The contraceptive adhesive, applied weekly, may be more convenient for women than the pill, which must be taken daily. Soon, women may have a more convenient, less forgettable option that works in the same way. A study being published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association says that the world's first contraceptive skin patch is just as safe and effective as the pill and that women are more likely to use it properly. The adhesive patch, which will be marketed as Ortho Evra, is expected to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this year. This could be revolutionary.
Compliance is everything.
That's the biggest shortcoming of birth control pills. The thin beige patch, about the size of a Post-It Note, can be worn on the buttocks or abdomen. Like the pill, it regulates the menstrual cycle and prevents pregnancy by steadily releasing small amounts of estrogen and progestin into the body. Women put on a new patch each week for three weeks, then go without it the fourth week. The company's research foundation paid for the study, which was conducted at 45 clinics in the United States and Canada.