The side effects of the contraceptive patch are not necessarily harmful and will usually go away after a few months. They include [7]:
– changes in bleeding patterns (these may be in the form of lighter and fewer days of bleeding, prolonged or irregular bleeding, or no monthly bleeding at all);
– nausea and vomiting;
– headaches;
– breast tenderness;
– a rash or irritated skin on the spot where the patch is applied;
– abdominal pain;
– vaginitis (irritation, redness, or inflammation of the vagina);
– flu symptoms/upper respiratory infection; and
– high blood pressure. The contraceptive patch can slightly increase your blood pressure. For most women, this increase is small and does not affect their health. Those using it are advised to have their pressure checked every few months. If the increase caused by the patch becomes too high, it is advisable to stop using it. The pressure will usually decline once you stop using it.
Does the Birth Control Patch make you gain weight?
No known research has proven that the contraceptive patch may cause weight gain. One study conducted on patch users across six months indicated that within these months the participants did not gain more than 1 kg, and what was gained could not be attributed to the patch.
My Birth Control Patch is making me itchy. How do deal with it?
To avoid getting itchy from the patch, make sure that you place it on clean, dry skin that has nothing applied to it. It should also not have any irritation or cut and must not be in the same spot that a patch was applied before. If you start feeling itchy or get a rash after applying the patch, just remove it and apply a new one to a different part of your skin. Wash the affected area with water and mild soap, then soothe the skin by pressing ice on it or/and by applying an anti-itch cream. If you develop a severe and painful rash, you can take an over-the-counter antihistamine and painkiller to ease the swelling and pain. If this happens in the new location, there is a chance that you are allergic to the Patch and should consider discussing other contraceptive options with your healthcare provider.
What happens if my Birth Control Patch falls off?
With normal usage, the Contraceptive Patch is very sticky and should not fall off, even in a hot tub, sauna, bath, shower, or swimming pool. However, if it does fall off, put a new patch on if the old one has been off for less than 48 hours, and change it on your scheduled change day. You are still protected against the risk of pregnancy if you’ve used your patch correctly for the past seven days and the seven days before your no-patch week if you’re in week three.
If the patch has been off for more than 48 hours or you are not sure about the duration of time it has been off, apply a new patch and change it on your normal change day if you are in week one or two. If you are in week three, start a new patch cycle (start from day one) and skip the patch-free week. In both scenarios, use a backup contraceptive method for the next seven days.
If you had sex during the patch-free week or in week one and the patch fell off, or if you had sex in week two or three, or when the patch had not been on properly for seven days, make sure to use an emergency contraceptive. You may also need to speak to your healthcare provider about your other available options.
Complications
The Contraceptive Patch complications are similar to those associated with the Combined Pill. They may include
Very rare
-Heart attack
-Stroke
Venous thromboembolism. In very rare cases, a life-threatening blood clot can develop in the veins of the legs or lungs. The use of the patch slightly increases the chance of developing a blood clot. Because women using the contraceptive patch are exposed to a higher dose of estrogen compared to those using the pill, the risk of having a blood clot while using the patch is higher, at approximately 1 in 500. [8]
You should immediately see your doctor if you experience any of the following:
– a severe headache, or migraine;
– breathing difficulties;
– painful swelling of your leg;
– a feeling of numbness or weakness in the arm or leg,
– sudden problems with your speech or sight;
– coughing up blood;
– chest pains, especially if it hurts to breathe in;
– severe abdominal pain; and
– unexplained fainting or a collapse.
These symptoms might be caused by a blood clot.
If, after three months, you feel the side effects are more than you can accept, switch methods and stay protected. Condoms offer good protection while you find a method that suits your needs. Remember, the contraceptive patch does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases.
