Are you looking for a birth control option that doesn’t require you to take a pill every day? Ortho Evra, the birth control patch, may be right for you.<\/p>\n
The Ortho Evra birth control patch is a small skin patch that contains the same hormones as many popular birth control pills. Women choose it for the convenience of a patch they only have to change weekly versus a pill they must take daily.<\/p>\n
The Ortho Evra birth control patch contains two hormones – an estrogen called ethinyl estradiol and a progestin called norelgestromin. The birth control patch releases these hormones slowly and continuously over the course of 7 days. The hormones are absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin.<\/p>\n
The Ortho Evra birth control patch prevents pregnancy in three ways:<\/p>\n
Many women have switched to Ortho Evra from other methods of birth control. Some advantages of using the birth control patch are:<\/p>\n
In addition to birth control, Ortho Evra offers the following benefits:<\/p>\n
One of the biggest advantages of using Ortho Evra is that you have to change the birth control patch just once a week. Studies suggest that women are more likely to use the birth control patch correctly compared to a birth control pill.<\/p>\n
Women should replace the Ortho Evra patch on the same day each week for three weeks and then wait for a week during which a menstrual period occurs before applying another patch. The Ortho Evra patch can be applied to one of four areas: chest (front or back, excluding the breasts), upper outer arm, abdomen, or buttocks. Doctors suggest changing the Ortho Evra patch location every time in order to prevent skin irritation.<\/p>\n
The Ortho Evra birth control patch has been shown to be as effective as hormonal birth control pills. Three worldwide clinical trials of Ortho Evra showed an effectiveness rate of 99.7% among women who used the birth control patch correctly. Most unintended pregnancies occurred in women whose weight was over 198 pounds (90 kilos). The following factors may increase the risk of pregnancy:<\/p>\n
The Ortho Evra birth control patch is a prescription medication. Make sure to discuss your complete medical history with your gynecologist before deciding to use Ortho Evra, especially if any of the following apply to you:<\/p>\n
Considering your medical history, your doctor can help you decide if Ortho Evra would be an appropriate birth control method for you. If the answer is "yes," your doctor and\/or a licensed pharmacist can tell you how to use the Ortho Evra birth control patch correctly. Also, be sure to read the patient information that comes with the birth control patch.<\/p>\n
The Ortho Evra birth control patch usually has only minor side effects in healthy young women who don’t use other medications. The following side effects may occur but are likely to disappear within two to three months of use:<\/p>\n
Remember that your doctor will generally prescribe the Ortho Evra birth control patch only after judging that the potential benefit to you is greater than the risk or unpleasantness of side effects. Serious but rare side effects such as blood clots, stroke, or heart attack may occur in Ortho Evra users who are older than 35 and who smoke.<\/p>\n
Other disadvantages of using Ortho Evra may include:<\/p>\n
The Ortho Evra birth control patch is not recommended for:<\/p>\n
In short, Ortho Evra is a safe and effective birth control method for healthy young women who weigh less than 198 pounds and who do not smoke. The Ortho Evra birth control patch may be a good choice for women who find it difficult to remember to take a pill every day or who have difficulty swallowing pills.<\/p>\n
If you decide that the Ortho Evra birth control patch may be right for you, talk to your doctor.<\/p>\n