Review of the contraceptive hormonal patch Evra (Evra)

Description of the product

Appearance and composition

The contraceptive or contraceptive patch is a new type of contraception. These are a kind of birth control pills, but in this case the hormones enter the body through the skin. On one side of the patch is an adhesive layer that attaches the contraceptive to the skin like an adhesive plaster. On the other hand, there is a protective coating: it does not get wet and resists mechanical stress. The patch is impregnated with a special composition, which includes female hormones such as:

• norelgestromin
• ethinylestradiol
• estrogen and progesterone.

Penetrating through the skin, they have a contraceptive effect on the body. The plate size is only 5x5 cm.

Protection mechanism

Birth control patches for women contain small amounts of hormones. Doses enter the body through the skin and immediately penetrate into the blood. They affect the pituitary gland, which is responsible for the maturation of follicles (as a result of which this process is inhibited), prevent ovulation and the release of the egg from the ovary, and change the structure of the uterine mucus, making it more viscous, so that sperm cannot get to the egg. The lining of the uterus becomes thinner, and even if the egg is fertilized, it will not be able to attach to the wall of the uterus for further development.

A hormonal patch can protect against unwanted pregnancy, but it is powerless against sexually transmitted diseases. Its use is desirable in case of constant relationships with one partner, otherwise, for protection it is better to choose another contraceptive.

Efficiency

In terms of effectiveness, the CP (contraceptive or combined patch) is not inferior to hormonal pills. When used correctly, the risk of unwanted pregnancy is minimal. But you need to constantly monitor the days and not forget about timely replacement. Like many products, KP is most effective if used regularly and correctly.

Despite the similar principle of action, the patch has a number of advantages over birth control pills. It has fewer side effects because it works through the skin and not the stomach; provides greater reliability, since possible failures due to improper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract are excluded. It’s easier to get used to: many women easily switch to KP after taking the pills unsettled.

At the same time, the processes it produces are easily interrupted if a woman plans to have a child. To do this, simply remove the CP from the skin.

The Evra contraceptive patch is the most widespread and reliable contraceptive patch in Russia.

Advantages and disadvantages

What are the advantages of using CP?

• There is no need for daily monitoring of the use of the product: it is enough to remember about the patch on the day of replacement.
• Suitable for those who cannot tolerate hormonal pills.
• Suppresses PMS symptoms and, over time, regulates the menstrual cycle.
• When vomiting, the effect is not dulled, since doses of hormones enter directly into the blood.
• Combined with other medications.
• If replaced untimely, it retains its function for 48 hours.
• Can be used during the beach season.
• Does not change the usual way of life.

What are the disadvantages?

• It has a large list of contraindications.
• Affects the condition of the liver.
• We see it on the skin.
• You can't go to the bathhouse with him.
• Skin irritation and itching are possible.
• Gets dirty quickly.
• The body takes a long time to get used to it (up to 3 months).
• May come off when taking a shower.
• Useless if it does not adhere completely to the skin.
• Not suitable for underage girls.
• High price.

The patch can also change the size of the breast, which may not be to everyone’s liking. When using it, you need to be prepared for such a turn.

Attention to contraindications

The contraceptive patch is prohibited for use when:

• breastfeeding
• pregnancy
• overweight
• smoking or quitting smoking in the first year
• use of antibiotics
• drinking alcohol
• under the age of 18 or over 45 years of age.

For what diseases is the use of the patch contraindicated?

• diseases of the cardiovascular system
• disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system
• postpartum period
• depression
• individual intolerance
• liver problems
• oncology
• increased blood pressure
• gallstones
• circulatory diseases
• allergy
• diabetes
• gastrointestinal diseases
• thrombosis
• migraine.

The use of hormonal patches during menopause is unacceptable!

Hormonal drugs affect the entire body. In most cases, the hormones they contain do not cause harm, but if chosen incorrectly, they can lead to serious consequences. Before using the patch, a mandatory consultation with a gynecologist is necessary!

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of the Evra contraceptive is its high effect. In 99% of cases, it reliably protects a woman from unnecessary pregnancy.

