How To Use It

Putting on the contraceptive patch

You put the contraceptive patch on an area of clean, dry hairless skin that's unlikely to get rubbed against tight clothing.

This could be the top of your arm or back, your bottom or your tummy.

You use 3 patches each month.

To use contraceptive patches correctly:

wear the 1st patch for 7 days before taking it off and putting on the 2nd patch
wear the 2nd patch for 7 days before taking it off and putting on the 3rd patch
wear the 3rd patch for 7 days before taking it off
have 7 days with no patch - you may have a bleed during your patch free week
after 7 days, put on a new patch - this is the 1st patch of your new cycle

Starting the contraceptive patch

If you start using the contraceptive patch between the 1st and 5th day of your period you should be protected against pregnancy straight away.

Speak to a doctor or nurse for advice if you want to start the patch after the 5th day of your period.

Speak to a pharmacist, doctor or nurse if you're already using hormonal contraception and are thinking of starting the contraceptive patch. You may need to use condoms for some time to make sure you're protected against pregnancy.

How well the contraceptive patch works

When used correctly all the time, the contraceptive patch is more than 99% effective.

If not used correctly, it's 91% effective and about 9 in 100 women will get pregnant in a year. Incorrect use includes things like forgetting to put a new patch on at the right time.

If a contraceptive patch comes loose or you forget to replace it

What to do if a contraceptive patch comes off or you forget to replace it depends on where you are in your 28-day patch cycle and when it came off or was due to be replaced.

Talk to a pharmacist, doctor or nurse, to find out what to do, or read the information leaflet that comes in your contraceptive patch pack.

Find the contraceptive patch's patient information leaflet online by searching for the name of your patch in the medicines A to Z on the eMC website

You may need emergency contraception. Speak to a pharmacist, sexual health clinic, or GP or call 111 for advice as contraceptive patches can affect how some emergency contraception works.

Contact a sexual health clinic or pharmacist for advice if your patches keep coming loose. They can check you're putting them on correctly.

Medicines and herbal remedies that affect the contraceptive patch

Some medicines and herbal remedies can affect how the contraceptive patch works. The patch may not work properly to stop you getting pregnant.

You may need to use another type of contraception.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice before using the contraceptive patch if you take medicine to treat TB (tuberculosis), epilepsy or HIV.

You should also ask for advice if you take griseofulvin (an antifungal medicine), lamotrigine (a mood stabiliser), bosentan (a high blood pressure medicine) or St John's wort (a herbal remedy).

Sexual Health Advice

Throughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:

	This item was in brought to you association with NHS website. Follow the links above for more information and don't forget to check out OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health which features items on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. This week our topic is: L - Lung Cancer.
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