Sex drive symptoms and conditions

I had the Mirena inserted six months ago. Since then I have noticed a huge change in myself. I am very moody and irritated all the time. I feel depressed most days and want to lie around all day. I have no motivation or real care for the important things (ie, laundry, dishes, housework). I feel like I'm on really bad hormonal rampage 24/7. I wake every morning with a headache. I have no interest in sex. I don't feel turned on and could care less if I ever got it. I have not experienced any weight gain, thank goodness. I am easily overwhelmed by the tiniest things. I have three children and it's all I can do to tolerate them each day, which is so unlike me. I do not have ringing in my ears, but I am very sensitive to loud noises and get easily aggravated by toys that make noise and loud laughter. (Not good for a stay at home Mom) I have thoughts of throwing and breaking stuff due to my frustration and I have no idea what I'm really frustrated at. I am definitely a different person since the Mirena was put in. Also, I have been having really bad pain in my wrists. They almost feel sprained. I am having it removed ASAP. I miss the old me. It's been so long, I've forgotten how to be happy and have a wonderful sex life with my husband and have fun with my children. I will be having a tubal. Bad periods, to me, is way better than a chemical imbalance due to hormones. The headaches alone are enough to make me go insane. I have done lots of reading on Wild Yam. For all you ladies that have bad periods and are using the Mirena to fix it... look into Wild Yam. It's suppose to lighten the flow and symptoms of a period and boost your natural sex drive. Most importantly it's NOT a drug.
Good Luck to you all!

My mother actually stumbled across this site and encouraged me to look into a possible connection between my severe joint pain and the Mirena IUD. I had the IUD inserted in July of 2007. For a few months following I experienced breakthrough bleeding but that did eventually end. I suffered from some mild bouts of depression and would completely fly off the handle at my two children. Always linked it to stress. My sex drive became nil. But no other real problems to complain of. But this past Nov (2008), I started having pain in my wrists and hands. I type all day so I assumed carpel tunnel. Then we began a kitchen remodel. After one particularly tough day of demolition, moving and climbing up and down stairs, I became really stiff and sore. Of course I didn't think much of it until a week later when the pain was getting worse, not better. After a few more weeks, the joint pain became so severe that I could not get up and down off the couch, off the toilet, out of the car, without wincing in pain. I felt 90 years old! My doctor had prescribed Naproxen (which wasn't helping at all) and gave me a course of Prednisone. The Prednisone made me feel like a million dollars. Problem is, you can't stay on it. That's when we found this site. I immediately called my OB/GYN and had the IUD removed 2 days later. Of course, doc didn't believe this could be the issue (Surprise, Surprise!). Once the course of Prednisone was over, the joint pain gradually came back, albeit not as bad as the first time. RA and Lupus panels were negative, no thyroid disorder, no diabetes. Going to see a Rheumatologist next month so we'll see. I can mention that I already see a difference in my moods. I feel more patient with my children lately and that alone was worth having the stupid IUD out.

I cannot describe how happy I am to have found this webpage. I have been on NR for almost 6 months and have begun to think i am going crazy. I have always been an upbeat person with a lot of energy and a pretty great sex drive. For the past 2 months I have been experiencing severe anxiety to the point where I wake up nervous and have difficulty falling asleep at night. I have chest pain, headaches, loss of appetite, acne (which i thought birth control was supposed to make better), pain in my legs, frequent crying episodes for no reason and absolutely no desire to have sex. I was starting to think I was going a little insane and was wondering what could make me have such anxiety and other symptoms. After reading all of your posts, i realize that it is most likely my NR since I have never had issues like this in the past. I am going to take it out in a few days and see how it goes. Hopefully it is just the drugs and not me going completely insane! I'll let you know how it goes and if anyone else has had these symptoms which have been relieved by taking the NR out, i would love to hear from you!

I started using the nuvaring about three weeks ago...I've experienced:
Serious emotional changes (mood swings, unexplainable crying), Nausea, Stomach Cramps, Headaches, and just today started experiencing some pretty painful leg cramps....My boyfriend mentioned that we hadn't had sex in over a week so my sex drive has decreased immensly!!! He and I both don't know how to deal with my raging hormones...I'm taking it out...thanks for your input ladies.

