Health Center - Birth Control
For many women, birth control pills are the contraception method of choice. “The pill” has evolved over the years and more options exist than ever before. Unsure which is the right birth control method for you? Not sure what to do if you miss a pill? Find answers to these questions and more here.
Birth Control Pills Guide
Birth Control Patch (Ortho Evra)
Effectiveness: 92 to 99 percent; it is 99 percent effective if used as directed (1-9 pregnancies per 100 women each year). May be less effective if you weigh more than 198 pounds.
What is it? The patch, sold under the brand name Ortho Evra, looks like a 1-inch square bandage. You stick it on the skin of your buttocks, stomach, upper outer arm or upper torso once a week for 3 weeks in a row. Synthetic hormones similar to estrogen and progesterone produced by the body are absorbed through the skin.
How does it work? Like birth control pills, the patch releases estrogen and progestin. These hormones keep you from releasing eggs so pregnancy cannot occur. The hormones also thicken your cervical mucus, blocking the sperm from reaching the egg. You apply one patch per week for 3 weeks and then no patch in the fourth week. Then you start the cycle again.
STD protection: No; you will still need to use condoms if you are concerned about STDs.
