birth control patch

[citronella49]

Hello,

I just got the bc patch and I was wondering if any of the women on this board have used it... I used the pill for the last several years, and Im just no good at it, and having a baby is not an option now (neither is not having sex!) so my dr. gave me this... she said I might have some irritation since I am so pale, but probably not...

Anyway, comments please :)

[kristadb]

It gives me a rash, but it's a small price. I really like it b/c once a week I can remember. This everyday crap was getting out of hand.

The only downside is that I have a period now. On the pill, I got a 10 minute period. Now, I get a couple cramps and a couple days of a period. :)

[Morticia]

Now, I get a couple cramps and a couple days of a period. :)

Same. My period lasts about as long as it used to be w/o bc. I've been using the patch for ~6 months. I do get some irritation sometimes, but i think that's mostly because a) i have day-glow, super pale skin that is also very sensitive, and b) i live in a desert right now. I didn't have any trouble before I came out here.

I like the patch. I change it every sunday, and don't have to worry about taking a pill every day. I wear it on my upper arm, where it's never a bother (at least during the winter). It's easy to remember, and I don't have to worry about missing a pill or taking a pill at the wrong time. :bobo:

[zoebird]

the depo shot is another choice, though you may only get 3 or 4 periods a year. one shot lasts three months, though. so that's even less thinking about it.

[KimberlyNYC]

I've been using the patch for about 2 months now and the convenience is awesome, but I have patch-sized marks on the spots which I have applied it. It also can be itchy at times. Even though I enjoy the convenience, I'm still worried about its safety and am thinking about another method. Even the potential of blood clots freaks me out and it's possible the patch can exacerbate my migraines and depression. I read about the Fertility Awareness Method on this site and I've been seriously considering it.

[Morticia]

Even the potential of blood clots freaks me out and it's possible the patch can exacerbate my migraines and depression. I read about the Fertility Awareness Method on this site and I've been seriously considering it.

I don't worry about blod clots because I don't have enough platlets anyway. I wish i could get normal blood clots, let alone have to worry about getting serious clots. :rolleyes:

I have been getting a lot of migraines. is that a common side effect of the patch? i get them anyway, so i'm not sure if it's anything new.

[NewlinArchinal]

the depo shot is another choice, though you may only get 3 or 4 periods a year. one shot lasts three months, though. so that's even less thinking about it.

i've been getting depo shots for almost 4 years now. its the only kind of BC i've ever been on, so i can't really compare, but i like it a lot. you can get the shot in your arm or in your hip... i've found that for whatever reason, when i get it in the hip, i have no bleeding at all. whenever i was getting it in the arm, i would have really light spotting in the last 4 or 5 days right before my next shot was due. but now, i haven't had any bleeding at all for probably 2 years. it is liberating!!! i am a little worried though what is going to happen should i ever decide that i want to have children someday... i've heard that it can take up to a year or more to get pregnant after coming off of the shot, and my period would probably be unpredictable (it was kind of unpredictable in the first few months of being on the shot). anyone else get depo?

[VeggieFaery]

Just some info to chew on:I used the nuvaring.A ring that you insert and leave in for 3 weeks then remove for 1 week to have your period.Contains the same hormones as the pill.Used for about 8 months and then I got pregnant!Yes I was using it correctly and I could just be that .1% but I advise against it.

Until I got pregnant I thought it was great.I never had any side effects.(except a baby) :lol:

[stellar26]

I've been on it since April and I love it.
I have been on the pill and the depo shot in the past. I could never remember to take the pill, and depo gave me near constant periods for an entire year. The patch is definetly the best birth control method that I've used thus far.

[Corrina]

I was on it until this past August, for about a year. I ended up getting my period when I least expected it, and it lasted for weeks! :-/ Needless to say, I've switched to something else more reliable, Seasonale. I only get my period 4 times in a year and haven't had any unplanned periods.

[stellar26]

I was on it until this past August, for about a year. I ended up getting my period when I least expected it, and it lasted for weeks! :-/ Needless to say, I've switched to something else more reliable, Seasonale. I only get my period 4 times in a year and haven't had any unplanned periods.


That's very strange. Did you forget to change your patch, or something? Or maybe you weren't putting it in the right place where the hormones could directly reach your blood supply? What you've said simply doesn't make sense to me.
You see, the patch ups your estrogen levels to prevent an egg from leaving your ovary and by doing this, prevents a period. When your estrogen levels are high, your body begins to build up your endometrial lining to prepare for the egg that isn't coming. Your period should only happen when your estrogen levels drop (which happens on the week that you don't wear a patch). For you to have a 2 week long period, your estrogen levels would have had to be low for 2 weeks and when the patch is used correctly, that doesn't happen because the estrogen is being fed into your blood supply.
Maybe you had a defective patch, or something. I guess there are exceptions to every rule..