Given that menstruation and wanting to prevent pregnancy are not diseases and since the birth control pill is not a dangerous medicine, do women really need to obtain a prescription to purchase the pill? Basically, there is no real risk of drug abuse, an overdose is more likely to result in vomiting than any kind of high, and most of the side effects are not serious. This leads many to argue whether or not the government has a legitimate role in imposing on women the added cost associated by maintaining the pill's prescription status. Studies done by the Institute For Women's Policy Research reveal that making birth control pills available over-the-counter (OTC) would dramatically increase its usage while it could potentially result in 2.08 billion dollars in medical savings from preventing unplanned pregnancies.
Several countries, such as Japan, the Philippines, Mexico, Spain, and Brazil allow women to buy birth control pills OTC; but here in the Unites States, women must obtain a prescription for oral contraceptives which creates a significant barrier to its access. It is argued that women need this medical screening to be evaluated for "contraindications" (a medical condition or risk which would make pill use inadvisable).
Research has shown that women are very good at self-screening for conditions that would be considered to be contraindications to using the pill. Typically, only about 6.7% of women incorrectly thought they did not have any contraindications/risks when, in fact, they did. Yet, even with medical screening, approximately 6% of oral contraceptive users in the US show contraindications for pill use. Would it not be safe then, to assume, that given the percentage of women incorrectly misdiagnosing themselves as not having any pill contraindications (6.7%) is similar to the proportion of actual pill users in the US who are contraindicated for use (6%), the over-the-counter sale of birth control pills would likely be safe?
The pill provides both the convenience of managing one's period, the control to prevent pregnancy, and its use probably results in fewer abortions - plus research shows that women can self-screen for pill risks. Given this, do you think the pill should be available for sale in the US over-the-counter?
The Pill Photo © 2009 Dawn Stacey
As an Ob/Gyn, I believe that while the pill is overwhelmingly a safe option for contraception, maintaining its prescription status is important to prevent serious side effects. I agree that self-sceening is somewhat effective, but I am concerned that the rare patient who has a history of blood clots or pulmonary embolism could suffer a life-threatening adverse event that could be avoided by requiring a physician to screen her prior to offering a prescription. The down side, of course, is barriers to access, and were it not for the serious nature of the potential side effects, I would otherwise agree that they should be available OTC.
Yes i think it should be available otc.
YES they should be available w/o prescription. I’ve lived in Chile and Venezuela, getting these OTC and was able to find the brand that worked for me- something my doctor couldn’t do. Doctors are constantly prescribing harmful medicine to people (celebrex, anyone? just to name one) and shoving whatever new pill down someones throat because of all the bonuses they get from the med companies…how is this any worse than the small percentage of women who wouldn’t properly screen themselves?
Absolutely YES.
This is a RIGHT.
By the way:
Doctors in Canada are witholding the pill (not renewing prescriptions, even if you’ve been on it for years w/o probs) UNTIL you agree to a Cancer Screening Test (aka Pap Smear) each year (they only give you a years’ worth of pills, sometimes maybe 2 yrs if you can convince them!
This practise is unethica and illegal (Human Rights Charter Violation) and yet continues.
It is not ‘for your own good’ as they would have you believe. A pap is not a required medical test to determine any contraindications for hormonal contraception.
This “no pap = no pill” practise is a profit-generating situation which would not exist if the pill was avail w/o a prescription.
Think of this: a physician’s practise comprised of 50% females, each getting a YEARLY pap — to get their pill ’script! Alot of $ made for each females’ reproductive lifespan!
EACH WOMAN has the right *and intelligence!* to decide for herself whether she wants a cancer test, an HIV test, eyesight test, or I.Q. test thank you very much!
MAKE ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER, NOW. NOW. NOW.
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/11/informed-consent-missing-pap-smears-cervical-cancer-screening.html