Gee man cant believe it was last April I last posted!!
Well still on 225mg of effexor xr a day,have my ups and downs and must be 4 stone over weight!Xmas and new year not really a good time anyway but also separating from my wife.So we plod on,sex drive is naff.Hopefully next time I report back things will be better.

I started taking Yasmin about 5 years ago. At first, I experienced a little nausea as my body got used to the drug, but after the first few months I was fine. Fine until about a year and a half ago. In the past year and a half, I've had absolutely NO sex drive, and terrible PMS. I swear I have PMS symptoms 3 weeks out of the month. It's miserable. I'm always moody and get aggravated at the smallest things. VERY unlike me. I also feel bloated a lot of the time. I work out regularly and eat healthy, so I know the bloating is not caused by eating badly. My doctor assures me my problems are with my birth control. I started a new birth control yesterday, so I hope it works! The main thing to remember is that different birth controls work differently for different people, and your body also changes through the years. What worked for you at one time, may not work for you 5 years later. This is why it's very important to communicate your problems to your doctor so he/she knows exactly what you're experiencing and can help you. While diagnosing yourself online can be helpful, it's not as good as expressing your concerns to your doctor.

Hi. I had the Mirena inserted Sept. 8, 08, just 6 weeks after giving birth to my daughter. So for about 4 months now. The last couple of months in a row, I thought I was pregnant. I have had every symptom I normally have when I get pregnant. Took the tests and of course they came back negative. I have 2 kiddos. I used the Depo shot for b/c until now because the hormones in the Depo kept causing my body to feel pregnant. Thus changing my birth control method. Which is what I told my Dr. They seemed to have left out that the hormones in the Mirena are the same as the Depo! Thanks a lot. Also, I have started gaining some weight. Which I have never done before. I look like I'm 4 months pregnant since I've been on this b/c. I have No sex drive what so ever! Also uncommon. My husband can definitely feel the strings during sex, which is painful for him. I've been getting really bad dizzy spells, like fall over from fainting dizzy spells! I most recently have been getting these horrible pressure headaches. I've never had a migraine, not sure if that's what it is. Not to mention running to the bathroom constantly. I'm peeing like a pregnant woman! I've been way more irritable since. I freak out for no reason. I will cry for no reason, and so on. So I decided to do some research and found out apparently I'm not the only one with these side affects. Thank god. I scheduled an appointment to have mine removed on Jan, 22. I can't wait until then. Thank you everyone who has posted on here. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one.

honestly, i cannot believe my doctor even put recommended having the Mirena put in me! I put it in because it was my last option of not getting preggo. im 23 and have four kids. each of which was conceived on a different form of birth control. i got the mirena put in on nov 27th 2008 and i naturally started to bleed on nov 23rd. and ever since the 23rd i haven't stopped bleeding! the blood gets darker as if it will go away but then it gets red again and keeps going! and its not just blood its with lot of clots too! i've gained weight (which my doc said none of her patients on mirena have gained any and suggested i start to look at my diet and exercise more often). i was loosing weight just fine before i had the mirena put in! in three weeks i gained 10 lbs! i have massive migraines that wont go away, my sex drive has completely vanished, by back is always killing me and im very very moody with everyone. my husband just hates it and wants it removed already!

I have been taking Tri-Sprintec for 3 months. I switched because my insurance does not cover birth control and I was paying $50 a month compared to $9. But it is not worth saving the money. Since taking Tri-Spritec I have had a 7 pound weight gain, I have terrible mood swings and have feelings of depression. There are days when I can't even stand myself. I get angry at everything and everyone. I also have no sex drive and have days where I just want to be alone. I am going to stop taking these pills they are not worth it.
K. T.

