Modern women care not only about their appearance, but also about their health. That is why they approach the choice of contraceptive with special attention. It should be safe for the body, not have a negative impact on the appearance, not cause additional discomfort. It is for this reason that the choice falls not on oral contraceptives, but on new barrier methods of protection. These include a transdermal birth control patch.
What it is?
A novelty in the field of pharmacology, produced by the Belgian company Janssen-Cilag (the main supplier of such a contraceptive in Russia), is intended for female contraception. In most cases, among those who have already managed to assess the benefits of the contraceptive patch, you can find positive reviews about it. At the moment, the choice of such devices is not so great. A contraceptive patch called Evra is sold in the pharmacy chain. It consists of a certain dose of hormones that are released gradually.
The composition of the product
The package contains 3 transdermal birth control patches. According to the manufacturer’s instructions, each of them is designed for one week of use. One patch contains a certain dose of the hormone, 150 mcg of norelgestromine and 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol are excreted daily and penetrate through the skin.
For those who are worried that it will be noticeable, it is worth saying separately that the product has a fleshly, slightly yellowish color. Moreover, the size of the patch does not exceed 5 cm, it is easy to hide it so that it does not stand out under clothing.
The product consists of such layers:
- Outer. From pigmented polyethylene having a low density.
- Inner, consisting of polyester.
- The middle layer has an impregnation of hormones.
- The protective layer that is removed consists of polyethylene terephthalate, and the coating is polydimethylsiloxane.
How the patch works
Immediately after the hormonal birth control patch has been pasted, it starts to work. When ingested, hormones prevent the onset of ovulation, affect the composition and consistency of cervical secretion and uterine mucosa. The body is not ready for pregnancy, and the thick mucus secreted by the cervix prevents sperm from entering.
According to the instructions, the contraceptive patch begins to be used from the first day of the menstrual cycle. A woman should remember the day of the week when she pasted it for the first time. This is necessary in order to peel it off after a period of time and replace it with the next one. The patch changes on the same day of the week. Once all three are used, a break of 7 days is taken. During this time, menstrual bleeding should begin.
Like any other hormonal contraceptive, the patch can control the duration of the menstrual cycle. For example, if you want to delay its onset, you can begin to start a new package without taking a break. After six weeks of continuous use, it is important to observe the weekly interval. Breakthrough spotting or spotting will occur during this period.
The effectiveness of the use of this product can be reduced if, at the same time, agents containing St. John's wort are used as treatment. This is because the latter is involved in the metabolic processes of sex hormones. Antibiotics have the same negative contraceptive effect.
Place of application
Since the peculiarity of this contraceptive is the form and method of application, every week at the same time you will have to glue the contraceptive patch "Evra" in a new place. This is necessary primarily to avoid the onset of side effects in the form of irritation on the skin. To attach the patch does not require certain skills, and this is a definite plus.
According to the instructions and reviews about the contraceptive patch, there are several optimal places for application on the body:
- inner thighs;
- buttocks:
- forearm, shoulder blades;
- stomach.
It does not matter which part of the body the patch is placed on, the effectiveness will be the same. Before use, it is necessary to clean the skin, there should be no wounds, scratches, irritations. It is important to ensure tight contact of the patch with the place of its fixation. In order to eliminate the risk of dirt getting under the edges of the pharmacy product and its detachment, it is important to find a part of the body that does not undergo frequent friction and contact with clothing.
Contraindications
It is important to understand that it is impossible for everyone to use a contraceptive patch as a method of contraception. It is not suitable for women who are overweight (more than 90 kg). Also taken into account age, young girls (under 18 years old) and women during menopause (over 45 years old) this contraceptive is not recommended for use.
Contraindications for use also include:
- Clotting problems, risk of thrombosis.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system, heart attack, hypertension.
- Autoimmune diseases, oncology.
- Heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Pregnancy, lactation and the first month after birth.
- Individual intolerance.
Women with very sensitive skin are more likely to experience irritation. Therefore, to place the patch, it is necessary to choose the part of the body that is least prone to redness. To exclude negative consequences, it is necessary to consult a doctor regarding the possibility of using a birth control patch.
Side effects
One of the main disadvantages of this drug is the lack of a 100% guarantee regarding its reliability in terms of protection against unwanted pregnancy. If you study the reviews about the contraceptive patch "Evra", then the side effects include everything that relates to any other hormonal products.
The most common cases include:
- In the part of the nervous system - dizziness, anxiety, depression, drowsiness.
- From the digestive organs - diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain, increased appetite, etc.
- On the part of the reproductive system - decreased sexual desire, dysmenorrhea, vaginitis, ovarian cysts, breast fibroadenomas.
