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The Contraceptive Patch
This is a small square stick-on patch, impregnated with the hormones oestrogen and progestogen which are slowly released through the skin. You stick it onto your bottom, stomach or upper body and change it once a week for three weeks. On the fourth week, you don't wear a patch.
The patch works by preventing ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary) and thickening the mucus around the neck of the womb, making it difficult for sperm to enter.
If you put your first patch on the first day of your period, it will be effective for the remainder of that monthly cycle. If you put your first one on at any other time of the month, you need to use additional contraception, such as a condom and spermicide for the first 7 days.
If you miss your patch-change day by more than 2 days, you need to start a new four-week patch cycle.
Some women will have side effects when they first start wearing the patch, but usually these subside after about 12 weeks. They can include bleeding between periods, headaches and breast tenderness.
How effective is the contraceptive patch compared to other methods?
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