Free birth control for all!

from little acorns · 20-12-2014 8:32am #1

I understand that this is available in the UK (or at least to some extent, I assume restrictions apply.)

Would it not make sense to introduce it in Ireland? Whatever the cost to provide this, surely massive savings would be made on the cost of child benefit and healthcare and other costs relating to unplanned pregnancies? Possibly it is available currently to those with a medical card (I don't know?) but it seems to me to be quite difficult to qualify for the medical card.

For non-barrier contraception, the main cost seems to be the regular doctor appointments, so these would have to be made free too.

One possible downside - People obtaining the condoms/pills/etc and reselling them abroad. So some sort of restrictions/controls would need to be implemented to avoid this.

Also would need to consider what age you can receive this from? To me, I think no age restriction, and no need to inform parents if teenagers are receiving condoms (some might disagree.)

What do you think?

Saipanne · 20-12-2014 8:36am

That's some topic for 7.30am.

kneemos · 20-12-2014 9:07am

There's ageing populations across most of the developed world,even the Chinese are allowing more babies.
Don't see too many Governments
being eager to adopt it.

Canis Lupus · 20-12-2014 9:08am

Less sex and more mass is what think.

ShatterProof · 20-12-2014 9:11am

Keep your mickey in your pants

somuj · 20-12-2014 9:14am

We need population control. Its a good idea. Not everybody should be allowed to breed anyway.

Grayson · 20-12-2014 9:26am

kneemos wrote: »

There's ageing populations across most of the developed world,even the Chinese are allowing more babies.
Don't see too many Governments
being eager to adopt it.

but not here. We have a very young population.

I'm all for it although I do have reservations for allowing teenagers access without parental permission. On the one hand it's their children and they should be informed. On the other hand it would help stop a responsible teenager getting pregnant (I'll assume the ones who bother getting birth control are responsible). I'd be more in favour of allowing the teenagers access, but it's a very murky topic.

honerbright · 20-12-2014 9:28am

In New Zealand, as far as I remember, appointments at family planning centers were free for under 25s and I think I only paid about $3 for a few months worth of prescription, and they'd always give me free boxes of condoms. When I moved to Ireland I was shocked (and still am, tbh) at the €50 charge for appointments and €15 charge to get reception to print it off if you don't see the Dr.

Contraceptives should be more widely available, and there needs to be more education on the different types available, especially considering that abortion is still a big no go here.

Grayson · 20-12-2014 9:41am

honerbright wrote: »

Contraceptives should be more widely available, and there needs to be more education on the different types available, especially considering that abortion is still a big no go here.

The same organisations who prevent abortion are also the same organisations that would prevent this.

somuj · 20-12-2014 10:26am

Grayson wrote: »

The same organisations who prevent abortion are also the same organisations that would prevent this.

Condoms are still taxed as luxury item. Its a fcukn disgrace.

Chucken · 20-12-2014 2:05pm

honerbright wrote: »

In New Zealand, as far as I remember, appointments at family planning centers were free for under 25s and I think I only paid about $3 for a few months worth of prescription, and they'd always give me free boxes of condoms. When I moved to Ireland I was shocked (and still am, tbh) at the €50 charge for appointments and €15 charge to get reception to print it off if you don't see the Dr.

Contraceptives should be more widely available, and there needs to be more education on the different types available, especially considering that abortion is still a big no go here.

What has abortion got to do with contraception?

Oops69 · 20-12-2014 2:28pm

Condoms should be Available t a heavily subsidised price as a public health measure rather than relatively inexpensive combined contraception pills (some can be as cheap as 4€ a month ) , more expensive contraceptives should be available heavily subsidised eg mirena or implants if considered the most appropriate contraceptive choice .

darkpagandeath · 20-12-2014 2:31pm

Because Religion, Even worse when your doctor can refuse treatment due to his/her religious views.....

seamus · 20-12-2014 2:33pm

Chucken wrote: »

What has abortion got to do with contraception?

You do realise there's a correlation between the rate of contraceptive use and the rate of abortion, right?

More contraceptive use == less abortions.

A someone else said, the mind-numbing issue here is that you have organisations who simultaneously oppose both.

Of course contraception should be free. Making it inaccessible is the reason why teen pregnancies and child poverty rates are highest in poor communites.

darkpagandeath · 20-12-2014 2:39pm

Look at places like Africa that have these organisations still exerting huge power.

Chucken · 20-12-2014 2:43pm

honerbright wrote: »

In New Zealand.....

Contraceptives should be more widely available, and there needs to be more education on the different types available, especially considering that abortion is still a big no go here.

seamus wrote: »

You do realise there's a correlation between the rate of contraceptive use and the rate of abortion, right?

More contraceptive use == less abortions.

A someone else said, the mind-numbing issue here is that you have organisations who simultaneously oppose both.