Hello everyone
I am 34 year old mother and i have fibroid tumors this is why I got hte Mirena I have had it for 8 months and I am getting it removed. I have back pain , joint pain, No sex drive dizziness, chest pain, acne and i was one that never had that problem now they are out of control. I be extremely tired sometimes I am so tired I can pass out. I have gained 26lbs. I was already overweight and no matter what I do I can't get it off.The mood swings are out of this world so emotional crying all the time some days I can just bite off your head for nothing.My husband and my three children are asking me what is wrong you have never been like this before. So on that note I am getting this thing out of me ASAP the doctors tried to say that weight gain is not a side effect well I no my body better then anybody and it is .

I have been on Yaz for almost two years. The first year was convinced it was a miracle pill because all my PMDD symptoms disappeared. Since April of this year I have been walking up around 5 am and throwing up. I am on day six of my January pack and have had diarrhea or vomited in the morning. I know 100% I am not pregnant because I use the Yaz as directed and condoms. However I since bc convinces your body your pregnant I think I am experiencing morning sickness. I have talked to several doctors, a nurse, and a pharmacist about this issue and they all think it is highly unlikely I could be experiencing a side affect after having none for so long but I think they are wrong. I have a big training event a t work coming up in February and don't want to go off bc or start another because I'm scared of the PMDD getting bad. HELP!

I have been on Lamictal for 8 years and take 200mg every night. I take it in combination with Lithium, Seroquel, & Wellbutrin. My diagnosis is rapid cycling bi-polar. There was also Depakote for about 12 years but that's gone, thank God. The Lamictal, combined with the Seroquel, can knock me on my butt, I feel like a drunk. I stagger and my speech is slurred, and I am very sleepy. I have dry skin in my ears that never resolves and that is itchy & painful. I have bowel issues. I also have vivid dreams but not violent ones. No sex drive but I'm single so that's not a problem. I also need a nap every day. I'm sure that there are others but it's hard to tell because of the other drugs I take. Glad that I'm not the only one with issues.

I started Wellbutrin in the beginning of December. Someone very close to me passed away and I developed severe anxiety with some depression. I took some control of it with simply taking Ativan, but the doctor insisted I get on something for depression as well. I didn't really understand why I need to take a pill when I was just fine before this event.... but ok, I agreed.

I was prescribed Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. I was optimistic about it. She said it might improve my focus, give me some energy back, had no sexual side effects.

I took it in the morning, and usually with at least something in my stomach. The first 3 days of taking it, I was severely unstable. I think if I didn't have my boyfriend, I would be dead right now. I would cry uncontrollably, for no reason, pace, have terrible anxiety... I remember going through my closet, throwing things around, looking for a belt, throwing a few on the bed and taking one and tightening it around my neck.. I then walked around and was looking for a place to hang myself.. Luckily my boyfriend got home because he had a bad feeling about what was happening with me... otherwise I, to this day, do not know what I would have done.

After the first 3 days... things sort of calmed down... sometimes I would feel "better" in little spurts the first week.

I also had my sex drive for the first 2 weeks and it was good. I still wasn't "happy" but the medication wasn't doing any significant harm.

In the 3rd week, I lost interest in nearly everything. I didn't want to step foot outside. I stopped talking to my family, stopped answering my phone, I would lay in bed for hours, thinking of depressive things. I began eating, a lot. Constantly. Which shocked me since it is supposedly supposed to suppress appetite. I stopped going to school.

In the 4th week, and last, things gradually, and then quite suddenly just went downhill. It started with me becoming very agitated, snapping at everyone. My mental clarity was out the window. When someone said something, it took me a long time to register it, if I ever did. Sometimes my boyfriend would look at me after saying something and I would realize, oh my god, he said something... I really didn't hear/listen anymore. I was brain dead to everything except these horrible thoughts of just wanting to die. As the days progressed in the 4th week, I became more and more depressed. If I had to describe it, I would say it was a mental breakdown. I would cry hysterically over nothing. Absolutely nothing. I couldn't think of a single reason. I would start to cry while brushing my hair, while eating, sitting, watching a movie... I would cry 20 or more times a day. I really wanted to die because I could not bear it anymore. I felt like this was the end and it was going to end.. I wanted to inflict injury on myself, but focused my thoughts on more "permanent" damage -- suicide. I became obsessed with buying a gun. I swear if I had one, I would not be here. I would hit myself, all over my legs, while sobbing uncontrollably on the floor. Days later my boyfriend would ask where the bruises came from because it would be in such a weird area that there was no way i walked into something... and I would tell him I had no idea, and I didn't..... until later I realized it was me, hitting myself.... I felt very depersonalized. I felt unpredictable and I felt that I was not sure what I was going to do next, I was afraid of myself and very paranoid. I lost my appetite and never wanted to eat, thinking of food made me nauseous. I felt sick to my stomach. My anxiety was through the roof. My mind wouldn't stop spinning with thoughts, repetitive... until eventually it lead to another breakdown.

