Should birth control pills be for sale over the counter without a prescription?

Question

horsenrhinounicorn · Accepted Answer

Yes, however one of the issues though is the pharmaceutical companies who make these products are making huge profits and the easiest way to make them affordable is through health insurance. Health insurance typically does not pay for over the counter medicine. In 2015 alone this market generated $28,175,000,000 in revenue and in 2022 it is estimated that this will have generated $43,812,000,000 in revenue. Much of the business industry who supplies these products are making a profit at your cost and raising insurance rates. We need more non-profit industries that are there to provide what women need rather than be driven by greed.

TheManchild · Accepted Answer

Yes it is their choice after all.

cryscrys1 · Accepted Answer

No never that’s because even birth controls come in different forms and restrictions. Some brands cause women hypertension , some allergies etc. You need to discuss it with the physician. Now , if you know you are fine to take any go ahead but lots of women have issues so they have to be careful.

SaoirseS · Accepted Answer

I don’t believe they should. BC Pills mess with hormones and can have some serious side effects. Best to discuss with a doctor, get a Rx, and have regular checkups.

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

Birth control needs to be free and accessible to all ages that are sexually active. It does however need some control to ensure the best option is prescribed to each person, that health side of thing can be covered and how to take them etc.

For the UK

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/combined-contraceptive-pill/

NicoletteXO · Answer

No - these are serious drugs which completely alter your biochemistry. Think about it - their purpose is actually to PREVENT FEMALE FERTILITY. That should be taken very seriously - far more seriously than it is. Honestly, I wish I'd never taken the pill.

Adam1978 · Answer

No they need to be restricted for the safety of women. Taking the wrong pills or too many will completely wreck your body and mental state. So I think visiting a doctor before starting to take a new medication is a good thing. Its not a temporary headache we are talking about but a medicine your plan to take for years.

dustybiker · Answer

As other have already said before me. Far too dangerous. They are designed to manipulate the natural state of the body. You need to get a full work up before getting on birth control. There are too many different kinds to fit an individual. Some instances it’s just not safe to use them.

cth96190 · Answer

Hell no!
The pill must be prescribed in accord with the needs of individual women.
Take Yasmin, for example.
Yasmin is a low-dose pill that would be useless for some women.
Yasmin is also a killer, which can be said of all oral contraceptives.
The week that it was released, a 17-year-old girl in Holland died of thrombosis that was caused by Yasmin.
You might imagine how excited I was when, a week after the Dutch girl died, my daughter’s GP wroter her a prescription for Yasmin.
Oral contraceptives need to be prescribed and monitored by the female’s doctor.

rosemilk · Answer

that's not safe for younger females that don't really have any prior knowledge to it, the side effects that can happen, etc, especially without doctor supervision... it needs to be discussed with a gyno first and foremost. this is not something to mess around with.

FriendlyDrugDealer · Answer

Unfortunately no. There’s multiple types of birth controls because not every woman can take any type of birth control without any side effects or issues. Some women can take Junel but can’t take sprintec. I would definitely would like that birth control becomes much easier, safer and more innovative for women which is a work in progress but not at the safety of women.

weasley8 · Answer

No. There are so many different kinds with so many different side effects, and they effect everyone differently. I don't think someone should be able to get it without first at least having a conversation with a doctor about it. I definitely think it should be easier to get a prescription, without all the invasive tests that are currently required. But I don't think most birth control pills should be available over the counter. That's dangerous.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, I feel pharmacists in the US should be able to encourage any female to get birth control over the counter and or also prescribe birth control if that would be needed also Pharmacists should be allowed to give birth control injections such as Depo

ODC2112 · Answer

Contraceptives are not mints, they are drugs.

Often not completely safe from a physiological point of view, from numerous problems such as:
cardiovascular pathologies; deep vein thrombosis; hypertension (the risks of all this are about 1000 times higher than those of the riskiest anti covid vaccine so to speak). The birth control pill should not be given to people with previous heart and vascular disease; in which the diagnosis has been made or there is a suspicion of uterine and / or breast cancer; with liver tumors; with hepatic or renal insufficiency.

Then it must be said that there is no birth control pill, but there are many. These are not all the same.

So it's okay that they are prescribed by the doctor.

