What about the patch?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2004
What about the patch?
18
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
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Avatar for ilovemyfeet
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 5:43pm
im on the patch im ending my forth month, so far i dont think iv had any reall bad sidefects though i do think i might have gained weight but i dont have a scale to find out for shure. I do have some problems with wrinkling and lifting. and it doese get a fuzy ring around it which looks kinda yucky but all well. I have kinda sinsitive skin so it itches me some times expecially when i first put it on. But you have to remember that it will effect everyone different so you may not have these problems. on a good not its great not having to remember my pills and only having to change it once a week. another option you have is nuva ring iv heard some good things about it if i decide to switch thats what ill go with next. hope i helped some
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 9:03pm
You also have the option of getting an IUD--an IUD is good for 3, 5, or even 8 years depending on the type, which is the time frame that you're looking for. IUD's are more effective than the pill and there is no opportunity for user error, it's a set-it-and-almost-forget-it method.

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...

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-12-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 12:10pm
I love the patch! I have been on it for almost 2 years and I have never had a problem! As soon as it came out my doctor recommended it to me, and its been the best birth control I've ever been on. I've recommended it to all of my friends, and I think you'll love it. You only have to think about it once a week, which is so nice not to have to worry about every day. I've never had a patch fall off, or come loose, and my boyfriend and I have never used any backup method with it. I think if you try it, you'll love it as much as I do.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2004
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 3:09pm
hi, I was reading what you had to write I felt that I should write to you about my experience with the Orthoevera birthcontrol patch. Over a year ago I was to get married and decided to try the patch. After a few months of it I started experiencing pain in my chest and left shoulder. A while after that I was experiencing pain in my right leg. For several months I went from doctor to doctor and no one would find what was wrong. They said it was pnemonia, plantar facitis..and so many other thing but never checked for a blood clot. Only after about 6 months of pain and going from dr to dr they found out that my right leg was clotted up very badly. I was hospitalized for a few weeks and even ended up in ICU for a week. They weren't able to get the whole clot out and I still have my leg swell up every day. The doctors say it was the patch that casued it and I could have died. IT was a miracle that I didn't. I was watching a report about how there has been about 20 girls who have died after using the patch (something the doctors don't tell you) all with the same symptoms I had. If you get ont he patch please be careful and at the first signs of leg or chest pains go to the hospital and asked to be checked for clots. I would hate for anyone to go through what I went through because they didn't know the risks of being on the patch. THe sad things is that I'll never be able to be on birthcontrol...I don't know exactly what I'll do when I do get married... Good luck!
Avatar for empressmeg
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 8:27pm
Hi!

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.

Avatar for empressmeg
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 8:31pm
I gained weight on the patch, too (5-10lbs). But that's a side-effect common to both the patch and the pill (it's still the same thing going into your body). The fuzzy dark ring around the patch is exactly like what you get when you wear a band-aid too long. The adhesive on the edges just collects dirt and fuzz. But it is nice not having to keep track of pills.
Avatar for empressmeg
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 8:41pm
I know that for the pill/patch, they tell you if you have certain pre-existing heart/circulation problems, you shouldn't take the pill/patch (because it narrows your arteries). Are you sure you didn't have a pre-existing condition that was exacerbated by the patch? Even if you don't have health problems, smoking and using the patch can cause problems since they both narrow your arteries.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-13-2004 - 7:32am
Actually it's the increased risk of blood clots from the synthetic estrogen, not a narrowing of the arteries that restricts folks with circulatory, stroke, and some heart problems. Estrogens actually help to relax the arteries!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2004
Wed, 10-13-2004 - 10:50am
I do not recommend the patch. It does not what to stay in place ever. I did exactly what the intructions said to do to apply it and everytime the patch would move and they would be sticky stuff all around the patch. I would recommend taking the pill again because the patch just gets frustrating. All day you are wondering if it has moved or not and i don't think you want to be worrying about that all day. Melissa
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2004
Wed, 10-13-2004 - 12:32pm
Hi Rachel,

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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