How does birth control patch work

Always use a backup method of birth control i. Symptoms usually go away within the first couple of months, but if symptoms persist you should talk to your healthcare provider.

The patch may also cause skin irritation at the site of the patch. Changing the patch site each week can help prevent irritation. Hormonal birth control like the patch can increase your risk of a blood clot.

Even though this is a rare side effect, it is important to be aware of the warning signs of blood clots. If you experience pain, swelling, or redness in the legs, severe headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, changes in vision, or abdominal pain while on the patch, seek medical attention immediately.

Not sure what to do? Some women are not able to use the patch, including women with a history of blood clots or women over the age of 35 who smoke. Talk to your health care provider to see if the patch is right for you. You can get a prescription from your family doctor or at a clinic. Remember that the patch does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections STIs. Condoms are the best way to protect against STIs.

Talk to your doctor if the patch falls off. The patch should not be applied over makeup, creams, lotions, powder, or other skin products as these may prevent it from sticking well. Skin products may also affect how hormones are absorbed by the skin. When you remove the patch, fold it in half with the sticky sides facing each other to prevent the chemicals from getting into other items in the trash and going to the soil and throw it away don't flush it down the toilet.

Ongoing studies suggest the birth control patch is as effective as the birth control pill. That means that about 9 out of couples will have an unintended pregnancy during the first year of use. Of course, the chance of getting pregnant depends on whether you use the patch correctly. Delaying or missing a weekly application or removing a patch too early lowers its effectiveness and increases the chance a girl will become pregnant.

For girls who weigh more than pounds 90 kilograms , the contraceptive patch may be less effective in preventing pregnancy. In general, how well each type of birth control method works depends on a lot of things. These include whether a person has any health conditions or is taking any medicines that might interfere with the patch.

How effective the patch is at preventing pregnancy also depends on whether the method chosen is convenient — and whether the person remembers to use it correctly all the time. The birth control patch does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases STDs. Couples having sex must always use condoms along with the birth control patch to protect against STDs.

Abstinence the decision to not have sex or any genital intimacy is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs. The birth control patch is a safe and effective method of birth control.

Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with people under They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents, but they won't make you. The only time that a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe you're at risk of harm, such as abuse. The risk would need to be serious, and they would usually discuss this with you first.

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Where can I get contraception? Missed pills and extra pills What should I do if I miss a pill combined pill? The patch usually takes one week after you initially start using it to reach full effect.

You must have a prescription to use the birth control patch. See your doctor to discuss whether the patch is right for you. If you discover that the patch has fallen off, contact your doctor and ask them what to do. According to Planned Parenthood , the failure rate is less than 1 percent for women who always use the patch according to the directions. To help increase effectiveness, change your patch at the same time on the same day each week. Decide which day and time would be easiest for you before you start using the patch.

Compare: Effectiveness of 13 popular types of birth control ». There have been conflicting findings, but recent and larger studies demonstrate no difference in risk among estrogen-containing pills, patches, and rings. The overall risk is low. If you fall into one of these categories, discuss with your doctor whether hormonal contraception is right for you. When used correctly, the patch is effective at preventing most pregnancies.

Many women also find it more convenient than taking daily birth control pills. The patch is a type of hormonal contraception, so it comes with risks and benefits.