You
can place the hormone patch on your lower abdomen, buttocks, or upper body but
not on your breasts. Apply a new patch once a week on the same day of the week
for 3 weeks. The patch delivers the hormones daily over 7 days. Wear each patch
continuously until you replace it the following week. During the fourth week,
you wear no patch. This is when you have a menstrual period.
Should the patch partially or completely come off before it is due to be
changed, apply a replacement patch right away.
Patch warning. The patch delivers more estrogen than the
low-dose birth control pills do. It has a higher risk of causing blood clots in
your legs or lungs. So talk to your doctor about your risks before using the
patch.
Direct sunlight or high heat can increase, then lower, the
amount of hormone released from a patch. This can give you a big dose at the
time and leave less hormone for the patch to release later in the week. This
increases your risk of pregnancy. Avoid direct sunlight
on the hormone patch. Also avoid using a tanning bed, heating pad, electric
blanket, hot tub, or sauna while you are using a hormone patch.