I am 18 and decided to use the patch becouse of being in college and having a busy life i would forget to do the pill. I have had a very hard time with the patch. my fuiance thinks that its making me very moody, and i was very moody with out the patch to begin with, and it has increased that. my boob size has went from a 32 b to a 36 c in the last month, and after i had my first off patch i just now got my period three days later. oh and the firs two weeks on the patch all i wanted to do was eat and sleep (i slept alot but tried not to eat cuz i already gain ten ponds from being in college and i don't need anymore) I'm thinking of switching to the shot but i don't know if everything will get worse. ever since i have put on this patch it has felt like i have been on my period for a whole month. I'm not trying to get anyone not to use the patch actually i think its way better than the pill, but for me i think i will be switching soon. the only plus to this patch is that i got bigger boobs lol.

At first, i was a bit apprehensive about starting on the patch. I was on the injection a little under a year, which was terrible for me. I bled (only a little) every day for almost the year, so I was really happy and relieved when the patch stopped that, the very same day i put it on! the reason i was apprehensive was because i was worried about how it would work, would it work properly on me etc, but a week after getting it off my doctor i sucked it up and slapped it on! and its working great so far!

Im due to have a break tomorrow, so im expecting to have the first proper period tomorrow/tuesday. One thing people might have a thing about is how dirty it gets. Its not dirt as in unclean, its fibres from your clothes that make it look dark around the edges. For example, youd probably get more fluff/fibres if you wore the patch on your butt, than if you wore it say...on your lower abdomen. This isnt a huge problem for me.

I was also worried about it staying on, during showering/bathing etc, but i was pleasantly surprised when i took a 30/40 minute bath and it didnt come off! depending on how often you shower or submerse it in water, it is quite durable.

One thing people dont like is that "it makes me put on weight" ... well this ISNT true. My nurse actually told me it increases your appetite, as with any extra hormones, but its down to YOUU what extra food you eat! if you stuff your face with chips and pizza all day then complain about weight gain, then you havent got a leg to stand on against someone who eats a healthy balanced diet. I did experience the appetite increase, it made me want to just eat like a pig, but after a week or so you hardly notice, and learn to ignore it.. :D

Another thing is moodyness, which i can say i havent gotten. Sometimes im a pretty grumpy person in general, but this has never been anything to do with the contraception i use. (personal issues :P)
Some other people claim to get more spots, which i can say i havent gotten either! which is awsome.

Another plus about the patch is that you can plan holidays etc around your period, because you should be able to predict the exact week your on a break. I find this extremely handy myself!

Altogether, i havent had any side effects from the patch just yet, but then again this is only my third week.
I didnt experience many side effects, and would definately recommend for someone looking for a more convenient method of contraception.
If it doesnt work for you, move on and try something else, but its definately worth a try, because if it does work its great!

I lost alot of Hair using this patch after just weeks of using it needless to say I'm not using it anymore after having to cut my hair really off really short.

The patch made me fat and psycho!!! Whilst on it, I ate uncontrollably which led to my 10 lb weight gain..I was constantly feeling tired, week and lazy...I was always angry, sad and depressed...The minute I got off it, I returned to sanity...I guess it works differently for everyone. Unfortunately for me, it was poison.

I have no proof and no one except my boyfriend believes me but after i started the patch i began getting migrating muscle pains, it was worst in my right leg and buttock cheek where i was usually sticking the patch, but the pain was moving all over the place and got to the point where i could barely even walk. I finally decided it must be the patch causing it as i'd never had any pain like this before in my life and i'm a healthy 21 year old. now i have stopped using the patch i still get pain in the same places, getting gradually better and worse depending on my time of month. It's been around 3 months since i stopped taking it and i'm hoping the pain will go away eventually because it is so stressful and stops me doing normal things; even walking up a flight of stairs is difficult. I have had numerous blood tests and they can't find anything wrong with me apart from a raised CRP level which means i have some sort of inflamation- yeah, muscle inflamation!!! i dont think doctors like admitting what they prescribed me is causing this. maybe i had a rare reaction to it and has caused other issues but i would not recommend this to anyone, ever. if anyone has had a similar reaction please let me know, i feel like im going crazy!

