Contraceptive patch aka birth control patch.
There are a number of birth control methods but it solely depends on your comfort to decide which one works the best for you. Every method has its own risks and benefits.
But many of the women are confused as to what is the right method to ensure good results. Although no one other than yourself and your health practitioner can give you the satisfactory and efficient answer, we will discuss two most common practices to weigh their pros and cons for you. So that you could have a clear picture to conclude your decision.
What is a contraceptive patch?
A contraceptive patch is a a little square that looks just like a bandaid. A contraceptive patch has both the hormones progestin and oestrogen in it to control the pregnancy.
Where to install the patch?
You can place it at the place of your convenience. It can be installed on your arm, your upper abdomen, thigh or hips. Like literally anywhere on your body. How convenient!
When to change the patch?
You need to change your contraceptive patch every week. Now, that is not much of a hassle right! But make sure you are not putting the new patch on the same place you did the previous time. The major issue here is the adhesive product that allows the patch to stick on your body. It can irritate your skin and cause discomfort at that part of your body.
Is there any need of a break from the patch?
Yes there is! Just like the 21-day birth control pill, you do not apply the new patch on fourth week of the month after removing the last one. The fourth week here is referred to the week you get your period.
Do I have to apply the patch at the same time as I applied at last week?
No! If you are using a contraceptive patch, it is not necessary.
What is the efficacy of a contraceptive patch?
A contraceptive patch is 98-99% effective if you follow the rules correctly.
Now that we have a good idea about the contraceptive patch, let us have an idea about the birth control pills.
Birth control Pills
What are birth control pills?
This is a very common method adopted by women for controlling birth over the years. These pills contain the hormones called progesterone and oestrogen.
What are the different variants of these pills?
There are majorly two types of pills. The one that contains single hormone and the other that contain a combination of these hormones.
The pills with single hormone are progestin-only pills also known as minipills, whereas the combination pills are of three types that are currently sold in market. They are- Monophasic 21 days pills, Phasic 21 days pills and Everyday pills.
What is the course of taking pills?
If you are taking progestin-only pills, all the pills in that pack are active which means you have to take one everyday regardless of you having your period or not.
If you are taking combination pills, their course varies according to their variations. For example- Monophasic and phasic combination pills have a course of 21 days and no pills for the rest 7 days, whereas everyday pills have a course of complete 28-days, in which 21 pills are active and the rest 7 pills that are to be consumed when you are on your period are placebo.
What are the differences between a contraceptive patch and birth control pill?
Like we discussed about contraceptive patches-
- You need to change the patch after a week whereas the pills are to be consumed every day.
- There is no time restriction for changing a patch after a week. But this is not the case with pills. You have to take the pill on the same time you did the previous day, or the efficacy of this contraceptive method decreases.
- You can get skin irritation if your skin is sensitive but the pill has no such side effects.
- A patch cannot be used if you have a history of blood clots, migraine with aura or any such condition in which oestrogen use is prohibited but you can use progestin-only pills in these cases.
So, before coming to any conclusion, make sure you consult it with your health provider to discuss what will work the best for you.