Birth control methods. Explore Methods find a method that's right for you! » Compare Methods. How much does the patch cost? Updated over 1 year ago. How does the birth control patch work? The birth control patch prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm from meeting an egg (which is called fertilization). So how much does birth control cost exactly? This chart lays it all out. Contraceptive method Out-of-pocket cost Total potential cost. Solitario Spider Para Windows Vista. Birth control patch. How much does contraception cost. Demarczyk Ewa Torrent. The cost of birth control: By. Monthly cost of vaginal ring or birth-control patch ($660 a year) $60 Annual cost of.

The birth control patch is a thin, beige, 1¾-inch (4½-centimeter) square patch that sticks to the skin. It releases hormones through the skin into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy. How Does the Patch Work? The combination of the hormones progesterone and estrogen in the patch prevents ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovaries during a girl's monthly cycle).

If an egg isn't released, a woman can't get pregnant because there's nothing for the male's sperm to fertilize. The hormones in the patch also thicken the cervical mucus (the mucus produced by cells in the cervix). The cervix is the part of the uterus that sits within the vagina and acts as the opening to the uterus. The thickening of cervical mucus makes it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and reach any eggs that may have been released.

Santogold Santigold Zip. The hormones in the patch can also sometimes affect the lining of the uterus so that if the egg is fertilized it will have a hard time attaching to the wall of the uterus. Like other birth control methods that use hormones, such as the or, the birth control patch is used based on a young woman's monthly menstrual cycle. She applies the patch on the first day of her menstrual cycle or the first Sunday after her menstrual cycle begins. She will change the patch on her skin once a week for 3 weeks in a row. (The patch should be applied to one of these four areas: the abdomen, buttocks, upper outer arm, or upper torso — except for the breasts.) On the fourth week, no patch is worn, and the menstrual period should start during this time. It's important to use an additional form of contraception during the first 7 days on the patch to prevent pregnancy.