Other advantages:

• It is impossible to “forget” to use the patch (as often happens with oral hormonal pills).
• It is recommended to renew the patch after 7 days of use, but even if the product is not replaced for 8-9 days, there is no need to use other contraceptives, since the contraceptive effect of the main drug will be preserved.
• Ease and convenience of use is an important advantage of this product. Evra is easily and securely attached to the body, the drug is not able to come off under the influence of water or sunlight.
• The contraceptive does not prevent a woman from doing her usual activities. It will not interfere with active sports, showers or saunas. You can even sunbathe with the product glued to your body.
• The drug has medicinal properties - during its use, a woman’s bleeding decreases or completely disappears, menstrual pain syndrome appears less frequently, and the activity of PMS symptoms decreases.

The disadvantages of the Evra contraceptive patch include the possibility of side effects.

In addition, as with the use of other hormonal contraceptives, the use of Evra has certain limitations and contraindications.

The patch does not provide a 100% guarantee of protection against unwanted conception, so in 1% of cases the risk of becoming pregnant still remains.

Features of application

The Evra contraceptive patch has some application features.

If hormones have not been used previously

If you have no experience in taking hormonal contraceptives, you should strictly adhere to the instructions, promptly change the contraceptive within three weeks and after a week of rest, without departing from the schedule.

After COC

After you stop taking birth control pills, you should wait until your next period begins to start using the patch. You can start after your period - for additional protection you need barrier contraception.

After stopping medications containing progestogen, the patch can be used almost immediately, but with additional barrier contraception.

If your period is delayed after stopping COCs, you should take a pregnancy test to avoid the risk.

After miscarriage and abortion

The patch can be used as usual after three weeks - approximately during this period ovulation will take place. Likewise, barrier contraception is not necessary.

After childbirth

If the mother does not breastfeed the child, then the use of the patch is permissible one month after birth. When feeding, you should consult a gynecologist.

If you need to change the day the patch is changed, you should wait until three weeks have passed and apply a new patch on any day of the rest week.

How to use

The contraceptive is easy to use: it needs to be glued as tightly as possible to the selected area of ​​skin and promptly replaced with a new one. It has a transdermal effect on the body. How to choose the right area on the skin?

• maximum skin contact
• “bald” skin: minimal hair
• the skin should not form folds in the place of adhesive
• clean skin: no creams, oils
• avoid places on the skin with damage in the form of scars and scars
• The patch should not rub against clothing frequently.

Possible accommodation options:

• buttock
• shoulder
• stomach
• spatula

It is better to choose a place that is not too noticeable, as the patch on the skin looks unaesthetic.

Some women believe that if they apply a contraceptive patch to the lower abdomen, it will more effectively combat menstrual problems and PMS symptoms. For others, this place is too inconvenient, so this is a purely individual question.

It is forbidden to stick the patch on the chest.

The action begins on the first day of menstruation, so it is advisable to apply it then. It is worth marking on the calendar or writing down the date of gluing in order to change the contraceptive in a timely manner. The cycle is 21 days, replacement is made every week, then the body rests for a week. But no more - otherwise the efforts will come to naught. On the eighth day, the use of CP is resumed. Menstruation no longer affects the schedule.

You should remember, or better yet, write down the day you first used the CP and change it on the same day of the week. In the package with the contraceptive you can find a special calendar in which you need to mark the days of changing the plate.

The effect of the patch as a contraceptive

After attaching the Evra patch to the body, it produces two hormones every day: ethinyl estradiol (20 micrograms) and norelgestramine (150 micrograms).

The released hormones directly affect the ovarian zone, destroying fertile cells. As a result, the ovaries produce unsuitable eggs.

The transdermal patch, as it is also called, also affects the composition of the mucus that is in the uterus. It becomes more viscous and interferes with the movement of sperm. Therefore, most often they simply do not reach the egg.

It is important to understand that the contraceptive patch does not protect against contracting sexually transmitted diseases. The product has only its intended purpose.

When the rules are broken

If the patch comes off

When contact with the skin is broken, hormones stop entering the body. The CP must either be replaced with a new one, or properly attached to the skin if it is partially peeled off.

There is no point in gluing the fallen off patch back.

If it is not known when the patch came off, barrier contraception should be used for the next week.

Late replacement

If the patch is replaced at the wrong time, the cycle is counted from the day it was applied, and counting is carried out on a new day. It is advisable to insure yourself with barrier contraception (vaginal diaphragms, cervical caps and special gels).

