A thought:

[lovefromgirl]

If we insist that abortion must be expensive and, in some states, next to impossible to get, perhaps we should sell hormonal birth control over-the-counter. Or would that give women too much control over their own fertility?

Brought to you by the Department of Having to Call For A New Prescription Every Two Frelling Months (Like It Will Have Changed).

Comments

[willworker.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised they don't give you more refills than that. Most of the docs I know will give you 6 months, at least, if you've been on a consistent medication/dose (which it sounds like you have). Pester your doc until they at least cut it down to twice a year!

Steve

[lovefromgirl.livejournal.com]

Next time I see her, I will. PP used to give me half a year, and I liked that.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

My doc gives me a full year and my pharmacy refills it one month at a time because my insurance is weird like that.

[lovefromgirl.livejournal.com]

I can also see filling it one month at a time--filling it is easy. I just go up to the pharmacy and say I need my birth control pills. What I have a problem with is having to ask for it every couple of months. They have also been dodgy about my benzos (had to get a new psych) but I am scratching my head over Irina's logic on my birth control. It's not like this is a new formulation for me.

[cheshire23.livejournal.com]

Extending the refills is definitely a good idea for a prescription that has been working effectively in the same way for some time.

I can't get behind OTC-ing hormonal BC as a whole, though, for two reasons:

1) Hello shoplifters! (Though in that case behind-the-counter could be an acceptable compromise.)

2) The very non-trivial portion of women who have serious mental health side effects on hormonal BC. I had them to a point, though the unpleasant physical ones and the fact that nobody told me hormonal BC doesn't work quite as well at my weight were more pressing issues in my decision not to resume it post-Alex. But I know women who have become suicidally depressed on hormonal BC and at least one other who says that it's incredibly effective contraception because she becomes so irritable and explosive that nobody would want to get close enough to have sex with her while she's on it.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Yes, but at least it could be an option for women who know they don't have serious side effects?

[lovefromgirl.livejournal.com]

I can get behind a black box warning to that effect. BTC is a good idea in my state, but I know there are states in which it's really hit or miss whether you get a too-fundie-for-my-job pharmacist.