Birth control patch: Effectiveness & side effects

How does the birth control patch work?

Much like other forms of hormonal birth control, such as the combined pill, the birth control patch works by releasing hormones – estrogen and progestin – into the body to suppress ovulation. 

Once absorbed into your system, these hormones prevent your ovary from releasing an egg cell. They also make your cervical mucus thicker, which makes it harder for sperm cells to move through the reproductive system. Finally, estrogen and progestin also affect the lining of your uterus, making it harder for the implantation of a fertilized egg cell to happen.

How effective is the birth control patch?

With perfect use, the birth control patch is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. Perfect use means using the patch exactly according to its instructions. 

Using the patch perfectly isn’t always easy, so it’s important to also consider how most people realistically use this method. This is called typical use, and it can include things like not applying a new patch immediately after removing your previous one, or your patch becoming dislodged. 

With typical use, then, the patch is 93% effective at preventing pregnancy. That means that 7 out of 100 women using this method will become pregnant each year.

What are the advantages of the birth control patch?

Like any form of birth control, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using the patch. Some of the advantages include:

• Convenience: Because you only need to apply the patch once a week, it’s a convenient method of contraception. If you find it difficult to remember to take a pill every day, then it may be a good choice for you.
• It doesn’t interrupt sex: Because birth control patches offer protection against pregnancy for four weeks at a time – including on your patch-free week – you don’t need to worry about it right before sex, unlike some other forms of contraceptives.
• Reducing PMS symptoms: For many women who suffer badly with premenstrual syndrome, the patch will help to reduce their symptoms. This may include clearer skin, a more stable mood, and fewer menstrual cramps – although, of course, this varies from person to person.
• Lighter bleeding: Many women who suffer from heavy or painful periods have found that the patch can make bleeding lighter and less painful. The regular bleeding you have with the patch is different from a menstrual period and is known as withdrawal bleeding. 

Disadvantages of the patch

There are also some common side effects and downsides of the patch that may bother you. These include:

• You have to remember to change it: While you don’t need to use a new patch every day, like with the combined pill, you do need to remember to change the patch every week – and it’s really important that you change it on the same day every week – otherwise you may not be protected against pregnancy.
• No protection against STIs: The birth control patch doesn’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections. That means you may also need to use a barrier method of contraception, like condoms, to ensure you’re protected. 
• Side effects: Some women experience side effects when using the patch, although these usually settle down after the first few months of using it. Common side effects include headaches, nausea, mood changes, and tender breasts. 
• Irregular bleeding: Spotting and breakthrough bleeding are also common, meaning that you may experience bleeding between your monthly patch-free weeks, or light, irregular bleeding throughout the month. Again, this usually only lasts two to three months and should go away after a few cycles.

Are there any risks of using the birth control patch?

There are always some risks of using any type of hormonal contraception, including the birth control patch. The risk is small, but it’s still important to be aware of the risks when choosing a form of birth control.

A very small percentage of women using the patch may develop a blood clot, so it’s important not to use the patch if you’ve ever had a blood clot in the past. Instead, your healthcare professional may recommend a type of birth control without estrogen. 

Research has also shown that there’s a small increased risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer in people who use hormonal contraception for a prolonged period.

Who can use the patch?

The birth control patch is suitable for most people, but there are a few conditions that mean you should avoid using this type of contraceptive. Some reasons you may not be able to use the patch include:

• If you’re pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• You’re breastfeeding a baby who’s 6 weeks old or less
• You smoke and are over the age of 35
• You’re very overweight
• You take certain medicines
• You’ve had blood clots in the past
• If you have or have had heart problems
• If you have high blood pressure
• If you suffer from migraine with aura
• If you have or have previously had breast cancer

If you’re unsure whether the patch is suitable for you, you should always speak to your doctor or healthcare provider.

How to use the patch:

You wear a patch for 21 days, putting on a fresh one each week, followed by a 7-day break. During this break, you’ll usually have withdrawal bleeding that’s similar to a menstrual period. And, like the pill-free week that combined pill users get, you’ll still be protected during this break. You should put on a fresh patch after your 7-day break even if you’re still bleeding.

You should always replace your patch on the same day every week. So, if you start using the birth control patch on a Sunday, that should always be the day that you take off your old patch and put on a new one.

It’s designed to stay in place for the full week you’re wearing it, and it shouldn’t become dislodged or lose its stickiness when you’re in the bath or shower, while swimming, or if you get sweaty during exercise.

Where to place the birth control patch:

The patch looks a little like a Band-Aid and is stuck to your skin, usually on your stomach, back, buttock, or upper arm – although you can place it on almost any patch of bare, unbroken skin. Don’t apply it to any skin that’s sore or irritated.

You shouldn’t place the patch on your breasts, and you should be careful to choose a place where the patch won’t get rubbed off or dislodged, such as where the waistband of your pants or your bra strap sits.

You should vary the location of your patch, so when you remove the patch after seven days, don’t put the fresh one on in exactly the same place.

You should also always make sure that you’re applying the patch to clean, dry skin – that means avoid using body creams or lotions right before putting on your patch, as these can prevent it from sticking to your skin properly.

Finding the right birth control method for you:

Birth control is a very individual choice, and the implant may or may not be the right method for you. There are lots of different factors to consider when it comes to choosing contraception – from its effectiveness to side effects, to family planning and lifestyle choice. But the most important thing is that we all have access to a variety of birth control methods, and have the information we need to make an informed choice.

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