A contraceptive patch is a transdermal patch

Transdermal patch

A transdermal patch is a medicated adhesive patch that is placed on the skin to deliver a specific dose of medication through the skin and into the bloodstream. Often, this promotes healing to an injured area of the body. An advantage of a transdermal drug delivery route over other types of...

 applied to the skin that releases synthetic estrogen

Estrogen

Estrogens , oestrogens , or œstrogens, are a group of compounds named for their importance in the estrous cycle of humans and other animals. They are the primary female sex hormones. Natural estrogens are steroid hormones, while some synthetic ones are non-steroidal...

 and progestin

Progestin

A progestin is a synthetic progestogen that has progestinic effects similar to progesterone. The two most common uses of progestins are for hormonal contraception , and to prevent endometrial hyperplasia from unopposed estrogen in hormone replacement therapy...

 hormones to prevent pregnancy

Pregnancy

Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...

. They have been shown to be as effective as the combined oral contraceptive pill with perfect use, and the patch may be more effective in typical use.

The only currently available contraceptive patches are Ortho Evra, marketed in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 by Ortho-McNeil

Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical

The company was formed from the merger of Ortho Pharmaceutical and McNeil Pharmaceutical in 1993. Both of these pharmaceutical companies are pioneers and leaders in areas such as pain management, acid reflux disease, and infectious diseases...

, and Evra, marketed in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 by Janssen-Ortho and in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 and other countries by Janssen-Cilag

Janssen-Cilag

Janssen-Cilag is a subsidiary of the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company. The company was founded in the early 1950s by a merger between Janssen Pharmaceutica and Cilag....

.