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When I lived in Mexico in 1993 I could buy my birth control pills over the counter without a prescription. The exact same brand/manufacturer, strength, etc. Not only could I buy them over the counter, they cost me $1.00 per month -- $3 for a 3-pack box. I was paying out-of-pocket over $25.00 a month in the U.S. at the time, as they weren't even covered by health insurance.
The only thing I will add as a caveat is, if we're going to sell oral contraceptives over the counter, we'd better make damn sure our kids are getting GOOD sex education that includes information on how to use them and the risks and dangers. If there isn't a doctor advising young women about the importance of not missing a single pill, taking them at the same time every day, and using another form of contraception if they're taking antibiotics, then teachers had better be teaching it, because you know the parents sure won't.
And that right there is precisely why I don't envision it happening any time during my lifetime in this country, sad to say.
Well there are many bacterial STD's in which a woman shows little or no symptoms of, but they are carrying. It may take a few days or several weeks, but when a man gets the symptoms they are obvious. So, add that with my comment above and you get my answer.
No.... but not because of morality.... but because birth control pills mess with hormones and maybe its best for women to be checked out by their doctor before jumping on the pill, in case they are not suitable candidates for the pill.
^^This. I had to try many different types of BC pill before I found the one with the right hormone balance. I do believe a woman should see a doctor before being prescribed the pill. There are many women's health clinics that offer a sliding scale (like Planned Parenthood) for payment, which is what I did when I didn't have insurance.
No.... but not because of morality.... but because birth control pills mess with hormones and maybe its best for women to be checked out by their doctor before jumping on the pill, in case they are not suitable candidates for the pill.
I mostly agree with this. The problem with the way things have been set up is that the medical community basically forced pelvic exams on women before giving or renewing BCP perscriptions. It's changing now, since pelvic exams aren't necessary on an annual basis anymore for most women. But it's still an issue, especially for young women. There is nothing about a pelvic exam that effects the use of BCP's. Not that I'm against them for health screening, it's just not exam you need to know if you might have problems with the pill. That would mostly be a BP check, unless there were some kind of serious health issues.
HOWEVER, I'm not sure that's enough of a reason to keep them from being OTC.
No.... but not because of morality.... but because birth control pills mess with hormones and maybe its best for women to be checked out by their doctor before jumping on the pill, in case they are not suitable candidates for the pill.
Agreed. Women should be evaluated by a physician before taking BCPs, and they should have annual physical exams while taking them.
NO THEY SHOULD NOT. Birth control pills are not candy. What if some woman with some medical condition buys them and they are contraindicatedf ro her conditon. She may not realize this and end up suffering some complication.
I would like them in bubble gum machines if they were safe for all women. FREE. Free birth control !
You can't be serious.
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