I recently switched from the pill to the patch - Ortho Evra.

Have any of you girls ever tried it?
Do you know anyone who uses it?
Any side effects?

In your opinion, is it any easier than your original contraceptive practices? (What are those practices, if you don't mind saying).

The main point to debate:
Do you think the patch will prevent some unwanted pregnancies by making birth control less 'easy to forget'?

Absolutely! It's was pretty difficult to remember to take pills daily and barrier methods are easy to forget in the heat of the moment.



I haven't tried it, nor do I know anyone who has, but I'm always concerned about any kind of hormonal birth control as far as health and well-being go.

Fortunately I have the best birth control ever -- my fiance had a vasectomy, which is far easier than tubal ligation would be for women. He was in pain for a day (but has pain pills), uncomfortable for a week which is a far easier recovery than from childbirth!

Like Jenreiautter, I am wary of hormonal forms of birth control. They never agreed with me for some reason, and I've tried many different types...from high dose to low dose, progestin to estrogen and every variation in between. I have (what I consider to be the best nonpermanent birth control method) the copper IUD.

As far as hormonal birth control goes, I do know people who have used the patch and were very happy with it. Unlike norplant or the Depo- Provera shots, which offer megadoses of hormones and usually worsen the side effects, the patch offers relatively low dosage, and can easily be removed at any time. Those who experience no side effects from the pill should do well with this.

To answer the debate question, I do believe that this would prevent some unwanted pregnancies, by making it easier to remember the once a week regime. Unfortunately, if certain types of antibiotics and other medication are used with any hormonal method, they reduce the effectiveness. This would be true of either the patch or the pill...and most everyone I have ever known (personally) to get pregnant on the pill did so because they were taking another medication simultaneously, not because they forgot their pill.

Mrs. Pigpen has said just about everything that needs to be said.

I would just add that my experience as a pharmacist has shown me that compliance with any medication regimen is a major problem. Here's a study which reached the conclusion that the patch and the pill were about equally effective in preventing pregnancy:

Patch and Birth Control Pills Are Similarly Effective in Preventing Pregnancy

Side effects were about the same, although the patch seemed to cause more breakthrough bleeding and spotting during the first two menstrual cycles after it was first applied. So far, they seem about the same. Here's the big news:



That's a pretty big increase in compliance. Whether this is best for a particular woman depends on a lot of factors, but it's certainly a good choice for many. I would answer the debate question with a big "yes."

In my own case, I knew I never wanted to have children, so I was sterilized before I was married.

I have never personally tried the patch.
I have also never taken birth control pills.
So, my experience with such contraception
is very limited.

However, I do know two people who have
used this method. From what I understand
they were quite happy with it, and it did
the trick, in terms of preventing pregnancy.

I would say that this method will definitely
prevent unwanted pregnancies. My only
concern is that it does not adversely affect
a woman's health, in the long-term. I do
not completely trust that women's birth control
pills, patches, etc. are completely safe. I
have no particular data to back this up, it's
just my own superstition.

I voted no, although recently the price of ortho tri cyclen (even when bought on the university's discounted sample packages) DOUBLED in price! I was very distraught by this change in price as I had no forwarning of it. The patch is cheaper (because it is not as proven at the moment). In any case I wouldn't try the patch because there's just something about hormones seeping in through the skin that I don't trust. That and I play rugby so its liable to get ripped off or something in a game or practice.

I agree with Mrs. Pigpen's response about forgetfulness not being the only problem with the pill. Many people forget to check if the medications they are on interfere with the effectiveness of their BC. Others don't realize that medications have the possiblity of lowering effectiveness. To each her own choice though...for some the patch might be easier than remembering everyday.

*to answer the question about side effects...a girl I know who is on the patch has had it make her feel nauseous and sick. This is the case for many people on the pill though as well.