BlackBeauty90 · Answer

No. And only fool who should get their tubes tied so their stupidity gets weeded out of the genepool would think yes.

Birth control pills are hormone based. They're not candy. Taken wrong, for there is different dosage, and well calling the woman brain damaged is being generous.

hannahjo022 · Answer

No. Not all birth control pills will work the same for everyone. Plus, what if a female is on a medication that she really needs and know which birth control is best for her so it won't interact with her medication. Plus, all women's hormones are different from each other. I am on birth control due to irregular periods and need a doctor to help me find which birth control pill will work best for me and my health concerns.

melanieeeB · Answer

Nahh not everyone should just like that have access to it. There are some heavy hormones and like I use them myself but I informed myself and my doctor was also pretty informative about the pill and it should definitely stay that way

AllThatSweetJazz · Answer

No. People can have bad reactions to them and they mess with your body. You should consult with a doctor before taking anything like that. It's just being safe.

purplepoppy · Answer

I get mine free from the doctor and I'm certainly not going to pay for them. I've seen the adverts for over the counter pills and I can't think why anyone would buy something thats free.
What does spring to mind is people buying them so they can abuse underage girls.

Red_Arrow · Answer

Birth control pills work by messing with your hormones. They should only be available by prescription. I know locally, and maybe nationally, pharmacists can prescribe them. That saves on doctor costs. But the pills still cost just as any medicine does. There are some free clinics that can provide them.

captain_voidwalker · Answer

I could be wrong about this but birth control pills work by messing with your hormones. I'd think it best to consult with a doctor first before taking such things , but in the preventing health complications sense i agree with easier access to contraception part

BillyBalls · Answer

I would say no.

I am not a biologist or M. D. but I do know any hormone therapy needs to be monitored.

Don't forget "birth control pills" are prescribed for reasons other than birth control also.

That being said, "the pill" is actual medicine. Any use of medication needs to be monitored by a doctor.

TsundereMatrix · Answer

I think it should depend on the brand. For brands with less hormones, sure. But there’s brands out there that have higher levels of hormones which can cause blood clots. I think those ones should be prescribed by a doctor.

worldscolide · Answer

Im not sure i support that kind of thing. I mean if it was made 100% completely safe, no side effects, sure. But even the most mild one can have horrible side effects depending on the woman. My wife got lucky, no side effects, if she had side effects from it, bad ones anyway, i would insist we try to find a different one.

Gwenhwyfar · Answer

I think so but I’m not sure health science isn’t my area of expertise

AndrewMG · Answer

I believe in expecting the best of people rather than the worse, it might be a naïve perspective but I'd rather live in a world where I think people do things for the right reason, so I'm going to say yes on this occasion but I fully understand anyone who has a difference of opinion lol

Wester1967 · Answer

It’s over the counter in Colombia. You can get immediate home delivery if needed. No prescription. Colombians and Mexicans think you all are totally and absolutely crazy. Doctors are just middle men for the pharmaceutical exploitation industry in the USA

AD240pCharlie · Answer

Hormonal birth control can have a lot of potential side effects that most people aren't aware of. No matter what you're taking - birth control, painkillers, whatever - you have to make sure that you're informed and know what it is you're putting in your body. Most people never bother to actually look into what certain chemicals can do to your brain or body.
But in a way, that would mean that it'd be your own fault if something gets messed up.

David_Kek · Answer

If you can get them over the counter without a prescription, then you may as well get all drugs the same way, since the reason why they do require a prescription in the first place is because if used irresponsibly then they can be quite dangerous.

Really this is just part of the larger debate of "should all drugs be legal and laissez-faire?".

Coulis · Answer

No because birth control comes in different intensities and the individual woman's (yes woman not person with a vagina) genitourinary situation.

JamesRandiDebates · Answer

Everything should be available without prescription. You shouldn't need a permission slip to put something in your own body

Mango-man · Answer

No, it is metabolism-modifying medicament and as such should be consulted with healthcare professional.

shepardmaddison · Answer

I think those pills have quite a lot of side effects and affect a lot to women so I find it better that a doctor prescribes them.

