A Review of Transdermal Hormonal Contraception: Focus on the Ethinylestradiol/ Norelgestromin Contraceptive Patch

Imperfect use of contraceptive methods notably increases the likelihood of pregnancy. One means of improving user adherence with hormonal contraception is to minimize the dosing schedule. Two forms of hormonal contraceptive have currently achieved this goal: the transdermal patch and the vaginal ring. The first and only transdermal contraceptive patch ro receive worldwide regulatory approval (ethinylestradiol/ norelgestromin) is a convenient approach to contraception that has a similar efficacy to oral contraceptives (OC's), but with the benefit of once-weekly administration. In addition, transdermal delivery of contraceptive hormones eliminates variability in gastrointestinal absorption, avoids hepatic first-pass metabolism, and prevents the peaks and troughs in serum concentrations that are seen with OCs.