Some women will experience side effects while on the Ortho Evra birth control patch. These side effects can range from barely noticeable or only mildly annoying to being so bothersome that they cause the woman to discontinue using the patch. Even worse, the Ortho Evra patch can cause very serious medical conditions or complications. All women considering the Ortho Evra patch should discuss all these side effects with a doctor before deciding if the birth control patch is right for them.
Common Side Effects
Some side effects of the Ortho Evra patch are more common than others. According to the clinical trials referenced in the product information insert that comes with Ortho Evra, the common side effects that were reported included irregular uterine bleeding (sometimes also referred to as "breakthrough bleeding"), tenderness of the breasts and other breast symptoms, headaches, nausea, abdominal pain and irritation surrounding the application site of the patch.
Side Effects That Caused Discontinuation
Although several side effects can occur when taking Ortho Evra, some side effects seem to be more bothersome than others. The side effects that have led women to discontinue use of the birth control patch are: changes in emotional state, breast discomfort or pain, nausea and/or vomiting, headaches and irritation around the application site.
Serious Side Effects
Although serious side effects do not happen as frequently as the common side effects listed above, they should be taken under careful consideration before deciding if Ortho Evra is right for you. Ortho Evra prevents pregnancy by using a combination of hormones, similar to other birth control methods like the pill or the ring. All of these combination hormonal contraceptives are associated with increased risks of many serious conditions. These serious side effects include stroke, heart attack, clots in the blood vessels, liver tumors, gallbladder disease and even death. If a woman already has a pre-existing condition like hypertension, excess fat in the blood, obesity or diabetes, the risk of serious side effects significantly increases, according to the Ortho Evra product information sheet. However, most women without any underlying risk factors will not experience these serious side effects.
Increased Risk of Blood Clots
In addition to the serious side effects that all combination hormonal contraceptives share, Ortho Evra has the unique serious side effect of potentially causing blood clots. Because the hormones from the birth control patch are absorbed through the skin and processed differently than other forms of hormonal birth control, you will be exposed to around 60 percent more estrogen by using the birth control patch than if you were to use an average birth control pill containing 35 micrograms of estrogen. This extra estrogen may cause up to double the risk of developing serious blood clots, according to the Ortho Evra package insert.
