Ortho Evra Lawyer

"The Patch" vs. "The Pill"

Much has been made regarding the controversy that surrounds the Ortho Evra birth control patch and its alleged link with serious side effects that include blood clotting, heart attacks and even the death of some who have used it. Given all of this inundation with this issue, we thought it would be worth some time to analyze why the patch came to market in the first place by comparing it to what was the preeminent birth control product on the market prior to the Ortho Evra patch. That product was commonly known as "the pill."

The Active Ingredients

The pill was seen as the most effective product on the market by many because its active "ingredients" included both estrogen and progestin, which when combined help users prevent unwanted pregnancies. When properly administered, the pill has proven to be at least 99% effective.

The Ortho Evra birth control patch also incorporates the release of estrogen and progestin into the woman's system, taking full advantage of the properties of these hormones in order to prevent pregnancy. It can be said that the patch "borrowed" the best feature that the pill had previously offered users.

The Required Discipline

This is one area where the two products are not similar. The pill must be taken every day, and also must be taken at the same time every day in order to maximize its effectiveness. The problem here should be obvious - one "mistake" could lead to several problems, including a potential hormone imbalance and an unwanted pregnancy.

The patch is worn 24 hours per day, and it only needs to be changed once every week, and not worn at all every fourth week. Women can place the patch on several areas of the body, but once it's affixed it must remain in the same place. However, users are not required to remember as much when using the patch.

The Side Effects

Although the pill was known to have led to rare cases of blood clotting in women, those problems were seen as statistically minor. Generally, those who experienced problems with the pill already had an underlying health problem that led to the development of these issues.

The patch has been buried in controversy for some time now, as the heavy doses of estrogen and progestin have led to several reports of serious blood clotting problems, and blood clotting can lead to other terrible medical consequences, including strokes and heart attacks.

Overall, the patch appears to have been an attempt to advance the purpose for which the pill was originally intended. Although the plan appeared to have been admirable, the results have been somewhat mixed. If you have been injured as a result of using the patch, contact an Ortho Evra attorney at Williams Kherkher as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.