How to use the contraceptive patch

The article was consulted professionally by Specialist Ii Pham Thi Tuyet Mai – Obstetrician and Gynecologist – Obstetrics and Gynecology Department – Share99 Hai Phong International Health Hub.

The contraceptive patch is a thin piece of about 4.5 cm, glued directly to the skin of the buttocks, abdomen, upper back or biceps. The patch will continuously distribute 2 hormones, the progestin hormone (norelgestromin) and the hormone estrogen (ethinyl estradiol), similar to the hormone produced by the body naturally.

The contraceptive mechanism of the patch is to prevent ovulation. If the egg does not ovulate, the sperm cannot fertilize and can not get pregnant. In addition, the patch also thickens the cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to meet eggs.

If the patch is glued and replaced at the right time, the contraceptive effect of this method is more than 95%. Delaying or forgetting to glue a week or peeling the patch out too early significantly significantly reduces the effectiveness of the patch, so it is possible to remain pregnant.

You must use a patch according to your menstrual cycle. The time to start using it is the day after the end of menstruation, glue it to the skin and remain in place for 1 week. The next week, on that day you peel off the old sticker and replace a new one. New stickers can be glued in any location, not necessarily in the old position. The 4th week of the cycle does not stick new patches and menstruation will occur. The next menstrual cycle is repeated as the previous one.

If it is the first time to take it, you must take another contraceptive for 7 days to prevent pregnancy. If the next stickers are glued and removed at the right time, no additional methods of contraception are required. Do not use contraceptive patches and oral contraceptives simultaneously.

You can still live normally when sticking the contraceptive patch. Remember not to peel or change the position of the patch when glued to the skin. Do not use adhesive tape to hold the patch, especially do not correct the patch in any way. Doing so can change the amount of hormones distributed into the body. The patch is difficult to peel off and fall off, unless the patch is glued incorrectly.

How to glue: when gluing the contraceptive patch on the skin, pay attention to apply the medicineed face of the patch to the skin, squeeze the finger on the patch for about 10 seconds. Fingers can be pointed along the edge of the patch to ensure the patch is firmly attached to the skin.

• Do not put contraceptive patches on the breast, the skin is red or irritated, scratched
• New contraceptive patches should not be glued to the old contraceptive patch position to avoid skin irritation.
• Makeup should not be done, use topical creams, milk, chalk or other products on the skin that is sticking the patch and the skin is about to be patched to avoid reducing the adhesion of the contraceptive patch.
• Do not put contraceptive patches on dermatologically ill skin as it can aggravate the condition.

Contraceptive patches have the same side effects as oral contraceptives, including a slight increase in the risk of thrombosis in the legs, lungs and hypertension.

The side effects of the patch are relatively mild and may include: mild irritation of the skin in the glue area, headache, chest entile erection, abnormal vaginal bleeding, mild weight gain, nausea and vomiting, abdominal obstruction

The contraincularity of the patch is smoking, hypertension, breast or uterus cancer, a history of thrombosis, unmanageed diabetes mellitus or a history of a heart attack or stroke.

In particular, contraceptive patches do not have a protective effect against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, genital herpes and gonorrhea.