5 Things You Need to Know About the Birth Control Patch

1. So Convenient and Barely Visible

If you have a hard time remembering to take your birth control pill every day, talk to your doctor about Ortho Evra, the birth control patch. It's a small, beige patch that you place on your skin once a week for three weeks out of the month. It's just as effective as the pill if you use it properly.

2. Hormones Through Your Skin

The birth control patch prevents you from getting pregnant by releasing the hormones estrogen and progestin into your skin, and subsequently into your bloodstream. The hormones in the patch stop the ovulation process by preventing your ovaries from releasing eggs. In the case that an egg is released, the hormones also thicken your cervical mucus so that the sperm can't penetrate the uterus wall and find its way to the egg.

3. Know When to Put on the Patch

When you're using Ortho Evra, you must use it correctly to prevent pregnancy. You can either put it on during the first day of your period, or you can put it on during the first Sunday after your period. Make note of the day that you put on the patch because you will need to change the patch on this same day every week for three consecutive weeks. Don't wear the patch during the fourth week of the month as this is when you will have your period. If you don't apply the patch during the first day of your period, you must use a condom or other backup birth control method for the first week to ensure that you don't get pregnant.

4. Stick It On

When you apply the patch, you have a few choices of where you can place it on your body. You can wear it on your upper arm, upper torso (but not on your breasts), buttocks or abdomen. You can still take regular showers and go swimming while wearing the patch. Don't put the patch on irritated skin or on parts of your skin where you usually use lotion or makeup. This could decrease the effectiveness of the patch. Always ask your doctor for a prescription for a backup patch in the rare case that your patch comes off.

5. Don't Forget the Side Effects

Minor side effects that you may experience when using the patch are skin irritation, breast tenderness, headaches and nausea. Serious side effects could include heart attack and stroke. Since the patch delivers hormones through your skin, you receive a more intense dose of estrogen than you would if you were taking the pill. This increased amount of estrogen may put you at a greater risk for certain side effects such as blood clots. You shouldn't smoke while using the patch, especially if you're over 35 years old. If you have a history of cancer, stroke or heart attack or if you think you may be pregnant, you shouldn't use the patch.