Contraceptive patch

What is the contraceptive patch?

The contraceptive patch is a small square patch, 5cm by 5cm, that you wear on your skin.
It prevents pregnancy by releasing the hormones oestrogen and progestogen into the blood. This stops the ovaries releasing an egg each month.
The contraceptive patch is not suitable for everyone.
You wear a patch for 7 days and then replace it with a new one.
The contraceptive patch is 99% effective if you use it correctly all the time. If not used correctly it’s less effective.
When you stop using the contraceptive patch, your fertility usually returns to previous levels after around 1 to 3 months.
You can compare different methods, including how well they work and side effects, when choosing a method of contraception.

The contraceptive patch does not stop you getting or passing on sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Use a condom every time you have sex to protect you and your partner against STIs, including HIV.

Where can I get it?

Getting the contraceptive patch

Contraception services are free and confidential on the NHS.

You can get the contraceptive patch from:

sexual health clinics, also called family planning or contraception clinics
some GP surgeries
some young people’s services (call the national sexual health helpline on 0300 123 7123 for more information)

Find contraception services

Getting contraception if you’re under 16

Contraception is free and confidential, including for young people under the age of 16.

The doctor or nurse will not tell anyone, including your parents or carer, unless they think you or someone else is at risk of harm.

Who can use it?

Can I use the contraceptive patch?

The contraceptive patch is not suitable for everyone.

You may not be able to use it if you’re living with obesity, or you’re aged 35 or over and you smoke.

The patch may not be suitable if you have ever had:

blood clots, or a family member had blood clots under the age of 45
narrowed or blocked arteries, or you’ve had a stroke
a heart problem, heart disease, or high blood pressure
migraines with warning signs called aura
breast cancer
gallbladder or bile duct problems
liver cancer or severe cirrhosis
complications due to diabetes

If you have any of these health conditions, talk to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist about whether it’s safe for you to use the patch.

Giving birth

You can start using the contraceptive patch on day 21 after giving birth, if you're not breastfeeding. You'll need to use condoms for 7 days after starting the patch. Your midwife can discuss this with you.

Avoid using the contraceptive patch if you’re breastfeeding as it can reduce your milk supply

Miscarriage or abortion

If you had a miscarriage or abortion before 24 weeks of pregnancy, you can use the patch as soon as you want to. You'll need to start using the patch within 5 days of the end of the pregnancy to be protected against another pregnancy.

If you do start using the patch after these 5 days, you'll need to use a condom for 7 days after starting the patch. A doctor, nurse or midwife can discuss this with you.

If you had a miscarriage or abortion after 24 weeks, talk to a doctor, nurse or midwife to see if the contraceptive patch is suitable for you.

How to use it

Putting on the contraceptive patch

You put the contraceptive patch on an area of clean, dry hairless skin that's unlikely to get rubbed against tight clothing.

This could be the top of your arm or back, your bottom or your tummy.

You use 3 patches each month.

To use contraceptive patches correctly:

wear the 1st patch for 7 days before taking it off and putting on the 2nd patch
wear the 2nd patch for 7 days before taking it off and putting on the 3rd patch
wear the 3rd patch for 7 days before taking it off
have 7 days with no patch – you may have a bleed during your patch free week
after 7 days, put on a new patch – this is the 1st patch of your new cycle

Starting the contraceptive patch

If you start using the contraceptive patch between the 1st and 5th day of your period you should be protected against pregnancy straight away.

Speak to a doctor or nurse for advice if you want to start the patch after the 5th day of your period.

Speak to a pharmacist, doctor or nurse if you’re already using hormonal contraception and are thinking of starting the contraceptive patch. You may need to use condoms for some time to make sure you’re protected against pregnancy.

How well the contraceptive patch works

When used correctly all the time, the contraceptive patch is more than 99% effective.

If not used correctly, it’s 91% effective and about 9 in 100 women will get pregnant in a year. Incorrect use includes things like forgetting to put a new patch on at the right time.

If a contraceptive patch comes loose or you forget to replace it

What to do if a contraceptive patch comes off or you forget to replace it depends on where you are in your 28-day patch cycle and when it came off or was due to be replaced.

Talk to a pharmacist, doctor or nurse, to find out what to do, or read the information leaflet that comes in your contraceptive patch pack.

Find the contraceptive patch's patient information leaflet online by searching for the name of your patch in the medicines A to Z on the eMC website

You may need emergency contraception. Speak to a pharmacist, sexual health clinic, or GP or call 111 for advice as contraceptive patches can affect how some emergency contraception works.

Contact a sexual health clinic or pharmacist for advice if your patches keep coming loose. They can check you’re putting them on correctly.

Medicines and herbal remedies that affect the contraceptive patch

Some medicines and herbal remedies can affect how the contraceptive patch works. The patch may not work properly to stop you getting pregnant.

You may need to use another type of contraception.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice before using the contraceptive patch if you take medicine to treat TB (tuberculosis), epilepsy or HIV.

You should also ask for advice if you take griseofulvin (an antifungal medicine), lamotrigine (a mood stabiliser), bosentan (a high blood pressure medicine) or St John's wort (a herbal remedy).

Side effects

Side effects and risks of the contraceptive patch

Common side effects of the contraceptive patch

You may have some side effects when you first start using the contraceptive patch.

Bleeding between periods (breakthrough bleeding) or changes to your periods are common in the first few months.

Using the contraceptive patch can cause high blood pressure in a small number of people.

Some people have headaches, feel sick or dizzy, or have sore breasts. But there is not enough evidence to say whether this is caused by using the patch.

For some people the patch improves period pain and other symptoms linked to periods, such as headaches.

There is no evidence that using the patch makes you put on weight or changes your sex drive.

If you have side effects 3 months after starting the patch and they’re a problem for you, trying another type of contraception may help. Staff at a sexual health clinic or a GP can discuss this with you.

Risks of the contraceptive patch

There are some risks linked to using the contraceptive patch. But the chance of getting these is small.

Blood clots

The risk of getting a blood clot is very small and affects up to 1 in 1,000 people using combined hormonal contraception like the patch.

Your doctor will check if you have certain risk factors before prescribing the patch.

There is a small risk of:

getting a blood clot in your leg or lung
a blood clot causing a heart attack
a blood clot causing a stroke

Cancer

Using the patch can slightly increase your risk of getting:

But your risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer goes back to normal 10 years after you stop using the patch.

Using the patch can also lower your risk of getting:

The information on this page has been adapted by NHS Wales from original content supplied by

NHS website nhs.uk