Contraceptive patch
The contraceptive patch protects against pregnancy for a month.
How does it work?
- You stick a contraceptive patch on your skin once a week. You do the same 3 weeks running. The week after that you don’t wear a patch. You’ll have a bleed (like a period) during that patch-free week and you’re still protected against pregnancy.
- The patch is 4.5 by 4.5 cm and skin-coloured.
- The contraceptive patch contains 2 hormones: progestogen and oestrogen.
- The progestogen makes sure you don’t ovulate, so no egg is released. It also thickens the mucus in the cervix, making it more difficult for sperm to reach the egg. And it prevents a fertilised egg from implanting itself in the uterus.
- The oestrogen makes sure you have a bleed (like a period) after 3 weeks, during the patch-free break. So you don’t usually have any unexpected bleeding at other times.
- The contraceptive patch is just as reliable as the pill.
How do you use it?
- Stick the patch somewhere on your skin. This can be anywhere, except on your breasts or thighs.
- Do this once a week, 3 weeks running. The fourth week, you don’t have to wear a patch. That’s the patch-free week.
- After the patch-free week, you start wearing a patch again.
- Put the date for sticking on a new patch in your diary.
- Don’t use cream or lotion on the skin where you stick the patch.
- Has the patch come off? Stick a new one on straightaway.
- You can swim and shower as usual with a contraceptive patch.
Where can you get the patches?
Ask your doctor or a Sense doctor for a prescription for the contraceptive patch. You pick up your box of patches at a pharmacy.
Want the bleed to be shorter?
Just shorten the patch-free week. Start wearing a new patch after 4 days, even if you’re still bleeding. The patch is then even more reliable than with a 7-day break.
Not sure what to do? Talk to your own doctor or ask a doctor at Sense.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
- You only have to think about it once a week.
- You know exactly when you'll have your bleed.
- You can postpone the bleeding by skipping the patch-free week.
- The contraceptive patch is even reliable if you vomit or have diarrhoea.
Disadvantages:
- When you start using patches, you might have side effects like headaches and tender breasts.
- You could forget to start wearing a new patch.
- Sometimes the patch is visible.
- The patch doesn’t protect against STIs.
- If you’re overweight, the patch won’t work properly. This applies to a BMI that’s higher than 30 (see BMI calculator).
Are there any side effects?
When you first wear a patch, you might have side effects like:
- headaches
- irregular blood loss
- painful breasts
- nausea
- low moods
- weight gain
- reduced sex drive
Usually, the side effects disappear after a couple of months. If a side effect becomes very unpleasant, go to your doctor or the Sense clinic.
What to do if something goes wrong
The patch has come off
Stick a new patch on your skin within 24 hours. Then you are still protected.
You forgot to put a patch on
Stick a patch on as soon as possible. You can leave a patch off for no more than 24 hours, except during the patch-free week.
You put a patch on after 24 hours
Stick a patch on straightaway. But be aware of this: for the first 7 days you’re not fully protected against pregnancy. So use condoms when you have penis-in-vagina sex.
You forgot to stop after 3 weeks
Leaving a patch on during the patch-free week is not a problem. Just shorten the patch-free break. Or stick a new patch on straightaway and skip the patch-free week.
When do you run the risk of pregnancy?
If you stop using contraceptive patches, or stick a new patch on too late, you could get pregnant.