Is the Birth Control Patch Right for Me?

Medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD

A birth control patch is a sticky patch applied to your skin (transdermal) to deliver hormones that can prevent pregnancy. No birth control medication is 100% effective, and transdermal contraceptive patches are just one option for contraception and preventing pregnancy.

The first iteration of birth control patches released in 2001 (Ortho Evra) have since been discontinued and replaced by a generic version and second option.

This article will explore the safety and efficacy of birth control patches, who can use them, and what to expect if you use transdermal contraception.

Safety and Effectiveness of Birth Control Patch, Compared to Pills

The birth control patch—also called "transdermal contraceptives," was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001. The first version of the birth control patch was called Ortho Evra and delivered a combination of the hormones norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol.

Its manufacturer discontinued Ortho Evra after the FDA warned the excess level of hormones from the patch are associated with a possible increased risk of blood clots and required the company to make multiple additions to its warning labels. Ortho Evra was the first of its kind, and many birth control patches have been released since then.

The two available on the market today are:

• Xulane (a generic version of Ortho Evra)

• Twirla

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that birth control patches are around 93% effective in preventing pregnancy. This is about the same efficacy as oral contraceptives. In comparison, injected progesterone is about 96% effective, and contraceptive intrauterine devices (IUDs) are about 99.9% effective.

How to Wear the Birth Control Patch

Birth control patches are worn on the skin of your lower abdomen, buttocks, or upper body; they should not be applied to the breast. Patches are usually self-adhesive and release hormones through your skin in a measured amount over a week.

Each week for three weeks, you will remove the old patch and place a new patch in a different spot. A patch is not worn on the fourth week of your cycle so that you have a menstrual period.

Specific instructions for use will depend on the patch, but they are usually placed on the skin on the first day of your period, and the patch-free week at the end of the cycle triggers menstruation.

What Side Effects Does the Birth Control Patch Cause?

Some side effects of using a birth control patch can include:

• Acne

• A rash or irritation where you placed the patch

• Appetite changes

• Bloating

• Hair loss

• Nausea

• Stomach cramps

• Vomiting
  

• Weight gain
  

Most of these side effects are common to other forms of birth control or hormone replacement therapy and result from higher levels of reproductive hormones in your body. Side effects specific to birth control patches usually involve skin irritation or intolerance.

Some severe effects associated with birth control patches and other hormonal contraceptives include:

• Gallbladder disease

• Headaches

• High blood pressure

• Increased risk of blood clots
  

• Liver damage
  

Who Shouldn’t Wear the Birth Control Patch

Due to the specific side effects associated with hormonal contraceptives like the birth control patch, people with the following conditions should not use transdermal birth control.

• Abnormal uterine bleeding

• A body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above

• A history of blood clots, vascular diseases, or a prior stroke

• Breast cancer

• Headaches with focal symptoms

• Liver disease or tumors
  

• Pregnancy
  

People who smoke cigarettes are also discouraged from using hormonal birth control due to an increased risk of developing blood clots.

Forgot to Replace Birth Control Patch

If you forget to remove a patch, you can take it off as soon as you remember, but you may want to call your healthcare provider to ask about the timing of your next patch since it can change the efficacy of your birth control. Changing your patch schedule may mean you can get pregnant with unprotected sex (also referred to as condomless sex). In this case, abstinence, barrier methods, or emergency birth control medications are recommended.

Generic Birth Control Patch Names

There are many forms of birth control, but only two specific birth control patches for the skin are approved by the FDA for use in the United States. These are:

• Levonorgestrel/Ethinyl estradiol patch (Twirla)

• Norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol patch (Xulane)
  

What’s a Period on Birth Control Patch Like?

Hormonal birth control can change your menstrual cycle, regardless of the form you use, since it can change the hormone levels that dictate the flow and length of your period. Spotting and bleeding between periods may occur with birth control patches, and you might notice changes in the timing and intensity of your periods when you use hormonal contraception.

Where to Get the Birth Control Patch

Hormonal birth control in the United States is only available with a prescription from a healthcare provider—though that could soon change with the FDA's July 2023 approval of the first-ever non-prescription birth control pill.

How much you pay for birth control will depend on your health care plan or coverage under a public health plan like Medicaid. There are also government and non-profit programs that can help supplement or offset your costs for birth control.

A visit with your healthcare provider will be the first part of your birth control cost, ranging from $35 to $250 per appointment, though it may cost more. Each pack of patches (three patches total for a month of protection) will cost around $150, but many private and public health plans cover the total cost of contraceptives.

If you can't afford a visit with a healthcare provider or the cost of birth control, Planned Parenthood and similar organizations can help you find a solution that fits your budget.

Summary

Birth control patches on the skin are one option for preventing pregnancy by putting extra doses of hormones into your body. This can come with side effects and complications, and if you are in certain high-risk groups, your healthcare provider may recommend other birth control methods.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.