getting on the Pill

[Grumble]

A young lady who goes to college in the US asked me about how do you get on the Pill and how much does it cost?

Well if she was in Australia I would advise her to go to a family planning clinic where the sevice is free. In the US I dont know so i am sure that female Pixies will be able to give the advice that I cannot give. I would expect the Colleges would have some sort of refferal service at least and I would be interested to know the cost too.

[Lilith]

We have clinics as well.

[OzKristin]

you can buy them online w/o a prescription and a lot cheaper..thats what I do. I currently take "ovral" a kind of differently named, more generic I guess, brand that acts just like the other brands, I was able to get a three month supply for around 40 USD however the shipment takes approximately a month to send..

[osuche]

Back when I was in college, any American girl could go to Planned Parenthood and get a "free sample" of BC pills after undergoing an on-site exam. After you get your perscription from them (after your exam), you can get subsidized BC pills...if you come into the office during work hours.

When I was inschool (about 7 years ago) they were about $9 per month. And certainly worth it! :D

[Lilith]

I would caution any sexually active college student to still use a condom regardless of whether or not she is on the pill.

[PantyFanatic]

There are a couple money saving BC pills you can get in the US. She can use standard aspirin .............. she just has to hold it between her knees all night. ;)

There also is a new BC pill for men over here.:) It’s pyramid shaped and you put it in your shoe. It makes you limp. :rolleyes:

[Tamer Brad]

Originally posted by Lilith
I would caution any sexually active college student to still use a condom regardless of whether or not she is on the pill.

Exactly. It's far too easy for something to still go wrong.

[KrazyKU]

I also believe it is covered under most insurance plans, if that helps any

[Rayna]

and i happen to be that college student if anyone wants to private message me...

btw, i live in Austin, TX, if anyone knows any places here to get it?

[LixyChick]

Originally posted by OzKristin
you can buy them online w/o a prescription and a lot cheaper..thats what I do. I currently take "ovral" a kind of differently named, more generic I guess, brand that acts just like the other brands, I was able to get a three month supply for around 40 USD however the shipment takes approximately a month to send..
I just heard a few horror stories of purchasing "non-prescription birth control pills" online. Please don't think I am reprimanding you OzKristin.....but the pill is meant to be a prescription drug ONLY....so that the correct dosage can be administered and if there are problems, changes to the brand or dosage can be regulated!

Not to mention.....it sounds as if you don't even really know exactly what it is you are taking! You say..."ovral...a different named, more generic" brand. What does that mean really? It sounds to me like it means.....someone out there (on the www) is trying to duplicate a prescription drug without a pharmaceutical license! And the manufacturer could be putting anything in them and how would you know what they are made of?

I've heard that these so called "birth control pills" are of so much a lesser dosage than necessary to prevent pregnancy and that some don't even have the chemical make-up to prevent anything....and this means you could get pregnant even if you took the pills diligently!

It's so true.......you get what you pay for! I do hope you've researched these pills and at least asked a doctor if the drug "ovral" can be dispensed w/o a prescription!!!! I don't think I'd trust my eggs to an ad online that doesn't require a prescription for a prescription drug!!!!

Please look into this further hon! Best of luck and PM me anytime if you want!

[LixyChick]

Oops! I got so excited I forgot to add.....

raven18...You should see a gynecologist now that you are sexually active (shame on you for not doing that before becoming active!...lol...Had to say that! It's the mommy in me!). You can look up Family Planning in the phone book and/or obgyn's (obstetrics and gynecology). You should have a P.A.P. test and they can find out some family and medical history so they can help you make the best possible choice in birth control!

Best of luck!

[Rayna]

thanks

[Rayna]

also, does insurance cover gynecologist visits?

[Irish]

I know that no one wants to hear it,but I agree,entirely,with Lixy.
You should get a medical exam,before anything,is used.If you buy
perscription drugs on the web,You don't know what is in them! Why do you think they call them perscription!Saving a little money,
isn't worth your long term health.I get ads,constantly,on the web,
saying things like-Get perscription drugs without a perscription!
Bullshit.Sometimes,your Dr.,will specify,on your perscription,to the
drugstore-No generics or substitutes.That's because,the original,
has something,that the generic,does not.Also,a BC pill,doesn't stop an STD.That's just my $.02.I may not be a woman,but I have
a long-time wife & two daughters! Irish
PF---My father told me that a dime works,just as well as an asprin!
P.P.S.Example-One of my medications,can't be generic,because the original is time-released.With a generic,you get the dose,all
at once.That is too much for your system to handle.

