"i&#039;ve been on ortho evra for 10 years...that&#039;s right...10 years!  i started when i was 17 and i&#039;ve never had a problem with it.  periods are normal. sometimes really bad cramps the first couple of days and maybe a headache or two.  but those are just normal pms side effects as far as i&#039;m concerned.  i&#039;ve heard people have gained weight using ortho evra but i never had such issues.  and most of all, i&#039;ve never gotten pregnant. my only complaint is ortho evra is very expensive.  i&#039;m on an hsa now and i pay $79 per month. i wear the patch on my buttocks and i switch sides every week to avoid excess irritation.  sometimes it gets stuck to my underwear or jeans and it&#039;s hard to find a replacement if it peels off."