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If you are active, slightly absent-minded and therefore have trouble remembering to take the pill at a certain time, the patches are a method created just for you. You have to remember about them once a week, they have a color similar to your skin tone, and their action is based on the release of two hormones through the skin, i.e. estrogen and progesterone. What’s more, they can be used on various parts of the body – those more or less hidden.
As with most hormonal contraceptives, it is worth discussing their use with your gynecologist before using them. According to some studies, more hormones pass through the patches than when taking birth control pills. Therefore, it is important to be aware of certain risks and weigh the pros and cons by consulting a specialist beforehand.
How it works?
Contraceptive patch it is about 20 centimeters long, the color is similar to the natural color of the skin, and its effect is based on the inhibition of ovulation. Its protective function against pregnancy comes down to introducing changes in the structure of the uterine mucosa and making it difficult for sperm to enter its cavity. The patches are applied once a week for three weeks. The last, i.e. the fourth week, is the time of the “break”, i.e. the period without using the patch and waiting for the menstruation.
It is replaced so often due to the fact that it only retains its protective properties for a week. Detailed information on proper use is provided on each package. What is worth remembering are the places where we can put the patch. It should not be applied to the breasts, as well as to irritated, reddened and hairy skin. We can use it in four different places on the body and it is best to stick it in a different place each time (after each removal). It is not recommended to place it twice, e.g. on the shoulder. The 4 places where it can be glued are:
- Abdomen,
- Buttocks,
- outer part of the arm,
- Upper torso.
Pluses and minuses. When is it worth using, and when is it better to let it go?
Contraceptive patches have many advantages. For people who live on the go and want to “have peace” for most of the month, without having to remember to take a pill every day, they can be an excellent solution. They are not afraid of moisture, warm steam or baths, and after discontinuing them, we can try for a child relatively quickly.
They will certainly work for people suffering from stomach problems or liver problems, because unlike tablets, they do not go to the digestive system. Therefore, they are also effective during illness manifested by, for example, vomiting or diarrhea, because their components are not excreted and go straight into the bloodstream. They also have additional advantages in the form of relieving PMS and regulating the menstrual cycle.
Of course, there will be some flaws – even though they are moisture resistant, they can tear or get lost, and they are quite visible. We will not hide the fact that we use contraception, especially in the summer, when more of the body is exposed. Like any hormone-based method, they will also not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, so if you do not sleep with only one regular partner, their use may be risky. Smokers and those who are overweight are advised not to use them, as fatty tissue can block the release of hormones into the skin.