With my luck, it reached it's worst around the new year when everything was closed and I couldn't get a hold of anybody. I desperately called mental emergency facilities but all they said they could do was commit me for at least 72 hours and I didn't want that. I just wanted this to end, NOW, not be trapped in another hell hole. My mental doctor was closed so I tried to see my primary care and he was too afraid to mess with anything and told me to double my ativan dosage (WHAT! Because of Wellbutrin, I went from taking .5 or less mg of ativan a day to taking 2mg or more and still, it barely did anything!), so I went to the ER, and they did nothing, except tell me that the only way to help me would be if I went to a hospital for 72 hours. I said NO. It is ridiculous to allow someone to get this bad, and to not help them immediately, instead leave it up to them, to either be placed in some state run down mental facility or kill themselves that day.

I got a hold of my doctor the next day and she switched it immediately.

I have had the Mirena IUD for 4 1/2 years. The last two years have been hell. I have gained 50 pounds, suffered from depression, anxiety, acne, NO sex drive and have basically become a totally different person. I used to be a fit confident women and now I am a total train wreck. I can't believe I never connected all my problems to Mirena before now. I started researching new birth control since my Mirena is up in 6 months. Now I want to run to the Gyno and get this thing out of me asap. Thanks for everyone sharing -- it's nice to know I am not alone.

I am sooo glad that I found this website!!! I have had so many of these symptoms, unfortunately for a lot longer than some of you other women. I've been on Aviane for about a year. The pharmacy automatically gave it to me instead of Alesse. I have a very stressful job as a 911 dispatcher so I though most of the side effects were from stress. I read an article in a magazine about how birth control effects your sex drive and started doing some research..... come to find out its not from stress!!!! I called and made an appointment with my doctor immediately!!! Although she told me that the symptoms that I had aren't normally caused by birth control, she switched me to Ortho Tricyclen Lo. It has already made such a difference!!! The mood swings are gone, Im not overly emotional or angry or erratic. I don't explode at the drop of a hat, I feel soooo much more mellow and in control. My sex drive has come back in full force!! My husband and I have had more sex in the last month since I've switched pills than we've had in the past like 6 months. He too has noticed a lot of changes and definitely agrees with me that it is worth it to pay the extra money each month to have a good pill and have me feeling better. I wish I would have thought about switching birth controls sooner. Aviane is terrible!!! It will make you into a craaazzy person!!

Hey there,
I had my Mirena inserted a little over 2 months ago. The inserstion was pretty pain-free as the sister used local anesthetic.
Other than the severe cramps I felt that night, I must be honest that I have not experienced any of the painful side effects I've read about on all the forums I've found.
I spot here and there, but my periods are definitely lighter.
My sex-drive is through the roof! I had a high libido to begin with, so I'm not complaining.
The ONLY 2 negative side-effects I've experienced, are a little bit of acne on my chin, and hair loss. I'm hoping these will calm down though (as it states on the official Mirena website), but if not, I will most likely have it removed.
I had terminated a pregnancy one month before insertion, so I'm really just wanting to give my cervix a break which is why I don't want to have it removed unless I absolutely have to!
Is it possible to only experience these rare symptoms and none of the more common ones?
In Mirena's defence: has anyone ever read the side-effects of the birth control pills so many of us have used? It's become common to just accept the fact that we will most likely gain weight, get varicose veins, have headaches etc...
I suppose, nobody can feel what you're feeling, so if it doesn't work, change it.
I'm really hoping that mirena works for me, so if anyone has a positive experience, please share it!
All the best...

