Vaginal ring and headaches

How our community feel they have been impacted by headaches on vaginal ring

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

None or not sure

83%

A bit

9%

Quite a bit

5%

A lot

4%

Out of the 57 reviews for vaginal ring, 10 people (18%) reported headaches.

Reviewers that reported headaches as a side effect

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

Used for 12 - 18 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Have used the ring for a year. In terms of admin it’s an absolute dream. Put it in and set a reminder on my phone to replace in a few weeks. Been absolutely fine for my moods and body and skin, no obvious changes. I take it back to back and have a breakthrough bleed every 3 months. However after about a year on it I’ve developed hormonal post nasal drip, which is driving me absolutely nuts because it’s constant. It’s like I’ve got hayfever. So I’m going to try stopping and see if this resolves. I’m gutted as it was such an easy contraception otherwise.

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Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Oct 25

I had a terrible reaction to this unfortunately, despite my optimism. Main symptoms were intense nausea that caused me to not eat for several days, insane anxiety with some panic attacks (especially as I slept) and some depressive thoughts. I took sick days from work believing it was the flu. I thought there is no way birth control could cause these side effects. After a call with my GP, we suspected it could be the ring. I tried to stick with it but on only day 14, awake at 5am due to recurrent panic attacks, I took it out. The next days were perfect. I ate all the food I could and was so grateful for a restful night's sleep. The difference in how I feel is night and day. I understand that this reaction is probably rare but this is what happened to me.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th May 25

The first few months weren’t awful, had regular side effects like nausea, anxiety & tiredness. The main function of the ring for me was to skip my periods & for the first 3 months it worked great. On my 4th ring a few days later I started to feel incredibly nauseous (I didn’t vomit) & the day after I started bleeding, I spotted every day for over a month & still spot every other day, I also had had a large sack of my uterus wall come out which is apparently a side effect when your hormones are unstable. My hips, pelvis, back and legs were aching to the point I struggled to walk. I removed the ring & had instant relief. The nuvaring has made it so I physically can’t have sex as it feels like my vagina is on fire as soon as anything’s inserted, when I took the ring out for a few days this went away & came back the second I reinserted it (it’s also irritated my partners penis). I don’t know if I’m just very sensitive down there or my body doesn’t agree with having a foreign body inside but this just simply hasn’t worked for me. It’s also difficult to get in the right position. My boobs have gotten bigger tho atleast but so has my tummy from the awful bloating!! Swapping to the patch today & hoping it works.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring common side effects

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

49% of vaginal ring reviewers reported vaginal discharge

42% of vaginal ring reviewers reported period like cramps

35% of vaginal ring reviewers reported vaginal dryness

33% of vaginal ring reviewers reported breast enlargement

32% of vaginal ring reviewers reported tender breasts


Possible vaginal ring side effects

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

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