How does the contraceptive patch work?
The contraceptive patch is a soft patch measuring 4.5 × 4.5 cm. It contains the hormones estrogen and progestin. When you use the patch, these hormones are absorbed through the skin and enter the bloodstream.
One advantage of the patch is that you don’t need to remember to take a pill every day.
The contraceptive patch available in Norway is called Evra (felleskatalogen.no).
How to use the contraceptive patch
You apply a new patch on the same day of the week for three consecutive weeks. After that, you can take a patch-free week. During this week, you will experience a bleeding similar to menstruation.
If you prefer to avoid this bleeding, you can skip the patch-free week. When using the patch continuously without a break, you will usually experience bleeding after a few months. At that point, you should take a break of 4-7 days before applying a new patch.
The patch is water-resistant and stays on during showering and swimming, as long as it is applied correctly.
Contraception support for young people
If you need the contraceptive pill, contraceptive patch, vaginal ring, contraceptive implant or coil and are under the age of 22 years old, you are eligible for financial support to cover all or parts of the cost of contraception.
Side effects of using the contraceptive patch
Using the patch may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (in Norwegian). This risk increases with age. If you are over 35 and have additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, you should not use the patch. Additional risk factors include:
- smoking
- being overweight
- having diabetes
- high blood fat or cholesterol levels
- a family history of cardiovascular disease
If your BMI (in Norwegian) is over 35, the patch is not recommended.
The patch increases the risk of blood clots, which is a very rare but serious side effect. Some types of combined birth control pills carry a lower risk of blood clots, and for this reason, the patch is not recommended as a first-choice contraceptive. Progestin-only pills, IUDs, and implants do not carry an increased risk of blood clots.
The patch may also cause irregular bleeding, especially during the first few months of use.
Find the right contraception
All contraceptive methods offer good protection against pregnancy, but they differ in how they are used and in their side effects.
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