Getting back on the patch after a week off?

[Shortcake26]

My boyfriend recently broke up with me, and because of this, I didn't put on my birth control patch on the Sunday following the end of my period, like I should have. I assumed that the sexual part of our relationship would end along with the emotional part, and so I'm pretty sure there aren't anymore birth control hormones left in my body. I should have put on the 1st patch of a new box 4 days ago, and this is day 10 without a patch (including the patch-free week). On the Ortho-Evra site, they say that you should not go more than 7 days without the patch on.

However, my boyfriend and I have been talking lately, and we've decided that while we'll both stay single, we'd like to be "friends with benefits" because we have a great sexual chemistry between us, despite any relationship problems we were having. He's coming to visit in a few days, and I need to get my birth control situation resolved before we do anything.

Now, my question is this: can I go back on the patch at any time during my menstrual cycle, or is it only really safe to start a new cycle completely, like I've never used the patch before (put on patch 1 on the first day of my period)? I'd like to know because I've already skipped more than the 2 days that the site FAQ "allows" to continue with a normal cycle.

So, to make this really simple, here are the options I'm considering
1. Put on a patch tomorrow (in the middle of my cycle), and use condoms as backup for a week.
2. Wait to put on a patch until my next period starts (around the beginning of October) and condoms or no sex until then.
3. No birth control for me, but condoms for him.
4. No sex at all (I don't really think I could do this one).

Please give me some advice! I'm scared that my sex drive will overwhelm my responsibility here!

 

[LadyJeanne]

I don't know anything about the patch. My advice would be to call your doctor's office and ask the doc, a nurse, or nurse practitioner. They will know specifically about the patch you are on.

Whatever you do, use a condom! You need STD protection as well as birth control. You don't know who your ex has been with in the meantime, and should not risk your health for a 'friends with benefits' rendezvous.

 

[SweetErika]

I'm not a medical professional either, but even a pharmacist should be able to answer your question. You can also call your local Planned Parenthood or other family planning clinic. If I'm not mistaken, the Patch is used like the Pill, so when you miss days like you have, you need to wait until your next cycle begins to start using it. Why? Because technically you could have ovulated on one of the days you were supposed to have it on, but didn't, and so you may not be protected against pregnancy.

In addition, once you restart it with your next cycle, you'll likely need to use condoms for the first month anyway to give the hormone levels time to come back up and prevent ovulation. I would not advise putting it on now and using condoms for a week, nor is "just condoms" the way to go if you can't handle a pregnancy.

So, wait until your next cycle starts, put the Week 1 patch on, and use condoms (and if you want more insurance, another method like spermicide as well) from now until at least you've completed a month of patch use. Of course using condoms all of the time is a good idea anyway.

 

[muskokan]

If you've only missed 3 days (not including your week) i'd say put it on tomorrow but pretend that you're starting over, it is unlikely that all those hormones are out of your system (depending how long you've been using the patch) in only three days, and you aren't really in the "middle of you cycle" with the pill they tell you to start "the first sunday after your period" so technically if you just had your period and it finished say monday, if you were switching to pills they'd tell you to start this sunday (the 11th)

My opinion though of course not medical would be to throw the patch on tomorrow but assume all other hormones are gone and use "extra" protection for the 2-4 weeks, as everyone else said for STD protection especially when not in a monogomous relationship you should really use a condom anyway... but i'd definitely say not to wait any longer on getting back on birth control, even if you aren't having sex, BC is a great way to regulate periods, and helps with tons of other stuff as well.

 

[Shortcake26]

Okay, now I'm really tempted to just put the patch on and start a new box in the middle of my cycle instead of the 1st day. Can I do this? I'm scared that it would mess up the hormones and my body regulations or something.

Also, my period started on Wednesday, August 31st, so I already missed the Sunday after my period to start the new cycle (which was my original patch change day). ...Damn.

 

[SweetErika]

If you've only missed 3 days (not including your week) i'd say put it on tomorrow but pretend that you're starting over, it is unlikely that all those hormones are out of your system (depending how long you've been using the patch) in only three days, and you aren't really in the "middle of you cycle" with the pill they tell you to start "the first sunday after your period" so technically if you just had your period and it finished say monday, if you were switching to pills they'd tell you to start this sunday (the 11th)

My opinion though of course not medical would be to throw the patch on tomorrow but assume all other hormones are gone and use "extra" protection for the 2-4 weeks, as everyone else said for STD protection especially when not in a monogomous relationship you should really use a condom anyway... but i'd definitely say not to wait any longer on getting back on birth control, even if you aren't having sex, BC is a great way to regulate periods, and helps with tons of other stuff as well.

The Pill tells you to either (a)Start the pack the day your period starts; or (b)Start the pack the first Sunday after your period starts. So, if your period starts on Sunday, you'd start the Pill then. If your period starts on Wednesday, you'd start the pill the Sunday immediately following (4 days later), whether you're still bleeding or not. It all depends on when your period STARTS, not when it ends.

I agree...missing a few days probably wouldn't be a big deal because the hormones likely aren't out of her system. However, let's just say that her body was confused and decided to ovulate in the past few days. She could still get pregnant, and slapping on the Patch now might screw her cycles up enough so she doesn't get her period next month. She could use condoms until she gets her next period, but she may still not be protected NEXT month unless she uses the Patch continuously.

From the Ortho Evra site:
14. How do I start the ORTHO EVRA birth control patch?
You may choose a "First Day Start" or a "Sunday Start" as defined below:

First Day Start: Apply your first patch during the first 24 hours of your period, which will be considered your "Patch Change Day." If the Patch is not applied within the first 24 hours of your period, you must use back-up contraception, such as a condom, spermicide or a diaphragm, for the first week of patch use.

Sunday Start: Apply your first patch on the first Sunday after your menstrual period starts—this will be your "Patch Change Day." You must use back-up contraception, such as a condom, spermicide or a diaphragm, for the first week of your first cycle. If your period starts on a Sunday, you should start the Patch the same day, and non-hormonal back-up contraception is not needed.


Under no circumstances should there be more than a seven-day, patch-free interval between patch cycles.


I wouldn't put it on now without talking to a medical professional, Shortcake. It's not difficult to call your doctor, a clinic, or pharmacist (even one who didn't fill your prescription), and it'll give you peace of mind.