Public Citizen, a public interest non-profit, is petitioning the FDA to ban the Ortho-Evra patch. They go into great detail comparing the patch to the pill, with a couple major complaints:
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60% more estrogen on average exposure;
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greater variability in estrogen levels;
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a possible two-fold increased risk of venous thrombosis (typically, painful blood clots of the leg which can travel to the lungs and cause death);
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increased risk of side effects such as breast discomfort, severe menstrual pain, nausea, and vomiting;
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a 50% increased likelihood of discontinuation;
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no improvement in contraceptive outcomes.
I think on the surface, it looks like Public Citizen brings up a good point that if the efficacy doesn’t increase with the risks, using the patch doesn’t make sense. But it’s definitely true that some women have better results (fewer side effects) with the patch than they do the pill, just like when you compare any hormonal contraceptives. That’s even the case with different oral contraceptive brands. So with that in mind, I think it’s a better idea for Public Citizen to try to raise awareness about the risks involved with different contraceptive options without trying to limit choices.
