What is getting the pill for you like at the GP?

jeanjolie

One my mates who used to live with me in the US as a kid and now in Canada is coming to do some work placement along with staying with her boyfriend in Galway at the of June . She's 17 and has non religious but very conservative parents who basically never had any type of sex discussions with her as she was Muslim so she knows shockingly very little about sexual health.

She doesn't know much about her options for birth control. She staying with me for 2 weeks then taking the train West. She'd like to buy the combination pill and get a prescription for 3/6 months here but she's not sure how much it would cost and how the system works for non-residents here.

Could you offer her any useful info?

mahamageehad

She'll need to go to a GP or wellwoman clinic to get a prescription for the pill. This will be done no questions asked, she won't need parental permission or anything. The GP cost should be whatever the usual cost is- €50? €60? Usually they give a 6 month script. Then she can fill that in any chemist. Pills vary from about €5 right up to €35 per month. It's all very easy and not at all embarrassing but the gp visit is the important thing as she'll need to get something that suits her.

jeanjolie

mahamageehad wrote: »

She'll need to go to a GP or wellwoman clinic to get a prescription for the pill. This will be done no questions asked, she won't need parental permission or anything. The GP cost should be whatever the usual cost is- €50? €60? Usually they give a 6 month script. Then she can fill that in any chemist. Pills vary from about €5 right up to €35 per month. It's all very easy and not at all embarrassing but the gp visit is the important thing as she'll need to get something that suits her.

Good but GP's tend to be overpriced here...I know that registered and genuine online doctors can now provide prescriptions for the pill. Do you think it's a better route than spending €50 at the GP?

mahamageehad

jeanjolie wrote: »

Good but GP's tend to be overpriced here...I know that registered and genuine online doctors can now provide prescriptions for the pill. Do you think it's a better route than spending €50 at the GP?

Absolutely not. Go to the GP. You can't put a price on health. Future prescriptions can be filled by online Doctor, I've used them myself in the past (think the script was €25). For the sake of €25 extra, send her to a doctor. Who knows, she may be more comfortable asking a doctor other questions. Maybe see if you can get a female doctor if she's nervous.

Edited to say, sure she's no doctor, she might think a particular type of pill is what she wants, but maybe a doctor might recommend a longer term option like the bar. Or maybe the pill won't suit. A doctor will be able to help.

sullivlo

jeanjolie wrote: »

Good but GP's tend to be overpriced here...I know that registered and genuine online doctors can now provide prescriptions for the pill. Do you think it's a better route than spending €50 at the GP?

Definitely not. I haven't ever used the online service but I think it's only for renewals - you have to have been prescribed it previously. I could be wrong on that.

Either way, they require blood pressure readings and a full family history.

I think your friend would be better to get seen to closer to home in case of any issues. It's not a one-size-fits-all thing for the pill. It can take a few different types to find the one that works, sometimes there are none that work, side effects can be a nightmare too.

Persephone kindness

jeanjolie wrote: »

Good but GP's tend to be overpriced here...I know that registered and genuine online doctors can now provide prescriptions for the pill. Do you think it's a better route than spending €50 at the GP?

No I would go to to a GP they can ask medical history and monitor her for adverse reactions.

pinkypinky

Also tell her to buy the full 6 month allocation together, it will save on the dispensing fee at the chemist. If there's a generic version of the particular pill chosen, go for that to again reduce the price.

jeanjolie

pinkypinky wrote: »

Also tell her to buy the full 6 month allocation together, it will save on the dispensing fee at the chemist. If there's a generic version of the particular pill chosen, go for that to again reduce the price.

How much would that generally cost?

.......

This post has been deleted.

sullivlo

pinkypinky wrote: »

Also tell her to buy the full 6 month allocation together, it will save on the dispensing fee at the chemist. If there's a generic version of the particular pill chosen, go for that to again reduce the price.

...

Unless of course the pill doesn't suit her and she's advised to stop it after 2 months, in which case it's more expensive.

Honestly OP, it would be better for your friend to see a doctor closer to home. She's nearly an adult. She can take responsibility for her own health back home surely.

There's no way an online doc will prescribe any pill for someone whose blood pressure they can't even take. Even if they did, it wouldn't be for more than three months as the pill needs to be monitored quite closely at first to make sure it suits.

Lux23

She should definitely go to the doctor and get her blood pressure etc checked. It really is appalling that you can't go to a free clinic for a simple GP visit like this though.