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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffOrtho Evra is used to prevent pregnancy. Ortho Evra has some advantages over other types of birth control:
- It eliminates the need to interrupt sex for contraception or seek partner compliance
- It doesn't require daily attention
- It provides a steady dose of hormones
- It can be removed at any time, allowing for a quick return to fertility
Ortho Evra isn't appropriate for everyone, however. Your health care provider may recommend against using Ortho Evra if you:
- Are age 35 or older and smoke
- Have chest pain or a history of heart attack, stroke or severe high blood pressure
- Have a history of blood clots
- Have a history of breast, uterine or liver cancer
- Weigh more than 198 pounds (90 kilograms)
- Have liver disease, migraines with aura, or diabetes-related complications of the kidneys, eyes, nerves or blood vessels
- Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Developed yellowing of the whites of the eyes or of the skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or previous use of hormonal contraceptives
- Are about to be immobilized for a prolonged period due to major surgery
- Are sensitive to any components of Ortho Evra
In addition, tell your health care provider if you:
- Are breast-feeding or recently gave birth, had a miscarriage or an abortion
- Have breast lumps, fibrocystic disease, an abnormal mammogram or a family history of breast cancer
- Have epilepsy, diabetes, or gallbladder, liver, heart or kidney disease
- Have high cholesterol or triglycerides
- Have irregular periods
- Have depression
- Have skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema
References
- Birth control methods fact sheet. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/birth-control-methods.cfm. Accessed Nov. 9, 2012.
- Ortho Evra (prescribing information). Raritan, N.J.: Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc.; 2012. http://www.orthoevra.com/fullprescribeinfo.html. Accessed Nov. 14, 2012.
- Zieman M. Overview of contraception. http://www.uptodate.com/home/. Accessed Nov. 9, 2012.
- Hatcher RA, et al. Contraceptive Technology. 20th ed. New York, N.Y.: Ardent Media; 2011:343.
- Burkman RT. Transdermal contraceptive patch. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 14, 2012.
- Dore DD, et al. Extended case-control study results on thromboembolic outcomes among transdermal contraceptive users. Contraception. 2010;81:408.
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