Birth control and you: The patch

ALTHOUGH local studies continue to show most Jamaican women using the pill and condoms for birth control, women on the go who have a hard time maintaining a schedule have a lot to gain from using the patch to prevent an unplanned pregnancy.

The contraceptive patch is a bit like a nicotine patch and essentially delivers hormones into the body through the skin. The patch contains both oestrogen and progesterone hormones and if used correctly, is considered to be very effective at preventing pregnancy. It is stuck on the skin like a band-aid so that the two hormones are delivered continuously to the body.

“It is useful and effective because it has a less than one per cent failure rate,” said obstetrician/gynaecologist Dr Donnette Simms-Stewart.

The patch essentially works by making the lining of the uterus thinner to reduce the chances of a fertilised egg attaching itself to it. It also changes the body’s hormonal balance to prevent ovulation and makes the cervical mucus thicker to form a plug in the cervix, so that the sperm will have less of a chance to pass through and fertilise the egg.

There are several brands of contraceptive patches available, so you need to ask your obstetrician/gynaecologist to suggest one for you. You should ideally start to use the patch on the first day of the menstrual cycle. The patch can be applied to either the abdomen, buttocks, upper arm, or the upper torso for three weeks.

“It lasts for a week, so take one each week and then you get a one week break,” Dr Simms-Stewart said.

To ensure effectiveness, women are advised to apply a new patch on the same day every week, so for example, if you apply the patch on a Sunday, you would need to continue applying it every Sunday. You should also try to change the spot the patch is placed each time to prevent skin irritation. That means if you wore it on the abdomen one week, you could put it on the upper arm the next week.

Delaying or missing a weekly application will minimise its effectiveness and increases the chance of pregnancy. There are several advantages and disadvantages to using the patch:

Advantages

1. It is a good option if you have an issue with taking pills or have difficulty remembering to take it every day.

2. You are protected from pregnancy the minute you apply the patch correctly on your body.

3. You can wear the patch while showering, when at the beach, while in a swimming pool or sauna or as you exercise.

4. The patch can help with heavy or painful periods.

5. It is believed that the patch helps to protect against ovarian, womb and colon cancers and reduces the risk of fibroids, ovarian cysts and non-cancerous breast diseases.

6. If the patch falls off and is off for less than 48 hours, you are still protected against pregnancy.

7. The use of the patch does not interrupt sex.

8. The patch is still effective, even if you vomit or have diarrhoea.

Disadvantages

1.The effectiveness of the patch is impacted by your weight. It is believed to be less effective for those women who are over 90 kilograms (198 pounds).

2. The patch does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Only abstinence or the use of condoms have been shown to help in this regard.

3. There are several side effects associated with the patch. They include, nausea, headaches, dizziness, breast tenderness, mood changes, irregular menstrual bleeding and blood clots.

4. If you start using the patch after your period has started, you would need to use additional contraceptive measures for the first seven days.

5. It is visible and some women might find this disconcerting.

6. Its effectiveness is reduced if you are a smoker or if you are taking certain medications.