A birth control patch you stick to your skin

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The Xulane patch is a combined hormonal birth control you stick to your skin. It prevents unexpected pregnancy and is worn for three weeks out of the month.
Talk to us to learn more about the birth control patch. After an online consultation where a licensed doctor checks over your medical history, you’ll be recommended several options (including Xulane, if it’s right for you). A Treated subscription covers refills, so you decide when you want another shipment.
Xulane is a transdermal (fancy way of saying “on your skin”) patch used for birth control. It’s a combined method with two hormones, just like the pill, but you don’t have to worry about taking it every day. Instead, the patch is worn for a week at a time before it needs to be changed.
Xulane is a low-maintenance form of birth control because it doesn’t have to be remembered every day. You place it on your skin and wear it for a week at a time. The recommended areas for the patch are your stomach, cheeks (the ones you sit on), upper arm or the back of your shoulder.
After 3 weeks of wearing patches, you’ll have a patch-free week. This is when you’ll have your period.
Like the pill and the ring, the Xulane patch is a hormonal birth control. The hormones progestin and estrogen are released into the body in a steady flow while you’re wearing it.
This protects you from pregnancy in three different ways. The hormones stop an egg being released (ovulation), so it can’t be fertilized. They make vaginal mucus thicker, so it’s harder for sperm to get through. And they also keep the uterine lining from growing, so it can’t harbor an egg as easily. This last bit has the added effect of stopping or lessening your flow during your period.
Some women prefer it because they don’t need to remember it every day like they do with the pill. Another advantage is that when you use the pill, vomiting and diarrhea can lead to a dip in your protection. Since the patch isn’t taken orally, being sick doesn’t impact your protection levels.
When the patch is used “perfectly,” the rate of effectiveness is the same as when you use the pill perfectly. So it comes down to how you prefer to administer your birth control.
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Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Transdermal delivery of combined hormonal contraception: a review of the current literature. International Journal of Women’s Health. U.K. Dovepress.
Evaluation of Contraceptive Efficacy and Cycle Control of a Transdermal Contraceptive Patch vs an Oral Contraceptive. U.S.A. JAMA Network.
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