yes, I two have had the back pain screaming at my kids no sex drive also, the acne wow big red pimples with scaring never before have i had this in my life i had the mirena for 2yrs i have no insurance so i pulled it out myself but have a lot of bleeding at times with clots i am scared out of my mind but i have no money to go to a gyn so, can someone help what should i do i was gonna wait a week or so, to see if bleeding stops if not don't know what i should do i have had it out for 4dys and I feel great I swear I can feel the difference so, much more relaxed and not screaming.. I wish i would of never received this IUD it's been a long 2yr nightmare!!

I had been on Yaz for almost a year. I have tried EVERYTHING!!! I went to Yaz after trying even the Nuvaring. It seemed like everything from regular Ortho was too strong and the ring was too little. I've been on birth control since I was 17 (now I'm 26) and have tried it all. I mainly stayed on because of cramping and digestive trouble I used to experience around my period. For about 3 months Yaz was great- no mood swings, my cramp pain was cut in half, and my sex drive lost on the ring came back. However, after about the 5th month, I started to notice the same side effects as other posters; headaches, night sweats, fatigue, numbness in my legs, moodiness, zero libido, and the carpal tunnel in my wrists would increase in pain by 10 fold, etc. In fact, it was getting so bad, that my husband was getting annoyed with me saying I was always tired even though I would sleep 8 hours and not have any other outside stressors impacting my sleep patterns. We almost divorced over the stupid, but outrageous, fights I would pick for no reason at all! I would get so irritated at the smallest thing. It was like a switch would flip and I couldn't turn it off! I couldn't figure out why I was so fatigued- I exercise and eat right (I'm a nutritionist)and have played sports for years!. The depressing feelings bothered me because I know that eating right and exercising keeps serotonin levels at an even keel- that's what I do for a living! Mine were way off for no reason! It got to the point that my friends noticed a huge change in my personality- I used to be the life of the party, and now I would rather stay in instead of go out and socialize with my best friends and husband! Thank you for writing these blogs. I can't wait to feel normal again! I'd rather deal with the cramps or take some homeopathic remedy than deal with this horrible drug. There is a great article on cnn.com about birth control pills and libido/ side effects. Just search for "the pill" and the article should come up.

I have been on Yasmin for 2 1/2 years and not until about in the past year, I have had the worst mood swings. Like to the point where I don't even know who I am. I get so crabby and bitchy and I don't want to be and have to reason to be.
I need to switch because it is getting worse. I didn't really think it was my birth control until I did some research. Now I know it is for sure the problem.
I have had suicidal thoughts twice in the past year...for no reason! And then all of a sudden I snap out of it. I get really depressed and I don't know why. It happens every like 3 months. Its so weird. I'm a really happy person but this pill is ruining everything. Oh and also within the past year, my sex drive has gone down about 75%, its horrible!!!!!

Hi... I'm really glad to find this website with all these posts! I've had the Mirena in for about 3 years. I had it inserted after our fourth child and before we moved overseas to be missionaries in a third world country. We knew we didn't want to get pregnant overseas so this looked like the perfect solution. Because of our move, I thought my moodiness, stress, quick temper and feelings of depression were all from adjusting to living in another culture. I was never short tempered or easily stressed out, but since I had the mirena I have felt very out of control. My sex drive had decreased greatly and I'm constantly tired... even to the point of feeling like I'm going to pass out I'm so exhausted. I had no idea mirena was affecting me this way until reading all these posts... I'm not sure if we'll have any more kids, but I'm planning on getting the mirena removed. These side affects are not allowing me to enjoy my wonderful kids and husband and life and that's not worth it~!