I have wondered why any woman would want to wear a patch 24/7? Except in the case of nicotine which is hopefully temporary. Doesnt it get nasty like a band-aid? I personally wouldnt want anything on my skin all that time, where do you put it where it doesnt show and feel or be bothered by clothing? I imagine your lover, running their hands over your body would eventually come across this or view it in some way. Of course its better than some alternatives, I guess Im just a bit hippy-ish in the idea of clean fresh smooth skin everywhere. I'd appreciate you alls veiws on this too.

That said, Im sure it can stop unwanted pregnancies in the light of people not being able to remember the pill. At one time I took the pills and they werent good for me emotionally or physically. I cried all the time and gained weight. The birth control problem has been either less than healthy (pills), un-romantic (diaphram) or downright painful (IUD's) or unreliable in the past. Maybe the patch is a reasonablly good new solution, despite that it has to be somewhat wierd. Then, so are condoms, and I expect they are more costly to active (monogamous) couples.

I am right now trying to have a baby and after that I will never go on hormonal birth control ever again. The side effects are too numerous and dangerous.
I can’t really be of any help about the patches as I never tried them but I would recommend that as soon as you can to opt for other forms of birth control like intra-uterine devices for instance. This form of contraception is relatively reliable but there is a slight chance it might make you sterile this is why it is usually not recommended unless you at least have a child.
Just think that doctors used to say that hormonal therapies for menopause were safe and that we now found out that they give cancer to women. The birth control also can give you forms of cancers, blood clots ect….

I've been using the patch for about 2 months now, and yes - it does get nasty like a band aid. I hate that. I like smooth skin too. My boyfriend likes to joke about it - he talks about "smackin that patch..." when he wants to get some. Hehe.

I had been on the pill for about 7 years and I was starting to forget to take it more and more often (I got so used to the habit of taking it - I don't know why that would make it harder to remember as time goes on). I used to keep my pills on the night stand right next to my bed and take one right before bed every night - but then I was traveling so much and it was easier to not forget the whole pack if I put it in my purse, so I was keeping them in my purse but then it was hard to remember to take one every night because 'out of sight out of mind'.

So I switched to the patch and so far my only complaints about it is that the cramps I get are a little more severe than when I was on the pill, and I hate the fuzz it picks up from my clothes. But other than that, it's a nice change not to have to get up once I've gone to bed just to get my pill. And so far it's worked, so that's good.

I voted no. I like my BCPs. After initially being irresponsible about taking the pill I switched to depo-provera for a year. It was very convenient but near the end sex became painful and I went back on the pill. I've gotten better about taking it at the same hour every day for the first two weeks after mensus, the days when it's most important to take it regularly.

I don't plan on using BCPs forever but I don't think using BCPs for a cumulative decade will dramatically raise my risk for blood clots, breast and ovarian/uterine cancer. My blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol are low. I work out and'll keep doing that for some time to come. I probably have a higher risk of developing diabetes than cancer by family history. Some family members have developed cancer but they were 75 years-old and up. You have to die from something. ;-p

The only present drawback to the pill is sometimes I get nauseas starting a new cycle, but I can keep it down. From there on out I'm fine. My skin is clearer, a little more pliable, and I think it actually improves my mood. I made a crazy, utterly unscientific observation when I took a break from hormonal birth control. I noticed my shifting cycles followed the full moon. Weird!

I used the patch for two months after having my last baby, and I wasn't happy with it. It is like a bandaid and after a few days it is covered in lint, and anything else that touches it. Birth control has never agreed with my body, so I've tried them only a few times and I've always had bad side-effects. Both times was after having a baby, so it might of been more than just the hormones from the pill or patch

My old roommate is now a bioengineer who specializes in tissues, and she has some serious reservations about transdermal patches. Apparently the skin, on average, absorbs 60% of whatever's on it -- but that amount varies dramatically from person to person. If you're among the hundreds of thousands of people whose skin absorbs about 75-80%, the patch won't work.

(This is also why cosmetics and dyes are very, very bad things: most have more carcinogens than cigarettes, and they're directly injected into your bloodstream.)

Terra