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The birth control patch works in exactly the same way as other hormone based birth control methods, such as the pill. The patch contains low amounts of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in a form that are able to permeate your skin at a slow and predictable rate. This patch concept has been in use for some years already, made popular with nicotine replacement and pain management therapies.
By using the birth control patch, you are introducing the hormones into your body at a slow and constant rate, as opposed to the pill which operates a bit like a roller coaster ride. For this reason, the birth control patch is slightly less notorious for the side effects that the pill is known for. This isn’t to say that the birth control patch doesn’t have side effects; indeed it suffers from the same drawbacks as the pill, but the side effects are for many people more mild and less noticeable.
Most birth control patches available only have to be replaced once a week. Having to put on a patch once a week instead of taking a pill everyday is the main reason women turn to the patch. They are usually fairly small, and can be placed on a number of different areas of your body. They are waterproof, and are designed to stay on until you forcibly remove them.
Like all other forms of hormone based birth control, using the birth control patch does increase your risk of heart related problems. It does so typically by boosting your blood pressure, so if you are otherwise perfectly healthy an elevated blood pressure won’t have any adverse effects on you. However, if you already suffer from a high blood pressure, any heart related disorders, or are a smoker, use of the birth control patch could be risky. The birth control patch is not more risky than taking the pill, getting injections, or using any other hormone based method. If you are interested in trying the birth control patch, you should talk to your doctor.
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