Nuvaring Migraine Question?

Sweet13_Princess
Sweet13_Princess Posts: 1,207 Member
edited October 10 in Food and Nutrition
I started using the Nuvaring six months ago. I absolutely love it, but I've also started to develop killer headaches the two days before I actually get my period. Nothing seems to get rid of them, Excederine Migraine, Imitrex. Last month, I had to go to the doctor for help getting rid of one I had for seven days!

My question is, did anyone try it and have this problem? I really would like to stay on the ring and was wondering if there could be a possible solution to this without having to go back on the pill or doing depo shots.

Thanks,
Shannon
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Replies

  • inskydiamonds
    inskydiamonds Posts: 2,519 Member
    I've used NuvaRing for years and never have experienced that. My menstrual cramps are a whole lot better because of it.
  • shelli1982
    shelli1982 Posts: 133
    Ask your physician if it's safe for you to take 800 mg of Ibuprofen starting 48 to 72 hours before your period, and then take it around the clock (every 8 hours) at least until you get your period....But if you get the okay from your doc, make sure to take it with meals every time.. very hard on the stomach. If you have ever had an ulcer or if you're on blood thinners, don't take it... but hopefully this will help!
  • jigsawxyouth
    jigsawxyouth Posts: 308 Member
    I was only on Nuvaring for two months. I didn't experience headaches, but my mood swings were the reason I was only on it for two months. I would get really angry at the drop of a hat. It was terrible...
  • Sweet13_Princess
    Sweet13_Princess Posts: 1,207 Member
    Do you really think it's healthy to take pills to prevent the migraines? I mean, I'd love to stay on the nuvaring, but not at the expense of my health. I have a gyno appointment in June, so I figured I'd keep giving it a try until then. I've always had headache issues, pretty much on all birth control pills. I always get a headache the Wednesday of the pack and have it until Sunday when I start a new one....

    Shannon
  • ammp
    ammp Posts: 107 Member
    Maybe you can't take the hormones. Ever thought about the copper IUD? I had it and loved it, before I got it removed because we're TTC
  • Sweet13_Princess
    Sweet13_Princess Posts: 1,207 Member
    Bump... anyone else have advice or issues with this?

    Shannon
  • jessieinblue
    jessieinblue Posts: 287 Member
    I am not a doctor, and I don't mean to be inflammatory, but if you are concerned about your health and you are getting these migraines, it sounds like you need to cease using the birth control. There are many health risks associated with hormonal birth control: blood clots, embolisms, infections, and strokes, among others. I don't mean to suggest that every woman or even most women who use birth control will experience these things, but the migraines suggest that you are at risk of stroke.
  • amuhlou
    amuhlou Posts: 693 Member
    I have a friend who is considering going off NuvaRing due to headaches. She has issues with getting headaches while using pretty much all hormonal bc methods.
  • Sweet13_Princess
    Sweet13_Princess Posts: 1,207 Member
    Well, I did consider an IUD before, but my gyno recommended the nuvaring because it's less problematic. My fiance and I are pretty sure we don't want kids... but if we ever change our minds, I don't want to ruin our chances either. Right now we're both VERY career oriented and we definately don't want a baby in the mix.... I haven't had much luck on other hormonal methods of birth control either. And I'm afraid a condom will break and that other types of contraceptives just aren't as reliable.

    Shannon
  • jessieinblue
    jessieinblue Posts: 287 Member
    Your concerns make sense, but you may want to do some research on the connections between hormonal birth control, migraines and strokes.

