When women think about birth control it usually is in reference to one of two things: the birth control pill or condoms. But what you may not have known is that BC has more forms than you can count and the pill or condoms may not be right for everyone.
Personally, I had been on the pill since I was a sophomore in high school. Before starting birth control, my periods were always long (we’re talking eight days to a full month long), painful, and irregular, but I was young and too afraid to talk to anyone about what was going on with my vagina. So, I just endured the brutality of that time of the month. However, I realized that something was seriously wrong when comparing stories with my friends about our first times. While no one described theirs as the best thing since sliced bread, my friends were a little freaked to find out that my experience was extremely uncomfortable.
After countless hours on WebMD, I found out that I most likely had a cyst and the common variable in reducing the symptoms I was having would be to start taking the pill. That was about the time that I knew I needed to ask my mom to make an OB-GYN appointment (Of course I left out the bit about having sex. Sorry if you’re reading this, mom). I found myself in stirrups just a few weeks later undergoing both external and internal ultrasounds (ouch). Sure enough, the doctors found that I had a hemorrhagic cyst on my ovary and they prescribed me birth control to help shrink it.
Ever since that fateful day in my sophomore year of high school I had taken the pill. I switched brands and dosages three times. While my periods were much more regular and much less painful, it wasn’t worth the nausea and weight gain. I stopped taking it in my first year of college since my cyst had shrunk and I’ve simply relied on condoms as my main form of birth control since.
Now I am in my sophomore year of college and I decided that I want to find a new form of BC. Her Campus helped my research with this awesome article comparing the pros and cons of different types of protection, so I walked into the gyno with my heart set on an intrauterine device or an “IUD” (I liked the idea of a one and done solution considering you leave an IUD in for five years).
Upon asking, my doctor questioned my age and my relationship status, which struck me as a bit odd, but he explained that he was trying to steer younger, single women away from IUDs because of many rumored risk factors. There has been a popular opinion circulating in the medical community for decades that IUDs aren’t safe for younger, childless women and the device puts this group at a higher risk of sexually transmitted infections and pelvic inflammatory disease. Doctors are still split on the truth of the matter, though newer evidence seems to contradict this previous assumption. Regardless, I felt a little leery of an IUD at this point so together we eventually settled on the birth control patch.
I left the doctor’s office with a three-month prescription for Xulane and went to get it filled right away. Xulane is a new transdermal system that administers norelgestromin (a form of progesterone) and ethinyl estradiol (a form of estrogen) to the body through the skin, sort of like a nicotine patch. The device hit the market in 2014. Luckily, my insurance completely covered the cost of the patch, but it usually goes for $110 to $150.
Upon opening the small, thin square-shaped box I found three wrapped packages and some handy dandy calendar stickers. The directions indicated that each package contained one patch to be swapped one week after the original application. The small, square sticker was covered with plastic on both sides. It’s important to apply the patch to a clean, dry, lotion-free area of the skin that won’t be rubbed excessively by tight clothing – the directions suggested the shoulder blades, upper arms, lower abdomen, or buttocks. Be careful to avoid touching the sticky end of the patch with your fingers. Each patch stays on for exactly one week, the fourth week you do not wear a patch and you will get your period (similar to how the fourth week of the pill is a placebo week).
Week 1
I have just finished my period, which means that now is the time to stick on the first patch. I chose to put it on my shoulder. So I removed the plastic first from the front, positioned it where I wanted it to go, peeled the plastic from the back and stuck it on carefully, avoiding touching the adhesive. At first I was paranoid that it would fall off so I kept pressing it, smoothing out wrinkles, and making sure the edges were sticking. Other than my overthinking, the patch didn’t bother me too much. When I took a shower, however, it felt like it was lifting but it ultimately stayed on. I experienced no side effects, but knowing that something was on me took some getting used to. Also, there was a ring of lint present around the patch by the end of the week from wearing sweaters and jackets over it (kinda gross).
Week 2
On Friday, it was exactly a week since the first application so I changed the patch. I was unreasonably worried that if I took the first patch off before putting the second one on, I risked becoming pregnant even though the directions clearly state that not wearing the patch for a few minutes or hours will not compromise its effects. Still, to be on the safe side, I kept the first one on until the second one was firmly in place. You cannot stick the patch in the same place every week, so I decided I would put it on my butt. I didn’t notice it as much there so I wasn’t as fidgety. However, I started to experience some side effects – my breasts were extremely sore and I was having pretty uncomfortable abdominal cramps. I attributed this sudden appearance of side effects to the location, though I don’t know if there’s any credibility in that assumption.
Week 3
I switched the patch again on a Friday, leaving the old one in place again until the new one was on. I moved it back to my shoulder since I didn’t have any side effects the first week when it was there. This week I felt more used to it. I still had some cramping toward the end of the week but it may have been the cause of my looming period.
Week 4
I got my period right on time, which usually never happens (even with the pill it was always a day or two off). It was painful and heavy as always, but I popped a few Advil and was fine.
Overall, I think the patch is a pretty good birth control method. I have been on it for two months now and I am no longer experiencing any side effects. I haven’t had an issue with it falling off. It’s crucial that you check that the patch is sticking properly every day (corners are adhering, no wrinkles, the entire thing is sticking to the skin). I usually just press it firmly and smooth it out twice a day and I am good to go. I also make sure to dry off completely after showering so that no water gets underneath it. If a patch falls off or lifts, you should try to reapply it that same day. If a patch has been off for more than 24-hours, you may not be protected from pregnancy and you should definitely use back-up contraceptive. Also, in the case that it falls off for over 24-hours you must start a new four-week cycle.
If you’re thinking that the patch might be right for you, talk to your doctor. You should NOT use Xulane if you smoke. The most common side effects include breast tenderness, headache, nausea and vomitting, menstrual cramps, skin irritation at the application site, and vaginal spotting. For more information, click here.