I have been on the patch for 6 and 1/2 years. I have had no side effects. Sometimes when a patch is removed the skin is tender for the day. I have had my patch come off two times over the years. once i was able to put it right back on the other time i replaced it and got an extra one from the doctor the next day to replace the one i used. You have to remember it is going to come off if you don't watch what you do to it. It is so easy to use, I love it. I go to the beach and swimming and never have any issues. It is best to wear it where it is going to be covered most of the time, it is a little tricky to clean if you get it dirty, just like a band-aid. My sex drive stayed the same, my periods are lighter and shorter.

"The Patch" Ortho Evra

I liked it because I have a very bad memory but it was bad because it would always fold up on the sides and get fibers from my pants of shirts caught in it, it would fall off in the shower, and the worst part was THEY LEAVE SCARS i have normal skin and I've talked to others using it. After you take it off, and get rid of that sticky stuff it leaves behind forever, if you look there is a square scar on the skin. I've had 4 friends along with me who have this problem. Not suggested because you look like your a smoker with a patch trying to quit, it get stuck to everything, and worst it leaves marks on your skin that you can't get rid of.

If you're lazy, forgetful, and a skinny bone like me...take it. Firstly, I have way too much responsibility to be thinking if I forgot to take my BC pill or not. I tried the first two years of my life and pretty much butchered the whole system of taking it. I did very well first few days of taking the pill daily and at the same time of the day but then I'd forget and by doing that it defeated the whole purpose of being on birth control in the first place. I was on birth control to regulate my period and not get pregnant of course skipping pills didn't help regulate my periods at all and the possibility of getting pregnant was high.

So my doctor suggested the patch. Believe me I remember to change it because it gets pretty dirty on the corners and that's just not a pretty site for the person you're trying to turn on to see. I mean their eyes lite up as they are checking you out from top bottom but as soon as they see that ugly looking and dirty patch IT GOES DOWN. Good suggestion tho, have it in the dark....;) or simply keep your patch clean. Yes it does leave a nasty square mark but you can usually cover it up by placING it on there again just make sure it lines up to your own square. I don't change it cause i rather have one scarred up square patch mark then two....and yes it eventually goes away. hopefully..........

I also gained about 10 pounds which was always difficult for me to do. My skinniness kinda runs in the genes. I always wanted to donate plasma to make extra cash cause I'm a poor college student struggling to pay for my birth control. sex is important to me so basically i pay to have safe sex I should interpret. anyways you had to be 110 lbs to donate plasma...before the patch I was only 104 lbs but w the patch now I got boobs!!!! which is always a plus since I was flat chested all my life......so more for the bedroom now lol. And my sister who used to call my boobs mosquito bites has now shut up for good so I guess that says something. But I kinda miss being called a skinny ass...

I GOT NICE CURVES...AND i LIKE IT BETTER THAT WAY...RATHER THAN LOOKING LIKE A PRETTY TEENAGE BOY. I worry THE WEIGHT WILL ADD ON BUT LETS HOPE MY GENES DEFEATS THE WEIGHT GAIN FROM THE PATCH. or i get off my lazy butt to exercise.

I was on the patch for two years before my healthcare ran out... I am trying out the Nuva Ring now, but it is certainly something I will use again if not satisfied with the ring. I was very active during the duration of the use of the patch. It stayed put very well on my pubis (where I always had it), however I tried to wear it on my butt and I kept pulling it off with my pants! The great things about it were I alwats knew where it was. It cleared up my skin, it regulated my period (one day of spotting and 4 days of bleeding) It significantly lessened bloating, heavy flow, pain, and nausea that I normally experience during my period. The only downsides were that it was always surrounded by a black sticky goo after a shower, and there were minor abrasions around the corners of the patch from sitting. I switched sides of my pubis weekly to lessen this... after stopping the patch it took a few months for the minor abrasions and irritation to heal completely. Also in my second year of the patch I gained close to 25 lbs., this may not have been entirely the patch as I was dealing with the death of my mother, going to college, decreased exercise, and minimally more junk food. Overall I was satisfied with the patch and would recommend it to others and use it again myself.

