I've used the pill (6 years), Norplant (3 years) and Depo-Provera (2 or 3 years).  I didn't like the pill because it was hard to be strict about it.  I loved Norplant and Depo-Provera because they eliminated periods.  Norplant required surgeries to put in and remove, and I had painful keloid scars afterward, so I probably wouldn't do it again, but it was really nice to have it done with once and not have to think about it at all.  Depo wasn't bad because I only had to have a small shot every few months.  The patch sounds like a good option to me as well, but I've never used it.  Don't have to use anything anymore, spouse got snipped.