Of course contraception should be free. Making it inaccessible is the reason why teen pregnancies and child poverty rates are highest in poor communites.

You do realise that it's not that long ago that there was NO contraception available in the Republic? It's not 'inaccessable', as you put it.
The post I highlighted looks to me like abortion IS a form of contraception.

My grandmother, born in 1906, had 2 children. I wonder how she managed that? Women got to know their own bodies, thats how.

darkpagandeath · 20-12-2014 2:48pm

Chucken wrote: »

You do realise that it's not that long ago that there was NO contraception available in the Republic? It's not 'inaccessable', as you put it.
The post I highlighted looks to me like abortion IS a form of contraception.

My grandmother, born in 1906, had 2 children. I wonder how she managed that? Women got to know their own bodies, thats how.

Really so were did the huge Irish family come from then ? Choice ?

Grayson · 20-12-2014 2:50pm

Chucken wrote: »

What has abortion got to do with contraception?

I realise that seamus has addressed this but...

Sometimes when a man and a woman like each other in a very special way his whatsit gets put in her woohoo....

Abortions occur when a woman doesn't want to be pregnant. It's pretty rare that a woman who wants a baby has an abortion.

If they had used contraception they would be far, far less likely to be pregnant. That means they'd be far less likely to get an abortion. An abortion is generally a last option type decision.

The first Marie Stopes clinic in London was a family planning clinic. It offered women the chance to have control over their bodies and stop unwanted pregnancies. Women used to queue around the block to visit it.

Can you imagine a time when there was no contraception? A married woman would keep having children as long as she had sex. Until very recently that was the case in Ireland. I'm not old but I can remember the virgin megastore in Dublin being raided to get condoms.

One last fact about pregnancy and contraception. The largest killer of women under the age of 30 world wide (especially in the third world) is pregnancy & childbirth. Educating women and providing them with the option to control when they get pregnant is one of the best ways to prevent this. In fact it could be argued that the pill & latex condom are two of the greatest inventions of the 20th century because of the power and control it gave to women.

seventeen sheep · 20-12-2014 2:52pm

Chucken wrote: »

My grandmother, born in 1906, had 2 children. I wonder how she managed that? Women got to know their own bodies, thats how.

Or maybe your grandmother had endometriosis, or maybe your grandfather had a low sperm count.

One in four couples have trouble conceiving, and these problems existed long before contraception was available.

Grayson · 20-12-2014 2:54pm

Chucken wrote: »

You do realise that it's not that long ago that there was NO contraception available in the Republic? It's not 'inaccessable', as you put it.
The post I highlighted looks to me like abortion IS a form of contraception.

My grandmother, born in 1906, had 2 children. I wonder how she managed that? Women got to know their own bodies, thats how.

You do realise that every woman's body is different. Some women can have unprotected sex for decades and get pregnant once. That could also be due to your granddad having a low sperm count.

Both of those are far more likely than the catholic churches "natural family planning".

The bit in bold actually sounds like the US politician that women can't get pregnant when raped because their bodies deal with it.

Chucken · 20-12-2014 2:55pm

I don't know why some posters are making it sound like contraception is difficult to get

Don't make the country look stupid please!
Contraception
In practice, advice on contraception and prescriptions for contraceptive drugs and devices are provided by GPs, voluntary organisations and specialist private family planning clinics.

If you have a medical card, you are entitled to free GP services including contraceptive advice and prescriptions for contraceptive drugs and devices. Occasionally, a GP or pharmacist may refuse to provide these services. If this happens, the HSE is obliged to provide you with an alternative service - either through another GP, another pharmacist or a family planning organisation, voluntary or private.

If you do not have a medical card, the costs of contraceptive drugs and devices may be included in the subsidy arrangements for prescribed drugs and medicines.

Voluntary and private family planning clinics also provide contraceptive services. The voluntary providers usually have charges but may waive them or accept lower amounts in certain cases.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/women_s_health/family_planning_services.html

Maybe educating people on what IS available would be better than the scaremongering?

seamus · 20-12-2014 2:55pm

Chucken wrote: »

My grandmother, born in 1906, had 2 children. I wonder how she managed that? Women got to know their own bodies, thats how.

Chucken, you're female, right?

And you think the rhythm method of contraception actually works?

You do realise that the majority of the Irish population born before the 1990s were happy accidents?

darkpagandeath · 20-12-2014 2:56pm

Chucken wrote: »

I don't know why some posters are making it sound like contraception is difficult to get Don't make the country look stupid please!
Contraception
In practice, advice on contraception and prescriptions for contraceptive drugs and devices are provided by GPs, voluntary organisations and specialist private family planning clinics.

If you have a medical card, you are entitled to free GP services including contraceptive advice and prescriptions for contraceptive drugs and devices. Occasionally, a GP or pharmacist may refuse to provide these services. If this happens, the HSE is obliged to provide you with an alternative service - either through another GP, another pharmacist or a family planning organisation, voluntary or private.

