@ucbalumnus I frequintly saw them in the ladies’ room of clubs I went to in the 80’s
As a freshman, D1 sent me a pic of the big box of them in her dorm floor’s main bathroom. I never saw them, btw, when visiting.
I’d love to see BC go over the counter. And an awful lot of stress would be prevented by those vending machines. Not every kid can talk to their parents or even get to the health center on campus. Just make it easy, for Pete’s sake! Why wouldn’t you?
Not having the pill available over-the-counter is pretty silly at this point. The vast majority of people don’t have problems associated with it. It’s no more dangerous than asperin or advil, and it can have a hugely positive impact on quality of life, and not just by preventing unplanned pregnancies (which is huge). I am not sexually active, but I am on the pill for seriously messed up periods (I was having a period every other week - my doctor was very worried about me developing anemia because I was bleeding so much). I was lucky that my parents were willing to consider BC as a treatment. Many parents refuse to allow their daughters to go on BC, and so they suffer pain, discomfort, and sometimes more serious medical complications. If BC were OTC, it would be so much easier for a young woman to discreetly buy some packets of birth control and avoid all that.
Many over the counter drugs can have adverse side effects when used incorrectly, but we as a society have decided to treat people like adults who can read a label and make decisions for their own bodies. Prescriptions are necessary when a drugs require a professional to monitor their use for a variety of possible reasons. Normal BC pills have proven to not really be in that category. It’s time to treat women like adults and let them control their own health.
Baskets of free condoms are readily available in some college’s bathrooms.
Condoms are not as effective as birth control pills.
That’s true. When used properly, birth control pills are 99.9% effective whereas condoms are only 98% effective :0.
But only one of those causes weight fluctuation, acne, etc.
And only one helps prevent STDs.
So birth control pills shouldn’t be available OTC because they can cause weight fluctuations and acne and don’t help prevent STDs?
My point in bringing up the “free in baskets” was related to talk of them being available in vending machines. They are actually more readably accessible in many places. I did not relate that to OTC availability. If folks are unconcerned about side effects, please make contact lenses available without an annual eye exam, too, please. As well as other things I could think of.
Additionally, as someone mentioned previously, a huge downside to OTC is the cost. It’s a GOP way of not having to pay for them through health insurance coverage. Be careful what you wish for.
^^ And using both condoms and the pill is more effective than either alone.
Virtually any OTC medicine can have side effects. So nothing should be OTC.
I think there should be some kind of initial consultation as well but I do have to point out that the reason you need an annual eye exam for glasses/contacts is that prescriptions change.
It’s the same reason you got your kids’ feet measured at the shoe store each year, not because of any danger, but because what you needed changed.
I have worn the same contact prescription for the last 15 years. Still have to get a script. I think you could argue they shouldn’t be necessary. If your script does change and you keep getting the old one that is on you. Vast majority of people would get a new one.
Just to clarify, OTC means that it’s non-prescription but you have to actually ask the pharmacist for it right?
I’m fortunate enough to have a GF with an IUD so I don’t really ever think about this stuff.
Over The Counter. Like aspirin which is what most people here want. There are some restricted OTC drugs that are “behind the counter”.
OK, so then an argument could be made that BC should be behind the counter so that when when you buy it the pharmacist has to explain to you that there ARE side effects for you to be aware of?
I’m not 100% sure how I feel about it, but I’m (1) a man and (2) not in the medical field so my opinion on it is doubly irrelevant haha.
Pharmacists I know say there are only two questions customers ask. 1) how much will it cost. 2) when will it be ready.
In Colorado which lets pharmacists prescribe BC pills–" Women will need to complete a health history questionnaire and have their blood pressure taken at the pharmacy. The pharmacist will use this information to determine which methods of birth control are safe."
Sounds good to me. All states should follow suit to make BC much more accessible beyond a doctor’s office and a clinic.
There are many different options among BC pills. And alternatives to BC pills that may be much more beneficial for a client. I think a consultation with a pharmacist is a good safeguard for health. It at least requires a blood pressure reading and a health survey.
Even with no insurance BC pills are very affordable in most cases.
And people do ask much more than “how much” and " “when will it be ready?”
Prescriptions are dispensed with a lot of info (that will make you cross-eyed).
Here’s how I look at it as a pharmacist–if people have to ask about which OTC cold or allergy or pain pill to take among all the choices available on the shelf --then what makes you think it would be any easier to self-select for BC pills?
The initial consultation is important just to narrow down choices-- and a two minute blood pressure test which would never happen if not required.
As to vending machines— BC pills are not an “immediate use” type product (versus “morning after” pills and condoms and even Viagra)… Ain’t gonna save you unless you just “forgot” for an entire month to get more. If you “forget the refill” then BC pills aren’t a good choice to begin with.