ORTHO EVRA BIRTH CONTROL PATCH (ETHINYL ESTRADIOL/NORELGESTROMIN)

Description of Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch

If you have never tried a transdermal contraceptive patch before, ask your doctor about Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch. The hormones, Ethinyl Estradiol/Norelgestromin, are released slowly into your skin from the adhesive of the patch. You place one Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch onto your upper outer arm, abdomen, back, or buttocks, making sure it will not be rubbed off or in the way of under-clothing. Take note that this will be your ‘patch day’. On day 7, replace the patch with a new one and dispose of the old one in the garbage after folding in half to minimize any release of hormones. After your third patch placement, you will have a patch-free 7 days and repeat the process.

How Does Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Work?

Once the two hormones, estrogen and progestin are fully absorbed into your body, they will work to suppress ovulation. If there are no eggs to fertilize, no pregnancy can occur. Should an egg mature and you do ovulate, Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch will cause a change in your cervical fluid and uterine lining that makes it difficult for the sperm to reach and fertilize the egg, but not impossible. If any sperm does manage to fertilize an egg, the changes to your endometrium makes it incapable of allowing the egg to attach as the lining is not developed enough.

There is no pill, patch, or other contraceptive methods that are 100% guaranteed to stop ovulation, only suppress it. The efficacy of contraceptive patches is comparable to the combination oral contraceptives (COC). With perfect use, meaning the patch is always replaced as and when directed, there is a 0.3% failure rate. But with typical use, meaning patch was not replaced on the day indicated or it fell off and went unnoticed, the failure rate jumps to 9%.

Before You Start with Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch

Tell your doctor about other medical conditions or allergies you have and list any OTC or Rx drugs you currently take or use that could interfere with how Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch will work for you. It is very important to be certain that you are not currently pregnant before applying Ethinyl Estradiol/Norelgestromin patch. Back-up contraception is needed for 7 days if this is your first experience with Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch or if you placed a new patch more than 24 hours after previous patch fell off, and this will now be your new ‘patch day’.

Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Precautions

Birth control patches will not protect you from spreading or being infected by sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Keep your Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch supply out of children’s reach and do not allow other women to use any of your patches. If you are over 35 years of age and a smoker, you may be recommended to try another form of birth control as the patch can cause an increased risk of side effects.

Common Side Effects of Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch

• Skin reaction to adhesive on patch
• Bleeding between periods
• Nausea/vomiting