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What is a Contraceptive Patch?
The Contraceptive Patch looks like a square band-aid. It is applied to
the abdomen, buttocks, upper arm, or upper torso. The Patch is changed each week
for a schedule of 3 weeks on and 1 week off. The Contraceptive Patch works by
slowly releasing a combination of estrogen and progestin hormones through the
skin. These hormones prevent ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary) and
thicken the cervical mucus, creating a barrier to prevent sperm from entering
the uterus. When used correctly, it is about 99% effective as birth control except
for women weighing 198 pounds or more when it is only about 92% effective. The
Patch does not protect against reproductive tract infections or HIV/AIDS. |
Use • Awareness • Missed Patch Changes • Missed Periods • Your Health
Side Effects • Drug Interactions • Advantages
Disadvantages • Further References • PDF
Version
Use
Start using the Contraceptive Patch within 5 days of the first day of your
period or after a first trimester abortion. The day of the week you pick to apply
The Patch will be the same day you change The Patch a week later. (In the case
of second trimester abortion or giving birth, wait 4 weeks to apply your first
Patch. If breastfeeding, consult your health care provider.)
After filling
your prescription from a clinic, apply the Contraceptive Patch yourself. Choose
a part of your skin that is clean and dry. The Patch should be placed on a slightly
different spot every time to avoid skin irritation, but never on the breasts.
Try to place it where it will not be rubbed by tight clothing.
When you
apply the Patch, peel away the packaging without touching the sticky surface.
Press the sticky medicated part against your skin for 10 seconds. Run your finger
along the edge to make sure The Patch is sticking.
Use one Patch per
week for three weeks in a row. On the fourth week, no Patch should be worn
and your menstrual period should start. A new Patch is applied 7 days after removal
to start another month of birth control. The Patch should not be worn continuously
- it is important to have the week off during which your period occurs. Store
Patches for future use at room temperature.
When removing the used Patch,
fold it in half with the sticky hormonal side in and dispose of it in the garbage
rather than down the toilet to prevent the leftover hormones from being released
into the environment. If there is a leftover adhesive or a sticky spot on your
skin, you can remove this with mineral oil.
When does it become effective?
If the woman starts The Patch on the first day of her menstrual period or on the
day of an abortion, no backup is needed. In other words, it is effective for the
next cycle.
If she starts the Sunday after an abortion or the onset of menstruation
after an abortion, the manufacturer recommends 7 days of using a backup method
(condom, spermicide, diaphragm).
Check
the placement of your Contraceptive Patch daily. It may become loose or fall off.
If it has fallen off for less than a day, reapply it or put on a new Patch as
soon as possible. Your Patch change schedule will not be affected, nor will the
effectiveness of the method.
If your Patch has not been in place for over
24 hours or if you're not sure how long it has been, you can start your four-week
Patch cycle over. Use a new Patch as soon as possible and record the day of the
week. This will be your new Patch change day. For the first seven days of this
new cycle, you may not be protected from pregnancy. Use back up methods of birth
control for seven days.
Approximately 2% of the time, the Patch will fall
off and need to be replaced. Do not attempt to reapply Patches that stop sticking
with tape or other measures. Do not reapply Patches that have any materials stuck
to them. Use a new one to ensure the method remains effective.
If you forget to change your Patch at the
beginning of a monthly cycle, you can apply one as soon as you remember. Record
this day of the week as your new Patch change day and use a back-up method of
birth control for the next 7 days.
If you forget to change your Patch by
1 or 2 days in the middle of a monthly cycle, change your Patch as soon as you
remember. Keep the same Patch change day. A back-up method is not required.
If you forget to change your Patch by more than 2 days in the middle of a
cycle, put on a new Patch as soon as possible. You will be beginning a new four-week
Patch cycle with this Patch. Record the day of the week and use a back-up method
of birth control for the next seven days.
If you forget to remove the third
Patch in the cycle, remove it as soon as you remember. You will not need to change
your regular Patch change day or use back up contraception.
