After a few years contraceptive-free having had two babies in relatively quick succession (and very little sex as a result!!!), I started using the patch a few months ago thinking it might be easier on my poor addled brain than the pill, as it only needs changing once a week.
So far the patch has been great from a mood/hormone perspective, but I was hoping to be able to use it to skip the odd period like I did with the pill. However, without fail I have been getting my period a few days before I am due to start my “patch free” week (so am still on my third patch in a row when my period arrives). It’s definitely my (heavy) period - not just withdrawal/breakthrough bleeding.
I can find nothing online to explain this and am somewhat worried that this means the patch is not working properly as otherwise my periods should be like clockwork - I never got them early on the pill. My patches always stay stuck on but as I do a lot of running/gym work I’m worried that maybe this is affecting their adhesiveness and effectiveness - has this ever happened to anyone else? I’m now making DH wear condoms as a precaution which kind of defeats the purpose of using the patch in the first place!