[Grumble]

I have learnt a lot already from this thread.

In Australia it is illegal to get the pill other than by prescription.

I would rather pay a little more and know what I am getting is kosher than take a risk.

great advice from Lixy I reckon. You are too precious to us all not to get the right prescription and have the right safeguards Raven.

BTW this all came about because after reading that Raven had lost her virginity and I PM'ed her congratulating her transition.

The dad came out in me and I asked if she was on the pill. I am a little shocked she wasn't but we were all young once. Well at least now Raven is going to take the steps to prevent an unwanted preganancy that would be disasterous for her.

Would be most surprised if your health insurance would not cover a check up with a Gynaecologist. Have a look at your policy Hun.

[Lilith]

Nice to be on the pill but again someone who is sexually active and not in a long term/tested relationship should be using a condom.

[Irish]

My wife was on the pill,long ago.It was SO long ago,that I don't
remember,how the medical things(payments)work.With a medical
procedure,for a man,you get a referral(sp?)to the Dr. that is in that particular field.As for a woman,you would have to ask a female.My daughters are 34 & 36,and it was before that.My age,
prevents me from remembering that far back!I think that the pills,
were round & they weren't made from wood or slate! Irish
P.S. You get the referral from your Primary Care Physician!

[Grumble]

I agree Lil about the condom use. I expect that Raven was using that precaution. The pill is a secondary safeguard against pregnancy in case of condom failure. I have has a condom break on me a few times.

[Rayna]

yes, ive used a condom :-p

now i need to get more condoms....

[BlueSwede]

In the States, most insurance plans will cover gynecolgy appointments, but many of them won't cover the cost of birth control pills unless you are taking them for a reason other than birth control (stupid, I know). My daughter's birth control pills (prescription) cost $35.99 per month at Walgreen's. If you can get them from Planned Parenthood, I imagine they would, indeed, be cheaper.

[Irish]

BlueSwede---Yes,some laws ARE stupid!In NH,you can only get
syringes(needles)by perscription.I have Diabetes, & have to take
two insulin shots a day.I asked them-"If you're out of needles, &
have no current perscription,what do you do,drink it? (jokingly)
Irish

[katekate42]

As far as I know, it is illegal to use birth control pills without a prescription in the U.S. as well. I'm not sure about getting them off the internet, but that sounds to me like they could be out of date and thus ineffective. I'd stay far far away from it, not to mention the gyno checkup may be unpleasant, but discussing the different pill options with someone who knows your medical history (allergies, etc) is much safer than just grabbing some off the internet. Go to your general practitioner or to a family planning clinic. Most colleges also have a student health center where the pills might be cheaper. Mine are only $5 per month, and well worth it. Also, as Lilith said, whether or not she gets the prescription, it's very important to use the condoms as well- pills certainly don't protect against the STIs.

[SuccubusKitty]

The best thing to do if you are in college is go to either the campus infirmary/clinic or go to a local health clinic. Here in Louisiana you can make an appointment with the health clinic and they will give you a LOAD of condoms and get you a gynecological exam and dispense a prescription for birth control pills. They will also schedule your appointments for STD tests and are negligible cost.

Congratulations by the way :D I am happy your first time was wonderful!

[MasterAragornSting]

I agree :
You should get an exam.
After that exam, you will get pills prescibed that will not cause an ill-reaction to your body...

Just be safe, and be careful!

[Loulabelle]

Wow - this thread has been an eye opener to me.

In Britain, any birth control method is available from your GP or Family Planning Clinic for free. I know we have the NHS, but ordinarily we do have to pay for prescriptions.

Seems a very obvious thing for governments to do, if they want to cut down on the number of teenage pregnancies and STD occurrence.

[Irish]

If you want to cut down on the # of pregs or STDs,allow me to suggest PFs suggestion of an asprin or my suggestion of a dime!
Your health is not worth the money that you save momentarily!
Irish
P.S. My $.02.

[soph]

FREE IN THE UK