Recurrence · Answer

I think there needs to be some medical consultation, like how some people have different reactions. But I think that service should be freely available

Flower7 · Answer

Yes. That would solve a lot of problems in society.

boxxie2002 · Answer

Only if pharmacies can competently perform the right health checks at time of purchase.

I believe doctors to a blood pressure check and check against any other medications you are on for reactions prior to providing a script.

Over the counter would make them more expensive, but you wouldn't have the doctor consult fee every 3 months

jackieistired · Answer

Certain birth controls don’t work with certain bodies, a doctor with your medical background should help you find the one that is least likely to alter your overall body function

Subarugirl · Answer

Absolutely not! Birthcontrol comes with a plethora or risks that should be evaluated with a doctor.

jshm2 · Answer

They are.

But really, use some sense and just get yourself "fitting" with a coil or similar if you want to avoid pregnancy.

You're being a moron, expecting to avoid pregnancy, while not taking adequate precautions.

Smashingdoozy · Answer

No not without prescription. You need to discuss with a Dr what one would be best for you. They should be free for everyone though.

SnakeBoop · Answer

Birth control should be absolutely free to access by everybody.

ObscuredBeyond · Answer

The lobbies that want these to be OTC, are the same ghouls that defend child trafficking. That they infiltrate school districts at every given opportunity, likewise, should surprise no one.

lovedejj_xo · Answer

No they mess with hormones it took like 4 and talking to my doctor before I found the right one for me.

Ayanna240 · Answer

birth control pills are not good for your body especially if taken long term. they shouldn't be taken even with a prescription.

Kaamraj · Answer

My position in this matter is completely medical. If taking of birth control pills do not require medical supervision and monitoring than they should be made over the counter.

sheikalana · Answer

They should! Where I live they are for sale without a prescription.

genericname85 · Answer

No. This is a serious drug. Not like aspirine, vitamins it cough drops... They can fuck you up pretty bad and that's why a doctor should be involved. That's why it's prescription based to begin with.

crazy8000 · Answer

Absolutely not. They can become a health issue for a lot of people. It's like doing the same fo betablockers.

DWornock · Answer

In a free society, which obviously the USA is not, all drugs should be legal to purchase provided you are not putting others at risk after taking them such as driving when drunk or impaired but the drug.

Sadgirl1994 · Answer

No they shouldn’t. Because there are risks involved with taking them and people taking should be evaluated before starting on them.

Exterminatore · Answer

No. They should be paid for by taxes distributed for free as widely as possible. We have far too many retards running around in this country and don’t need more.

Ninaface · Answer

I mean, people are talking about side effects yet cigarettes and alcohol are still over the counter... drugs with worse effects and more dangerous to mix with other medications.

Tiptoetamm · Answer

Hell yeah they should be. Not everyone has insurance or can afford it so it should be available to all women who need and want it.

DJB72 · Answer

Given that there are so many different types and they interact with every part of the body in ways a lay person can't predict it makes sense that they need to be prescribed by a doctor

Mangospacho · Answer

I think they are free with insurance now so if they moved to OTC, they would have to be registered under a brand name and the pills would then cost money. Just make the appointment and get the prescription and then you get the pills for free.

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

Birth control can seriously mess you up so you definitely should have a prescription. Would be weird to have them for sale.

sarahlumpkin · Answer

There are contraceptive alternatives... I take them myself knowing the future reproductive risks are low

LinaDaGoddess · Answer

Yes and definitely cheaper.. BC is super expensive.

Kabluie · Answer

Never. An OBGYN can make the determination what would be best. Sometimes the pill is not the best option for some women.

Lliam · Answer

I don't see why not. When I was young, girls could get them from what we called "the free clinic".

stillagoodgirl · Answer

No way. People will buy them up and resell them or throw them out so no one else can use them. But hey maybe that's a good thing?

Luopio27 · Answer

Nothing should be allowed to be sold or prescribed over the counter. All pills should be used only in their original purpose, not as substitutes for something elsa.

Likes2drive · Answer

Yes and no, because it’s not something they should just be able to take without advice on what can happen and what it does, should be some type of consultation beforehand

Mehzmeh · Answer

Yup!! If condoms are so should birth control pills. If plan-b is. So should birth control pills. Just saying.

Should birth control pills be for sale over the counter without a prescription?

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