Do You Need Prescription For Birth Control

Women using the contraceptive pill currently require a prescription from a doctor and to render once a year to renew it. But recent research suggests the relative safety of this oral contraceptive means we should consider making information technology more than freely bachelor.

For many women the current model can involve a fair fleck of effort – significant forward planning to go an appointment earlier the prescription runs out, an often lengthy wait to see the medico and a hefty consultation fee – for a few minutes in the physician'southward surgery to have a prescription renewed.

A recent research article has stimulated contend most the value of providing women with oral contraceptives, without having to go through all this.

While the position is supported by the American Higher of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Australian Medical Association has spoken out against the proffer, fifty-fifty for experienced pill users.

Only why shouldn't women be in charge of their own contraception if information technology's safe for them to do and so? Let's consider some of the arguments for and against providing oral contraceptive pills over the counter.

Why it'southward a good idea – admission

The requirement to keep returning to the medico for repeat prescriptions tin exist expensive, and time consuming.

For young women, those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, and others who find information technology difficult to access the health organization, these barriers tin can be considerable. Both doctors and patients can be embarrassed about discussing sexual matters.

Without piece of cake access to effective hormonal contraception women may not utilize any nativity command at all, or they may rely on less effective methods (such equally condoms or the withdrawal method).

And anyway, the emergency contraceptive pill is already bachelor over the counter at pharmacies in Commonwealth of australia, so why not include other oral contraceptives too?

In the U.s.a., upward to thirty% of women who don't currently apply contraception, or use a less constructive method say they would probably start taking the pill if they could get it without a prescription.

For some women, the doctor's visit is a significant barrier to using hormonal contraception, and then making it bachelor in pharmacies volition lead to more than, and more effective, contraceptive employ, and fewer unintended pregnancies.

Why information technology's a bad idea – health risks

Taking combined oral contraceptive pills has potentially serious health consequences.

The near dangerous of these is claret clots. Although rare, the sudden death of a healthy young woman because of a blood clot is shocking. Sadly this tin happen fifty-fifty with the current requirement for a doctor's prescription.

Although many doctors thoroughly screen women and inform them nigh oral contraceptive use, the quality of consultations is variable. Reasons why a woman shouldn't take the pill tin exist missed, or simply be unknown, particularly for immature women.

Thorough Medical Eligibility Criteria have been developed to minimise the hazard of serious adverse events from using oral contraceptives. Women with hypertension, migraines with aura, a history of venous thromboembolism, or smokers at historic period 35 years or older, for example, are at college hazard of agin events and should not have the combined oral contraceptive pill.

Without proper screening by a doc, there'south a risk that factors that should stop women from taking the pill volition exist missed.

Why it'south good – availability

Many women wish they could purchase their contraceptive pills over the counter.

In the Great britain, a pilot program evaluated the feasibility of community pharmacy providing combined oral contraceptives, progesterone-only ("mini") pills as well as information on and referral to long-acting reversible contraception.

Women participating in the study said they valued the convenience, anonymity, drib-in organization, long opening hours and lack of waiting time.

Appropriately trained health-care professionals, including nurses and pharmacists, could effectively help women with contraception. And they could exercise this using electric current eligibility criteria, but as doctors exercise.

Could business about maintaining professional territories exist denying women meliorate access to contraception?

There's no reason why women couldn't get advice about their contraceptive options from pharmacies or other customs settings. This advice could include referral to run across a doctor or specialist equally required

Why it'south bad - sexual health screening

Doctors argue that having women visit them for a new pill prescription ensures they have a regular Pap examination, breast examination and sexual health check.

While all these checks are undoubtedly important, at that place are many women who don't accept the oral contraceptive pill, so the logic of this statement is non entirely satisfying. Information technology's akin to the proffer that condoms or aspirin should be provided by prescription so men visit a doctor for prostate examinations!

What's more, in Commonwealth of australia, women are advised to have a Pap test every ii years and those guidelines are currently under review in light of the effectiveness of the HPV vaccination plan on cervical abnormalities. And nosotros take prove that rates of sexual health screening remain loftier among women who go oral contraceptive pills over the counter.

Information technology's as well worth noting that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states screening for cervical cancer or sexually-transmitted infections is non medically required to provide hormonal contraception.

There's more than

The uptake of the very effective long-acting reversible contraceptives (such equally IUDs and implants) is low in Australia. Testify from the CHOICE project indicates women choose long-acting methods when offered adept information and cost-effective access.

The low uptake in Australia may be an indicator that doctors are not able to spend time with women discussing all the contraceptive options available.

Nosotros need to provide easy access to contraception and contraceptive information, while balancing the potential hazard for side effects and adverse events.

Perchance the mode forrad is to trial providing the progesterone merely pill over the counter for a starting time because nigh women can take information technology with little risk.

What exercise yous think?