Contraceptive patch

How does it work?

Each patch releases hormones daily for 1 week. You change the patch every 7 days for 3 weeks. The 4th week is a patch-free week. That’s when you’ll have your period, and you’re still protected against pregnancy. You can wear the patch while you’re swimming or having a shower.

How to use it

• Stick a patch somewhere on your skin. This can be anywhere, except on your breasts or thighs.

Apply your first patch and wear it for 7 days. On day 8, change the patch to a new one. Repeat this for 3 weeks and then have a patch-free week.

Where can you get the patches?

Ask your doctor for a prescription for the contraceptive patch. You can get the patches at a pharmacy. 

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• You only have to think about it once a week
• You know when you’ll have your period
• You can delay your period by skipping your patch-free week
• The patch is even reliable when you’re vomiting or have diarrhea

Disadvantages:

• When you start using patches, there may be side effects
• You could forget to start wearing a new patch
• Sometimes the patch is visible

Are there any side effects?

When you start using the contraceptive patch, you might have some side effects. That’s because your body has to get used to the hormones the patch contains. Possible side effects are:

• headaches
• irregular blood loss
• painful breasts
• nausea
• low moods
• weight gain
• reduced sex drive

Usually, the side effects disappear after a couple of months. If you’re having trouble with side effects, get in touch with your doctor.

What do you do when something goes wrong?

• The plaster has come loose: Apply a new patch to your skin within 24 hours. This will keep you well protected.

• Forgot to put on a plaster (less than 24 hours): Apply a patch as soon as possible. 

• Forgot to put on a plaster (more than 24 hours): Put a plaster on immediately. Note: now you are not well protected against pregnancy for 7 days. Use a condom if you have penis-in-vagina sex.

• Forgot to stop after 3 weeks: It is not a problem if your patch is still on during the stop week. Make the stop week shorter. You can also stick it back on immediately and skip the stop week. 

When do you run the risk of pregnancy?

• If you’ve started wearing your new patch too late (so your patch-free week was longer than 7 days)
• If you’ve left your old patch on for longer than a week

STIs

Remember: the contraceptive patch doesn’t protect against STIs. To prevent STIs you should use condoms.