Anyone on the birth control patch?

How do you like it? How does it compare with the pills? Side effects?

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

I know someone who went on it and gained a lot of weight in a short time. If you are really sensitive to weight gain and that might bother you, I wouldn't do it. JMO. It's a lot of hormones in your body so it plays a little with your mood too... could be depressing and made you sad as a side effect.

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

Sept: From what I understand, the regular birth control pill uses the same hormones. So I was wondering if anyone who has switched from pill to patch could give me their review.

Ive been on the pill before. Had virtually no side effects for years and then started to get naseous all the time from it...so I stopped. I know I need to go back on something, just trying to find the easiest method b/c Im terrible about remembering the pill.

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

I was on it for a few months...I loved it! I switched back to the pill though because it's a lot cheaper for me.
I loved not having to worry about taking a pill everyday.
I felt no side effects except a little soreness in my breasts. No weight gain, no mood swings..
But, I suppose everyone is different!

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

If you use a BC pill, then the patch is no different in terms of horomone levels, risks, side effects etc..

I used the patch for 2 months before the wedding to control my friend so that I wouldn't get it for the wedding/HM. I, personally, feel very ill on any birth control pill so I don't really use it but it you like to BC Pill, then I would try the patch. It is VERY simple and much easier than a pill every day. Plus the doctor gave me a free month sample.

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

Erica is on it - I think she's a big fan. Shamma didn't like it.

There have been a number of threads:

BC options thread

ortho evra

patch

BC patch

-you get the idea!

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

I was going to try this but since I'm TTC in 9 mos I felt no need to switch it up, but if it wasn't for that, I would definitely give it a try

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

I've though about switching (which is why I'm so aware of all the past threads), but so far I figure why mess with something thats working well.

But I think its a great option, and definitely worth checking out.

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

Stef, my GF and I tried it and we both hated it, I lost weight, I had no appetite, I lost my sex drive drive, VAGINAL dryness, my gf got a rash and an infection and so did I. Everyone's body is different, the convienence cannot be beat, but for all that I lost, I gave it up and never looked back. I was only on it from Dec thru feb, my first BC experience and I hated it. Then I tried Yasmin for a month and threw it out before it was done, no more BC for me.

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

One of my best friends is on it and she has had no side effects whatsoever. Everyone's body reacts differently though but I would definately give it a try for the conviencence factor alone : ).

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

I used it from December until April. I actually manipulated my 'friend' so I didn't have it for my wedding or my honeymoon. It made me a little tired and emotional...but, hey, that could have been from all the wedding palnning!
The only thing I didn't like was the sticky stuff that was left on my skin after I would remove the old patch. I thought it was better than remembering to take the pill everday. I stopped taking it because I developed high blood pressure on the pill and I didn't want to risk it on the patch..

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

One of my cousins tried the patch, and she said it made her a$$ feel like it was on fire

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

not me

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

The patch is the same hormones as Ortho-Tricyclen. The convenience is a big reason a lot of women like it. The patients I have seen on it really like it. Basically your body is likely to deal with it the same way it deals with the pill. Only difference is because it is not going through your stomach you most likely won't get nausea from it. (Stef were you taking the pill at night? A lot of times that makes you really sick then when you wake up in the AM). Sometimes it irritates peoples skin. No more free patches around- the company can't keep up with the demand.

Another option is the Nuva ring. I just learned about it this month. It is a thin ring, about 2-3 inches in diameter and as thick as a thick spaghetti. Also same hormones as patch/pill. You insert it like a diaphram and leave it for three weeks then take it out for one. If I wasn't PG I would definetely be using that. Ask your doctor about it.

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

I have been on it for 5 months now.... I LOVE IT!!!!!
I was on the pill for three years and switched to yjr patch right after the wedding.
For me it is just like I'm on the pill, I don't feel different. I hated to have to remember to take the pill every day. The only side effect I had was sore breasts for the first month.
The patch stays on for the whole week, I never feel it.
It is great!!!!

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

I was on it for 8 months and I had to get off it, I was a nightmare. I would cry for just about the entire week of my period (at the drop of a hat, seriously)...and I knew in my mind, that I was crying for no reason, it was like I had no control over my emotions.

I was also much more irritable in general during the entire month.

And my sex drive definately went down!!!

I spoke with my gyno about these side effects, and she said unfornately, a lot of women are experiencing these same side effects, and she's taking them off the patch. I was so upset that my body didn't agree with the patch, because I loved not having to take a pill everyday. Oh well.

There were no weight gain issues with the patch for me.

I'm now back on the pill, but I switched to Ortho Tri Cyclin Lo, and everything is back to normal

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

I will be starting on the patch this Sunday.

My Gyn said that it is pretty similiar to OrthoTricyclen.

My only apprehensions are the dirty band-aid looks the patch gets towards the end of the week.

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

I love it. I'm been using it for about a year. Its easy and I have almost no side effects, just minimal breast tenderness occassionally. All of these methods are trial and error, everyone reacts differently. If you can tolerate the pill, you should do well on the patch. Its the same hormones and actually has less estrogen than a lot of the common pills. We have a lot of patients on it and most people seem to really like it.

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

I wish I could lose weight by putting a patch on my butt....I would use 10 at a time.

Re: Anyone on the birth control patch?

I've been on it since last september...(almost a year now)


I wanted to switch, b/c after years of BCP I, too, started to get nauseous...all the time...then I was forgetting...and I figured if I wasn't didn'twant to take them...it was a pointless BC...


the patch is SUPER easy...I id gain weight...but I talked to my GYN about it...and I had a pretty stressful year...and she asked me honestly if I thought it was the patch...and I knew it was my eating...

I never had a patch fall off...it did get that gummy band aid look to it though...I also did get a rash for two months...I think it may have been in conjunction with the move to a new state...new water, etc...


my sex drive has dropped a bit...but it may have dropped before the patch...not really sure...I think its part of not being in a new relationship...


the best part...I won $25 for filling out surveys from them!!!!