Birth Control Patch

If you are a woman who has a problem remembering to take a pill every day but do not want to get pregnant, the Ortho Evra birth control patch may be perfect for you.

The birth control patch is a beige-colored 1-¾ inch square that adheres to your skin. It can be applied to one of four areas of your body:

• The front or back of your upper torso, with the exception of your breast
• Abdomen
• Buttocks
• Upper outer arms

The patch delivers a continuous supply of two synthetic hormones, progestin and estrogen, which hinders pregnancy by preventing you from ovulating, and is only available by prescription. The patch also thickens your cervical mucus. This makes it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and reach any eggs that may be released.

You will put the birth control patch on the first day of your period, or on the first Sunday after your period begins. Once the patch is applied, leave it there for a week, and then replace it with a new patch. You will do this each week for three weeks. Each time you put on a new patch, you have the option of placing it in the same place where the old patch was located or on a different part of your body. The fourth week is patch free. Just like with birth control pills, you can expect to have your period during this fourth week.

The birth control patch is more than 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy when applied properly. Women who weigh over 198 pounds may find the birth control patch less effective at preventing pregnancy.

Birth control patches share similar health risks with oral contraceptives. While serious health risks are uncommon in healthy nonsmokers, there is a risk of developing blood clots in the legs or lungs, strokes, heart attacks and hypertension.

New studies suggest that the Ortho Evra contraceptive patch exposes women to higher steady state estrogen levels than do most birth control pills, and concerns that such exposure could increase the risk for blood clots prompted an update to the product's label.

Minor side effects include:

• Breast tenderness
• Headaches
• Irregular vaginal bleeding
• Weight gain
• Skin irritation at the application site
• Menstrual craps
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain or bloating
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
• Upper respiratory infection

To maintain a high effect rate at preventing pregnancy while reducing the risk of side effects, remember these tips:

• Do not place the patch on areas where make-up, lotion, powders, or creams have been or will be applied.
• Do not place the patch on areas that are irritated, red, or where there is an abrasion.
• If you fail to put on a new birth control patch on the same day each week or after the skipped week, or you lose your patch for more than 24 hours, do not forget to use an additional means of birth control to prevent pregnancy.

The birth control patch is not an advisable means of birth control for women who smoke or suffer from any of the following medical conditions:

• High blood pressure
• Breast or uterine cancer
• History of blood clots
• Diabetes
• History of stroke or heart attack
• Allergic to hormones
• Liver disease
• Unexplained vaginal bleeding

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