If the delay is up to 48 hours, a new gearbox is glued, in this case even additional protection is not required.

If the delay is more than two days, the old one is replaced with a new one, the day of the start of the cycle is changed, additional barrier protection is desirable.

If the patch remains on the skin for more than a week, it is immediately removed and a new one is applied. Barrier contraception is not required.

Despite the fact that the CP is able to retain its properties for two additional days, you should not “extend” its working life intentionally - it is better to replace it with a new one in a timely manner.

What to do if the contraceptive patch comes off?

In cases where the patch has not come off completely, it must be pressed with your hand until the patch is completely attached. If this does not work, replace it with another one. When the patch has completely come off the skin, and you notice this within 24 hours of peeling off, simply stick it on the same place or stick another one. Subsequently, follow the same pattern of changing patches as before.

If the patch comes off and you notice it after 24 hours, take a new patch and count the day you applied it as the first day of your menstrual cycle. Over the next week, to prevent unwanted pregnancy, it is necessary to use contraception that does not contain hormones.

Side effects

The body's reaction to contraception is unpredictable: everyone reacts to stimuli individually. Possible side effects of using CP include:

• loss of appetite
• skin irritation and itching
• sleep disturbance
• thrombosis
• nausea
• menopause
• increased fatigue
• apathy
• increased blood pressure
• migraine
• convulsions
• breast enlargement and tenderness
• allergy
• disruption of the menstrual cycle.

There is an opinion that prolonged use of the contraceptive patch or any other means of contraception leads to the development of breast cancer. While there are no exact conclusions, work on this issue continues.

The use of the patch rarely produces side effects. Mild symptoms are acceptable. If there is a sharp systematic deterioration in the condition, you should seek help from a doctor.

general information

As we have already said, this type of female contraception is one of the latest developments in this area, and represents a completely new approach. A hormonal patch is a rectangular adhesive plaster with a smooth surface and a thickness not exceeding 1 mm. The length and width are approximately 40 and 50mm respectively. Places for gluing can be the buttocks, lower back, stomach or even the shoulder. The cycle of use is the same as for tablets - 21 days. However, if the pills are taken every day, the patch remains on for 7 days. Once a week, it needs to be replaced with a new one. After 21 days, a break is taken - exactly one week, no more. If you do not follow this rule, the effectiveness of contraception decreases. If we talk about reliability, the manufacturers indicate a figure of 99.4%, which allows us to put this type of contraception on a par with barrier analogues, such as condoms.

Being a contraceptive, the contraceptive patch primarily performs the task of preventing unwanted pregnancy. However, the hormonal method of influencing the body allows it to be used as a medicine. This is what gynecologists use when they prescribe hormonal patches to women with imbalanced hormones, pain during menstruation, and other problems of the genitourinary system. Recently, it has also been used in hormone replacement therapy after hysterectomy. If you decide to start using a contraceptive patch, such as the Evra patch, be sure to consult with your gynecologist, as you may have contraindications to its use, and only a gynecologist can determine them.

Cost of the patch

This type of contraception can cost a pretty penny: the price for one piece reaches 500 rubles. For one month of protection, three such patches are required, so protection in this way is not very cheap. But the gearbox works properly and reliably. Plus - it is sold in pharmacies without a prescription, unlike most tablets.

The contraceptive patch is a contraceptive that has many advantages over other contraceptives. But regardless of the preferred type of contraception, consultation with a doctor is mandatory: it is better to check again than lead to sad consequences.

Indications and contraindications for the Evra patch

Like any method of protection against unplanned pregnancy, the transdermal contraceptive patch has a number of indications and contraindications for use. The main indication for the use of this method of contraception is the need to protect against unplanned conception, if you are unwilling or unable to use alternative methods of birth control. The Evra contraceptive product cannot be used if there are the following contraindications:

1. The presence of cancer.
2. Age up to 18 years.
3. Previously diagnosed severe pathologies of the liver and kidneys.
4. Bloody discharge from the genital tract of unknown etiology.
5. Previous myocardial infarction or stroke.
6. Predisposition to thrombosis or diagnosed thrombosis.
7. Breastfeeding period.
8. Menopause.

Regardless of the presence or absence of a contraindication, before applying the Evra transdermal patch, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist.