How Much Does Patch Cost?

The patch usually costs between $15 and $50 a month, although health and family planning clinics (such as Planned Parenthood) might sell them for less. In addition, the birth control patch and doctor's visits are covered by many health insurance plans.

How Do You Get Patch ?

A doctor or a nurse practitioner must prescribe the patch. He or she will ask questions about health and family medical history, and may also do a complete physical exam, including a blood pressure measurement and a pelvic exam. If recommending the patch, the doctor or nurse practitioner will write a prescription and provide instructions on how to use it.

Those who start using the patch may be asked to return within a few months for a blood pressure measurement and to ensure that there are no problems. After that, a doctor may recommend routine exams once or twice a year or as needed.

Who Uses Birth Control Patch ?

The birth control patch may be a good choice for sexually active young women who weigh less than 198 pounds (90 kilograms) and find it difficult to remember to take a pill every day or who have difficulty swallowing pills.

Not all women can — or should — use the birth control patch. In some cases, medical or other conditions make the use of the patch less effective or more risky. For example, it is not recommended for women who have had blood clots, severe high blood pressure, certain types of cancers, certain types of migraine headaches, or diabetes with certain problems. It's recommended that girls who have had unexplained vaginal bleeding (bleeding that is not during their periods) or who suspect they may be pregnant should talk to their doctors, discontinue using the patch, and use another form of birth control in the meantime.

Girls who are interested in learning more about the possible health benefits and risks of different types of birth control, including the patch, should talk to a doctor or other health professional.

Possible Side Effects The Patch

The birth control patch is a safe and effective method of birth control. Most young women who use the patch have no side effects. Smoking cigarettes while using the patch can increase a girl's risk of certain side effects, which is why health professionals advise women who use the patch not to smoke.

• irregular menstrual bleeding

• nausea, headaches, dizziness, and breast tenderness

• mood changes

• blood clots (these are rare in women under 35 who do not smoke, but there may be a higher risk with the patch than with the Pill)

• skin reactions at the site of application of the patch

• problems with contact lens use — a change in vision or inability to wear the lenses

• menstrual cramps

The side effects that some women have while using the patch are similar to those experienced with the birth control pill. These may include:
Other possible side effects seen in patch users include:
Many of these side effects are mild and tend to disappear after 2 or 3 months.

Protection Against STDs

The birth control patch does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Couples having sex must always use condoms along with the birth control patch to protect against STDs.

Abstinence (the decision to not have sex) is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs.

How Well Does It Work The Birth Control Patch ?

Ongoing studies suggest the birth control patch is as effective as the birth control pill. That means that about 8 out of 100 couples will have an unintended pregnancy during the first year of use. Of course, the chance of getting pregnant depends on whether you use the patch correctly. Delaying or missing a weekly application or removing a patch too early reduces its effectiveness and increases the chance a girl will become pregnant.

For girls who weigh more than 198 pounds (90 kilograms), the contraceptive patch may be less effective in preventing pregnancy.

In general, how well each type of birth control method works depends on a lot of things. These include whether a person has any health conditions or is taking any medications that might interfere with the patch. How effective the patch is at preventing pregnancy also depends on whether the method chosen is convenient — and whether the person remembers to use it correctly all the time.

Using The Birth Control Patch

It's important to apply a new patch on the same day every week to ensure that it keeps working effectively. For example, a girl who applies her first patch on a Monday should always apply her patches on a Monday. When it's time to change the patch, pull the old one off first, before applying a new patch. Place the new patch on a different area from the old patch (but still on one of the four recommended areas listed above) to avoid skin irritation. Don't apply the patch to skin that is red, irritated, or cut. For the first 7 days on the patch, use an additional form of contraception as well to prevent pregnancy. If you forget to apply a new patch on the right day, or if the patch becomes loose and falls off, read the instructions that come in the package or call your doctor. If this happens you may need to use a backup method of birth control (such as condoms) or stop having sex for a while to protect against pregnancy. Also, if you stop using the patch for any reason, you will need to begin using another method of birth control, usually after 24 hours of removing your last patch. It's OK to participate in regular activities like swimming and exercise while wearing the patch. It can also get wet in the shower or in the bath. Do not remove the patch until the week is over (pulling the patch off to reposition or move it may cause it to lose some of its stickiness and it might fall off easily). If the patch does not stick well, apply a replacement patch. Don't try to decorate the patch, change the size of a patch by trimming it, or try to attach it with tape. Talk to your doctor if the patch falls off. The patch should not be applied over makeup, creams, lotions, powder, or other skin products as these may prevent it from sticking well. (Skin products may also affect how hormones are absorbed by the skin.)

How Does the Birth Control Patch Work?

Like other methods of birth control, the birth control patch releases hormones. Hormones are chemicals made in our bodies. They control how different parts of our bodies work.
The hormones in the patch are the same hormones as in the birth control pill  estrogen and progestin.
The hormones in the birth control patch work by

• Keeping eggs from leaving the ovaries. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join with the sperm.

• Making cervical mucus thicker. This keeps sperm from getting to the eggs.

What is the Birth Control Patch

The patch is a skin patch worn on the lower abdomen, buttocks, or upper body that releases the hormones progesterone and estrogen into the bloodstream to prevent ovulation. This method is helpful for women who find it difficult to remember to take a daily birth control pill, but can remember to replace the patch weekly.