I have been on ortho evra for about 5 months now. i was previously taking the depo shots, and had no period for a whole year and a half...so the only complaint about the patch is that i have my period back. uhg.

I place the patch on the inside of my pelvic bone and switch sides every week. It never slips or comes off, just gets a little crease where my skin bends when i sit down.

I have not had any side effects, unlike with the the shot...the shot made me moody, emotional, and very tired all of the time...also depressed a lot of the time. with ortho evra i have a normal-unhormonal feeling life. =)

i recomend trying ortho evra if you are looking for a new BC method.

Hello girls, i have been on the pill for the last 3 years, yasmine to be more precise. i just wanted to try something new and easy to use and i found this patch. first of all it caused me skin allergies and itching. second of all i was bleeding for 15 days continuouse and third of all i have never been that moody, crazy, depressed and out of my minds!!! thank God there is this website and i can read so many reviews, i chilled out now!! i want to mention that all the time that i was on it, for 1 month i was crying almost daily and getting so anxiouse and mad, once i even smashed a bottle of pills on the wall, just like that and started to shout and make histeria crises in front of my boyfriend. for a while i really thought there is smth so wrong with me but now i can definetly blame it on this horrible patch!!! for me it just didn't work and i will definetly return to the classical and no side effects for me- the pill!!! my doctor keep saying that every woman is different and that apparently he recommended this patch cuz it has less side effects, but i am sure that even if it worked so well on some of u, it is NOT healthy and advisable to take it!!! thank u for writing these reviews, i feel much better after reading all of them and with this i hope i can prevent someone else of smashing some pills on the wall, LOL!!!

I have been on the patch for a year. I don't listen to positive reviews that have only used it for a month or two. So far it has been great for me. When I first started using it it was difficult to find the best spot to place it...a spot where it doesn't get rubbed by clothing or is best consealed. Beacuse once you stick it on, it's there for a week. The best spot for me is on the butt where it can still be hidden in a bikini. Like other reviews, it does collect a little ring of lint (which I hate) but I would definitely say its worth it being that I haven't had any major side affects. A few years ago I had tried to use the pill but it made me extremely nauseous after a week so I stopped and I probably wouldn;t have been good at remembering to take it daily.

I have been a little more depressed than before I started using the patch but that is a common side affect and a risk you take with any birth control method. Although, no doubt it has a lot to do with my boyfriend and I being in the military and we're apart for months and months at a time, anything can contribute to that like stress or other things. I do find the patch unattractive and brought that up to my boyfriend but he said it doesn't bother him at all so I try to not let it bother me. Sometimes I catch him feeling me up to check that it's still there so I definitely know he likes the confirmation of it being there. We both love the fact he doesn't have to use a condom. I like the fact that you're still in control of it and can remove it whenever you need to (such as decide to have a child or have any side effect issues). That's not the case with methods such as the shot. My skin is a little sensitive so it does tend to be a little red/irritated after you remove a patch but I switch sides every week so one side doesn't get all the attention.

I've read a lot of reviews and I've heard the same pros and cons throughout all birth control methods. Each woman reacts differently to each method so I can't say confidently whether I would recommend the patch or a certain method for YOU. It may take you a few trial and error runs to find the right one but once you do I would stick with it. The only reason I have recently considered trying another method is because I used to live on the north eastern coast where the air is dry....but a few months ago I've been transferred to the south which is extremely hot and humid. Because of that I've had issues with the patch staying in place. Maybe the adhesive melts or something, I don't know haha. But the directions say to reconsider your method if it moves around or doesn't stay on and I can't afford worrying about it not being as effective as possible. That's caused me to do my research. I may try the NuvaRing but haven't decided completely since the patch has been so effective.

