 |
|
|
Free
DHTML scripts provided by This
site is best viewed
|
Ortho Evra; The Birth Control Patch Approved by the FDA in November, the newest addition to the variety of birth control options is Ortho Evra, made by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Inc. Ortho Evra is a birth control patch that is worn for three weeks and prevents pregnancy as well as the pill. You may have heard or read somewhere about the newest addition to the contraception family, Ortho Evra, the contraceptive patch, but what do you know about it? The patch is 99% effective when used correctly, you only have to 'remember' it weekly, it can be placed on four parts of the body, and it is so thin you can wear it under clothes and not worry about it 'showing'. The patch prevents pregnancy by releasing hormones through the skin directly to the blood stream. If the patch is applied within the first 24 hours of menstrual bleeding, no back up method is needed. This is a big step forward from the pill, as a back up method is needed when first starting the pill. If the user chooses to start the patch on the first Sunday following her period, a non-hormonal back up contraceptive (condom, diaphragm, or spermicide) is needed for the first 7 days of use. When applying the patch, it can be placed on the buttocks, abdomen, upper outer arm, or upper torso, but not on the breasts. The placement of the patch can be changed from week to week as well and will not change the effectiveness of the patch. The start day or patch change day can be altered during the patch free week by replacing the patch on a new day, as long as you do not go without the patch for more than 7 days.
The patch contains the same hormones that are in birth control pills, norelgestromin (progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (estrogen), which means that it may have similar side effects as can be experienced when taking the pill. Side effects that were reported during the trial included skin irritation, headache, nausea, breast symptoms, upper respiratory infection, abdominal pain, and menstrual cramps. Also, as with the pill, St. John’s Wort should not be taken with the patch as it will decrease the birth control’s effectiveness. Also, women that weigh more than 198 pounds may be better off with a different birth control method, as the patch does not seem to be as effective as it is for women less than 198 pounds. The patch is easy to use and most of the women, 90%, that used it in the study remembered to change the patch on schedule, as compared to women that remember to take the pill daily, only about 80%. Because users of the patch only have to change it weekly, the actual effectiveness of the patch in real life usage may be higher than the pill. However, this will only be seen once it is in wide spread use and the real life use and effectiveness of it can be measured. Lasts months approval of NuvaRing and this month’s approval of Ortho Evra have done much to increase the choices available in effective contraception. No matter how many choices there are, more will be requested and needed as time, lifestyles, and needs change. For additional information on Ortho Evra, please visit their web site at http://www.orthoevra.com
Published
at Suite101.com's Birth Control Topic
|
| Site
designed and created by DJ Designs,
in association with TTC Dreams. |