Ortho Evra is the first skin patch approved for birth control. However, the patch exposes women to higher levels of estrogen than most pills. High levels of estrogen can lead to an increased risk of blood clots, which can lead to strokes, heart attacks and other injuries. The FDA recently included a warning on Ortho Evra packaging warning women of the risks.
What are some important things I should know about Ortho Evra Patch?
Women who use Ortho Evra have 60 percent more estrogen in their bodies than women who take a typical birth control pill. High levels of estrogen can lead to an increased risk of blood clots, which can lead to strokes, heart attacks and other injuries. The FDA recently included a warning on Ortho Evra packaging warning women of the risks. Smoking seriously increases the risks of blood clots, especially in women over the age of 35 and women who smoke more than 15 cigarettes per day.
The Ortho Evra Patch makes it easier for women to remember to protect themselves against pregnancy, because it only needs to be changed once a week, as compared to a daily birth control pill. The patch is for women who want to use a contraceptive, but don’t want to take a daily pill.
The patch is NOT for women who are pregnant or who have recently been pregnant, or for women who have a history of strokes, blood clots, certain types of cancer, abnormal vaginal bleeding, problems with their blood pressure, migraines, or other heart problems.
Ortho Evra causes women to have extremely high levels of estrogen in their bodies. High levels of estrogen can lead to an increased risk of blood clots, which can lead to serious heart complications and strokes. The patch does not protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
You should stop using the patch and call your doctor immediately if you experience:
- numbness or weakness
- chest pain
- difficulty breathing
- problems with vision, speech or balance
- severe headache
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- abnormal stools
- swelling in extremities (arms, hands, feet)
- nausea, vomiting