Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks, Only the Essentials—Combined Patch, Chapter 6, Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers, Johns Hopkins k4Health Project

Family Planning

A GLOBAL HANDBOOK FOR PROVIDERS

Family Planning Handbook
Complete PDF | Chapter 6 PDF

Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks

Some users report the following:

Skin irritation or rash where the patch is applied
Changes in monthly bleeding:
- Lighter bleeding and fewer days of bleeding
- Irregular bleeding
- Prolonged bleeding
- No monthly bleeding
Headaches
Nausea
Vomiting
Breast tenderness and pain
Abdominal pain
Flu symptoms/upper respiratory infection
Irritation, redness, or inflammation of the vagina (vaginitis)

Known Health Benefits and Health Risks
Long-term studies of the patch are limited, but researchers expect that its health benefits and risks are like those of combined oral contraceptives (see Combined Oral Contraceptives, Health Benefits and Health Risks).

Medical eligibility criteria, guidelines for when to start , and helping continuing users are the same for the combined patch as for combined oral contraceptives.