Missed
Periods
Missing a period does not necessarily mean you are
pregnant. However, if you miss a period, you may want to consider the likelihood
of pregnancy and take a pregnancy test. Pregnancy is more likely if a Patch fell
off for longer than 24 hours or if you missed a Patch change during the cycle.
If you are pregnant, discontinue use of the Contraceptive Patch.
Some women may not be able to use contraceptive Patches
because of the risk of serious health problems. Women over 35 who smoke or have
any of the following conditions should not use The Patch:
- History
of heart attack or stroke
- Chest pain
- Blood clots
- Unexplained
vaginal bleeding
- Severe high blood pressure
- Diabetes with kidney,
eye, nerve or blood vessel complications
- Known or suspected cancer
- Known
or suspected pregnancy
- Liver tumors or liver disease
- Headaches
with neurological symptoms
- Hepatitis or jaundice
- Disease of the
heart valves with complications
- Require long bed rest following surgery
- Allergic
reaction to the Patch
Women who have a family history of breast cancer,
diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, headaches or epilepsy, depression,
gallbladder disease, kidney disease, heart disease, irregular periods, or are
breastfeeding may not be able to use The Patch. Women over 198 pounds may not
receive a large enough hormone dose for the Patch to be effective.
A woman gets more estrogen in her body from the Patch than she would get from low-dose birth control pills or the Ring. More research needs to be done to learn if this increases her risk or blood clots, heart attack and stroke.
Side
Effects
As the body adjusts to hormonal changes, women
may experience some minor side effects, including:
- Skin irritation
or rashes at site of Patch
- Irregular bleeding
- Problems wearing
contact lenses
- Fluid retention or raised blood pressure
- Nausea
- Headache
- Breast tenderness
- Mood changes
- Menstrual cramps
- Abdominal
pain
The effectiveness of the Contraceptive Patch is lowered when taken with
certain medications, including antibiotics, anti-seizure, tuberculosis, and migraine
medications. Some drugs used to treat HIV or AIDS may also interfere with the
Patch. If you are taking any medications, tell your clinician. When taking medications
that may interfere with hormonal birth control, consider adding a backup method,
like condoms and spermicide. As with all drugs, it is useful to inform all your
medical providers if you are using the Contraceptive Patch.
Danger
Signs
Women who experience any of the following symptoms while
using the Contraceptive Patch should call the clinic immediately:
- Abdominal
pains (severe)
- Chest
pain or shortness of breath
- Headaches
(severe)
- Eye
problems, such as blurred vision
- Severe
leg or arm pain or numbness
Advantages
- Easy to use.
- Can be worn for three weeks.
- Effects
fertility one month at a time.
- Does not interrupt sex play.
Disadvantages
- Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
- Raised risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Requires a prescription.
Emergency Contraception (The "Morning After" Pill - "Plan B" - "EC")
You can prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse by taking Emergency Contraception pills (Plan B). Plan B works by giving the body a short burst of synthetic hormones that disrupt the hormone patterns needed for a pregnancy to start. Some types of regular birth control pills will work. Emergency Contraception is most effective 24-48 hours after unprotected intercourse but it can work for several days.
To find a clinic, doctor or pharmacy close to you, call the nationwide Emergency Contraception Hotline at 1-800-584-9911, 24 hours a day in English or Spanish (also at 1-888-NOT-2-LATE and ec.princeton.edu).
If you already have birth control pills in your possession, ask the hotline how to use them as emergency contraception. Or call our clinics at 800-572-4223 and ask how to use the birth control pills you already have to prevent pregnancy after sex.
In Washington State you can get Plan B directly from your pharmacy without first getting a prescription from a doctor. Call ahead to make sure they have it in stock and a trained person available to give it to you.
Women's health activists are working to make Plan B available over-the-counter nationwide so that one day soon you could purchase it at your neighborhood drug store.
Some people are buying Plan B in advance (it costs around $35-50) so they will have it on hand if they need.
July 19, 2008
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