Girls: Contraceptive patch. Pro's and Con's?

I had it but I'm allergic to the adhesive (got really itchy. I'm allergic to plasters and medical tape adhesive too so idk why I even tried it) . It did get a bit grotty on the last day but wasn't too bad. I have nexplanon (it's a sub dermal implant that goes in your arm) and love it. No side effects and you can keep it in for 3 years I don't have any period but have a tiny tiny bit of spotting every so often.

I have the Paraguard iud. Love it! No artifical hormones. No babies. I've had it for almost 7 years now. It lasts for 10 yrs before I have to get a new one. I think next time I'm going to go with Essure. Like the IUD but permanent. I don't like messing with hormones. I was on the pill for years and I even got pregnant on it with my first daughter.

My gyno said Essure has a very high failure rate.

Actually it doesn't. Perhaps your dr has a high failure rate, and then it would be your doctor who is causing the issue with insertion. Essure is 99.74% effective when inserted correctly.

No, The practice doesn't use it because they've seen too many pregnancies from other offices that do. And not just here, but across the country.

In the current package labeling, Essure’s bilateral placement rate is 94.6%.4 The initial labeling, which was based on the first-generation device and the experience of the pivotal trial investigators, Essure’s reported placement rate was only 86%.5 The 94.6% rate is based on the Essure 205 second-generation model that was commercially available from 2003 through 2007. More recent studies have suggested even higher bilateral placement rates (Figure 4).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2709331/

As for the IUD suggestion, if you're only in a sem-commited relationship, you shouldn't get an IUD. Having one ups your risk of contracting an STD if you're exposed.

Hey, I posted below on the Ring but just saw your question. As I said in my first comment, I ended up with blood clots after using NuvaRing for just 6 months. If you're thinking about using it, get your blood tested for clotting disorders before. My doctors say they are seeing a HUGE increase in young women with blood clots after using NuvaRing.

Personally, I like it. I don't have to remember to take it every day at the same exact time.... It doesn't make me gain weight like the progesterone only birth control does. I can control when and if I decide to have a period (most of the time I do... unless something special is coming up like a romantic getaway.. )

The only big con is the cost... right now it cost $121 without insurance... and I just paid (yesterday) $95 with insurance.

If you are smoking, considerably overweight, or have a history of high blood pressure though, I would talk to your doctor about it... because like all medication there are risks when taking it... but the side effects are more predominate in these groups of women.

Hey, I posted below on the Ring but just saw your question. As I said in my first comment, I ended up with blood clots after using NuvaRing for just 6 months. If you're thinking about using it, get your blood tested for clotting disorders before. My doctors say they are seeing a HUGE increase in young women with blood clots after using NuvaRing.

ahh this freaks me out! my mom is on blood thinners due to heart disease and I'm on the ring and thinking of switching to the pill just because I don't want to worry about the "what if".

don't do it! the risks far outweigh the 'benefits'- if you can call them that (i can't!)

how about charting? more effective than Any of the birth controls & absolutely no weird, toxic chemical side effects & you become way super in tune with how your own body functions!

Also, a pill/patch/anything that messes with your hormones make it that much harder to concieve when you get older.

*Not sure how old you are.

Pshaw... maybe in some women... I was on it for 5 years before trying to concieve... in 2010 (I was 29) took off my last patch in May, had my period on time, got pregnant in June. Seriously, that's how quick it was... and I even had a history of very irregular periods before going on birth control.

I don't have enough fingers to count the women I know who went off the pill a few months before their weddings because they believed it would take months to get pregnant. And then they couldn't drink at their own weddings ...

as soon as I'm under 200lbs I'm switching to the patch!!

Id wait til about 180lbs. 190lbs is meant to be the maximum but the heavier you are the less effective it can be/more problems

I was told when I weighed 155 that I was too heavy for it. I wouldn't take the chance unless you're OK with a possible baby.

Same with the charting, since I know registered nurses who had some bad luck with that.

I have been around the 150-160 range for a while now... really since I got off the Depo shot... and I have had no issues with getting pregnant while on the patch... but that's just my experience. Like everything it's going to be an individual basis.

i just started using the patch. i was on the pill for a few years and just got tired of worrying about it daily.
i LOVE the patch so far! its so easy to use, and for me, it stays on really good. i have even taken long baths and showers, and it still stays on. Its way more adhesive than a bandaid!! i havent had any issues with it peeling off at all.
i also havent had any weird side effects. but then again it was the same hormones from the pill so it prob didnt affect me because of that. i use mine on my shoulder blade on my back. its a great spot because its totally out of the way and is always hidden regardless of what you wear (unless a bathing suit, of course..)
i would give it a shot, i dont like the idea of using the ring or iud, i feel like i cant control it!
my doctor told me that the patch is the same % of safety that the pill or ring is... 99.7 or something like that. so you should be OK. i dont know how people got pregnant using it, thats a little nerve-wracking when i read some other posts!

♥annie