How Is Ortho Evra Used?

Overview

Ortho Evra is a birth control patch that delivers the medicine through the skin. It is the only product of its kind to deliver the active ingredients in this manner. Ortho Evra was approved for sale in the United States in 2001. A patch is applied each week for three weeks and one week a month is spent patchless. The patchless week is the week where the period occurs.
Ortho Evra came under fire in 2005 when it was directly linked to the death of an 18-year-old. This death triggered an FDA probe into the safety of the Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch. Due to this case Ortho Mcneil, the drug's maker, has had to black label the drug.
Ortho Evra delivers more progesterone and estrogen than traditional birth control pills, which can cause an increased risk of heart attack, blood clots and stroke. These are all risks associated with traditional birth control pills; however, Ortho Evra has been shown to have three times the risks of birth control pills according to an article published by the Associated Press on July 16, 2005. These findings were also backed by the FDA.

Step 1

Place the stickers on your calendar according to the day you will start your Ortho Evra patches. Ortho Evra comes with four stickers to remind you when to change your patches.

Step 2

Place your first patch, but do not put it on your breast or upper back area. Good areas include your waistline, shoulder and lower back.

Step 3

Remove the first patch after a week and place another patch in a different location on your body. Do not place the patch on your breast or upper back.

Step 4

Remove the second patch after a week and place another patch in a different location from where the first two patches were placed. Again, do not place the patch on your breast area or back.

Step 5

Remove the third patch. This will be the week you start your period. Place your next patch on a week from when you removed the third patch, even if you haven't finished your period.