Patch question

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2003
Patch question
2
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 9:09am
I was just wondering why is it "unsafe" to go without your patch for more than 24 hours in your first three weeks and yet its okay to go 7 days without your patch during the week of your period? Maybe I'm just not in the loop of things with BC but it just seems to me you can get pregnant the fourth week when you are without the patch because there is the lack of the hormones right? Someone wanna clue me in? And before you tell me, yes I've read the FAQ but none of them really answer my question. Thanks.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2004
In reply to: accidental
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 10:38am
It would be "unsafe" during the three weeks because it would increase your chances of pregnancy. The difference between the first three weeks and the fourth week is that the absence of the hormones gives you your period during week #4. You`re unlikely to get pregnant during your period because the Patch and most other forms of BC are going to inhibit ovulation and make the uterine environment inhospitable to sperm or pregnancy.

Hope this helps!

Lena

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: accidental
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 10:07pm
And I suppose "Because it just works that way" isn't going to satisfy you either? ;) I don't have any other answer though! We know that if you miss pills (akin to not changing your patch on time) you can get pregnant, but we also know that seven days without pills to allow bleeding is safe. Sometimes, and it seems moreso with hormones, we have to go with what we know that works even if we don't quite understand exactly why.

I'm sorry we don't have a concrete answer, but suffice it to say, we do know that if you follow the rules, you're very likely to have the outcome you want.

Good luck!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control