What are the considerations and guidelines for a healthy, non-smoking woman under 35 with no history of thromboembolic events, severe hypertension, or liver conditions, considering the use of the contraceptive patch, such as Ortho Evra (ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin)?

Contraceptive Patch for Healthy Women Under 35

The contraceptive patch (Ortho Evra) is an appropriate and effective contraceptive option for healthy, non-smoking women under 35 without contraindications, though you should counsel patients about a potentially increased VTE risk compared to low-dose oral contraceptives and consider alternative methods as first-line choices. 1

How the Patch Works

The transdermal contraceptive patch contains 0.6 mg norelgestromin and 0.75 mg ethinyl estradiol, delivering 150 μg norelgestromin and 35 μg ethinyl estradiol daily. 1, 2 One patch is applied weekly for 3 consecutive weeks, followed by 1 patch-free week during which withdrawal bleeding occurs. 1

• Application sites: The patch can be placed on the abdomen, upper torso, upper outer arm, or buttocks. 1, 3
• Efficacy: Typical use failure rate is 9% (less than 1% with perfect use), comparable to combined oral contraceptives. 1, 4

Critical VTE Risk Consideration

The patch carries a black box FDA warning regarding venous thromboembolism risk. 1 The patch delivers 1.6 times higher estrogen exposure compared to a 20-35 μg combined oral contraceptive. 1

• Five US studies (one with statistically significant findings) suggest a possible increased VTE risk with odds ratios of 1.2 to 2.2 compared to low-dose COCs. 1
• However, one large nested case-control study found no significant difference in VTE risk between the patch and norgestimate-35 μg oral contraceptives (OR 0.9,95% CI 0.5-1.6). 5
• Despite these concerns, the patch remains safer than pregnancy itself, which carries higher VTE risk. 1

When to Initiate the Patch

The patch can be started at any time if you are reasonably certain the patient is not pregnant. 1

• If started within the first 5 days of menstrual bleeding: No backup contraception needed. 1
• If started more than 5 days after menstrual bleeding began: The patient must abstain from intercourse or use backup contraception for 7 consecutive days. 1, 3

Advantages Over Daily Pills

The patch offers a simpler weekly regimen that may improve adherence compared to daily oral contraceptives. 1, 6 Early studies showed 87-93% perfect patch use among adolescents. 1 Transdermal delivery minimizes hormone peaks and troughs associated with daily oral administration and avoids hepatic first-pass metabolism. 6

Side Effects Profile

Side effects are largely similar to combined oral contraceptives, with some unique considerations: 1, 4

• Breast tenderness, headaches, nausea, and breakthrough bleeding or spotting 1
• Application site reactions (unique to the patch) - 92% are mild to moderate in severity 7
• Skin effects including hyperpigmentation, contact dermatitis, and irritation 1
• Less than 2% of patches require replacement due to complete detachment 1, 8

Reduced Efficacy in Higher Weight Patients

The risk of pregnancy with perfect use is slightly higher for women weighing more than 198 pounds (0.9% vs 0.3% in the first 12 months). 1 Consider alternative methods for patients above this weight threshold.

Absolute Contraindications

Do not prescribe the patch for: 1

• Women aged ≥35 years who smoke ≥15 cigarettes per day (Category 4 - unacceptable health risk) 1
• Women with history of VTE or known thrombophilia 1
• Postpartum women during the first 3 weeks after delivery (Category 4) 1
• Women with multiple VTE risk factors 1

Important Clinical Pitfalls

Avoid requiring a pelvic exam before prescribing - hormonal contraceptives can be safely provided based on medical history and blood pressure measurement alone. 1

For missed or detached patches: If a patch has been detached for less than 48 hours, apply a new patch immediately and maintain the same change schedule, but use backup contraception for 7 consecutive days. 3

Extended cycling option: While the patch is labeled for weekly changes, other methods may be safer first-line choices for patients interested in extended cycling due to the VTE concerns. 1

Comparison to Alternative Methods

Given the potential VTE risk, consider offering long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) or lower-dose combined oral contraceptives as first-line options before the patch, particularly for patients with any additional VTE risk factors. 1 However, for patients who struggle with daily pill adherence and have no contraindications, the patch remains a reasonable and effective choice.