    Good luck, hope things work out.
  • helenamonks
    helenamonks Posts: 176
    Ive been using the nuva ring for 4 months and I love it, I actually had headaches BEFORE I started the birth control. I can't take any of the pill forms b/c they make me sick and i forget too often, but the only down fall with the nuva ring is that my husband can feel it.
  • apriljackss
    apriljackss Posts: 96 Member
    I know I'm really late to the party on this one but I thought I'd share my experience for anyone who stumbles across this thread like I just did. I've been using the NuvaRing for over a year and a half now. Initially I liked that it is obviously so low maintenance, no taking the risk of missing a pill or worrying about taking something the same time everyday. Plus, the pills I had tried were either too weak to regulate my cycle or made me so nauseous I couldn't function. It's also worth noting that the primary reason I am on hormonal birth control is for treatment of PCOS. From the start the NuvaRing gave me night sweats, sometimes so bad I would litterally wake up in a puddle, with the feeling that I was suffocating. I could handle that because it wasn't every night. THe past few months though every week BEFORE I take the ring out (usually take it out on the last Friday of every month) I wake up with migraines that last almost all day, clearing up just before bed, only to start again the next day. I also have started getting horrible cystic acne on my face the few days leading up to taking the ring out. I've never had this problem before. The pimples are huge and never come to a head so they take weeks and sometimes months to fully heal, when they do they leave behind horrible red spots. Also, my boyfriend and I can both feel it during sex, which means that every time I am taking it out before and replacing it after. This is annoying and seems somewhat unsanitary. It actually deters me from wanting to just so I don't have to mess with it. Another drawback is that even with insurance it costs me $70 a month and with Obama's Affordable Care Act, I see no reason to continue to pay that when I can get on something generic and get it for free. I've called my doctor to switch back to a low dose pill. I just hope it doesn't make me nauseous and that it regulates my cycle. Good luck, ladies! Every one's body is different, there is no right answer for everyone, somethings work for you but might not for others and vice versa.
  • perfekta
    perfekta Posts: 331 Member
    Long time migraine sufferer here. It's probably the estrogen in the Nuvaring. When you take it out, it's the change in hormones causing the headaches. I've had the copper IUD, that was the only thing that didn't give me headaches, but it moved and I had to get it removed (nightmare). The birth control with just progesterone is supposed to be better for not causing headaches, but it also causes big time weight gain, soooo, haven't tried that out yet. If it's causing you headaches, I'd get off it, pronto. My first doctor tried telling me it wasn't from the birth control pills, and to give it time. After four months of headaches, I finally gave up. Hope you find something that works and won't make you feel bad. Good luck.
  • islae2010
    islae2010 Posts: 37 Member
    I had this issue with birth control - it was the estrogen. Turns out I am one of those people who shouldn't be on combination birth control methods. My doctor immediately took me off of it after I lost vision during a migraine before my period. If I were you, I would get off of it, immediately.
  • ahviendha
    ahviendha Posts: 1,291 Member
    i've been using it for years and not had any headache problems.
  • 1ConcreteGirl
    1ConcreteGirl Posts: 3,677 Member
    Okay, so...maybe I'm wrong, but your profile picture looks kinda like a sonogram.

    If you're pregnant, you should know that your Nuvaring isn't working, which means you have problems bigger than headaches.
  • Docmahi
    Docmahi Posts: 1,603 Member
    I've never heard of someone getting migraines from the nuvaring before - but honestly crazy things trigger migraines in people so its not that outlandish to hear.

    It sounds like you really like it as a form of contraception - and you have tried many other BC options, I would try and get on some sort of pain control regiment prior to your period, maybe like someone else suggested try an analgesic a few days before your cycle starts. you can also try a little extra caffeine on your period - the vasoconstrictive effect of caffeine will calm a lot of headaches.

    just my 2cents
  • HotAshMess
    HotAshMess Posts: 382 Member
    I loved the Nuvaring. But I was getting migraines and because we thought that might be it....we tried the pill because I hate cycling. I would ask your provider about cycling before switching if you like it.

    Also.....when I get a migraine I take exedrine migraine with benadryl and take a nap. The benadryl seems to "reset" me and help out. Hope this helps.
  • Docmahi
    Docmahi Posts: 1,603 Member
    I am not a doctor, and I don't mean to be inflammatory, but if you are concerned about your health and you are getting these migraines, it sounds like you need to cease using the birth control. There are many health risks associated with hormonal birth control: blood clots, embolisms, infections, and strokes, among others. I don't mean to suggest that every woman or even most women who use birth control will experience these things, but the migraines suggest that you are at risk of stroke.

    migraines are in no way an indicator that you are susceptible to stroke
  • believe22
    believe22 Posts: 210 Member
    Okay, so...maybe I'm wrong, but your profile picture looks kinda like a sonogram.

    This!
  • joye2world
    joye2world Posts: 1 Member
    I don't want to scare anybody, everyone is different and we all react differently to various drugs. I was on Nuvaring for 10 months in 2008. I had terrible headaches and some other side effects that I was hoping would go away. In January of 2009 I had a massive Pulmonary Embolism. I was 36, non smoker non drinker (never), fitness instructor, good weight with great health. I almost died in the ER. After much genetic testing, my hemotogist concluded that the only reason I had a PE was due to the Nuvaring. I can never have horomonal treatment again. I am sharing this only to help others, I have turned down all the lawyers (one just called, oddly enough.) Please, pay attention to what your body is trying to help you, and be well. I will pray for you.
  • BlackStarDeceiver
    BlackStarDeceiver Posts: 590 Member
    Okay, so...maybe I'm wrong, but your profile picture looks kinda like a sonogram.

    If you're pregnant, you should know that your Nuvaring isn't working, which means you have problems bigger than headaches.

    Contact a barrister and he or she will tell you that you should be apoplectic over the scurrilous claims of the BC company; obviously this stuff doesn't work. Try abstinence.

