forgot to change patch...

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-15-2004
forgot to change patch...
3
Sun, 08-15-2004 - 2:09pm
Okay, here's my situation:

I was using the patch and Sunday was my patch change day. However, 2 weeks ago I took my old patch off before taking a shower on Sunday and forgot to put a new one on until the next morning. I read through the Ortho Evra instructions and it said if you forgot to change the patch and it had been under 24 hours since your patch change day, you didn't need a back up bc method. So, I didn't worry about it. Then I started thinking - it's not that I just forgot to take the old patch off and change it, I actually did not have a patch on for 24 hours. Does that make a difference?

At the end of my patch cycle last week, I switched to Ortho tricyclen-Lo because of the side effects I had from the patch. Now I'm having a light period (or bleeding, I'm not sure which) that I assumed was from changing bc methods and wacko hormones. Now I'm thinking that I may not have been protected from pregnancy and if I am pregnant (I think it's too early to test) I should stop taking my bc pills. But, I definitely don't want to stop taking the pills if I don't need to. So, basically to go back to my initial question: could not having the patch on for a day been enough to cause me to ovulate?

Thanks for your input. I suppose I could just call my midwife, but i hate to bug her if I don't need to!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 08-15-2004 - 2:32pm
Hi love2sleepalot, welcome!

You should not stop taking your pills. Yes, skipping a day between patches can decrease your protection. Did you begin the actives of OTC-Lo immediately after removing the patch or after your patch-free week? Your bleeding might be related to changing between the patch and OTC-Lo since that is a common side effect of changing methods. If you have another missed active day taking your pills you should use back-up for at least 7 days of correct active pill use.

I think bleeding is a good sign as it's not usually associated with being pg. If I were you I'd call your midwife to let her know what's going on and get her professional opinion. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-15-2004
Sun, 08-15-2004 - 2:56pm
Jill,

Thanks for your reply. I ended my 3 week cycle of patches last Sunday and began taking the OTC-lo actives the same day. I didn't give myself a week off for a period (I think that's what my midwife told me to do, so hopefully I did it right!). So, I was thinking that my light bleeding was my body still having a period according to the patch cycle even though I started OTC-lo. Does that sound right to you?

Megan

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 08-15-2004 - 3:16pm
Yes, that would be my guess. Under those circumstances (no time between actives and changing methods) I think it's quite common to bleed.

Hugs,

      Jill