thoughts on the patch?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2004
thoughts on the patch?
36
Tue, 08-10-2004 - 2:15pm
Any opinions out there on the patch? I just started it and have been getting headaches (never had any side effects with the pill). Then I read an article about an 18 year old who died from a blood clot because of the patch (my rational mind knows that the chances of that are so slim, but it still really spooked me). I really like the convenience of the patch but I am starting to think maybe it hasn't been around long enough to know if it is really safe.

anyone else have patch experiences?

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Avatar for lucy4980
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 08-10-2004 - 3:47pm
I've been on the patch for a couple months without any real problems. I had an upset stomach the first couple days and had a few headaches, but not anymore than usual. As far as the safety is concerned, there are risks with any type of hormonal birth control, such as a lethal blood clot. The patch is hormonal BC just like the pill, the homones are just absorbed through the skin rather than through the digestive tract.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2004
Tue, 08-10-2004 - 8:02pm
I used to have headache and felt nausea when I was consuming the pills. I stopped using pills after that.

I have just started using the patch 3 weeks ago, everything seems fine and I don't feel nausea while on patch. I like it so far.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Wed, 08-11-2004 - 9:18am
I started the patch 2 months ago. I really love the convience of it and never having to remember to take a pill, which I am very bad at. On the 3rd patch week my breats were so sore and tender but by the time my period started the breast tenderness was gone. I still had the moodiness and the need to sleep. I had a migraine for the first 3 days of my period and managed to get past it. Like I said I am on my second 2 set of patches, on the 3rd week again and tenderness has started again but not to bad. I just had a doc's appointment and he said it takes at least 3mths for it to get into system and not to give up. I was worried about creases in the patch and slight lifting on the edges when wearing it on the butt, he said that it was ok and it would be fine. What I don't like is the black sticky gummy stuff on the outer edges of it. Do you have that problem? I also love body lotions and I'm afraid to put it on the patch let alone any where near it. If you have any tips about the patch let me know. Over all I will be staying on it because it sure beats the pills and not having to stress myself out over missing 1 or 2 and waiting a month for the all clear again or finding the nearsest bridge to jump off. LOL.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-21-2003
Fri, 08-13-2004 - 4:47pm
I've been on the patch now for about 9 months and I LOVE it! I've experienced less side effects on it then when I was on the pill and it works well for me. It does, however, take about 3 months for your body to get used to it. When I first started I also had headaches, etc. but they went away by month 3 and haven't returned. For me, the patch has been a godsend. Good luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-08-2002
Fri, 08-13-2004 - 7:15pm
I've been using the patch since April 18th, about 4 months now, and while it's convenient, I'm older (42) and had gotten used to being less moody and emotional than I was when I was younger. The patch's hormones seem to have affected my moods. The first month or two I felt weepy, I was nauseated, and I had sore breasts. I'm better now, but I'm seriously thinking of switching to the Mirena device that is similar to an IUD.

I'm also a little concerned about blood clots and similar problems due to my age. But I'm a runner, I don't smoke, and I have good blood pressure so my doctor felt that I was a good candidate despite my age.





iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2004
Fri, 08-13-2004 - 8:39pm
I did not like the patch. I was on it for about four months and it was always trying to come off. If it wasnt coming off when I took it off it irrated my skin very badly. Plus there was always lint on my patch area. Ohh yeah my best friend got pregnant on it. BEWARE!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2004
Fri, 08-13-2004 - 10:05pm
I was on the patch for a little over a year. I liked not having to remember the pill, but I also hated:

1. the gunky square lint mark it left around the patch

2. can't be hidden AT ALL by a bikini (I tried to put it lower on my but so my bikini bottoms would hide it, but THAT made my period come a week early...and I was on vacation! Double sucky!)

3. I got pregnant (due Nov 6th!) about TWO WEEKS after not wearing it any longer :0 , and I only have one falopian tube so I thought my chances were slim...so be careful if you decide to go off it, get right on something else to avoid a pregnancy.

4. Their so called "skin tone" colored patch is definatly not skin tone - why can't they make it a CLEAR patch??? That wouldn't be so bad. I wore these low-rider jeans to work and I guess it could be seen while I was sitting down and my co-worker was like, "Oh, someone has a boo-boo!" He thought it was a BAND-AIDE! lol I was too embarassed to admit what it was.

5. Forget about tanning with it on!

I think after the baby is born, I'm going to consider the shot instead.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2004
Sun, 08-15-2004 - 1:29am
I have been on the patch for a little over a year now. I love it!!! I got pregnant on the pill with my first child because i was horrible at remembering to take it everyday. I've been on the depo. shot and bled for nine months straight. I was also on the lunelle shot that's now been recalled off the market. Although the physical aspect of the patch can be a real mood killer, it works great. The only time i had a problem with it was when i was taking an antibiotic, which only caused some spotting for a few days. I think that it is the greatest method out right now. I would recommend it to anyone!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2004
Sun, 08-15-2004 - 12:17pm
I'm a 19 year old who was on the Pill and kept forgetting to take it. I called my doctor and asked to be switched to a more convenient form of birth control. She suggested the patch and I agreed. Every week I experienced problems with the new patch that I had applied. It would always get lint on the adhesive from my underware, the corners would come off in the shower, and by the time the week was over and I had to change it, the patch would pretty much be hanging off my body. I also found out that a replacement patch, (since only 3 come in a box) costs around 50 bucks because insurance won't cover replacement patches. The last straw was when I went into the ocean for less than 5 minutes and it came right off and floated away. Now I'm sure you've seen the commercials for the patch..the woman swimming, showering, running. It is completely false advertising. Some of my friends who switched to the patch also experienced similar problems. I called my doctor and switched to the NuvaRing, which is a small plastic ring that you insert into your vagina for 3 weeks, then take it out for a week when you have your period. The hormones are time-released so you don't have to worry about becoming sick, and you don't have to worry about it not being as effective as the pill because it is always inside you. I can't even feel it inside me and it has minimized my period more than the pill did. If you are looking for an alternative to the pill, I highly recommend the NuvaRing. I have not had one problem with it. Good Luck!
Avatar for zookittie
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2003
Sun, 08-15-2004 - 7:25pm
HI

I have been on the patch for about 6 months now and really like the convience. I am 31 years old and did not experience the headaches that other posters had. I do get the sticky residue after removing one, but it goes away in the shower on the first try and I never put the patch back in the same place it just came from. My period comes anywhere from the 27th - 29th day instead of on the 28 th day like it did when I was 25 and on the pill.

I hope this helps

:-)

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