nuvaring = depression?

[softlikeanimals]

Hi.
I used to be on the nuvaring and stayed on it for about 3 or 4 months, but then one day pulled it out and threw it and my refills in the trash. It was really convienent and worked great with controlling my periods, but I was so depressed and emotional while on it. One of the side effects listed in the instructions is severe depression. I've always looked at side effects and not really paid any attention, but now I did and realized that quite a few of them were happening to me. (depression, being tired all the time, numbness of limbs, etc.) After I threw it out I started feeling a quite a bit better about a month later.

So I have been off birth control for a few months, but had to get back on it because I ended up bleeding constantly (literally). This is why I got on birth control in the first place. I decided to give nuvaring another chance because its what my perscription was already for and I was having a lot of boyfriend and other stress problems last time I was on it and thought maybe the depression had more to do with that instead of the ring.

I've been on it for a week and already I feel terrible. Depressed, anxious, on the verge of a nervous breakdown...

Anyways, my question is, has anyone else experienced something similar with the ring and then tried other birth control and had success? or is it going to be the same with all birth control?

I have tried other birth control, a pill, and then the patch was right before the ring and my doctor won't perscribe that to anyone anymore. I don't really have the option of being off birth control because I can't be bleeding all the time.

Any advice will help, and thanks for reading my long post!

[livinTX]

All hormonal birth control has the potential to cause moodiness, anxiety & depression. I did do better on an older triphasic pill (ortho-novum 7/7/7) than the newer low dose pills though which made me practically suicidal. Things weren't great on ON-777 but better than they were on Yasmin, Loestrin, ortho-tricyclen lo and the like, so you might try that. I think the low dose pills throw off the ratio of progesterone/estrogen more than the older triphasic pills. You could also try the mini-pill if it is the estrogen in birth control causing your problems.

Personally, I feel ALL hormonal birth control can cause mood problems, which is why I'm completely off BCPs. Are there any alternative treatments your doc can suggest for your condition if it's caused by endometriosis? Acupuncture is also supposed to help if you want to go for an alternative approach.