Contraception- Transdermal Patch ("EVRA")
- How common is weight gain on Evra (the contraceptive patch) and what does it depend on?
- I was a day late in changing my second week patch. I've started bleeding, is that normal and why?
- I'm having some troubles with my birth control patch. Can I use it just when I'm having sex so I don't have to wear it all the time?
- If I am overweight, will the patch still work?
- Im having some troubles with my birth control patch. Can I use it just when Im having sex so I dont have to wear it all the time?
How common is weight gain on Evra (the contraceptive patch) and what does it depend on?
The contraceptive patch is very similar to the oral contraceptive pill in terms of side effects like weight gain. Research comparing the patch and the pill to placebo (an inactive pill that looks the same so people don't know whether or not they're taking the real pill) showed that the average weight gain was less than 1 lb per year. In other words, the weight gain had nothing to do with being on the pill or patch. Some women lost weight, some women gained more weight. It all depends on how many calories you take in versus how much energy you burn off with activity. Neither the pill nor patch will make you gain weight.
I was a day late in changing my second week patch. I've started bleeding, is that normal and why?
The estrogen present in the patch and the pill stabilize the lining of the uterus, which is shed during menstruation. When estrogen levels decline bleeding can occur. This can happen when the patch is removed late. The patch will still offer effective protection from pregnancy if you change it up to two days late-the so-called two days of forgiveness-but beyond this you should use a backup method for a week. There are no two days of forgiveness if the patch falls off or is removed.
I'm having some troubles with my birth control patch. Can I use it just when I'm having sex so I don't have to wear it all the time?
NO! Please do not do this! The patch will NOT work for birth control unless it is worn continuously. The usual way to wear the patch is for three weeks (changing to a new patch each seven days) and then take a week off from the patch. You will usually have a period during this week off. If a patch accidentally becomes detached, it becomes ineffective for birth control if more than 24 hours have passed. Replace the patch as soon as you can, and use a back up method of birth control for one week if the patch has been off for more than 24 hours.
If I am overweight, will the patch still work?
The answer is yes. There is some concern that the effectiveness of the patch for birth control is slightly lower in women who weigh more than 90 kg (198 lbs). The typical effectiveness rate for the patch is around 99%, which is similar to the pill. The initial effectiveness research studies looked at 3300 women who used the patch for over 22,000 months in total. There were more patch failures in women who weighed over 198 lbs, although there were only 15 unexpected pregnancies in all. So, if you are overweight, the patch will still work to protect you from an unwanted pregnancy, and will definitely work better than using no contraception at all.
Im having some troubles with my birth control patch. Can I use it just when Im having sex so I dont have to wear it all the time?
NO! Please do not do this! The patch will NOT work for birth control unless it is worn continuously. The usual way to wear the patch is for three weeks (changing to a new patch each seven days) and then take a week off from the patch. You will usually have a period during this week off. If a patch accidentally becomes detached, it becomes ineffective for birth control if more than 24 hours have passed. Replace the patch as soon as you can, and use a back up method of birth control for one week if the patch has been off for more than 24 hours.
