What about the patch?
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What about the patch?
| Fri, 10-01-2004 - 4:18pm |
HI,
I have recently had a baby, (her name is Margot Elizabeth and she is 5 weeks today!) and now I need to find a new birth control that works for me. I was on the pill, took it regularly, and still got pregnant. I was told that this is because I didn't use a back up method while on an antibiotic. Still, I am worried about the pill not being affective for me. While my DBF and I are very happy with our children, we do not want any more for 5 years or so. Since I am no longer breast feeding, I would like to try the patch (Ortho Evra), but I really don't know much about it besides what I found through this web-site. Any patch users care to comment?
Thanks!
-Rachel
I have recently had a baby, (her name is Margot Elizabeth and she is 5 weeks today!) and now I need to find a new birth control that works for me. I was on the pill, took it regularly, and still got pregnant. I was told that this is because I didn't use a back up method while on an antibiotic. Still, I am worried about the pill not being affective for me. While my DBF and I are very happy with our children, we do not want any more for 5 years or so. Since I am no longer breast feeding, I would like to try the patch (Ortho Evra), but I really don't know much about it besides what I found through this web-site. Any patch users care to comment?
Thanks!
-Rachel


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We've got a lot of information on the board about IUD's, you can read the IUD post in the FAQ section, you can do a board search on IUD's, or you can ask a question. We have a number of members who use the two most popular types of IUD's, the Paragard (active ingredient is copper) and the Mirena (active ingredient is a little bit of progestin). Research suggests that IUD's primarily act to make the uterus inhospitable to sperm, there should be no impact on ovulation.
But if you're interested in the patch, it's as effective as the pill but without as much user error involved. Nuvaring is another great option (I'm biased--I've been using it for almost 2 years), it's effective for three weeks at a time, just like a pack of pills, but you can't forget it. But you'll have to remember with either of these methods--many women have experienced a loss of protection when they've taken antibiotics and oral contraceptives at the same time and there's no reason to suspect that the effects would be any different with the transdermal methods. Not all antibiotics affect all women, it seems there are only certain women on certain antibiotics who are going to lose their protection, but we don't know who those women will be until they get pregnant while taking the pill with antibiotics. So that's why we're all advised to use backup protection for the duration of the antibiotics plus _at least_ another seven days or as long as it takes for us to feel comfortable.
There's a ton of information here, feel free to surf around and do a lot of reading! Good luck...
Co-cl for Birth Control
I've been on the patch for well over a year now and have had no problems. Pre-patch, I had a too-long and completely unpredictable cycle (it also interfered with my Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Anyhow, ever since I've been on it, I've had absolutely no problems. I get it exactly 2 days after I take the third patch off and it lasts until the day I put the first of the next set of patches on.
Whoever told you about antibiotics was right. Antibiotics lower the effectiveness of the hormones in the patch (and the pill, etc). I learned this myself online (thank you, WebMD!). I've been prescribed antibiotics about twice since I've been on the patch, by two separate doctors. One was the one who put me on the patch and the other did know I was on it. To test, each visit I waited until she was about to walk out the door to ask, "Don't antibiotics lower the effectiveness of the patch?" They were each like, "Oh, yes.. Use back-up." Oh, and when you get antibiotics the little information slip that comes with it doesn't say to use back-up birth control. It just goes to show, you have to do your own homework.
Anyhow, the pill isn't 100% effective. I think it's 98.7% when used perfectly. So, either your number came up or it was because of the antibiotics.
The reason why I like the patch better than the pill (and I have not tried the pill) is because I only have to do it one day a week. I know I would miss hours or days with the pill. The patch is very easy to use. Just peel and stick it on a hair-free dry area of skin, don't put a patch on an area that just had one (alternate), and make sure not to use lotions on it (soaps, etc are okay).
If you'd been on the patch instead of the pill, and everything else had been the same (perfect usage and use of antibiotics), the outcome would have been the same. The patch and the pill are really the same thing, just different forms. The only difference is convenience and since you only do the patch once a week, it's harder to mess up.
Here's Ortho-Evra's site: http://www.orthoevra.com
Hope I helped.
Co-cl for Birth Control
I have been on the pill (several different brands) and switched to the patch about 5 months ago. (I had severe menstrual cramps and the pill wasn't helping)
The several months I have been on it, it has completely stopped my cramps, as well as slight dizziness I used to have.
I love the patch, and haven't had any problems keeping it on. Some gals say that it isn't very sticky and it comes off easily, but I haven't had that problem - it goes on like glue and never moves. I place it in my upper buttocks area. You change the patch once weekly, and never have to worry about it, like you do the pill.
I can't tell you how effective it is yet, because my fiance and I haven't tried having sex without a condom yet...(I wasnt sure if I have been using it long enough) I just posted a question about that and am hoping someone can help me.
I hope this has helped you a little, Thanks, La Vonda.
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