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Pregnancy & Ortho Evra

Ortho Evra is a contraceptive patch introduced in 2002 by Ortho Women's Health & Urology. It can be placed on the buttocks, outer arm area, stomach or upper torso. The patch exposes you to 60 percent more estrogen than the typical birth control pill.

  1. Features

    • The Ortho Evra patch is applied once a week. It is waterproof, so you can shower with it on your skin.

    Function

    • The patch delivers a high dose of estrogen and progestin, which prohibits pregnancy from occurring by preventing eggs from being released from the ovaries.

    Benefits

    • The patch has a failure rate of less than 1 percent when used correctly.

    Significance

    • Since 1960, women have used birth control pills to avoid pregnancy. The Ortho Evra patch has provided another option.

    Potential Risk

    • The high levels of estrogen and progestin released by the patch can cause deep vein blood clotting, which can cause serious injury or even death.

    Warning

    • The risk of dying or suffering a dangerous blood clot is three times higher for women using the Ortho Evra patch than women who use birth control pills, according to a report by MSNBC.

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