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Contraception - Management
How should the combined contraceptive patch be started?

  • New users with no previous hormonal contraception and no recent childbirth or abortion:
    • Apply the patch on day 1–5 of the menstrual cycle for immediate contraceptive cover.
    • If applied outside days 1–5 of the menstrual cycle, exclude pregnancy and use additional contraceptive cover for 7 days.
  • Starting immediately after oral emergency contraception:
    • Levonorgestrel emergency contraception used — advise additional contraception (condoms or avoidance of sex) for the first 7 days of use.
    • Ulipristal acetate emergency contraception used — advise additional contraception (condoms or avoidance of sex) for the first 14 days of use.
    • Advise the woman to take a pregnancy test no sooner than 3 weeks after the last episode of unprotected sex.
  • After abortion, or after miscarriage within 24 weeks of gestation:
    • Apply the patch within 7 days of abortion or miscarriage for immediate contraceptive cover.
    • If applied outside day 7 after abortion or miscarriage, use additional contraceptive cover for 7 days.
  • Postpartum women who are not breastfeeding (including any pregnancy over 24 weeks gestation):
    • Apply the patch on day 21 postpartum for immediate contraceptive cover.
    • If applied after day 21 postpartum, use additional contraceptive cover for 7 days.
  • Advise the woman that recommendations in the packet may differ from these recommendations, and that only application on day 1 is a licensed indication.

In depth

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