Is the [birth control] patch as effective as the birth-control pill?
[Q] I have been using birth-control pills since I was in college, which I finished four years ago. My husband and I aren’t ready to start a family yet. During the time that I have used this method of prevention, I haven’t had any problems other than forgetting to take the pill on occasion. That’s why I’m interested in the new birth-control patch. Is the patch as effective as the birth-control pill? A.M., Los Angeles [A] The birth-control patch, which is expected to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration this fall, is–according to medical studies–as effective as the conventional birth-control pill in preventing pregnancy. The pill, which is taken every day, is 99.9 percent effective if taken properly, doctors say, but mistakes include missing pills and starting the next pack too late. With the patch, women will wear it for seven days before replacing it with a new one, giving women the convenience of not having to remember to take a pill each day. Earlier studies show that ne