Happy hunting, I hope you find the right hormonal balance :D

I have been using the patch for over a year now, i was previously on dianette and another brand of pill which i can't remember the name of.. both of these made my skin awful and also i forgot to take them sometimes. Then my friend told me about the patch and it really is the best type of contraception for me. Yes i have gained a couple of pounds and i am cranky sometimes, and yes I sometimes cry over nothing, but which type of contraception doesn't do that? All pills, patches and implants work because of the hormones released from them, and these extra hormones are obviously going to affct your moods etc...

i change my patch every thursday and on the third thursday (when i take it off and don't put another one on as i need a week off for my'period), i always start my period on the saturday.. every sinle month which is great as i know exactly when to expect it!

However, i do suffer from a lot of discharge but i'm going to my doctors about this as it could be to do with alot of other reasons such as yeast infections, std's and B.V.

anyway, remember that just because it works for me doesn't mean it will work for everybody, as there are also some bad reviews about the patch.

I used the patch for almost a year. It is mostly convenient, and comfortable. I had a bit of mood swings. My boyfriend recalls better than I do how crazy I became. =P

My biggest issue, that I have yet to see mentioned is the fact that it DOES NOT STAY PUT WELL ENOUGH. I like to shower daily. And there is the occasional bath. I mean, I mostly kept the thing on my butt. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Well, it fell off. A lot. I figured, since I sit on my ass sort of often that it would stick best there. It doesn't. And it gets dirty, because washing it causes it to fall off. Lint from my jeans constantly stuck to it. Not very attractive.

If you can get the thing to stay put, I highly recommend this crap.

I've had absolutely no problems. I gained a little bit of weight, but it wasn't really something that bothered me. I haven't hadn't any bad side effects or anything either. My sex drive definitely hasn't suffered either. :D

I've been taking Ortho Evra patches for over a year and I must say it is the best birth control I've ever taken. I used to be a chain smoker and would have no symptoms at all. Also, I haven't gained weight and my periods arrive 3 days after I removed my third week patch. This is awesome!

In the past I've taken the Depo Shot and I would get my period randomly. At least with the Ortho Evra patches your period is almost always guaranteed when you take off your third week supply of patches.

I hope this helped

I have a bleeding disorder and was on about every other birth control you could think of just to stop my periods at one point I was on the pill every 8 hours AND taking straight estrogen in conjunction with the pill. As I am sure any woman can imagine...this made me sooooo incredibly sick... I tried the Deppo shot and was rushed to the hospital from severe abdominal pain I had to undergo several tests and the shot was determined to be the problem and I was bedridden for over a week and then my period started and lasted the last two months I was on it. I went to a new doctor and they were ready to consider a hysterectomy at the age of 17 because they couldn't regulate it. I am now on the patch with the normal dosage and no extra estrogen. It is amazing...I just break out a little from the adhesive but it is worth it to not have a ridiculously heavy period 24/7. But from other stories I don't know if I would recommend it for everyone. It works fine for me because my blood doesn't clot, but I have heard several reports of it causing blood clots in normal people. But it has been a gift from God for me, and the doctors now believe that I will be able to have children now. I couldn't be happier. =)

I have been on the ortho patch(birth control) for almost 3 months. I have been experiencing severe chest pain, shortness of breath and dizziness. I had such severe shortness of breath and chest pain, i thought it was my asthma, I was rushed to the hospital. After reviewing more cases of side effects, its been determined that the ortho patch is what causing my symptoms. As of today, I have taken off my ortho patch. I donot recommend this birth control.

I have been on the patch for over a year and I have had no real problems with it. It has stayed in place,  and it has been effective most of all. I do occasionally get some lint that gets around it but it is just like a band-aid so it is no big deal especially since I wear it on my hip. I did not have any side effects and it made my period really regular, to the day actually. No irregular moodiness or anything like that. It is very convenient since you only have to change it once a week. I recommend it, but every woman is different so that is something to keep in mind.

If a dude is small enough for a patch....he is probably incapable of  getting a woman pregant anyway.

