Yes, you can get pregnant on the patch. No method of birth control is 100% effective except for sterilization (tubal ligation). If you believe you may be pregnant, discontinue the patch and get yourself tested for pregnancy in a clinic or doctor's office asap.

The birth control patch is a thin, beige, 1¾-inch (4½-centimeter) square patch that sticks to the skin. It releases hormones through the skin into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy.

Hormones are chemical substances that control the functioning of the body's organs. How Does It Work? The combination of the hormones progesterone and estrogen in the patch prevents ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovaries during a girl's monthly cycle). If an egg isn't released, a girl can't get pregnant because there's nothing for a guy's sperm to fertilize. The hormones in the patch also thicken the mucus produced in the cervix, making it difficult for sperm to enter and reach any eggs that may have been released. The hormones can also sometimes affect the lining of the uterus so that if the egg is fertilized it will have a hard time attaching to the wall of the uterus.

Like other birth control methods that use hormones, such as the or, a girl uses the birth control patch based on her monthly menstrual cycle. She puts on the patch on the first day of her menstrual cycle or the first Sunday after her menstrual cycle begins. She will change the patch on her skin once a week for 3 weeks in a row. (The patch should be applied to one of these four areas: the abdomen, buttocks, upper outer arm, or upper torso — except for the breasts.) On the fourth week, no patch is worn, and a girl's period should start during this time.

Using The Patch It's important to apply a new patch on the same day every week to make sure that it keeps working effectively. For example, a girl who applies her first patch on a Monday should always apply her patches on a Monday. When it's time to change the patch, pull the old one off first, before applying a new patch. Place the new patch on a different area from the old patch (but still on one of the four recommended areas) to avoid skin irritation. Don't apply the patch to skin that is red, irritated, or cut.

For the first 7 days on the patch, use an additional form of contraception as well to prevent pregnancy. If you forget to apply a new patch on the right day, or if the patch becomes loose and falls off, read the instructions that come in the package or call your doctor. If this happens, you might need to use a backup method of birth control (such as ) or stop having sex for a while to protect against pregnancy. Also, if you stop using the patch for any reason, you will need to begin using another birth control method, usually after 24 hours of removing your last patch. It's OK to participate in regular activities like swimming and exercise while wearing the patch. It can also get wet in the shower or in the bath.

Do not remove the patch until the week is over (pulling the patch off to reposition or move it may cause it to lose some of its stickiness and it might fall off easily). If the patch does not stick well, apply a replacement patch. Don't try to decorate the patch, change the size of a patch by trimming it, or try to attach it with tape. Painkiller Gold Edition Serial Key. Talk to your doctor if the patch falls off.

The patch should not be applied over makeup, creams, lotions, powder, or other skin products as these may prevent it from sticking well. (Skin products may also affect how hormones are absorbed by the skin.) When you remove the patch, fold it in half with the sticky sides facing each other (to prevent the chemicals from getting into other items in the trash and going to the soil) and throw it away (don't flush it down the toilet). How Well Does It Work? Ongoing studies suggest the birth control patch is as effective as the birth control pill. That means that about 9 out of 100 couples will have an unintended pregnancy during the first year of use. Of course, the chance of getting pregnant depends on whether you use the patch correctly.

Delaying or missing a weekly application or removing a patch too early lowers its effectiveness and increases the chance a girl will become pregnant. For girls who weigh more than 198 pounds (90 kilograms), the contraceptive patch may be less effective in preventing pregnancy. In general, how well each type of works depends on a lot of things. These include whether a person has any health conditions or is taking any medicines that might interfere with the patch. How effective the patch is at preventing pregnancy also depends on whether the method chosen is convenient — and whether the person remembers to use it correctly all the time. Protection Against STDs The birth control patch does not protect against.