Hormone levels after PG, start patch?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-28-2003
Hormone levels after PG, start patch?
2
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 6:54pm
Hi all, this might be hard to answer really well here, but I'll give it a shot. Two weeks ago I had a medical abortion and the followup ultrasounds have shown that all the tissue, as well as the pregnancy, has been safely passed or absorbed, and the levels of HCG have fallen to near-normal pre-pg levels in my body. So, I've been told to start using the patch. (Just a note, I got pg from missing doses of pills.) However...

I'm pretty confused as far as where I am right now, before applying the patch, in my cycle. Two weeks past pregnancy, I wonder if I've even ovulated yet? Does anyone have a good link to a site with information on how your body re-adjusts all the hormone levels after abortion or miscarriage? I guess I need to know roughly when my body will have restarted itself into normal cycles, and when all the hormones associated with pregnancy will have been metabolized adequately to put me back to pre-pg levels. (Maybe this is important to know, I was seven weeks before procedure.)

Anyway, besides the above, is there a consensus on how safe it is to just start up using the patch without knowing where I am in the cycle? The Ortho Evra info with the kit they gave me says to wait till the first day after my currect cycle, but my doc just dismissed that. Hmmmm. Ideas anyone?

(Oh yeah, I know to use a backup through this first cycle with the patch at least. If there's any other precautions I should know about lemme know.. this is my first experience with the patch and I was only on the pill for three months before I became PG.)

Really apreciate the help! Thanks girls

>Sarah

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 8:25pm
Hi Sarah, welcome!

According to your post you had a first trimester procedure two weeks ago. Under those circumstances the prescribing information for Ortho Evra (extract below) says that you should follow the instructions for a first time user, which say to wait until the first day of your period to apply the patch or wait until the first Sunday after the start of your period. As to where you are in your cycle no one can tell you that. What the prescribing information (below)says is that after a first trimester procedure “Ovulation may occur within 10 days of an abortion or miscarriage.”



This is extracted from the prescribing information on the Ortho Evra site. http://www.orthoevra.com/for_prescribers/full.html

“Use after Abortion or Miscarriage

After an abortion or miscarriage that occurs in the first trimester, ORTHO EVRA® may be started immediately. An additional method of contraception is not needed if ORTHO EVRA® is started immediately. If use of ORTHO EVRA® is not started within 5 days following a first trimester abortion, the woman should follow the instructions for a woman starting ORTHO EVRA® for the first time. In the meantime she should be advised to use a non-hormonal contraceptive method. Ovulation may occur within 10 days of an abortion or miscarriage.”

“ORTHO EVRA® should be started no earlier than 4 weeks after a second trimester abortion or miscarriage. When ORTHO EVRA® is used postpartum or postabortion, the increased risk of thromboembolic disease mustbe considered. (See CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS concerning thromboembolic disease. See PRECAUTIONS for “Nursing Mothers”.)”

As far as applying the patch right now, somewhere in mid cycle, some women probably have. However what this board recommends is that you wait until the first day of your period for two reasons 1) your period indicates that you aren’t pg and 2) your natural hormones are at their lowest level and it is easier on your body if you begin adding hormonal contraceptives then. If I were you I would wait until AF showed up so you know where you are before applying your first patch. Some of the members on the Abortion Support Board http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bhabortion may be able to give you more specific information and share their experiences. I hope Ortho Evra works well for you. Good luck!

(((Hugs)))

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-28-2003
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 9:06pm
Ah ha! :-D Thanks so much Jill for that reply, that was exactly the information I was looking for.. I can't believe I missed that in all the paperwork that came with the patches. Silly me for not looking at the website as well. Thank you!!!

>Sarah