THE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH
The stick-on option.
SETTLE INTO A WEEKLY ROUTINE
The patch looks just like a shiny plaster. It sticks to the skin and releases hormones – both a progestin and estrogen – that enter the bloodstream through the skin. The hormones stop the ovaries from releasing eggs, and also thicken the cervical mucus to make it more difficult for sperm to move.
You simply peel off the back of the patch and apply it directly to your skin – on your lower abdomen, buttocks, upper arm, or even your back. You wear it for a week and then replace it with a new one. After three weeks you take a week off, and during that week where you don't wear the patch, your period should start. Then you repeat that routine. If your patch becomes loose or falls off while you are wearing it, you should refer to the Patient Information Booklet that came with it, or consult your doctor or nurse.
HOW IT MEASURES UP
HORMONES
Yes. The patch continuously releases hormones – estrogen and a progestin – throughout the entire body.
EASE OF USE
The patch needs to be changed weekly in order to be fully effective.
YOUR PERIOD
The patch may cause disrupted periods, either in the form of irregular bleeding, or regular, lighter periods.
Can the patch come off in the shower/sauna/steam room?
The patch has a strong adhesive and should not come off unless it is taken off deliberately. You can shower, swim, and exercise while wearing it. To ensure it sticks to the skin as well as it can, you should apply it to clean, dry skin, and avoid using creams or lotions near it.
How long do I need to wear the patch before it is effective?
The patch can be applied within the first 24 hours of your period for immediate effect. If it is not applied within this time, you should use another method of birth control, such as an external condom or a diaphragm, for the first week you wear the patch.
What if I decide to have a baby?
After you stop using the patch your fertility will return to your normal level, even if you have been using the patch for a long time. Of course, fertility decreases with age.
How can I tell if the patch is working?
It isn't possible to see if the patch is working by looking at it, and you won't feel it working. When it is applied to the skin it constantly releases hormones – both a progestin and estrogen – into the bloodstream. If you are concerned that you may be pregnant, please speak to your doctor or nurse.
What happens if I forget to replace my patch each week?
The patch must be changed on the same day each week for three weeks, followed by one patch-free week. The patch needs to be changed on this schedule to ensure the correct levels of hormones are released into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy. If you forget to change the patch for one or two days past the patch change day, remove it and replace it with a new one as soon as possible. This new patch should be changed on your normal patch change day to maintain the original schedule. If you are more than two days late in changing the patch, you may have to begin a new four-week cycle with a new patch. In this case you will also need to use another method of birth control, such as external condoms, for the next week. Changing your patch schedule may shorten your period, or bleeding may continue when you put on the next patch. Please read the Patient Information Leaflet for more information.
How does the birth control patch work?
The birth control patch is a small sticky patch that releases hormones that prevent pregnancy directly into your bloodstream. When used perfectly, it’s more than 99% effective.1
How much does the birth control patch cost?
Public and private healthcare programs vary around the world, covering some or all of the cost depending on where you live.
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Start preparing for the next appointment with your doctor or nurse today!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
1
PER WEEK
How frequently you need to change the patch three weeks out of every month.
21
DAYS
How long you use the patch every month in total.
2
HORMONES
Progestin and estrogen are continuously released directly through the skin.
PROS
- Fairly effective in preventing pregnancy with typical use.
- Self-administered – you put it on yourself.2
- Allows spontaneous sex and does not interrupt it.2,3
CONS
- No protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).2,3
- Change weekly – otherwise, it may not work as well.3
- May be visible.2,3
References
- NHS. How effective is contraception at preventing pregnancy? https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/how-effective-contraception/ [Accessed April 2023] Return to content
- NHS. Contraceptive patch. Your contraceptive guide. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/contraceptive-patch/ [Accessed April 2023]. Return to content
- MSI. The contraceptive patch: everything you need to know. https://www.msichoices.org.uk/other-services/short-acting-contraception/the-contraceptive-patch/ [Accessed April 2023]. Return to content
