Birth Control Pills: Should They be Available Over-the-counter ...

Many of you may have heard that last week, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), recommended that birth control pills be sold over-the-counter without the need for a health care provider?s exam or prescription. The main reasons behind their recommendation are to increase access and to decrease the cost of birth control pills with the hopes of reducing the number of unintended pregnancies that occur in the U.S.

While we, at Virginia Women?s Center, appreciate the reasons behind this recommendation, we are concerned about the potential repercussions that could arise if birth control pills were available over-the-counter. It?s important to note that an annual exam with an OB-GYN or women?s health nurse practitioner is much more than a birth control prescription or a Pap test.

An annual exam includes a complete review of a woman?s medical history, a pelvic exam, a breast exam, health counseling and the opportunity to ask questions and build a relationship with her health care provider.

Additionally, it may include a discussion on contraception, lab tests or a Pap test. By making birth control pills available without a prescription, many women could miss out on catching health issues or diseases at an earlier time ? when they are easier and less expensive to treat.

Additionally, while birth control pills are for the most part very safe, they are not the right choice in contraception for all women. As Dr. Peter Zedler says, ?There have been many times that patients have come into my office with the plan to use certain types of contraception. However, after we discuss the different options available as well as the risks and benefits of each, they change their minds.? By having birth control pills available over-the-counter, this important discussion with a health care provider may not happen.

One of the reasons why ACOG is recommending this move to over-the-counter birth control pills is because of the cost associated with going to the doctor to obtain a prescription. In the Richmond community, there are several low-cost options for women without insurance. In addition, if birth control pills were sold over-the-counter, they would not be covered by insurance, similar to condoms today. This could actually increase the cost of birth control pills.

At Virginia Women?s Center, we emphasize the importance of preventative care. We see great value in our annual well-woman visits and enjoy partnering together to create an individualized health care plan, which includes a discussion on the appropriate contraception choice for each patient.

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Virginia Women's Center

Women's health care has changed a lot over the last few decades. That?s why Virginia Women?s Center has brought the medical services women most rely on under one convenient roof. Virginia Women's Center is care that revolves around you.

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Source: http://richmondmom.com/2012/11/27/birth-control-pills-should-they-be-available-over-the-counter/

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