I have been on the ortoevra for 3 years its been okay but recently i totally forgot to take my patch at the end of the third week. and I continue to use it. I have not had my period can I be pregnant

I would rate this patch a zero. Ladies stay clear away!!! It ruined my life. I tried it out because I thought it was great since I hated taking pills. I was on it for 2 months when I started getting very bad chest pains. One day my fiance rushed me to the hospital, because my chest hurt so bad I couldn't breathe and almost passed out. I screamed and cried in pain. When at the hospital, I found out through a CT of the chest that I had bi-lateral pulmonary embolisms in my lungs (blood clots) I was hospitalized for over a week. I was put on blood thinners for alomost a year and had to have my blood drawn for test twicw a week. It ruined my life. I developed anxiety from the thought of nearly dying and suffer from depression. I have never had any health issues before and was very athletic. I was suprised when the doctors and nurses in the hospital told me they see this alot and would not touch the birth control patch witha 10 foot pole. Please believe everything you hear. I can't believe something like this happened to me. It can happen to you. Research the cases online. So many young girls have died from this patch. It is not worth it. Take a pill. it is much safer. Your life is too important. I am missing out on so much because of my newfound health problems.

I have been on the patch for several months now. Prior to using the patch I had been using the pill. I prefer the patch over the pill. The patch is so much easier to remember to put on. It didn't cause me any side effects and I feel the exact same as when I was taking the pill. I felt that the pill was a hassle because I was having to do that daily. There are some downfalls to the patch though. 1. the sides of the patch do collect lint and it does wrinkle. 2. it does look unattractive. But I would prefer an unattractive patch on the bum than a pill everyday anyways! It's so much easier and it's just as effective!

i am 17 years old and i have been on the patch four weeks now and i love it the only sideeffects i have had is realy bad breast tenderness and brown spotting wich they said is normal other than that is has been great!!!! this is my third method of birth control i have used just condomes and got pregnant that didnt work so i got on deppo (the shot) and thatmade me sick mean and i gained 50 pounds on it i was also always upset and moodey and i would bleed like crazy were talking 2 pads an hour! then it was the nuva ring wich is horrible it i awkward putting it in and then it falls out i couldnt keep mine in!!!!! lol i sneezed and it came out and when i had sex it got hooked on the penis realy emberissing and horrible lol butg the patch has been a godsend for me i would recomend it to anyone but IT DOES MAKE YOUR BOOBS HURT AND HOT FLASHES! but with the people talking about being moody who doesnt get mody when you get your period or have cramps come on now but i love it and it is so simple to use and if you don't mess with it it won't come off even after you swim and bathe because i take showers evety day twice a day and it doent bother me i have found the best spot to put it is on us butt i did have it on my arm but everyone asked if it was a nicotene patch lol but again out of 10 i rate it a 9 and the reason not a ten is because my boobs hurt lol

I've been on the patch 2 weeks--so far I love it except for the fact it wrinkles on me and I can't seem to make that stop...worried that it's making it less effective! Only had a tiny bit of nausea on the first day or two, however did get leg cramps at night but I've been dealing with those my whole life so it wasn't unusual. I was on the ring for 4 months before this, it was HORRIBLE!!!! Mood swings galore! I almost killed my fiance and friends for no reason...It ruined my honeymoon. I didn't want to have sex at all-before the wedding thought it was because I was stressed, but it didn't go away! Didn't even want to be touched on my honeymoon. Snapped all the time. It constantly fell down and I always felt it, didn't even think about having sex when it was in-super painful!
I have felt SOOO much better since being on the patch. Mood swings are gone, my libido is still lower than it used to be, but it is there now! I want to know how many other people had their patch wrinkle on them and then got pregnant?

