Boots to offer morning after pill without prescription - thoughts

Bull76

From a man's point of view I think it's about time and should have been done a long time ago.
Every woman of the consenting age should be able to get this and not have to worry about paying 50E to a doctor only to get a lecture.

annieire

This would be much welcomed! About time too in my opinion!

coffee_cake

panda100 wrote: »

And personally I could never bring myself to tell the doctor we just didn't bother using a condom for fear of the big lecture on safe sex.So I always just used to lie and say the condom burst.

o.O


Anyway as I said in AH this is great news!

GPs can sod off

Madame Razz

Most welcome!!! Well done Boots!!!

TheNewMee

Deleted User wrote: »

What they should do is adopt a similar style in America, where they give proper sexual education and free condoms out to school. Young 'uns are going to be having sex regardless, so at least you can make sure they're being safe.

I'm really not sure you should be taking the US as the shining beacon on how to do proper sex ed...

serenacat

I'd worry that the morning after could be used as a form of b/c on a positive note if is bound to reduce abortion rates to some degree, is there an age limit of 16 on this still?

Fluorescence

I think it's great, and a long time coming, but I also hate to think of the amount of people who'll think that it's another reason not to use contraceptives... Just because it's available, doesn't mean it's something that should be used regularly or in place of "proper" contraception.

AnnyHallsal

Thank God, at last. Having been through the rather traumatic MAP process with a few friends this is excellent news.

Maple

fluorescence wrote: »

I think it's great, and a long time coming, but I also hate to think of the amount of people who'll think that it's another reason not to use contraceptives... Just because it's available, doesn't mean it's something that should be used regularly or in place of "proper" contraception.

This.

Great move by Boots, but good sexual health practises should be maintained not only to prevent pregnancy but also STIs.

Jenneke87

Great stuff. This has been done in NL here for years and it's working out fine here. I remember that I once had to get a MAP in Ireland and I had to pay 60E for a GP visit first and then another 26E for the pill itself and thought it was outrageous. I can even imagine that if you are really strapped for cash you may decide to take your chances and find out the hard way if you were lucky or not.

Fluorescence

maple wrote: »

This.

Great move by Boots, but good sexual health practises should be maintained not only to prevent pregnancy but also STIs.

This is the main thing. Proper programs need to be put together in schools to teach people about this sort of thing. I know when we got out "sex ed" talk in first year (2003), it was basically just a repetition of the talk we had in primary school - all about periods and not to flush santry towels down the toilet :rolleyes:. If people believe pregnancy is the worst thing that can happen from unprotected sex, or that a girl being on the pill is enough, then we have some serious problems.

psycho-hope

I think its a great idea, only thing that would put me off is most boots pharmacies i have been in seem to have male pharmacists, yes I know there professonials, god knows my boss is a man, but would just feel weird talkin bout that kinda stuff with a male pharmacist, was odd enough talking to a male doctor about the implanon( just me being weird i know)

The other thing that would concern me is there doesnt seem to be anything stopping someone from going to a different boots every few weeks to get the MAP. I'm hoping that boots will have some kind of system in place that will flag up if someone is gettin it semi-regularly and have some way of dealing with this.

AnnyHallsal

psycho-hope wrote: »

The other thing that would concern me is there doesnt seem to be anything stopping someone from going to a different boots every few weeks to get the MAP. I'm hoping that boots will have some kind of system in place that will flag up if someone is gettin it semi-regularly and have some way of dealing with this.

While I don't deny this could be an issue, I doubt it will be. I personally don't know anyone who's had to use it more than once and while I lived in England never heard of it being used regularly. Its still more expensive than regular contraceptives, more inconvenient, and given the physical side-effects, I think it will be mostly used as intended - for emergencies.

coffee_cake

I think enough women get sick enough from it they wouldn't be taking it too often

Xiney

Fantastic news.

I remember considering whether I should attempt to get a course of MAP up north to have handy for living in the republic just in case... I thought I might be better off having it available rather than needing to jump through hoops to get it.

How Strange

It's about bloody time! The onky thing the medical profession are worried about is losing their cash cow. I got it a few times over the years and mist times the doc has cut up packets of the contraceptive pill, gives you some of them and anti-nausea tablets and sends you on your way. I don't recall having any specialised tests etc done to make sure I wouldn't have an adverse reaction so I don't see why a pharmacist can't dispense it. It just breaks the cartel that exists and let's hope it's the start of many changes.

metrovelvet

bluewolf wrote: »

I think enough women get sick enough from it they wouldn't be taking it too often

That and its 45 Euro.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0110/breaking45.html

Nevyn

Boots will want details, name and address and if the person has a boots card it can be connected to them that way and as all the Boots dispensing chemists are on the one comuputer network it will be easy for them to trace/track anyone who is abusing it.

PrincessLola

Great news
But everyone needs to calm down, it is not going to replace regular contraception; it costs nearly 50euro ffs.

psycho-hope

Thaedydal wrote: »

Boots will want details, name and address and if the person has a boots card it can be connected to them that way and as all the Boots dispensing chemists are on the one comuputer network it will be easy for them to trace/track anyone who is abusing it.

ah fair enough didnt realise that boots had all there computers connected

Greenmachine

I think this is a positive thing. I am assuming it will be dispensed by the pharmacist. I think it is a positive step. As a guy I have no idea what was involved in the old process. I am guessing at the very least making an appointment, taking time off work, keeping appointment and collecting script. Guessing it would come to about €100 under the old system.
Not to mention people putting it off especially if the process is as difficult as some of the posts have suggested. Now people can acknowledge their mistakes, remedy it without all the ho-ha that's involved at the moment and get on with their lives.

