One of the most effective and easiest methods for birth control is the birth control patch. Itis just like how you apply some stickers on your skin. Its effectiveness and easy-to-use methods make it stand out from the crowd. Well, people go for birth control methods or birth control pills when they want to prevent unwanted pregnancy. There are many other options of birth control methods available now. 

People may also opt for the natural methods of birth control. The natural methods are quite safe and without any complications. But in this particular frame of time we are going to deal with the birth control patch side effects, working, and everything you should know about it. 

Let Us Know What Is Birth Control Patch?

Well, the birth control patch is one of the most effective birth control methods. Also, it is one of the easiest methods for these unwanted pregnancy issues. It is one of the best options if you don’t want to go for the implant and other complicated methods.it comes as a sticker and all you need is to apply this patch to any part of your body. 

It releases the hormones that help in dealing with those unwanted pregnancies. So, it is time to see how exactly this path works. So, in the next section, we will be looking at the working of the contraceptive patch.  

Let Us See How Does Contraceptive Patch Works?

Well, contraceptive patches work in the same way as other contraceptive methods works. More or less all the contraceptive patches work in the same way. The main agenda of the birth control methods is to stop the fertilization process. Their approach can be different, but the final goal is the same. 

So, contraceptive patch releases some hormones that prevent the sperm from entering the eggs. It contains certain hormones such as estrogen and progestin that are released in the body. This makes the ovulation process go stops. 

Also, these hormones make the cervical mucus thick that finally stops the sperms from entering the eff. As there is no sperm joins to the eggs, there are no chances of fertilization. And also, you get rid of those unwanted pregnancies. 

The hormones that are released by the patch are already present in the body. Your body makes those hormones naturally. This particular birth control method is widely used in the US countries. It an amazing way to say goodbye to those unwanted pregnancies.  

Birth Control Patch, How To Use It?

Well, using a contraceptive patch is quite easy. First, clean yourself. The skin should be dry. You can apply this patch to different parts of your body like on the belly, upper outer arm, back, or buttock cheeks. 

Now unwrap the contraceptive patch from the packet. And remove the plastic part of the patch. Make sure not to touch the sticky part of the patch. Now gently apply the patch on your desired body part and press and hold it for few seconds. And yes you are done. Isn’t it so easy? 

The patch is made in such a way and of such material that it stays there in any condition. We mean that you can do any kind of stuff even while putting it on. So you can enjoy your swimming or any other kind of thing Also, you can take shower even while wearing this patch. You can even exercise while putting the patch on. 

Well, you should be careful that your skin should be dry. So it is suggested not to apply the lotions or any makeup to the area where you are applying the contraceptive patch. So get your skin well dried before applying it.

Birth Control Patch Pros And Cons

 Everything that exists in this world has some advantages and disadvantages as well. And the same is with the birth control contraceptive patch. So in this section, we will see some of the advantages and disadvantages of the contraceptive patch. 

PROS	CONS
Known for its effectiveness	Doesn’t helpful in dealing with sexually transmitted infections
Easy to apply	May cause irritation
Easily available	Visible to everyone
Gives you the freedom to do other stuff even while putting it on	Breast tenderness
No need to control those sexual temptations	Mood changes

Birth Control Patch Side Effects

Well, like any other birth control methods, these particular methods also have some side effects. Although these side effects are quite normal and wear off very soon.  So now let us see some of the common and major side effects of contraceptive patch. 

Common Side Effects

Here are some of the common side effects of the contraceptive patch. The common side effects stay for few days or in some cases for a month and then it gets worn off. 

• Skin irritation
• Breast pains
• Menstrual pain
• Headaches
• Nausea 
• vomiting
• Abdominal pain issues
• Mood changes
• Weight gain
• Dizziness
• Acne
• Diarrhea
• Muscle spasms
• Vaginal infections and discharge
• Fatigue
• Fluid retention

Major Side Effects

The major side effects are the on that one needs to be aware of. Although these side effects rarely occur to someone. It is suggested to consult the doctor as soon as possible if you feel any of these side effects. So, below are some of the major side effects of the contraceptive patch. 

• Blood-clotting issues
• heart attack
• stroke
• liver cancer
• gallbladder disease 
• high blood pressure issues
• Breakthrough bleeding   

Effectiveness Of Birth Control Patch

Coming to the effectiveness of the birth control patch, as we mentioned above also. It is known as one of the most effective birth control methods available these days. Well, the contraceptive patch takes time to get into action. Apply the patch but not get rely on it for the first seven days. Avoid having sex in the meanwhile time. 

Or also, you can go for some other alternative options like condoms. This is been said that a contraceptive patch is 99 percent effective. But in reality, it is 91 percent effective if it applied exactly how directed. So this was all about the birth control patch effectiveness. 

Comparison With Different Types Birth Control Methods

Let us see a quick comparison between different types of birth control methods. Such as birth control patch vs ring, birth control patch vs pills, and birth control patch vs shot. Every method has some advantages and some disadvantages. So below are some quick comparisons between different types of birth control methods. 

Birth Control Patch Vs Ring

Birth Control Patch	Ring
Easy to use, simply apply to any part of the body	Little complicated to use, need to insert inside the vagina
Not weight gain issue	Temporary weight gain issues
Breast discomfort	No such issues
Painful periods	Not such issues
No such vaginal irritation	Vaginal irritation

Birth Control Patch Vs Pill

Birth Control Patch	Pill
Need to stick on any part of the body	Taken orally
One patch used for a longer period	Need to take every time before having sex
More breast discomfort	No such issues
More painful periods	Lesser painful periods
Fewer nausea feelings	More nausea feelings

Birth Control Patch Vs Shot

Birth Control Patch	Shot
Easy to use, simply apply on any part of the body	Need to inject
Used for a short period of time	Used for a longer period of time
Contains both estrogen and progesterone	Contains progesterone
No such bone issues	The bone may get thinner
No such menstrual issues	It can suppress the menstrual cycle

FAQs

Time to deal with some commonly asked questions related to the birth control patch. So, if you had any of the queries related to it, we hope it will be cleared now with the below gives questions. 

1. Does the birth control patch gain weight?

Well, there is not any proof or report of gaining weight by using the contraceptive patch. So use the patch without thinking that it will increase yours. 

2. where to buy a birth control patch?

Well, the contraceptive patch is easily available nowadays. So either you can go to a local medical shop or can buy it online. 

3. How much does a birth control patch cost?

The contraceptive patch costs around $0 to $150. But this patch is available for free with many health insurance plans.

4. What are some of the best birth control patch brands?

Although there are many such brands a very few among them are popular and widely used birth control brands. Xulane and Ortho Evra are some of the best birth control patch brands available in the market. 

5. Let us know where to put a birth control patch? 

Well, as we discussed above, one can use this patch on different parts of the body. Also, it is very easy to apply to the body. So you can use it on the belly, upper outer arm, to your back, or the buttocks. Avoid it using it on the breast as it may result in some harmful issues.  

Conclusion

Although this particular birth control method works pretty awesome and is very convenient to use. There are chances of getting affected by sexually transmitted infections. So, it is suggested to be careful if you are getting into sex with more than one partner. 

Some of the side effects may lead to some serious problems too. So it is suggested to consult the doctor if something goes wrong. Also, it has been said that the best way to avoid unwanted pregnancy is a natural way. Planning parental hood method is always the best method to avoid these unwanted pregnancy issues.