I have been on the patch for 2 years now and I have no issues. Just got to be careful where you put it. I am forgetful so it works great as I only have to change it once a week.

i was on the patch for nearly 6 months, and i was miserably sick the first day and my knees went weak and i threw up at school, then i got over that, and thought that it was fine. but i was utterly miserable the entire time i was on it, i was easy to upset, weepy, and mad the entire time. i was severely depressed and unhappy, and the scariest part was that i didn't notice that it was happening to me. I forgot to refill my prescription for a few weeks (i wasn't having sex so i figured it didn't matter), and the cursed patch was off of me, and i slowly regained my personality, and could have fun and be happy- and i looked back and realized i'd been miserable since the patch-- i never went back on it, and do not even consider doing so. i don't recommend the patch to ANYONE, they're ugly and collect a ring of lint that stays with you for a week or more, and they're embarrassing when they show, but worst of all- they make you miserable.

i am a young woman in college. i have a serious boyfriend, and we have sex. but, neither of us are ready for children! we both have such bright futures ahead of us, and we have much we want to do before having a child.

we are very careful, and always use condems. i am also on orthoevra, because i have trouble swallowing pills, even little ones. but, lately, i have been having trouble with the patch.

a   few months ago, i began noticing that, after i removed the patch, it took several days for my period to come. even though this seems to happen everytime, i always worry that i may be pregnant. i worry for days and days. a few times, if we had trouble with the condem, or if the patch fell off mid-week, i have even been so worried that i have boughten preganacy tests!

it is currently that time of the month again, and yet AGAIN, my period has not come yet. i am worried! i think i will switch to the pill, and struggle to swallow it, as this has got to be better than constant worry.

does anyone else have this problem???

any suggestions? besides stop having sex?

HELLO, I BEEN USING THE PATCH FOR 4 YEARS AND I LIKE IT SO FAR. IT HAS BEEN 2 WEEKS THAT I DONT USE IT AND I FEEL THAT MY LIBIDO CAME BACK. NOW THAT I AM OFF THE PATCH I AM MORE SEXUALY ACTIVE!!!!....IS ANYONE IN THE SAME POSITION?

I am just wondering something very important???!!!!! Has ANYONE ever used the ortho evra patch and then after taking it have not been able to get pregnant????? I have 2 little girls now. But after my 2nd child over 3 years ago I started using the patch. Now for 2 years I have not been able to get pregnant. I used to be very fertile but now no matter what I do I cannot get pregnant. Does the patch cause cysts on ovaries??????????

i have been on the patch for one week and I have to say, i love it. for the people who have been getting sick after like two days, ortho evra isnt for you. just try a different kind of birth control. it doesnt mean that orthoevra suckss, its just every single girl is different(: it isnt itchy to me at all because i dont touch it at all. and it is in a spot where no clothing articles rub against it. when i took it off, it wasnt even red like some people say theirs was. but i think that ortho evra isnt right for them. maybe you guys should discuss with your gyno what the best possible birth control is for you?
and true, it does leave a sticky mark, but just wash it off! i havent gained any weight (but its only been a week) and my sex drive is just as good as it has ever been(: but then again, I am in love(: haha.
the only bad thing about ortho evra for me is that one day i got really really really upset and i cryed when i was sad, happy, excited and everythinggg. but it only happened on one dayy. but i have learned to control myself and i honestly think its made me a better person(:
so yeahh. discuss with your doctor what birth control method is best for you because ortho evra isnt best for every girl(:

I was on the patch for 2 years and i loved it.

Just curiously, I keep getting e-mails about the 400 and some cases against ortho evra that are being brought to court due to patients having health problems, such as blood clots. Do they have a chance to win because I was notified by my doctor and even on the commercials that state it may cause blood clots. I am just confused by that. Are they liable even though they have it noted on the instructions (side effects) and the doctors are suppose to inform us? Is the doctor's fault too?

My old Gyno moved away and my new one doesn't prescribe the patch. I am bummed! I am now trying the Nuvaring, but it seems like it will be awkward and get in the way. I work as a firefighter and can't possibly imagine having a life structured enough to take a pill at the same time every day! I can't even get my vitamins straight! And when traveling? Forget the pill, I need something that lasts longer and is LOW maintenance. I planned a patch change one morning a week and put an extra one in my away bag just in case. The routine was easy and simple.

