Ortho Evra - FAQs
What is Ortho Evra?
Ortho Evra is a thin, flexible birth control patch applied to the lower abdomen, buttocks or upper body once a week. The Ortho Evra patch delivers a continuous flow of estrogen and progestin to prevent ovulation. The patch is used for three weeks, and then stopped for one week to allow menstruation. Ortho Evra contains the same drugs as typical birth control pills; however, the way the drug is administered exposes women to much higher levels of estrogen.
Is a birth control patch more dangerous than the pill?
Although the hormones in Ortho Evra are the same as those in birth control pills, the birth control patch delivers hormones directly into the blood stream, exposing women to much higher levels of estrogen. Increased exposure to estrogen may increase the risk of side effects. The dangerous and potentially life-threatening side effects of estrogen include blood clots, heart attack and stroke.
What are the risks of using the Ortho Evra birth control patch?
The hormones in the Ortho Evra birth control patch are associated with a risk for developing blood clots. Blood clots and blockage of blood vessels can cause death or serious disability. A blood clot may prevent blood from reaching its destination such as the heart or lungs. Using Ortho Evra may increase the risk of developing a stroke, blockage or rupture of blood vessels in the brain, and heart attack, blockage of blood vessels in the heart. Talk with your doctor about your risk.
What Ortho Evra side effects should I watch for?
Indicators of a possible heart attack include severe chest pain or tightness in the chest. Signs of a blood clot in the lung include sharp chest pain, coughing up blood, or sudden shortness of breath. A clot in the leg may cause intense calf pain. Warning signs for a potential stroke are a sudden severe headache, vomiting, dizziness or fainting, a disturbance in vision or speech, and weakness or numbness in the arm or leg.
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