    24706416.jpg
  • perfekta
    perfekta Posts: 331 Member
    I don't want to scare anybody, everyone is different and we all react differently to various drugs. I was on Nuvaring for 10 months in 2008. I had terrible headaches and some other side effects that I was hoping would go away. In January of 2009 I had a massive Pulmonary Embolism. I was 36, non smoker non drinker (never), fitness instructor, good weight with great health. I almost died in the ER. After much genetic testing, my hemotogist concluded that the only reason I had a PE was due to the Nuvaring. I can never have horomonal treatment again. I am sharing this only to help others, I have turned down all the lawyers (one just called, oddly enough.) Please, pay attention to what your body is trying to help you, and be well. I will pray for you.

    Thanks for posting. It's unbelievable to me that so many people (doctors included) say to tough it out, or take pills to mask symptoms.
  • StrongChic
    StrongChic Posts: 1
    Night sweats + monthly migraines = no more NuvaRing for me. It gives me a big sad because its really helped my cramps/bleeding. I also read a scary article that found women who get migraines and use NuvaRing are at a MUCH higher risk for blood clots. It was just published in Jan 2013 and alluded that after additional research NuvaRing may not be prescribed to women who get migraines. Yikes!
  • missshyeviolett
    missshyeviolett Posts: 310 Member
    I'm considering dumping my NR since it's been causing small cysts to form during the month. They don't hurt and they go away quickly but it scares me. Plus, what I read about clotting :(
  • binglebandit
    binglebandit Posts: 531 Member
    You need to be super careful with migraines on the Nuvaring. I was having migraines after I put it in every month and ended up with an undiagnosed mini stroke and blood clot in my leg that left me hospitalized for a week (could have been fatal). Migraines can be a warning sign of worse things to come if you typically do not have them. It sounds to me like they are linked to your hormonal birth control, which can be a sign that hormones just aren't for you. Talk to your doctor about the risk of blood clots in conjunction with these headaches. I really wish I'd have taken it more seriously, I could have avoided a lot of damage to my leg.

    Also! The Nuvaring puts you at a twice as high of risk of having a stroke or blood clot than other forms of hormonal birth control. I was healthy and young (18) when I had my DVT which was caused by the Nuvaring.
  • binglebandit
    binglebandit Posts: 531 Member
    I am not a doctor, and I don't mean to be inflammatory, but if you are concerned about your health and you are getting these migraines, it sounds like you need to cease using the birth control. There are many health risks associated with hormonal birth control: blood clots, embolisms, infections, and strokes, among others. I don't mean to suggest that every woman or even most women who use birth control will experience these things, but the migraines suggest that you are at risk of stroke.

    migraines are in no way an indicator that you are susceptible to stroke

    Migraines caused by the hormones in the Nuvaring (and other forms of birth control) are a clear indicator that you are at a higher risk to have a stroke or blood clot. It even mentions it as a warning sign on their website. If you get migraines off of any hormonal meds, that's another thing, but it can be a very strong indicator of an increased risk.
  • bethfartman
    bethfartman Posts: 363 Member
    I can't be on any hormonal birth control due to my migraines. My doctor told me if you get migraines with auras being on hormonal bc increases your risk of stroke by 20%. I'd get off it if I were you, I'm surprised your doctor didn't take you off of it already. I was on the pill for a while when I was younger and when my doctor realized I get migraines he was shocked anyone prescribed it to me and discontinued it immediately- I've had other doctors mirror that recommendation as well. A copper IUD is a great non-hormonal alternative- I had one for seven years and it worked like a charm w/ no side effects.
  • emjw89
    emjw89 Posts: 1
    I used the NuvaRing for 5 Years. Starting just after I turned 18. At that time I had moved away to college put on around 20lbs and started having migraines. I never had issues with any of these problems while on the pill or the shot, so I assumed they were not linked to the NuvaRing. I was plagued by migraines and honestly was afraid of when the next one would come. I was having them at least a few times a month, and more frequent when stressed. I decided to try going off the NuvaRing when I got engaged. After 3 months of being on the NuvaRing, I have not had a single migraine. Happy to say I am migraine free!
  • gbr5021
    gbr5021 Posts: 1 Member
    I've been on nuvaring for 11 years, with 3 yrs off for having kids. I have been suffering from migraines since before I started, but they seem to be far more common lately. The past couple months I would get them without my obvious triggers, which was especially upsetting. Thankfully they're not terrible, but they are definitely debilitating and cause nausea & sometimes vomiting. I've been off the ring for a month due to forgetting to get a refill, and i just read the prescription information for the first time in years. I can't be sure, but I don't think I've had a migraine since I've been off! Migraine has been on my medical history for years and I'm very alarmed that my doctors didn't catch it and warn me. I'm 42 and not really looking forward to risking pregnancy or attempting OC, but it looks like I'm through with the ring! Too bad, really. I loved the convenience.
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