Contraceptive Patches, a risky solution

**MaryJane** · November 13th, 2005, 09:20 AM

"US health officials warned that Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho Evra contraceptive patches contain much higher levels of estrogen than the oral pills and can cause the formation of blood clots.

According to a FDA statement (Food and Drug Administration), women who use Ortho Evra expose themselves to a level of estrogen 60% higher than those who use classic pills. In the same text it is said that the pills, which contain several variations with different hormone levels for use during one month, can contain a higher maximum amount of estrogen.

However, while at least half of the estrogen in a typical birth control pill does not get absorbed into a woman's bloodstream and it is expelled through the digestive system, in the case of the patch, all the estrogen enters the bloodstream.

According to the FDA, over the last years, out of the 4 million women trying the patch, 12 have lost their lives due to heart attacks and blood clots.

Ortho Evra, which releases synthetic estrogen and progestin hormones to prevent pregnancy, is currently the only brand on the market."

From SoftpediaNews

**misskris** · November 15th, 2005, 11:09 AM

I used the patch for three months. The first two months were fine but the last month, about two weeks in, I got the most horrible rash all over my body. Every part of me was soooo itchy it was terrible. The rash lasted for a week and a half too. I take normal birth control now (and did previous to using the patch) and I'm pretty glad that happened considering the worse things that could happen. This patch is bad news and I hope more people hear about it before it is too late for them.

**Tenaj** · November 15th, 2005, 11:17 AM

Personally I wouldn't use them myself not just from reading this thread. Where do you put them for a start? I wouldn't imagine it to look very attractive, would it not spoil the 'moment' to see this patch stuck on you? Can you go swimming etc, etc.

**moocow** · November 15th, 2005, 11:28 AM

I'm curious as to the health histories of the ones who died. I work with someone who had a stroke after taking yasmin briefly. Turns out that she had some sort of genetic disorder that caused pitting of the arteries. Then there are women who are from families with a history of clotting and stroke. Or the ones who smoke. So many factors.

The risk of death from the patch still seems to be significantly lower than the risk of death during pregnancy:

http://library.uchc.edu/bhn/cite/nyt/0906mat.html
From 1982 to 1996, the annual death rate of American women in childbirth remained at seven or eight per 100,000 live births.

Another stat:
In 1998 an extensive study published in the reputable Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showed that 106,000 people die each year in American hospitals from medication side effects (4).
http://www.healingdaily.com/conditio...-companies.htm

There are risks involved with every medication. I'm not trivializing the deaths - yes, it's a very small statistic, but those are real women who died. The thing is though, if you look at the occurrence, and compare to other statistics available, it isn't as bleak as it's made out to be.

**Antianeirai** · November 15th, 2005, 12:16 PM

I just took my patch off a week ago, It was for the most part a good experience because I always forgot to take my pill, but it is not tolerable to have any risk involved in birth control. It's not ok that 12 women died. How many people died last year from using condoms? Probably zero. If you decide to have a baby then you are taking a risk, fine, I can accept that. I already had one. But I don't think that I should take a risk by choosing not to have another one right now. "No One Ever Got a Blood Clot By Pulling Out"

**moocow** · November 15th, 2005, 12:25 PM

Condoms may not have similar risk factors, but they have a much higher risk of pregnancy. Considering that I could have easily died during pregnancy (hospitalized several times), I don't trivialize the risk of pregnancy.

Ideally, deaths aren't acceptable. However, how many medications have you tried in your life? Everything poses a risk. And just because a med works for you all your life doesn't mean you won't suddenly develop an allergy to it.

For you, having a baby might be a trivial risk. For others, it's too great a risk. And then if the birth control fails and a woman decides to have an abortion, it's another risk as well - complications during surgery can be bad.

Another statistic:
The risk of death from pulmonary embolism in oral contraceptive users was estimated at 10.5 deaths per 1 million woman-years, which is much higher than previous estimates, which had put the annual incidence at 1 or 2 per 10,000 women, with a fatality rate of only 1-2%.
http://www.mercola.com/2000/jun/24/b...trol_pills.htm

The pill manufacturers are trying to make their method appear safer. It's all about numbers and manipulating them to make a point. You can prove both sides of any debate with the same statistics, it's just how you prepare them.

