Should The Pill be OTC??

[BuzzieCat]

In order for me to be on the pill years ago I had to have my yearly pap smear from my doctor.There are also different doses.Not all women take the same pill.

There are definately health risks involved.

I personally don't think birth control pills should be on display like Tic Tacs.

I think they do that more to get women to come in for Pap smears, not so much because getting a Pap smear has anything to do with whether or not hormonal birth control is right for you! MOO. I had to do that every year (took the pill to control my horrible cycles), and I always thought it was bogus. Your medical history (smoking, age, medical conditions) and family history probably have more to do with whether or not you're at risk for blood clots than what your Pap smear results are.

I wonder what birth control pills they are proposing be made OTC. Surely not all of them? There's all different kinds of strengths and combinations. I'm sure I couldn't have figured out which kind I needed to take for my particular problem! They were always changing me around and trying a different combo. If they offered the lowest dose that would be effective for birth control as an OTC and provided counseling from the pharmacist, I would be for that. The woman needs to know what signs and symptoms she should seek medical attention for.

 

[angelmom]

Nope. I have had varying success with the pill. I took it for a long time to control horrific PMS and other symptoms with no problems. After my first baby I started taking the mini-pill and had unbelievable mood swings and more. Even though it was a smaller dose AND I had had no problems for years. Now I cannot take it even if I wanted to try again because of chronic headaches and my risk of stroke. There are too many health history and other questions a doctor needs to ask that would take longer than most pharmacists have for "counseling". Which, at my pharmacy, means you can just sign that "I have declined counseling" and leave. I cannot imagine entrusting decisions like that to teenagers who may not even be aware of their entire health history.

ITA about the prescription forcing women to get their PAP, etc. I think the cancer death rate would go up, and the number of untreated STDs as well.

OT - As for the tubal ligation needing your DH's permission, I'm curious how long ago that was. I had mine 12 years ago, and no one ever asked my DH (except me). He definitely didn't have to sign. I can't find any evidence that it is a law in any state; possibly a doctor who had been sued by an angry husband trying to be extra cautious.

My doctor generally preferred not to do them until his patients were a certain age because he had been through the failed reversals when they changed their minds later. But since I SUCK at being pregnant, he started mentioning it to me the minute the stick turned blue on baby #6 and did it during my scheduled c-section.

OTOH, it does make me wonder about a marriage where you would have to keep that kind of thing a secret from your husband.

 

[lonetraveler]

FWIW, my brother called me Tuesday night to tell me that his 14 yr. old granddaughter was pregnant by an 18 yr. old. I, like him was horrified. I think that she should have an abortion and be put on birth control like injections or implanted birth control until she is way past adult age. She did not want to consider birth control because she didn't want those chemicals inside her body. Her mother is not only an alcoholic but a drug addict as well. This child does not need to have a baby. She is a baby herself. IMO, there is absolutely nothing worse for a 14 yr. old's body than having a baby inside of it. I don't see how OTC is going to work for irresponsible teenagers who think that it is a fad to have a baby like "Teen Mom". This 14 yr. old's father did not want his little girl to have chemicals in her body either. This child was allowed to do things that most grownups wouldn't do. I'm all for putting all teens on a form of birth control that works without them having to "remember to use it". In my 17 yr. old granddaughter's class there are seven girls pregnant and all of them did not believe in taking birth control. There are side effects for most every medicine you take, yes, even aspirin.

 

[brighidin]

Nope. I have had varying success with the pill. I took it for a long time to control horrific PMS and other symptoms with no problems. After my first baby I started taking the mini-pill and had unbelievable mood swings and more. Even though it was a smaller dose AND I had had no problems for years. Now I cannot take it even if I wanted to try again because of chronic headaches and my risk of stroke. There are too many health history and other questions a doctor needs to ask that would take longer than most pharmacists have for "counseling". Which, at my pharmacy, means you can just sign that "I have declined counseling" and leave. I cannot imagine entrusting decisions like that to teenagers who may not even be aware of their entire health history.

ITA about the prescription forcing women to get their PAP, etc. I think the cancer death rate would go up, and the number of untreated STDs as well.

OT - As for the tubal ligation needing your DH's permission, I'm curious how long ago that was. I had mine 12 years ago, and no one ever asked my DH (except me). He definitely didn't have to sign. I can't find any evidence that it is a law in any state; possibly a doctor who had been sued by an angry husband trying to be extra cautious.

My doctor generally preferred not to do them until his patients were a certain age because he had been through the failed reversals when they changed their minds later. But since I SUCK at being pregnant, he started mentioning it to me the minute the stick turned blue on baby #6 and did it during my scheduled c-section.

OTOH, it does make me wonder about a marriage where you would have to keep that kind of thing a secret from your husband.

I'm pretty sure the OP said it was her EX.

 

[sweetheart29]

Sprintec, the generic version of Ortho-Cyclen, can be bought at walmart for $9 a month (without insurance) I was on it for 6 years.