I have four children, two from my first marriage when I was 25 and two from my second at 35. With all my children I was able to lose my baby weight except for my last one. Contributed it to being older but the more I read now I am not so sure. I had Mirena inserted at my 6wk visit with little side effect except some cramping and bleeding. Over the past two years, I have been on and off antidepressants, gained 20 lbs, experience headaches, migraines, sharp shooting pains in my abdomen and back area. I am not able to lose that extra 20 lbs no matter how much I exercise or how little I eat. It looks like I am 4 months pregnant (not to mention that wonderful muffin top). I am tired all the time and have no sex drive. Luckily I am married to a wonderful, understanding husband. After reading all these posts I am definitely convinced that I am going to have the mirena removed. It will be two years for me in January and it is time to have all foreign matters removed from my body...thanks for posting ladies!!

Hey Ive been on the NuvaRing for about 2 1/2 years and I had been hearing bad side effects of the NR like Pulmonary Embolism (A PE is a blockage of the pulmonary artery (in the lungs) or one of its branches by a blood clot) Symptoms include:Chest pain (hurts especially to breathe), shortness of breath, anxiety, coughing (may cough up blood), sweating, and fainting or passing out. The risk of PE scared the crap out of me so I took the ring out immediately. But the problem is I took the ring out after just putting it in for two days. I had already had my period and everything and now Im spotting or I just started my period again! Did this happen to anyone when they took their ring out permanently? Im kind of scared that this isn't normal!

Ha I know what you all mean when you say that the NR was hell, the first week of trying it I had nausea, spotting, and it hurt VERY bad to have sex. I thought this all was normal so I didn't even think twice about it until now!! Lately though I have been having an increase in chest pains, stomach aches and headaches and IM ONLY 18! But since I took the NR out about 3 days ago my headaches haven't been bothering me as much and neither have my stomach aches. These are the only things that bugged me while on the NR, I only had minor mood swings and I didn't have a decreased sex drive. But still I DO NOT recommend the ring to anyone because recently Ive heard of women dying from the NR. NUVARING HAS SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS AND ITS NOT WORTH IT!!

I started birth control a couple months before I got married. I was on alesse and it made me rapidly gain weight. I went to the gyn and she ranted and raved about NuvaRing. I was excited to get off alesse and that I didn't have to remember to take a pill everyday.
The first month was great. I didn't feel the ring and some weight was starting to come off from the previous bc. I have been on it a total of three months and will no longer continue. I cry at the drop of a dime; I am bloated in my midsection as well as even more weight gain; I have zero sex-drive; When my husband and I do have sex, I am crying because it hurts so bad; I have terrible mood-swings; acne; bad cramps (I never have had cramps before); and not to mention, horrible headaches and even my first migrane!
I thought I was becoming a crazy person and have felt like my husband deserves better than me. Come to find out, that person he married is in there still, but hiding under drugs.
What other birth control has anyone gone on that works since the NuvaRing??

Shame on me... I had read similar reviews when I was prescribed NuvaRing a year ago, and thought "Side effects vary among women", but the general consensus seems to be that WE are the majority, not the "occasional" exception.

I have been experiencing many of the same disastrous effects of the Ring for the past 12 months I have been on it. Depression, ZERO SEX DRIVE, headaches, intense mood swings that lead to physical aggression, frequent (nearly daily) uncontrollable crying, anxiety, more vaginal discharge, pain after sex (on the rare occasion that it DOES happen) and overall a poor outlook on life. It's ruining my relationship with a wonderful man, who (bless his heart) is nearly at the end of his rope dealing with me and all the tribulations listed above.

To those of you who thought you were crazy, BEFORE you blame yourself, consider that the Ring may be a contributing factor.

I've taken Estrostep for at least 7 years now, and I thought I have been symptom free until just recently I started to question some unusual symptoms and if they were caused from my birth control. I've had terrible bloating and constipation for the past year and I am thinking I might have a bad reaction to eating wheat, but I've never gone off the pill since I was 14 so I don't know. Also I find it IMPOSSIBLE to lose weight. I am a very serious triathlete and I train 12 hours a week, two to three times a day most days and cannot lose even 5 pounds with a perfectly clean low calorie diet. My sex drive is completely in the dumps and has been for years. It causes a lot of problems with my boyfriend and I but I'm afraid to stop taking the pill to see. I've tried Junel Fe and ortho tri-cyclen and felt that each made me gain at least 15 pounds with no diet change.