Contraceptive patch question

[Charliemayly753]

Hi!

I have some doubts about the patch.
First, how fast does it take for the side effects to kick in? Because the moment I put it on, I started to feel really bad, like headache and vomits, so the second day I took it off and surprisingly I started feeling excelente a few hours later. I talked with my gynecologist about it the next day, and she said it was very unlikely.

Secondly, is it normal to have a flow two times after removing the patch? I put it on the moment I started my period, and I know It's kind of a silly question this one because it says in the package, however, those it counts like a real period or spotting? Can I say it's spotting even though I have a lot of bleeding like a normal period? Where should I start counting the beginning of my cycle?

[Latha]

Hi Charliemayly753!

Having side effects the moment you put the patch on seems a bit fast — normally it takes some time for medications like this to have an effect on your body. Maybe the time you put it on coincided with you feeling unwell for another reason, and a day was enough time for you to start feeling better. If you want, you could try the patch again to see if you have the same effects. We can also provide advice on how to manage these effects, or discuss other kinds of birth control if you don't want to use the patch any more.

To answer your other questions: You can consider your current period to be a normal period, not spotting. Spotting is lighter bleeding that occurs outside your regular period. This is a common side effect of taking new birth control — like other side effects, it often goes away on its own in a few months. Using the patch may eventually make your period shorter and lighter, but this doesn't happen immediately. And you can start counting your cycle on the first day of your period.

[Charliemayly753]

Hi!

Than for responding!
I have more questions. You see, I thought the patch worked because my period was usually short. I usually had period of 6 days, but this one was of 4-3 days , even though I had a lot of bleeding, but it suddenly got cut of. Is that a normal thing? To clarify, (though I think my old posts here tells you I'm still a virgin) I didn't had sex, nor chances of direct genitalia contact, so I don't think I could be pregnant.

[Latha]

Hi there!

The patch could have affected the flow of your period, but shorter/heavier periods can happen from time to time on their own. Either way, this is normal, and nothing to worry about.

[Charliemayly753]

Thank you!!