If you do not have a medical card, the costs of contraceptive drugs and devices may be included in the subsidy arrangements for prescribed drugs and medicines.

Voluntary and private family planning clinics also provide contraceptive services. The voluntary providers usually have charges but may waive them or accept lower amounts in certain cases.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/women_s_health/family_planning_services.html

Maybe educating people on what IS available would be better than the scaremongering?

You missing all the voluntary in there ?

Grayson · 20-12-2014 3:01pm

Chucken wrote: »

I don't know why some posters are making it sound like contraception is difficult to get Don't make the country look stupid please!
Contraception
In practice, advice on contraception and prescriptions for contraceptive drugs and devices are provided by GPs, voluntary organisations and specialist private family planning clinics.

If you have a medical card, you are entitled to free GP services including contraceptive advice and prescriptions for contraceptive drugs and devices. Occasionally, a GP or pharmacist may refuse to provide these services. If this happens, the HSE is obliged to provide you with an alternative service - either through another GP, another pharmacist or a family planning organisation, voluntary or private.

If you do not have a medical card, the costs of contraceptive drugs and devices may be included in the subsidy arrangements for prescribed drugs and medicines.

Voluntary and private family planning clinics also provide contraceptive services. The voluntary providers usually have charges but may waive them or accept lower amounts in certain cases.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/women_s_health/family_planning_services.html

Maybe educating people on what IS available would be better than the scaremongering?

If you're not on the medical card it's still quite pricy. The gist of the thread is that it should be free or at least so cheap as makes no difference.

It's really a healthcare product and I think it should be free. At the very least it shouldn't be classed as a luxury item as someone here pointed out.

Chucken · 20-12-2014 3:10pm

Grayson wrote: »

If you're not on the medical card it's still quite pricy. The gist of the thread is that it should be free or at least so cheap as makes no difference.

It's really a healthcare product and I think it should be free. At the very least it shouldn't be classed as a luxury item as someone here pointed out.

Approx €1 per condom in Boots..not that dear in the long run. They're free in family planning clinics.
I don't like the way this thread is nearly maintaining that contraception is so expensive that people can't avail of it.
Misinformation is worse than no information.

darkpagandeath · 20-12-2014 3:15pm

Chucken wrote: »

Approx €1 per condom in Boots..not that dear in the long run. They're free in family planning clinics.
I don't like the way this thread is nearly maintaining that contraception is so expensive that people can't avail of it.
Misinformation is worse than no information.

They should be free to be fair, What is cheaper family allowance and all associated government grants tax credits and all that. Or handing out birth control to people that don't want children.

The_Valeyard · 20-12-2014 3:21pm

Chucken wrote: »

Approx €1 per condom in Boots..not that dear in the long run. They're free in family planning clinics.
I don't like the way this thread is nearly maintaining that contraception is so expensive that people can't avail of it.
Misinformation is worse than no information.

A lot cheaper than raising a kid alright.

Grayson · 20-12-2014 3:21pm

Chucken wrote: »

Approx €1 per condom in Boots..not that dear in the long run. They're free in family planning clinics.
I don't like the way this thread is nearly maintaining that contraception is so expensive that people can't avail of it.
Misinformation is worse than no information.

A euro for a bit of rubber is very expensive.

Gongoozler · 20-12-2014 3:30pm

Chucken wrote: »

Approx €1 per condom in Boots..not that dear in the long run. They're free in family planning clinics.
I don't like the way this thread is nearly maintaining that contraception is so expensive that people can't avail of it.
Misinformation is worse than no information.

I consider €1 per condom a little too much tbh.

But condoms are apparently a very unreliable form of contraception, hence the need for and use of other types, which are expensive. Paying €50 or more to go to your doctor every six months is excessive, and that's before the cost of the medication itself. I'm on a medical card at the moment and so I don't actually pay the doctor and don't know how much my cerazette costs (would love to know if anyone could tell me for when my medical card runs out), but I will have to consider other option when I do have to pay.

UCDVet · 20-12-2014 3:33pm

I can understand the argument that the people having sex should pay for their own birth control.

The problem is that, in Ireland, we will pay for their children.

So, either we ditch social welfare as we know it....or we should pay for contraception. Not because it is fair, or right, but because it costs a lot less to pay for birth control than it does to pay for someone's child.

UCDVet · 20-12-2014 3:36pm

seamus wrote: »

Chucken, you're female, right?

And you think the rhythm method of contraception actually works?

You do realise that the majority of the Irish population born before the 1990s were happy accidents?

I'm not advocating it - but a combination of the rhythm method and early withdrawal is actually quite effective. Not as effective as condoms or the pill though.

Free birth control for all!

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