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Birth Control Patch

Effectiveness:

• Typical use: 97%
• Perfect use: 99.9%
• Less effective in women who weigh 198 pounds or more

 

Advantages:

• Decreased menstrual cramps and number of days and
  amount of menstrual bleeding
• Decreased chance of a tubal pregnancy
• Decreased chance of ovarian cysts
• Protective effect against ovarian and endometrial cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease
• Does not have to be remembered every day
• Not a shot or pills

Disadvantages:

• Reduced effectiveness in women weighing more than 198 lbs
• Reduced effectiveness when hormonal contraceptives are co-administered with some antibiotics, antifungals, anticonvulsants, and other drugs that increase metabolism of contraceptive steroids
• Possibility of depression in some women (counsel women to report any signs and symptoms of depression)
• Possible menstrual cycle disturbance or amenorrhea (it is recommended that any woman who misses 2 consecutive menstrual periods be assessed and tested for pregnancy before continuing the patch