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Ortho Evra Patch

Ortho Evra is the first birth control that comes as a skin patch. It has the same hormones as many birth control pills. You change the patch once a week for three weeks. You leave it off the fourth week, and that’s when you get your period. You start it the first day of your period. If you start it on a Monday, you remove it and apply a second patch the next Monday. You remove that one and apply the third patch the following Monday. The next Monday you remove the patch, but don’t apply a new one. You will get your period that week. The following Monday you apply a new patch, even if you still have a little bit of bleeding.

You can put the patch anywhere on your body except for your breasts.
If you put it on one shoulder one week, put it on the other shoulder the next week. Then put it on your back, or your buttocks or thigh. Change the site every week so that your skin doesn’t get irritated. Make sure your skin is clean and dry before applying the patch. Don’t apply lotion before putting the patch on, it might not stay on.

Usually the patch stays on even if you shower, swim, work out or go in the sauna. If it does come off you need to get another patch on within a few hours. If it has been off for more than 24 hours, you need to use a backup form of birth control. If you need an extra patch we will prescribe one for you.

The patch does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Side effects are similar to most birth control pills. Your period should be lighter and less crampy. You may have a headache or some spotting or irregular bleeding for the first month. This will go away by the second month. Breast tenderness is common, and this will improve. Some women will have skin irritation from the patch. You should use a different site every week to minimize this.

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