Ortho Evra is the brand name of the birth control patch, which adheres to the woman's skin. Planned Parenthood states that Ortho Evra is worn for three weeks to prevent pregnancy, then removed during the week of menstruation.
Mechanism
When attached to the skin, Ortho Evra releases a combination of estrogen and progestin. Planned Parenthood states that the patch suppresses ovulation, thins the lining of the uterus and thickens the cervical mucus.
Effectiveness
When used correctly, Ortho Evra is 99 percent effective, according to Planned Parenthood; the effectiveness drops to 92 percent when the patch is not always used correctly.
Safety Concerns
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that the major safety concern of the birth control patch is that users have an increased risk of blood clots, called venous thromboembolism, compared to birth control pill users. Venous thromboembolism can lead to pulmonary embolism.
Conditions
Certain conditions increase the risk of developing serious blood clots: Planned Parenthood lists previous blood clots or vein inflammation, inherited blood-clotting disorder, breast cancer, liver cancer, serious liver disease and high blood pressure as high risk conditions.
FDA Recommendations
The FDA states that Ortho Evra is safe if taken according to the prescribing label. Women who have any high-risk conditions should talk to a doctor about it before using Ortho Evra.
