Cost-effectiveness and contraceptive effectiveness of the transdermal contraceptive patch.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine implications of increased perfect use on the cost-effectiveness of the contraceptive patch compared with combination oral contraceptives (COCs).


METHODS
This study compared the patch with low-estrogen-dose COCs. It assumes that the risks of developing a medical condition during use are the same for both the patch and COCs. Differences in net cost and pregnancies avoided during use were modeled. With the use of a pharmacoeconomic model, both methods were compared with a hypothetical reference case of contraception nonuse. The base-case model considered women, ages 15 to 50, in average health in a long-term, mutually monogamous, heterosexual relationship.


RESULTS
The base-case analysis showed that use of the patch resulted in a savings of 249 US dollars and 0.03 pregnancies per woman over 2 years compared with COCs.


CONCLUSIONS
This analysis demonstrated that patch use would be cost saving compared with COC use, resulting in a net avoidance of pregnancy for this population. The cost savings are attributed to reduced costs of pregnancy.
Sonnenberg
Frank A
FA
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA. sonnenbe@umdnj.edu
Burkman
Ronald T
RT
Speroff
Leon
L
Westhoff
Carolyn
C
Hagerty
C Greg
CG
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D014481:United States
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined