Estrogen Birth Control Patch

What s the birth control patch. The birth control patch trade name Ortho Evra is a thin, beige, 1 3/4-inch square that sticks to your skin like an adhesive bandage.

Contraceptive Patch. One of the newest forms of hormonal birth control to come onto the market is the Patch, which is sold under the brand name Ortho Evra.

Glossary

What are combined hormonal birth control methods.

Birth control pills, the birth control patch, and the vaginal birth control ring are combined hormonal birth control methods. They contain two hormones: estrogen and progestin.

How do combined hormonal methods prevent pregnancy.

Combined hormonal birth control methods release estrogen and progestin into the whole body. These hormones prevent pregnancy mainly by stopping ovulation the release of an egg from one of the ovaries. They also cause other changes in the body that help prevent pregnancy. The mucus in the cervix thickens, making it hard for sperm to enter the uterus. The lining of the uterus thins, making it less likely that a fertilized egg can attach to it.

How effective are combined hormonal birth control methods.

With typical use meaning that the method may not always be used consistently or correctly 9 women out of 100 9 will become pregnant during the first year of using these methods. With perfect use meaning that the method is used consistently and correctly each time fewer than 1 woman out of 100 will become pregnant during the first year.

What are the benefits of combined hormonal methods.

Combined hormonal methods have several benefits in addition to protecting against pregnancy:

They may make your period more regular, lighter, and shorter.

They help reduce menstrual cramps.

They decrease the risk of cancer of the uterus, ovary, and colon.

They may improve acne and reduce unwanted hair growth.

They can be used to treat certain disorders that cause heavy bleeding and menstrual pain, such as fibroids and endometriosis.

Used continuously, they can reduce the frequency of migraines associated with menstruation although they should not be used if you have migraines with aura. They also can be used to treat heavy bleeding and pain by stopping the menstrual period.

What are possible risks of combined hormonal methods.

Combined hormonal methods are safe for most women, but they are associated with a small increased risk of deep vein thrombosis DVT, heart attack, and stroke. The risk is higher in some women, including women older than 35 years who smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day or women who have multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes; a history of stroke, heart attack, or DVT; or a history of migraine headaches with aura.

You should not use combined hormonal methods during the first 3 weeks after delivery because the risk of DVT is higher in the weeks after childbirth. If you have additional risk factors for DVT, you should wait to use combined hormonal methods until after the first 4–6 weeks following delivery.

The risk of DVT also may be slightly higher in women taking pills containing a progestin called drospirenone and in women using the patch. However, the risk of DVT is higher during pregnancy and in the weeks after childbirth than when taking drospirenone-containing pills or using the patch.

Can I use combined hormonal birth control methods while I am breastfeeding.

If you are breastfeeding, estrogen may affect your milk supply. It is recommended that you wait until the fifth week after delivery to start using these methods, when breastfeeding has been well established.

How can I get combined hormonal pills.

In the United States, birth control pills are available by prescription only.

What are the different types of combined hormonal pills and how are they taken.

21-day pills Take one pill at the same time each day for 21 days. Wait 7 days before starting a new pack. During the week you are not taking the pill, you will have your period.

28-day pills Take one pill at the same time each day for 28 days. Depending on the brand, the first 21 pills or the first 24 pills contain estrogen and progestin. The remaining pills may be estrogen-only pills; pills that contain a dietary supplement, such as iron, but no hormones; or inactive pills containing no hormones or supplements. During the days you are taking the hormone-free pills, you will have your period.

90-day pills Take one pill at the same time each day for 84 days. Depending on the brand, the last seven pills either contain no hormones or contain estrogen only. With both brands, you will have your period on the last 7 days every 3 months.

365-day pills Take one pill at the same time each day for a year. In time, your bleeding may become lighter and may even stop.

What are possible side effects of using the combined hormonal birth control pill.

Possible side effects include the following:

Headache

Breast tenderness

Breakthrough bleeding

Breakthrough bleeding usually is a temporary side effect as the body adjusts to a change in hormone levels. It may last longer than a few months with continuous-dose pills.

What is the vaginal ring.

The vaginal ring is a flexible, plastic ring that is placed in the upper vagina. It releases estrogen and progestin that are absorbed through the vaginal tissues into the body.

How can I get the vaginal ring.

A health care provider must prescribe the vaginal ring, but you insert it yourself.

How do I use the vaginal ring.

You fold the ring and insert it into the vagina. It stays there for 21 days. You then remove it and wait 7 days before inserting a new ring. During the week the ring is not used, you will have your period. To use the ring as a continuous-dose form of birth control, insert a new ring every 21 days with no ring-free week in between.

What are possible side effects of using the vaginal ring.

Headache.

• The patch is a skin patch that releases the hormones progestin estrogen into the bloodstream. It protects against pregnancy, but not STIs.
• Combined Hormonal Birth Control: Pill, Patch, and Ring, an ACOG patient education FAQ, covers birth control that combines the hormones estrogen and progestin: pill.
• Nov 11, 2005  Ortho Evra, the birth control skin patch, will get a new bolded warning stating that the patch provides a higher exposure to estrogen than birth control pills.
• Possible Side Effects. The birth control patch is a safe and effective method of birth control. Most young women who use the patch have no side effects.
• The birth control patch is a hormonal contraception. It is a small square patch that looks like a band-aid. It sticks to the skin and releases hormones.

A

Warning Added to Birth Control Patch

Ortho Evra Patch Exposes Women to More Estrogen Than Birth Control Pills; May Raise Risk of Blood Clots, Says FDA

WebMD Health News

WebMD News Archive

Nov. 11, 2005 -- Ortho Evra, the birth control skin patch, will get a new bolded warning stating that the patch provides a higher exposure to estrogen than birth control pills.

Higher levels of estrogen may put some women at increased risk for getting blood clots, states the FDA.

The FDA provided these questions and answers about the new warning:

What is the FDA announcing.

The FDA is announcing a revision to the label for the drug Ortho Evra, the only skin patch approved for birth control. This change includes a new bolded warning about higher exposure to estrogen for women using the weekly patch compared with taking a daily birth control pill containing 35 micrograms of estrogen, a commonly prescribed dose. Higher levels of estrogen may put some women at increased risk for getting blood clots. When thinking about prescribing or using Ortho Evra, health care professionals and women need to balance the increased exposure to estrogen against the chance of pregnancy if a birth control pill is not taken daily.

Why is the FDA making this announcement.

A woman on Ortho Evra may be exposed to approximately 60 more estrogen than if she was taking a typical 35 microgram estrogen birth control pill. There are also high-dose estrogen pills on the market, such as the 50-microgram birth control pills, and some women need these. Estrogen use is linked to blood clots in the legs and lungs and other clotting problems such as strokes and heart attacks. It is not known if women using Ortho Evra have a higher risk of serious side effects than women taking the typical 35-microgram estrogen pills.

How does the increase in exposure of estrogen affect me when taking Ortho Evra.

In general, a woman may be at higher risk for getting side effects if she takes higher doses of estrogen. However, it is not known if a woman using the Ortho Evra patch is at higher risk for serious side effects than if she is using a typical birth control pill. Women should discuss with their health care professional whether the Ortho Evra patch is a good method of contraception for them.

Birth control patch Overview covers definition, risks, instructions for using this type of contraception.

The Dangers of the Ortho Evra Patch. Due to its convenience, more than 4 million women have used Johnson Johnson s Ortho Evra birth control patch since it debuted.