November 23, 2001 – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gives the green light to Ortho-Evra, the first contraceptive patch for women, which will be sold by prescription in 2002.
The contraceptive patch, which users can apply to the lower abdomen, buttocks, upper torso (but not the chest), or the outer side of the upper arm, releases a continuous dose of hormones – estrogen and progesterone – through the skin. They must put a new one weekly with a week off over a period of 28 days. The researchers designed it because it’s easier to remember to change a patch every week than it is to take a pill every day.
According to several studies, the patch has an effectiveness comparable to that of the pill (99.9%). Its side effects remain more or less the same as those associated with an oral contraceptive, but with a greater occurrence: nausea, emotional instability, headache, breast discomfort, menstrual disorder and in addition, skin reaction to the site of the birth. application of the stamp.1.2
There are also natural contraceptive methods (calendar method, temperature or cervical mucus) that can determine the time of ovulation and therefore involve a period of sexual abstinence. There are a few herbal medicine products for contraception. In Quebec in particular, herbalism The Clef des Champs created in 2000 a mixture of several plants – yarrow (Achillea millefolium), holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), wild carrot (Daucus carota), blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus) and street (Ruta graveolens), marketed under the name Contraceptix. This would act on the structure of the endometrium of the uterus (tissue that lines it), making it unsuitable for implantation. However, no study has been done to date to prove its effectiveness.
Élisabeth Mercader – PasseportSanté.net
According to InteliHealth, November 21, 2001. FDA OKs 1st contraceptive skin patch.
1. Audet MC, Moreau M, Koltun WD, Waldbaum AS, Shangold G, Fisher AC, Creasy GW. Evaluation of contraceptive efficacy and cycle control of a transdermal contraceptive patch vs an oral contraceptive: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2001 May 9; 285 (18): 2347-54.
2. Smallwood GH, Meador ML, Lenihan JP, Shangold GA, Fisher AC, Creasy GW. Efficacy and safety of a transdermal contraceptive system. Obstet Gynecol 2001 Nov; 98 (5 Pt 1): 799-805.