Michellenman

Thaedydal wrote: »

Boots will want details, name and address and if the person has a boots card it can be connected to them that way and as all the Boots dispensing chemists are on the one comuputer network it will be easy for them to trace/track anyone who is abusing it.

Boots don't give advantage cards points on medicines, whether over the counter or not as far as I know.

About time this came in to effect. Makes you wonder what has stopped them up until now.

The_Minister

panda100 wrote: »

And personally I could never bring myself to tell the doctor we just didn't bother using a condom for fear of the big lecture on safe sex. So I always just used to lie and say the condom burst.

And he would be right to have given you a lecture (or, from his perspective, much needed advice).

The morning-after pill prevents pregnancy, it doesn't prevent any of the numerous STDs out there. These can be mild irritants, or they can be life-threatening, and they should not be risked lightly.

I know you're a lot more sensible than this; one of the main fears with making this across the counter is that people will disregard other forms of contraception in favour of getting the MAP - a position which you seem to have admitted to.

It would not be unreasonable for a doctor to tell you this and it is unfair to characterise his attempts to inform you of safe sex practice in a negative way as a lecture'.

starlit

Is there a likely chance they will introduce the regular contraceptive pill in Boots though? Or has that already been considered after having introduced the morning after pill?

LegacyUser

According to the above link Boots are going to start offering the morning after pill from Wednesday. I think this is excellent news.

What does everyone think?

I seem to be in the minority here....part of me thinks its a great idea, but the other part of me thinks it has the potential to be a terrible idea.

Sometimes i think people forget that the pill can have very serious/lethal side effects, i know the chances of people actually getting a blood clot from the pill are relatively small, (and i know i'm biased because i was one of those women who very nearly died) but i just wonder if its a good idea to dispense this without a medical professional at least getting the persons medical history....

Thinspired

Delighted they finally introduced it, have only had cause to take it twice but both times there was no "consultation" with the doctor. Me: I was sick after taking my pill, night-long vomiting and the works. Him: Ok here's the morning after pill. Second time was me completely forgetting to use barrier method for seven days after antibiotic. E60 for the doc's 75-second consultation plus extra for the pill. I see no reason why a qualified pharmacist can't do the same. If anything they'd probably give you a more thorough consultation! And all in for E45.

It's bad enough when you're in a panic thinking you need the MAP wothout having to go through the hassle of booking a doctor's appointment etc

LegacyUser

This seems like good news. I remember when I was 18 I had been sick after taking my contraceptive pill but still had sex with my boyfriend.
Due to having to travel to a wedding that weekend, and then having to travel back up to college, and being really busy in college that monday, I had foolishly left it right up until the 3rd day to get the morning after pill. So that monday evening after college, just before closing time I walked into the chemist[not boots] to ask them for the morning after pill.
They looked at me like an idiot[which I was], when they realized I didn't have a prescription.
I honestly never knew at that stage that you couldn't just buy it, cos I had always read in magazines about people buying it in an emergency.
They said "just come back tomorrow with a prescription because we can't give it otherwise", but then I explained that by then the 72 hour limit would be up. All of the nearby city doctor's were closed too and chemist was closing so couldn't get a prescription.

They said they couldn't do anything but looked sympathetic. I turned to leave and couldn't help but start crying as I was walking out. I had just reached the door when a girl from the back of the chemist called me back.
She told me to wait and that she would see what she could do. At this stage I was shaking with panic, and couldn't stop the tears, I was so convinced that I could be pregnant in my first year of college. I was absolutely terrified.
The woman rang a doctor [it was either a doctor that was "on call" outside the city, or else a doctor from the hospital, not sure what she told me]
She explained my situation and then got me to speak to the doctor. He asked me a few questions about allergies, and asked if I had a cold because I sounded very congested but I explained that was only because I had been crying and was sniffly.

Anyhow, he very kindly gave permission to the staff to give me the Levonelle tablet. It was only about 14 euro though if I remember correctly.
I was never more grateful, and thanked him and the staff loads. It definitely thought me a lesson the hard way about how things could have been so much different if I hadn't been helped out, and how silly I was for leaving it till the last minute.

I can imagine that many young people might possibly be too shy to go to their local family doctor, or just don't have much knowledge of the procedure you have to go through to actually get the morning pill.
This move by Boots could prevent a lot of unplanned pregnancies.
I don't think people will abuse it and use it as a form of contraception,
-because of the new 40 euro price,
-but also because nobody would actually willingly want or plan to be in the situation to have to get emergency contraception.
It's for what it says on the box-emergencies.

Good move Boots. :-)

bronte

They actually do! I had several questions when I had to get it a while back (in London) I felt totally reassured and confident once I had the information.
The pharmacist could not have been nicer or more helpful.

Sungodbr

<snip>:)

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The_Minister wrote: »

The morning-after pill prevents pregnancy, it doesn't prevent any of the numerous STDs out there. These can be mild irritants, or they can be life-threatening, and they should not be risked lightly.

That, and the fact that it isn't 100% effective (84% I think), so relying on it is just plain stupid!