Patch vs Vaginal ring

I’ve been on the patch for around 6 months, it’s causing periods every 2 weeks even though I’m using it correctly. The only positive is it’s easy to use and hasn’t caused weight gain.

I initially really liked this contraception - Evra patch - I used it before we planned for our daughter with no issues with side effects, and because I liked it so much, it was the contraception of choice after I gave birth. However, post pregnancy the patch was not good. I was on the patch for almost a year post baby before switching to the implant, and the reason I was on it for a year was simply because I really wanted this contraception to work for me despite not liking the side effects. I love the premise behind the patch. It is so simple to use and I liked that it was on the skin and you applied it yourself, as opposed to something inside your body that you have to book an appointment for a procedure to get it fitted, such as the implant, for example. The reason I changed to the implant from the patch was because I really struggled with irritation at the patch site. I don't know if it was a reaction to the hormones or the glue used to adhere the patch to the skin - possibly the latter - but the irritation was horrendous. The patch would be incredibly itchy and it was unbearable. It would leave me with burn-like marks that would still be there three weeks later, despite rotating the patch site every single week. I used to have to resist the urge to scratch the patch off. Many times I did scratch it off and with it, took a layer of skin off due to irritation. I'd be left with exposed, damaged skin at the site patch which would then scab over as the skin healed. I am usually quite a steady mood person and the patch really affected my mood which was hard. I'd get very down and anxious a couple of days after my patch change day and that would last a day or two. It was similar to the feeling you get before your period, then your period arrives and you're thinking, "Okay so that explains why I was feeling that way - it was my period!" But instead of getting that down/anxious feeling once a month, I'd get it every single week. It was draining not just for me, but also for my partner too. When I placed an order for the patch, I'd get a prescription for 3 months worth of patches but because of the irritation I explained above, I was actually scratching the patch off before my patch change day which reduced my stock of patches earlier than planned. This meant I was putting in more prescription requests than the suggested amount. Scratching the patch off obviously put me at risk of falling pregnant, which didn't happen to me, and even though, I immediately replaced the patch I'd scratched off, it did make me question the effectiveness of the patch. When I spoke to the doctor about scratching the patch off before the change day she couldn't really explain whether that would reduce the effectiveness of the patch or not because I'd replaced it immediately. I am so disappointed that this contraception has not worked for me, but it was really affecting my skin and my mood. The way it affected my skin was intense itching all over my body. It was so bad that I'd scratch until my skin bled. That started about 8 or 9 months into using the patch and I put up with it until I got to 12 months, so for the last 3-4 months of using the patch, I was going stir crazy with the itchiness and skin irritation all over my legs, my feet and my arms. It was debilitating and it was something totally new in my life - I have never had any skin issues before. I initially thought it was my washing powder (I'd not changed the brand) or low iron as I'd developed low iron after I gave birth, but since stopping the patch and changing to the implant, within a month of having the implant, my skin is well on its way to going back to normal - everything is healing. All I can say is, this is my experience of using the EVRA patch. I hope this helps someone reading this but do your research before you decide if it is the right contraception for you. Just because I had all the side effects listed above does not necessarily mean that you will. I didn't have most of these on my first stint of using the patch. I only really had low mood but no skin irritation. It was only after pregnancy and birth that I noticed the side effects second time around.

Patch was a pretty good option. Used it for about a year. No problems mood wise, body and skin stayed the same. Initially got a rash from the glue but my skin got used to it after a month or so. Found it a bit annoying having the patch visible to other people. Took continuously to stop periods, and did breakthrough bleed every 3-4 months. Had to stop using in the end due to hormonal post nasal drip, which got realllyy annoying. Was gutted as it was otherwise so good.

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.

This has been one of the worst experiences of my life. It killed my mood completely, I never felt worse about myself and had worse mood swings. Low libido, feeling ugly, body pain... overall, never again.

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.

I suffer with PMDD, making my periods a very awful time for me due to how depressed I feel. I was on the combined pill before, but found this was worsening my emotions and making me feel horrendous. The ring was an idea my GP suggested, thinking that because the ring is a gradual release, that stays in your body for the duration you don’t wish to bleed, it would affect me less. This is absolutely what’s happened and I’m much happier on the ring. I’ve never had any problems with feeling it, I’ve noticed a few reviews stating they bleed through when taking it back to back and from my experience this is the case with most contraception. I wouldn’t recommend if you want to take back to back as you do bleed through.

I was recommended the ring after suffering with irregular and heavy periods. I would describe myself as suffering PMDD before and now my moods are so much better. It's easy to insert, I never feel it, and easy to keep in (or briefly take out) when having sex. The ring is great and I recommend to everyone I meet.

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.

I have had the Nuva-ring for years. It's brilliant, no side effects, it gives the hormone dose at the point in my body I need it so I know less hormone is swirling around my body and going through my liver. Surely that's a good thing. I don't think GPs prescribe it here in the UK nearly enough as possibly more expensive than the pill? I was living in Europe after the birth of my second child, initially I was put on the mini-pill and immediately fell into a very low mood which I hadn't felt the weeks after the birth so knew it was the mini-pill that had effected me. I was taken off it straight away and it was suggested I avoid progesterone-only contraceptive as I am probably progesterone-intolerant (beware anyone on the Merina-coil - so many don't realise progesterone can give you depression). I was then given the Nuvaring which I have been on ever since. Oestrogen and me are happy bed fellows. I am also now on HRT which I can take with the ring. When my oestrogen levels dipped as I hit 50 yo the oestorgen in HRT once again lifted my mood. It's all trial and error but only we know what works and what doesn't.

NuvaRing greatly affected my mood, at one point I thought I had depression and got prescribed antidepressants by incompetent doctors. The second I stopped using NuvaRing (based on INTERNET RECOMMENDATIONS), all my mental problems went away

I used the NuvaRing/Syreni ring for over a year without any apparent issues until I began experiencing severe stomach cramps. The pain was so intense that it often woke me up at night, leaving me unable to move or sleep for hours. Despite multiple doctor appointments, my concerns were repeatedly dismissed, and I was left feeling anxious and on edge, uncertain about the cause of my pain. Frustrated with the lack of answers, I decided to take matters into my own hands and removed the ring myself. Remarkably, after five months of excruciating cramps, they stopped immediately upon removal of the ring. It's been five weeks now, and I remain cramp-free. While I cannot say with absolute certainty that the vaginal ring was the cause, the timing feels far too coincidental to ignore.

No side effects at all but the ring kept falling out so i always felt it while standing up