A few days back, I was watching a repeat telecast of a highly popular morning show (for lack of anything better to do), and trying in vain to tolerate the over-the-top and very annoying host. Anyways, the topic under discussion was a new contraceptive method (namely the birth control patch) that a lot of women are still unaware of, but I had heard of because of the ample controversy associated with it. The host and her gynecologist guest were discussing its pros and cons etc and I was shocked to note that there was absolutely no mention of the fact that this method is under severe criticism ever since it was introduced due to the fatalities associated with it. I don’t know whether the very ‘learned’ doctor chose not to divulge the information or was simply ignorant. In either case, it was very alarming, considering the huge number of women who follow the show religiously. Therefore, I felt it necessary to talk about it in this post. But first, a little background on the method itself.
The Ortho Evra Contraceptive Patch is one of the newest forms of contraception to hit the market. It is a prescription method of contraception and is the first weekly form of birth control. It is a small (4 x 4 cm), thin, beige, sticky skin patch (looks like a plaster) that sticks to a woman’s skin. It contains the same hormones as the contraceptive pill i.e. estrogen and progestogen, which are released through the 
skin into the blood stream in a continuous, steady flow to protect against pregnancy. The patch is used for three consecutive weeks each month. It is not used in the fourth week because a woman will typically get her period. A new patch is used each week. The patch can be used on most areas of the body as long as the skin is clean and dry. A woman can choose to wear it on a different area each week. Like the pill the patch:
-
Helps prevent ovulation (release of an egg)
-
Thickens the cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to reach the egg
-
Makes the lining of the womb thinner in order to reduce the likelihood of implantation of fertilized egg
The many advantages attributed to the patch are:
-
You don’t have to remember to take it every day. Just replace once a week
-
It is comfortable & discreet
-
It is reversible i.e. you can become pregnant after stopping use
-
It is very sticky and does not interfere with daily activities (like bathing, showering, swimming etc)
-
It does not interfere with sexual activity and allows for spontaneity
-
You generally have regular, lighter, and shorter periods
-
It may help with premenstrual symptoms
-
It may reduce the risk of cancer of the ovary, womb and colon
-
It may reduce the risk of fibroids, ovarian cysts and non-cancerous breast disease
The effectiveness of the patch depends on how carefully it is used. It is said to be 99% effective if used according to the instructions.
The Ugly Truth about the Patch
The Ortho Evra Contraceptive Patch was introduced back in 2002, and received a very enthusiastic response, as many women found the patch a more convenient method of birth control. Hundreds of thousands of prescriptions were given out in the first couple of years alone and more than 4 million women have used it globally since its introduction. Then in 2004, disturbing reports starting coming in of women (mostly in their late teens and early 20s) dying from blood clots believed to be related to the birth-control patch, and dozens more surviving strokes and other clot-related problems. These women were young and apparently at low risk for clots. Since then several lawsuits have been filed by the families of these women and many more are in the works. The makers of the patch, Ortho McNeil (a Johnson and Johnson subsidiary) maintained that the risks associated with the patch were no higher than that of the pill, since both contain the same amount of Estrogen. However, the critical difference between them lies in the fact that hormones from the patch go DIRECTLY into the bloodstream while pills are swallowed and digested first and in the process, about half of the estrogen dose is lost.
The result is that women using the patch have much higher levels of estrogen in their bodies and will be exposed to about 60 percent more estrogen than those using typical birth control pills. Resultantly, they are at a higher risk of blood clots and other serious side effects (Estrogen causes the blood to coagulate in the veins). Blood clots are dangerous because they can create a blockage in the blood vessels. When this happens oxygen and blood do not have the ability to travel to the necessary areas of the body causing tissues to die. Clots usually form in the legs, and can travel to the heart, lungs, and brains. This means that they can be fatal. The Associated Press has reported that patch users die and suffer blood clots at a rate three times higher than women taking the pill. In 2007 and 2008, the drug regulatory agencies in Europe and the USA, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), demanded that additional safety information must be added to the product information for the Ortho Evra contraceptive patch to warn healthcare providers and patients about the increased risk. And THAT’S IT. Despite all the disturbing evidence, the patch has not yet been pulled off the market. All they have done is add a lousy warning on the labeling which says two different and seemingly contradictory things: First, it says the patch is expected to be associated with similar risks as the pill. Then, it says it is unknown if the risk of blood clots from the patch is different from the pill. Ortho-McNeil insists that the patch remains a safe and effective birth-control option when used according to the product’s label, pointing to more than 4 million women who have safely it. They insist that none of the deaths can be directly attributed to the patch. Unbelievable! Agreed that blood clots are an accepted risk from hormonal birth control because estrogen promotes blood coagulation, but the question is: how many clots are too many?
There is a valuable lesson to be learned here. Unfortunately, these days, more often than not the problems with a drug show up AFTER its approved. There are various forms of birth control available for both men and women. It is important to educate yourself about the different methods in order to choose the one that will be best for your lifestyle. Certain types of birth control have side effects that can cause damage to our bodies. These side effects can be serious and are definitely something that women should think about before they decide whether or not they want to use this form of birth control. Women should speak to their doctors about the risks and benefits of the different available methods. The internet is also a valuable source of information in this regard. Any new information about how a method works, its advantages and disadvantages is useful as women are then able to make a more informed choice about their contraception.
Important:
If you are using the patch and you think you might be experiencing problems you will need to speak to your doctor right away and discontinue use. Just make sure that you replace it with a form of birth control that you can trust. Women should contact their physician if any of the following warning signals develop:
-
Sharp chest pain, coughing of blood, or sudden shortness of breath (indicating a possible clot in the lung)
-
Pain in the calf (indicating a possible clot in the leg)
-
Crushing chest pain or tightness in the chest (indicating a possible heart attack)
-
Sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, disturbances of vision or speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (indicating a possible stroke)
-
Sudden partial or complete loss of vision (indicating a possible clot in the eye)
-
Breast lumps (indicating possible breast cancer or fibrocystic disease of the breast; ask your doctor or health care professional to show you how to examine your breasts)
-
Severe pain or tenderness in the stomach area (indicating a possibly ruptured liver tumor)
-
Severe problems with sleeping, weakness, lack of energy, fatigue, or change in mood (possibly indicating severe depression)
-
Jaundice or a yellowing of the skin or eyeballs accompanied frequently by fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark colored urine, or light colored bowel movements (indicating possible liver problems)
Incoming search terms for the article:
Related Posts
