Birth control patch

The hormones in the patch are similar to those in the pill or the ring. The hormones are in the sticky part, and they get absorbed through the skin and travel through your body.

The patch can be very effective—but only when it’s changed on time. With perfect use, the patch is more than 99% effective. Typical use is far more likely, however, and that’s around 91%.

In other words:

Of those women who use the patch exactly as directed, fewer than 1 in 100 will experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year of using this method.

Of those women who do not use the patch exactly as directed, about 9 in 100 will experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year of using this method.

This isn’t really recommended. Hormone levels from the patch may be a little higher over time than with the pill, so it’s recommended that you leave the patch off 1 week a month.

Yes, you sure can. It’s really rare that the patch falls off.

For women with high blood pressure, methods with estrogen–the pill (except for the mini-pill), the ring, and the patch–may make their blood pressure even higher, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Fortunately there are lots of highly effective birth control options that are safe and estrogen-free like the IUD, the implant, or the shot. Talk to your doctor about your condition and what birth control is best for you.

Most women who use hormonal birth control–the pill, the ring, the shot, the patch, the implant, or a hormonal IUD–will have less painful periods than those who don’t. This is because these methods of birth control make the lining of the uterus thinner. There’s less tissue in the uterus to shed, so periods are lighter. One special note on the implant and the shot: for some women, these methods cause more days of spotting or bleeding, but periods become lighter and less painful overall.