**Algernon** · November 15th, 2005, 12:34 PM

"No One Ever Got a Blood Clot By Pulling Out"

**Antianeirai** · November 15th, 2005, 12:45 PM

Hey Moocow, you have a lot of time to spout statistics. Go the GWB way and prctice abstinance then.

**moocow** · November 15th, 2005, 12:50 PM

What are you, 12? It's scary that you might actually have a child that you'll pass on your "wisdom" to one day.

It doesn't take much time at all to do a search and find reputable sources.

Your saying that you don't get blood clots from pulling out is ignorant. You don't seem to understand the very real risks involved in getting pregnant. Or that for every medication you have a risk. A lot of meds have a much higher risk than the birth control patch.

No birth control method is best for everyone. I'm not telling anyone to take the patch. There is a lot of media coverage for it right now, and it certainly appears biased.

**Antianeirai** · November 15th, 2005, 01:11 PM

OK DumbCow, Lots of Medications have risks and side effects, but why should the government approve an optional drug that you don't need to save your life or improve your life, that also happens to harm some of the young, healthy women who take it. The death may only be 1-2% but how many serious complications also happen? Is that O.K.? maybe they should get the drugs up to par before distributing them to the public and have us act as the guinea pigs. Have you heard of Phen-Phen, Vioxx, and countless others that were only withdrawn after enough of the users had died?
Let me spell it out so that even somone like you, who obviously was born with limited falculties can understand...... They would not put aspirin and tylenol on the market if it killed 1 to 2 percent of the people who took it and caused serious complications in another 5%, that would be irresponsible. It seems like someone who is as stupid as you obviously are should keep her legs closed and not have children. I truly hope that you do not have a job where you are in charge of operating heavy machinery or caring for person or animal. BTW You really shouldn't tell me that I am ignorant for disagreeing with you, this is a message board not school, I can write whatever I please. Even if you don't like it.

**moocow** · November 15th, 2005, 01:14 PM

That is not 1-2% dying from using the patch. 12 out of 4 million is .000003

I can totally respect a difference of opinion. I have no problem with that. You went on the attack:

Hey Moocow, you have a lot of time to spout statistics. Go the GWB way and prctice abstinance then.

And you're doing it further. I back my opinions, yet you call me stupid. Whatever dear.

**Antianeirai** · November 15th, 2005, 01:16 PM

Have A Nice Day!

**muchlove** · November 15th, 2005, 01:19 PM

Watch it with the name calling and personal attacks, please ladies. There's no need for it, I think you're old enough to have a conversation without them.

**NoDayButToday** · November 15th, 2005, 02:30 PM

There isn't a single medication on the market, that I can think of, that is completely without risk. Patients are made aware of that risk and still choose to use that drug. There are a lot of women willing to take the risks associated with the patch, and that's fine-as long as they are aware of the risks.

Someone mentioned things like Vioxx that have been pulled from the marketplace. There are a very large amount of people that Vioxx was a lifesaver for. My mother is one of them. My mom has chronic pain, and has for the last 15 years. It used to be to the point where she could barely get out of bed. When Vioxx was added to her prescription cocktail that was the medication that made the difference and helped her to lead a healthy life. When they announced they were going to pull it from the market there was a RUSH on prescriptions because of all the people it helped. They are aware of the risks associated, but that drug gave them a much better quality of life than if they didn't have it. I'd be willing to take those risks if it meant I was able to get out of bed and live my life.

**slurikaine** · November 15th, 2005, 02:49 PM

Wow, this could get nasty. Anyways....

I took the patch for over a year. Never had a problem with it. My daughter was concieved while I was on the pill (no, I didn't miss a pill nor did I take any antibiotics-it just didn't work that well for me) after taking it for 4 months. However, I stopped applying the patch last October so that we could have our second baby and we have yet to accomplish that one. It's taken me this long to get all the hormones out of my system, and even now, I have cycles about 10 days longer each time than before I was on the patch.

Because of this, I will NEVER get back on the patch again. It's scary to me to know I had that much built up hormones in my body that it took over a year for them to all wear off. Looking back on it now, I think I'm damn lucky nothing happened to me and I would definately tell people to really think about it before going on the patch.