The patch cause me NO SIDE EFFECTS AT ALL, unless you count more regular periods and fewer cramps as "side effects". I had no problem placing the patch low enough on my buttock to be invisible even in lowriser jeans. It took a little practice, but I eventually found the "sweet spot." When I placed the patch, I would make sure the patch adhered well right when I put it on, I never had any sliding issues, but the edges did tend to collect a little lint as they were sometimes sticky. At removal, I cleaned off the residue in the shower with a washcloth and switched sides every week to let one side dry. No problems whatsoever. with losing patches or having them fall off.

I also experimented with my shoulder/back in the wintertime, but in California I like wearing sleeveless shirts too much to allow that, so back to the backside! I was a little self conscious around my boyfriend because my butt is one of the attributes of me he enjoys looking at, but he said it didn't bother him at all. (I think the physical verification of safety actually relaxed him a bit.)

The patch is a good idea, but i live in Florida, and i thought it looked tacky when people could see half of it on the top line of my bathing suit. Also it slide around and the corners would come off. When you eventually took it off, the skin underneath would stick because you havent bathed that spot for a week.

Women have died because they can cause blood clots. There was a huge settlement. I use it for a week and had trouble keeping it on.

I don't recommend the patch for anyone sensitive to hormonal birth control; when I first went on it I had severe nausea and cramping for 2 days, so much so that my boyfriend was going to take me to the hospital for fear of dehydration and because I was in so much pain. Once I got through the inital period, it was a little better, but I still experienced mood swings, increased cramping during my period, and migraines whenever I would remove the patch to have my period. Also, the patch would tend to slide around during travel and sometimes after exercising, which made me worry about its efficacy. Overall I think it's a good idea, but they need to cut back on the hormone levels in the patch.

SO ANNOYING! I used it once and took it off a month later. It looks unattractive. It itches like crazy. and after taking a shower the sides start to peel off. and then after you take it off you have a beautiful outline of it on your bottom  :)

i completely agree with you! The first time i got on it, i got sooo sick, i was mostly nauseated, so i took it off, then about 3 weeks later, i tried it again, and i've been on it for a week, but its been HELL, i was extremely dizzy, weak, body went numb, major headachs, sweating, and trouble breathing, and could Not sleep at all!!, and oddly, all of these symptoms only happened at night! I thought these symptoms would go away within a couple of days, but it seems like its just getting worse and worse, so today i took it off for good, and even tho i just took it off a couple of hours ago, im still going through some of these symptoms, but they are not as Bad as they were when the patch was on.

Im completely DONE with the patch, its Not worth it!

  UGGHHH hooooorrriiibllleee!

Tried it for a few days...landed in the hospital with uncontrollable vomiting....NEVER AGAIN!

I got SO SICK only a couple days after putting on the patch. I got extremely dizzy, nauseous, and weak. I was sweating and having trouble breathing. As soon as I took it off, my symptoms started clearing up within hours. I would never recommend it to anyone!

i have used the patch for years now. last time i was waiting on my period the entire week before hand i was crampy and blood tinged mucous. when my perion did come it only lasted for 3 days. NEVER before....usually 6 days full blown....is this normal??

I have been on the patch for a little over 4 years now. At first I loved it, it has been the only hormonal birth control I have tried. Yeah at first I got sick and such but that went away. My periods are alot lighter and regular, I have lost about 20 lbs but that could also be from eating better and exercising more. In the last year I have noticed I get emotional and cry over the dumbest things, I have also had break-through bleeding around the time of putting on my 3rd patch three times in the past 7 months. Not to mention ZERO sex drive to the point that the thought of sex grosses me out, Thank Goodness my fiancee completly understands and it has not cause a whole lot of relationship problems. Everything except the break through bleeding has been an issue the past 2 or 3 years and I never really put it all together that it could be the patch. I love convienence but Im SICK of the side effects, I am going in for my yearly exam next week and I am switching!! Im just so scared I will gain weight..

