Ortho Evra

[camilledawn]

I am becoming increasingly worried about my birth control, Ortho Evra.
It's the patch you keep on all week and switch on your "change day" and have it off for your fourth week.

I always assumed I had nothing to worry about when it came to blood clots since I'm only 17, but recently I've heard horror stories about getting blood clots from the patch and even ovarian cysts because of the patch at an early age like 19! I've never noticed anything weird when it comes to side effects, but I do experience intense depression on a regular basis. Could this be caused by my birth control and the amount of estrogen I'm putting in my body? Clinial depression does run in my family, but I was never depressed until I was in my current relationship (my first serious relationship that lasted more than 2 months) and needed to be on birth control. My breasts are also a bit larger, which I loved. I'm still only a 32A though, and I can't help but assume that it's the patch.
I AM a moody, angsty teen. And this is what I always blamed it on.
Should I be worried and switch?
I do not smoke, drink MAYBE twice a year, take any drugs or medication. But I also don't exercise too much. I'm 17 years old, 5"5 and weigh 110lbs.

Please let me know what I should do asap!

[Katsaly]

From the sounds of things, I don't think you need to switch. Mood swings are pretty common from all hormonal birth control, but they tend to subside as your body adjusts to the medication. Blood clots are a pretty low-level worry unless you have other risk factors. Based on your description, you don't have any of the risk factors that would be common from someone your age, unless you have a family history of them, but that's something your doctor should know before prescribing birth control.