- Dermatological reaction - skin rash, itching, acne, dry skin, contact dermatitis, eczema.
May also be noted: a change in body weight, increased fatigue, fainting, palpitations, mood swings. If during the use of the contraceptive patch a woman observes frequent changes in blood pressure, it is necessary to consult a doctor. You may need to cancel the drug for a while or replace it with another method of contraception.
With prolonged use of the patch, a lack of folic acid intake may be noted. Therefore, if a woman intends to become pregnant immediately after completing the course, she needs to include foods or vitamins with this component in her diet.
Positive sides
One of the significant advantages of using a birth control patch is the lack of the need to remember to take the daily pills. This is especially true for those who have a busy and irregular working day. Active sports, fitness, swimming pool can not serve as a reason for rejecting this product. With it you can lead a familiar lifestyle and even visit a bath or sauna.
If condoms or interrupted sexual intercourse were used before choosing this method of contraception , many people note that the absence of the need to interrupt for additional manipulations makes sex more relaxed and eventful. It is also worth noting that menstrual bleeding becomes less abundant, pain and the risk of developing malignant neoplasms are reduced. This has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional state of women.
Unlike the tablet form, the contents of the patch do not enter the gastrointestinal tract, which avoids the onset of many side effects. The use of the patch also avoids the formation of erosion and ectopic pregnancy.
Efficiency
To achieve the desired result, it is important to carefully study the instructions for the contraceptive patch "Evra". Like any hormonal product, it has a number of conditions to achieve the desired effect. It is advisable to start by consulting a doctor who, taking into account age and state of health, will be able to tell whether this method of protection is suitable for a particular woman.
In general, statistics indicate a high effectiveness of the patch, as well as any other hormonal contraceptive - 99.4%. It must be ensured that it does not come off.
Product Features
If we consider the shortcomings in terms of the use of this tool, the contraceptive patch definitely can not be used as a way of protection against sexually transmitted diseases. This also includes AIDS, HIV infection.
In view of the peculiarities of the product’s form, immediately after removal, it is not recommended to throw the patch into the sewer or toilet bowl, there are still hormonal layers on it. They can be harmful to the environment. For proper disposal, the manufacturer recommends removing the protective layer from the outside and gluing the front side to the painted side of the bag, where it fits. Sealed packaging should be discarded.
It may happen that the patch comes off. Then you need to pay attention to what day of use this happened. As with oral contraceptives, the temporal distance from the start of use is important here. As soon as it was discovered that the patch was peeled off (it is important that no more than a day passes), you must immediately stick a new one in the same place. The next must be replaced on the day set for this.
Sometimes it happens that the contraceptive patch "Evra" (the name of the brand represented in Russia) is peeled off, and the woman can not remember when it happened. In this case, the probability of an unplanned conception is extremely high. To continue the protection with the chosen method, it is necessary to start a new cycle, despite the number of weeks before this patch was used. A new four-week cycle is counted from the date of discovery and the start of use.
An attempt to return the patch to its place may be completely unsuccessful. The use of adhesive tape to fix it on the body is unacceptable.
Reviews of doctors and women
If you analyze user reviews, then many first hear that using a hormonal patch can achieve effective contraception. Women are accustomed to the fact that for the intake of the hormone it is necessary to use it internally in the form of an injection, tablets, suppositories or a vaginal ring - that is, any product that goes directly into the body. It is difficult to imagine that through the patch you can achieve the daily intake of the required amount of hormones. However, this is so, and medicine does not stand still. Therefore, you can trust the numerous studies and reviews of those who have already managed to test the effect of the contraceptive on themselves.
Doctors' reviews about the contraceptive patch agree that it is important to first be examined and then choose this method of protection, since the presence of diseases or other deviations can become a reason for refusing to use this form of protection against unwanted pregnancy. In general, many patients calmly endure its use and speak of as one of the most convenient ways that the pharmaceutical market offers today.
If we talk about first-hand opinions, in order to avoid trouble in the form of peeling off the patch, women are advised to stick the patch in the lower abdomen or in the area of the shoulder blades. Naturally, you will have to choose a wardrobe so that it is not transparent in the part where the patch is glued.
At first, especially at the beginning of application, some women feel dizzy, nauseous, increased blood pressure and irritation in the place where the patch is fixed. They advise you to control your well-being for several days. If the symptoms become more frequent and bring great discomfort, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
Due to the low popularity and small advertising, the patch is difficult to meet in a wide pharmacy network. In the reviews, women who want to try switching to this method of protection note that it is first necessary to study the availability of offers on sale. Moreover, its cost may not seem quite affordable for most.