I'm only on my 2nd week of the patch and I'm so over it! I thought the patch was the perfect answer - I only was supposed to think about birth control once a week. Hmmm, not so much. Instead, I'm thinking about birth control almost hourly as a scratch away at the "itchy spot" all week long. After reading all the other reviews it's no wonder I've been feeling fat the past couple of weeks. I know I'm a sucker for Halloween candy, but common, 5 lbs in two weeks??? I'll set an alarm in every room of my house to help me remember to take "the pill." 1 kid down, 2 to go, there has to be an easier way!!!

ok for starters I used the patch for3 day and I start having morning sickness it made me think I was pregant I will be coming back in 6 months to see how this is going and I will make sure I tell yal my results then

I've been on the Patch now for about 5 months now, and my only complaint is the ridiculous weight gain.  I have now gained about 10 pounds, fluctuating a little, but overall steadily gaining weight, and I've also had an increased appetite too.  It didn't occur to me that it was because of the patch until I had to leave it off for 2 weeks.  In those 2 weeks I lost a little over 5 pounds and had a drastic decrease in my appetite.  The week that the patch went back on I regained the appetite and the weight!  Other than that, none of the horrible side effects at all!  Of course you'll get the black ring around the patch from the adhesive, but it's not the end of the world because no one will see it.  The other good thing about the patch is that I've had shorter and lighter periods with almost no cramps when I start my period, where as before the patch I would be in the fetal position and popping Ibuprofen constantly the day I was to start my period, followed by a pretty heavy period.  I did all this to regulate my period for my wedding next year, but because of the steady weight gain I'm worried my dress won't fit!!  So now I'm debating on whether or not to ditch the patch and deal with a period on my wedding day!!

I have been on Ortho Evra for about 4.5 years now. At this point, I am experiencing break-thru bleeding during Patch 2. My OB/GYN recommended that I make the switch to Nuvaring as many young women in their 20's have been loving it. I'm about 80% sure I'll make the switch, but I realize that once I go off of the patch, if I ever want to go back on - I'll have to deal with the beginning side effects (horrible nausea/morning sickness for about a month). I honestly love the patch, however, it has been the only method of birth control that I've tried.

If you're weight conscious - don't go on it. I've put on about half a stone and I swear taking it has made me depressed and easily agitated! I've only been on it a month but I'm looking to come off it, use different contraception and get back into feeling good about my body. It's made me feel so unsexy and I've lost my libido! And I had a high sex drive before! I am cautious about taking it off... Can you take it off mid-week? Or do you have to wait for the patch-free-week-4? Would really appreciate a response!
(However, if you don't easily gain weight, it's probably good. I've found it sticks really well, I've only had to quickly change it mid-week once when I was on holiday and got sand in it, etc. It's definitely efficient in that sense.)

I love the patch. It's very convienent. You just stick it on and forget about it for the week.  I usually place the patch on my bottom. It does leave a little outline after you take it off. I wash the site really good with soap and what to get the excess glue off. Then I rub a little baby oil over it, and it's gone in a day or two. FYI: My male cousins say the really like when ladies where the patch because they can actually see that she's on birth control. Anyone can say they're on the pill, but you don't really know if you don't watch them take it.

Definitely have to agree with Lilybuguk on the whole 'sticky mark' subject. I mean, if you have it on your lower abdomen, the only real person that will see it would be your partner, so why should that matter? I've been on the patch for about a year an a half now, and it really does work. I have noticed that many women on here complained about it causing them horrible cramps and heavy bleeding, but my doctor told me that it can affect you in that way due to your body adjusting to it. I experienced some massive bleeding in the first few months myself, but that is because the lining of your uterus is thinning out as to help prevent an egg from implanting itself. Over time, it all evens out and the pain and whatnot slows down. I do however, have to agree with how it affects your mood in a negative way. I did in fact get depressed a lot and got upset over such little things, but I realized that I have the ability to control myself. To me, working a little bit harder at realizing the positives in my life is definitely worth the effort if it means me being protected from pregnancy. Now, I am enjoying this medication and it seems to be working fine! :)