Nervous about preg. and the patch

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-19-2004
Nervous about preg. and the patch
4
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 2:35pm
I have recently gone on the patch as my sole protection against pregnacy and I'm nervous it won't work. Is there anyone who is on the patch and having consistant sex with one partner without back-up protection? Am I okay to have sex with my fiance and not worry about getting pregnant?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 2:51pm
Hi corious10_ivy, welcome!

For women below 195lbs the patch is as effective as the pill and ring. If you have been using your patch correctly and used back-up for at least the first 7 days when you started wearing it you should be fine. Hormonal contraceptives are 98-99% effective. If you are comfortable with those odds then you don't need to use a supplemental method. If you are new to using hormones for contraception you might want to look at the posts in the FAQs about: how the pill works, common pill side effects, irregular bleeding and how to take your pills correctly. Thanks for posting. Let us know how you like the patch, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

Avatar for kissmedeadly
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 3:38pm
I was on the patch for a year- no problems with pregnancy. Just make sure you follow the directions and make sure it is on well. In my case, mine stayed on too well- They were hard to get off! I would also suggest a back-up the first month if you have NEVER been on any form of birth control pill before, or switching from another method.
Avatar for empressmeg
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2003
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 5:00pm
Hi.. I've been on the patch for well over a year and have had no problems. Put it on clean, dry, hair-free areas of skin, but make sure you don't put it on the exact same spot two times in a row because that area of skin needs a break. Make sure the patch is on securely by pressing down for several seconds, seeing to the edges. Don't put lotions or perfumes on the patch (soap/shampoo/etc is okay). If you see black fuzziness around the patch after a few days, don't panic. The adhesive on the edges is just picking up lint and dirt (like when you wear a bandaid for a long time).

I think you're just nervous 'cause you can't tell if it's NOT working like how you can with a condom when it breaks. I had the same worry. If you want, so you're not worrying the whole month, wait to have sex until you use your second set of patches next month. Once you see yourself bleed a few days after taking off your third patch this month, you'll be assured in your mind that your patch is working just the way it should.

Oh, as a side note, use back-up when you use antibiotics. In some women, they lower the effectiveness of the patch/pill/etc. It's been my experience that doctors and pharmacists neglect to tell patients this when prescribing antibiotics, and it's often left out of the prescription antibiotic information inserts.

Avatar for lucy4980
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 5:39pm
I've been on the patch for 6 months - no back up and no pregnancy.