When used correctly, the patch is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.
Each patch lasts for one week. You change the patch every week for three weeks, then have a week off without a patch.
You don't need to think about it every day, and it's still effective if you vomit or have diarrhoea.
You can wear the patch in the bath, in the swimming pool and while playing sports.
If you have heavy periods or painful periods the patch can help.
The patch can increase blood pressure, and some women get temporary side effects, such as headaches.
Some women develop a blood clot when using the patch but this is rare.
The patch may protect against ovarian cancer, womb cancer and colon cancer.
The patch may not be suitable for women who smoke and who are 35 or over, or who weigh 90kg (14 stone) or more.
The patch does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so using a condom as well will help to protect you against STIs.
How you use the patch
You can use the contraceptive patch on most areas of your body as long as the skin is clean, dry and not very hairy.
You apply a new patch once a week (every seven days) for three weeks, and then stop using the patch for seven days. This is known as your patch-free week. During your patch-free week you will get a withdrawal bleed, like a period, although this may not always happen.
After seven patch-free days, you apply a new patch and start the four-week cycle again. Start your new cycle even if you are still bleeding.
You should not stick the patch on:
sore or irritated skin
anywhere it may get rubbed off by tight clothing
your breasts
When you first start using the patch, you can vary the position every time you use a new patch to reduce your risk of irritation.
When the patch starts to work
The licence for the patch states that if you start using the patch on the first day of your period, it starts working straight away. This means you can have sex without getting pregnant.
The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare guidance states that if you start using the patch in the first five days of your menstrual cycle, you will be protected and won't need to use additional contraception.
If you start using it on any other day, you need to use an additional form of contraception, such as condoms, for the first seven days.
You can talk to your doctor or nurse for more information about when the patch will start to work, and whether you need to use additional contraception.
What to do if the patch falls off
The contraceptive patch is very sticky and should stay on. It should not come off after a shower, bath, hot tub, sauna or swim, or after exercise.
If the patch does fall off, what you need to do depends on how long it has been off.
If the patch has been off for less than 48 hours:
stick your patch back on as soon as possible (if it is still sticky)
if it is not sticky, replace it with a new patch (do not try to hold the old patch in place with a plaster or bandage)
continue to use your patch as normal and change your patch on your normal change day
If the patch has been off for less than 48 hours before you replace it, you will still be protected against pregnancy and do not need to use additional contraception.
If the patch has been off for 48 hours or more, or you're not sure how long it has been off:
apply a new patch as soon as possible and start a new patch cycle (this will now be day one of your new cycle)
use another form of contraception, such as condoms, for the next seven days
If you had unprotected sex in the previous few days, you may need emergency contraception. See your GP, nurse or local sexual health (GUM) clinic if you are concerned.
What to do if you forget to take the patch off
If you forget to take the patch off after week one or two, what you need to do depends on how long you have forgotten it.
If it has been on for:
Less than 48 hours longer than it should have been – take off the old patch and put on a new one. Continue to use your patch as normal, changing it on your normal change day. You don’t need to use any additional contraception and you are protected against pregnancy.
48 hours or more longer than it should have been – start a whole new patch cycle by applying a new patch as soon as possible. This is now week one of the patch cycle and you will now have a new day of the week as your start day and change day. Use another method of contraception, such as condoms, for the next seven days. Ask your doctor or nurse for advice if you have had sex in the previous few days and were not using a condom as you may need emergency contraception.
If you forget to take the patch off after week three, take the patch off as soon as possible and start your patch-free break. Start a new patch on your usual start day even if you are bleeding. This means that you will not have a full week of patch-free days. You will be protected against pregnancy and do not need to use any additional contraception. You may or may not bleed on the patch-free days.
Advantages and disadvantages of the patch
If it is used properly, the contraceptive patch is more than 99% effective in stopping you from getting pregnant. This means that if 100 women use the patch according to the instructions, fewer than one will get pregnant in a year. Other advantages of the patch are:
it is very easy to use and does not interrupt sex
unlike the combined oral contraceptive pill, you do not have to think about it every day – you only have to remember to change the patch once a week
the hormones from the contraceptive patch do not need to be absorbed by the stomach, so it is just as effective even if you vomit or have diarrhoea
like the pill, it tends to make your periods more regular, lighter and less painful
it can help with premenstrual symptoms
it may reduce the risk of cancer of the ovaries, womb and bowel
it may reduce the risk of fibroids, ovarian cysts and non-cancerous breast disease
Some women may find that the contraceptive patch has some disadvantages and may wish to use a different form of contraception.
Some potential disadvantages of the patch are:
It may be visible.
It can cause skin irritation, itching and soreness.
It does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so you may need to use condoms as well.
Some women get mild temporary side effects when they first start using the patch, such as headaches, nausea (sickness), breast tenderness and mood changes. These side effects usually settle down after a few months.
Bleeding between periods (breakthrough bleeding) and spotting (very light, irregular bleeding) is common in the first few cycles of using the patch. This is nothing to worry about if you are using the patch properly, and you will still be protected against pregnancy.
Some medicines can make the patch less effective. If you are prescribed new medicine or are buying an over-the-counter medicine, ask the doctor or pharmacist for advice. You may need to use an extra form of contraception while you are taking the medicine, and for 28 days afterwards.
Blood clots
The patch slightly increases your chance of developing a blood clot, which can block a vein (venous thrombosis) or an artery (arterial thrombosis, which may lead to a heart attack or stroke). If you have had a blood clot before, do not use the patch.
Your risk of blood clots is higher during the first year of using the patch. Your risk is also higher if:
you smoke
you are very overweight
you are immobile (unable to move) or use a wheelchair
you have severe varicose veins
a close family member had a venous thrombosis before they were 45 years old
The risk of arterial thrombosis is greatest if:
you smoke
you are diabetic
you have high blood pressure (hypertension)
you are very overweight
you regularly have migraines with aura (warning signs)
a close family member had a heart attack or stroke before they were 45
Cancer
Current research suggests that people who use hormonal contraception, such as the contraceptive patch, are at a slightly increased risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared with people who do not use hormonal contraception. However, further research is needed to provide more definite evidence.
Research also suggests there is a small increase in your risk of developing cervical cancer with long-term use of oestrogen and progestogen hormonal contraception.
For most women, the benefits of the patch outweigh the risks. However, discuss all risks and benefits with your GP or nurse before starting to use the patch. You will not be allowed to use the patch if you are considered to be at a higher risk of serious side effects
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