Contraceptive Patch

What is the contraceptive patch?

The contraceptive patch represents an innovative hormonal contraceptive method, whose mechanism of action is almost equivalent to that provided by the pill: the correct use of the patch not only ensures an extraordinary prevention of unwanted pregnancies (equal to about 99%), but it also allows the woman to live a serene sexual life, separated from anxieties and fears, the "enemies of love".

Action mechanism

See also: EVRA ® - Contraceptive Patch

The patch is a rather innovative method of contraception, which has set foot in Italy a few years ago, "attracting" many women: it is a drug to all effects, which acts transdermally by releasing a mix of hormones just below the skin layer estrogens and progestins (respectively, ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin) which, released constantly and gradually through the skin, reach the bloodstream preventing ovulation. Furthermore, the patch acts by increasing the thickness of the cervical mucus, a sort of obstacle for spermatozoa, which is denied passage through the uterine cavity.

Application

1. How is the contraceptive patch applied?

The patch has a square shape, with sides of about 4.5 centimeters; it consists of an internal adhesive part (which allows the adhesion of the patch to the skin) and an external, waterproof part, designed both to support the hormonal pharmaceutical preparation and to protect it. Obviously, the adhesive part is protected by a thin layer that must be removed at the moment of application.

The contraceptive patch, after medical prescription, must be applied directly on the skin, which must be clean, dry, glabrous, free of wounds, irritations or creams; generally the patch is applied on the buttock, on the shoulder, on the thigh or on the abdomen, but it must never be applied on the breast.

It is worth mentioning some important rules for an even safer contraceptive effect:

• the patch must always be placed at different points from the area in which it was placed the previous time, in order to guarantee maximum contraceptive effectiveness and avoid skin irritation;
• At the time of application, the woman should avoid touching the adhesive part with her fingers;
• Before adhering the edges of the plaster to the skin, it is a good idea to gently press the central area, containing the active ingredient, to the skin for a few seconds and, only after this simple operation, to grip even with the edges;
• Store the patches not yet used at room temperature.

2. When to apply the contraceptive patch?

The use of the contraceptive patch is very simple, (perhaps) even more so than the pill, as it is more practical. In fact, if the pill is to be taken about every day at the same time to ensure maximum contraceptive efficacy, the patch should be applied only once a week, for three consecutive weeks, then leaving 7 days off ( during which menstruation will occur). In other words, the first patch should be applied during the first day of the menstrual cycle and removed every 7 days for three weeks: during the fourth week, the woman should not use the patch to allow menstruation.

The application and removal of the contraceptive patch must always take place on the same day of the week in which the treatment was started, although it can be applied at any time of the day, not necessarily respecting a specific time.

Contraception after detachment of the patch

Occasionally and accidentally the contraceptive patch may come off: two cases must be distinguished:

1. The contraceptive patch comes off during the first week of use: if more than 24 hours have passed since the accidental removal, it is advisable to start a new cycle and use a barrier contraceptive method (condom), since the effectiveness of the patch could be compromised;
2. The patch detaches in the second / third week from the time of the first application: if less than 48 hours have passed from the detachment of the patch, a new transdermal patch can be applied to maintain the same contraceptive efficacy.

It is estimated that the probability of accidental detachment of the contraceptive patch is around 2%: therefore, the patch will have to be replaced with a new one and it is absolutely not recommended to try to attack the damaged contraceptive patch again.