increased risk of blood clots (venous thrombosis). The newer progestins (desogestrel) in third generation contraceptives were intended to lessen the adverse effects caused by older contraceptives such as hirsutism, weight gain, and acne.
Combination hormonal contraceptives contain both estrogen and progestins. NuvaRing contains the progestin desogestrel which, according to studies going back to 1995, doubles the risk of blood clots compared to second generation oral contraceptives. Organon, the manufacturer of NuvaRing is aware of the increased risk of blood clots associated with third generation oral contraceptives. The NuvaRing warning label states:
The hormones in NuvaRing® may cause changes in your bloodclotting system which may allow your blood to clot more easily. If blood clots form in your legs, they can travel to the lungs and cause a sudden blockage of a vessel carrying blood to the lungs. Rarely, clots occur in the blood vessels of the eye and may cause blindness, double vision, or other vision problems. The risk of getting blood clots may be greater with the type of progestin in NuvaRing® than with some other progestins in certain low-dose birth control pills. It is unknown if the risk of blood clots is different with NuvaRing® use than with the use of certain birth control pills.
The side effects of Nuva Ring can increase depending on several risk factors. Increased risk factors include: women over age 35, smoking more than 15 cigarettes a day, diabetes, and high levels of blood cholesterol or fat. Warning signs of potentially more serious NuvaRing side effects include:
- sharp chest pain, coughing blood, or sudden shortness of breath (possible clot in the lung)
- pain in the calf (back of lower leg - possible clot in the leg)
- crushing chest pain or heaviness in the chest (possible heart attack)
- sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizziness, or fainting, problems with vision or speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (possible stroke)
- sudden partial or complete loss of vision (possible clot in the eye)
Currently there are no non-industry sponsored studies showing that third generation contraceptives such as NuvaRing are more effective when compared to second generation contraceptives especially given the increased risk of blood clots associated with desogestrel.
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Labels: birth control, Nuva Ring, NuvaRing, side effects
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posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 9:41 AM
7 Comments:
I had problems with the Nuvaring both times I tried it (6 weeks ppd and 2 years ppd). It was not reliable for me - the last one I put in fell out... which I didn't realize until I started getting my 2nd period of the month.
I will never use this form of birth control again. I only used it for 3 weeks, but it caused me to be severely irritable and depressed. It also caused me to have discharge and spotting the second and third week. It's convenient only if you don't mind thick discharge and spotting, on top of being extremely emotional. NO THANKS.
I took the NuvaRing for about 5 months. I was sick the entire time. I lost 22 pounds, which I cant really complain about, however, I lost it in an unhealthy manner...because I was so sick. I vomitted about 40 times within those 5 months. Everytime I started a new cycle I felt as if I was having morning sickness. Once I even vomitted 13 times in a day. It was horrible. I also felt pain in my pelvic area, but not similar to cramps. It was a pain that made me feel like I had to take it out immediately. A good friend of mine was on the Ring and she started loosing feeling in her right arm and had to go off it immediately. Not a fan...
I was just released from a week of being in the hospital because I have blood clots in my lungs from the nuva ring. I am a non-smoker and I do work out. I kept getting sick and sicker and I had no idea why. The only reason I found out that it was the nuva ring is because I couldnt talk or breathe, and the pain was horrible.I thought I pulled a muscle in my leg,and the pain ran up into my rib cage.It has been the worst time of my life, and Im not out of the clear yet. NEVER AGAIN. This birth control should be taken off the market!
I just took the Nuvaring out after only three weeks. I started having very sharp vaginal pain that was not attributable to any infection or STD. Additionally, all my friends and boyfriend noticed that I became extremely depressed while on the Nuvaring. I'm still having vaginal pain but hopefully it will subside in a few days now that I stopped using the ring. I even feel happier in the few days I have been off it. I don't recommend this form of bc.
I was very excited to try the NuvaRing. It was my first BC method and I started it in January 2008. It was convenient and I didn't have to worry about pills everyday, which was great for me because I'm on all kinds of meds.
Within the first month I experienced light spotting, which was normal when first starting BCs. And every now and then I would vomit and my legs and arms would have a painful numb feeling. This went away eventually.
But later on, I began to lose my sex drive and that was horrible. So I began to think why do I need BC if I don't wanna have sex! OMG I was so upset. Followed by loss of sex drive, I began to get seriously depressed. I was always depressed. Words cannot explain how I was feeling. All I know is that I had a problem and thank GOD I had a wonderful boyfriend who supported me because crying everyday all day is not cool, especially when you cry for no reason. It was terrible.
My mother brought it to my attention that it was most definitely the BC. I was so relieved to find that out because I didn't know what was going on in my life lol. But I took it out immediately. But the next morning, it felt like I had been drinking ALL NIGHT LONG! Only ten times worse. There was this annoying spot that blocked my vision and made me sensitive to light and sound. That lasted throughout the week, but eventually it stopped.
I am so happy that I don't take the Ring anymore. IT BROUGHT ME HELL!! I can honestly say that. I just got a new BC today and its called LEVORA. I haven't started yet, however, unlike the Ring, there are a lot of great reviews from it. I hope this information really helps someone:-).
I am 18, have never smoked, and have no clotting disorders and was recently hospitalized for a blood clot in my lung! My only risk factor at all was that I was on NuvaRing! I know this method of birth control is convenient but it's not worth the risk. Everyone in the hospital said I was really lucky to get to the hospital as soon as I did. I'm on coumadin (a blood thinner) for a year now. Don't try this birth control!
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