Ever wondered if the birth control patch could suit you? Here’s what you need to know about how it works, its effectiveness, advantages, side effects and what other women think – plus tips on getting the best from it.
Ever wondered if the birth control patch could suit you? Here’s what you need to know about how it works, its effectiveness, advantages, side effects and what other women think – plus tips on getting the best from it.
The birth control patch is a type of hormonal contraception. You put a sticky patch onto your skin for a week before taking it off and applying a new one. The patch slowly releases the same kind of hormones you’d find in the contraceptive pill, but through your skin. The medication gets into your body in a similar way to other kinds of patches, like nicotine replacement patches and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) patches.
Only around 5% of people using contraception in the US aged 15-49 choose methods such as birth control patches, injectables or vaginal rings – this is despite some evidence suggesting that women who use the patch find it easier to fit into their routine than those using the pill. “If you find it tough to remember a daily pill, but you want a contraceptive with very similar effectiveness, the patch is worth considering,” says Dr Ann Nainan, Healthily expert.
The patch releases a daily dose of hormones (estrogen and progestin) through your skin into your bloodstream to prevent pregnant. It works by:
“The patch is as effective as combined oral contraceptives(COCs) at preventing pregnancy,” says Dr Ann.
“In each month you have 3 weeks when you wear a patch and 1 week when you don’t wear a patch,” says Dr Ann. “This break allows your body to have a ‘withdrawal bleed’ which is similar to a period.”
Your doctor will prescribe the patches and explain how and when to start taking them. This will depend on:
Always read the leaflet that comes with your patches and speak to your doctor if you’re not sure how to use them.
Here’s the routine you’ll usually follow:
“There are two brands of birth control patches available in the US – the Xulane patch and the Twirla patch,” says Dr Ann. “In the UK, the patch's brand name is Ortho Evra.”
There are many advantages to using the contraceptive patch.
In a review of studies comparing birth control methods, women using the patch said they used it more consistently than women using the daily pill.
What do other women say?
There can be disadvantages to using the patch that can put some women off using it.
Most of the time, the patch doesn’t lead to any serious side effects but it can occasionally cause:
blood clots – when you use the birth control patch, it may increase your risk of developing a [blood clot](/sexual-health/how-does-the-birth-control-patch-work/#Who can’t use the patch) in a vein or artery. The risk is up to 6 times greater than for people who don’t use hormonal contraception – but the overall risk is still very low for most people. There’s some evidence that this risk might be higher with the patch than with other types of contraception containing the same hormones, such as the combined contraceptive pill – but other studies haven’t found this
breast and cervical cancers – there’s a small increased risk of being diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer when using the patch. This risk reduces with time after you’ve stopped using the patch
Your doctor will examine you, and talk to you about your health and your family history, to make sure the patch is safe for you.
“Although the patch is simple to use and very effective, it isn't suitable for everyone,” says Dr Ann. Your doctor or nurse will ask you questions about your health and any medicines you may be taking to see if it’s the right choice for you. You may not be able to use the patch if:
You might also not be able to use the patch if you have or have had:
If you use your birth control patch in the right way, the more effective it is.
“These ideas can help you to get into a new routine,” says Dr Ann.
“Check your patch every day to make sure it’s still stuck properly to your skin and not coming loose,” says Dr Ann.
It depends on the patch you’re using and where you are in your patch cycle – so it’s best to read the leaflet that comes with your patches. Your doctor will give you information on what you need to do if your patch falls off, partially falls off or if you forget to take it off. Always check with your doctor as soon as possible if you’re not sure what to do.
If you think you might be pregnant, or there was a window of time you weren’t protected by your patch, do a pregnancy test.
The advice varies on where you are in your patch cycle and which patch you’re using. It’s best to discuss this with your doctor.
You’ll need to get a prescription to get the birth control patch.
With most US health insurance plans the birth control patch is free, or you may qualify for programs such as Medicare that pay for your birth control. With the Affordable Care Act, many insurance plans now cover all methods of birth control, including the contraceptive patch, at little or no cost to you
See a doctor or healthcare professional if you’re thinking about starting the birth control patch or you want to talk about other contraception options.
See a doctor urgently if you:
Go to the emergency department if you have any of the following:
You can keep using the birth control patch up until you’re 50 years old. After that, you should switch to a non-hormonal method such as the copper IUD, or the mini pill or birth control implant. Your doctor can discuss these options with you.
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.