Birth Control Patches

Convenient to use, the birth control patch is an adhesive patch made up of thin plastic, which uses hormones for contraception. It’s usually square with sides measuring approximately 4.5 cm. A birth control patch is stuck on the skin of certain designated areas. The duration of the effectiveness of a patch varies from product to product, although mostly the patches are ‘weekly’ in nature. The birth control patch has the same effectiveness as the ‘pill,’ up to 95% of the time.

Designed for women, it releases female hormones that are absorbed in the blood through the pores of the skin. Estrogen is the most important female hormone, responsible for regulating the fundamental functions of reproductions and physical changes.

Progesterone is the hormone that takes care of the menstrual cycles and performs other functions. A birth control patch, which contains both progesterone and estrogen, works upon the same principle as combination drugs. It has the following roles:      
                   
            1. Thickening of cervical mucus, thereby obstructing the sperm's entry;
            2. Thins the uterine lining, making it difficult for a fertilized egg to attach itself to the lining for the development of the fetus; and
            3. Prevents the release of eggs from the ovaries.

The patch is to be pasted on the either of hips, abdomen, upper torso, or the upper part of the arm. Similar to the ‘pill,’ it is used in three out of four weekly cycles, other than the menstrual week. Generally, one patch each week is applied on the same day, for example, a Wednesday-to-Wednesday cycle. Changing the location of the patch is recommended to avoid skin irritation or allergies. Avoid any cosmetics or skin products in or around the area where the patch is pasted.

While starting out on the patch, for the first seven days, back-up method may be required. Although rare, sometimes the patch falls off on its own, leaving you exposed to the chances of accidental conception. In addition, the patch does not provide any type of protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Side effects in the case of birth control patch are similar to those of the ‘pill,’ such as:

• Nausea
• Mood swings
• Dizziness
• Irregular menstruation
• Breast tenderness and cyst formation
• Skin irritation
• Depression
• Menstrual cramps
• Vomiting
• Blood clotting (thrombosis)
• Heart ailments
• Cancer

Learn more about our Phoenix Birth Control Clinical Trial