Ortho Evra is a contraceptive patch that, when applied to the skin, releases the synthetic hormones progestin and estrogen. These hormones are believed to have the same effectiveness as birth control pills.

Ortho Evra is intended to be applied during the first day of her menstrual cycle or on the first Sunday following the that first day. The patch should be applied on the thigh, abdomen, outer biceps, or buttocks. The patches are dispensed in boxes of three, with each patch lasting seven days.

Ortho Evra works much like other methods of oral and barrier birth control in that the release of hormones inhibits ovulation completely. As in other contraceptives, the release of hormones may also thicken the mucus in the cervix and thin the lining of the endometrium. Thickening of the cervix mucus makes makes it difficult for sperm to travel through cervix and handicaps their chances of fertilizing an egg. The endometrium lines the walls of the uterus and thinning this lining makes it difficult for a fertilized egg, or zygote, to attach to the uterus.

Ortho Evra is the only contraceptive patch approved for prescription in the United States and Canada. The patch, manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, has recently come under scrutiny for the side effects associated with it.

Most side effects associated with Ortho Evra are relatively benign. These may include weight gain, changes in sexual desire, vaginal discharge, nausea, depression, headaches, urinary tract infection, or vaginitis.

More serious side effects have come to light in the past several years. Most of this attention is related to Ortho Evra and thromboembolic side effects.

Thromboembolism refers to the main and most dangerous thrombosis which is embolisation. An embolism happens when something migrates through the circulatory system to a new location in the body and blocks a blood vessel.

Studies have shown Ortho Evra to carry risks of thromboembolic events of up to twice those of women taking an oral contraceptive. The Associated Press reported in 2004 that users of Ortho evra suffered fatal complications at three times the rate of users of oral contraceptives.

There doesn't seem to be a consensus in the medical community about the validity of these studies as most of these findings are relatively recent.

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