Ortho Evra Patch
January 23, 2008
Ortho-Evra is currently the only birth control patch approved for use in the United States. Women who have trouble remembering the pill, even with a 28 day regimen, have turned to this for its convenience, and less fiddling with pills and calendars. However, there are some major differences.
In late November 2005, the Food and Drug Administration required the makers to change all information inserts, packaging and pamphlets to reflect the fact that use of the patch, exposes a woman to as much as 60% more estrogen than the use of a daily pill.
This move was made because of the association between high estrogen levels and the development of clots or strokes. While this is a medical fact, there is no evidence that the Ortho-Evra patch significantly increases a woman’s risks.
Birth control pills normally carry about 35 micrograms of estrogen, although some are as high as 50 micrograms for women whose bodies require it. The level is higher in the patch, and in addition, the hormone is absorbed and dispersed differently through the skin, than it is be ingesting the pill.
The convenience factor however, has made it quite popular. The patch is secure, and can be worn in the shower, bath, or swimming. If it should become partially dislodged for any reason, the wearer replaces it with a new one immediately, and if unsure of how long the skin contact was broken, uses additional birth control methods for one week, to protect against an unwanted pregnancy.
Click here to learn more about Ortho-Evra.
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