What is a contraceptive strip?
• 4.5cm long weekly strips containing hormones; it is stuck to the skin in order to prevent pregnancy
• It is used for one week, and replaced on the last day of the week, three weeks in a row; the strip is not applied on the fourth week
• It contains progesterone and estrogen hormones
• It is absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream and it prevents ovulation, thickening the secrete inside cervix, and in this way, it prevents entering sperm.
What are the advantages?
• No interruption of the intercourse is needed in order to apply the contraception
• It shortens, alleviates, and makes the period less painful
• The level of fertility is quickly back to normal after the contraception is not used any longer.
What are the disadvantages?
• It doesn’t prevent sexually transmitted diseases
• It causes side-effects like over-sensitivity of nipples, headache, nausea, upper breathe canal infection, menstrual contractions, stomachache, skin irritation on the applied area
• It increases the risk of breast cancer, especially for smokers and women older than 35
• It is not recommendable for women suffering from blood vessel shrinkage or some cases of tumor, or for those women who had a heart attack or stroke
• The effects of the contraception can be reduced while taking drugs like antibiotics – you should always ask for a doctor’s assistance before taking new drugs
• The strips must be changed weekly because the effectiveness depends on the exactness and reliability of the people who use them The level of effectiveness of contraceptive strips is 99%.