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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffOrtho Evra is a contraceptive patch for women that contains the hormones estrogen and progestin. To use Ortho Evra, you apply the small patch to your skin once a week for three weeks. On the fourth week, you don't use a patch — which allows menstruation to occur.
Similar to combination birth control pills, Ortho Evra prevents pregnancy by releasing hormones into your bloodstream. Ortho Evra suppresses ovulation — keeping your ovaries from releasing an egg. Ortho Evra also thickens cervical mucus to keep sperm from reaching the egg.
Ortho Evra is the only contraceptive patch that's approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. To use Ortho Evra, you'll need a prescription from your health care provider. Ortho Evra doesn't offer protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- Schorge JO, et al. Contraception and sterilization. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3151449. Accessed Sept. 30, 2009.
- Frequently asked questions: Birth control methods. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/birth-control-methods.pdf. Accessed Sept. 30, 2009.
- Burkman RT. Transdermal hormonal contraception: Benefits and risks. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2007;197:134.
- Cole JA, et al. Venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, and stroke among transdermal contraceptive system users. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2007;109:339.
- Ortho Evra (prescribing information). Raritan, N.J.: Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc.; 2009. http://www.orthoevra.com/shared/pi/OrthoEvraPI.pdf. Accessed Sept. 30, 2009.
- Jick SS, et al. The risk of unintended pregnancies in users of the contraceptive patch compared to users of oral contraceptives in the UK General Practice Research Database. Contraception. 2009;80:142.
- Birth control. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/ab020.cfm. Accessed Sept. 25, 2009.
- Zieman M. Overview of contraception. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 30, 2009.
- Nanda K. Contraceptive patch and vaginal contraceptive ring. In: Hatcher RA, et al. Contraceptive Technology. 19th ed. New York, N.Y.: Ardent Media Inc.; 2007:271.
- Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 4, 2009.
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