What is Ortho Evra used for?
Ortho Evra is a contraceptive (birth control) skin patch used to prevent pregnancy. It is called a combination hormonal contraceptive because it contains two hormones, estrogen and progestin. It does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases. Who should not take Ortho Evra? Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels from the use of hormonal birth control methods. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use hormonal birth control methods should not smoke. Ortho Evra should not be used by women who have a history of: heart attack or stroke blood clots in the legs, lungs (pulmonary embolism), or eyes blood clots in the deep veins of the legs chest pain known or suspected breast cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus, cervix or vagina current unexplained vaginal bleeding yellowing of the whi