I need Ladies help

[Ladylethal 12]

Ok. I´ve been on the pill since I was 16, due to crazy period cycle and since I wanted to control flow and accuracy on the days I had it.

So before I get opinions to switch to another birth control method, I´m stating clearly my choice for the pill for other factors other than birth control.

In Brasil I take Yasmin, which is one of the most expensive we have here, but it´s also so much superior than the others. 47 reais for a month supply.

I just checked Wallgreens and they have Yasmin for 48 dollars, which compared to reais is twice as much as I pay now.

Question 1: Are pills really this expensive?

Question 2: Do I need a prescription to buy pills in US?

[iceyspots 0]

yes you need a prescription, but before you get that, the doctor normally recommends a pap smear... if you don't make much money there are Women's Health and Family Planning clinics that can help you.

[Miranda&James 8]

As far as I know, yes, you do need a prescription. I've never taken it before but did just fill my first prescription for BC (waiting to start it) and the regular price was $36.99. However, if you don't have a regular doctor to get it from you can always go to a Planned Parenthood clinic and get a prescription (I think you have to have an exam there first, I've never been, just heard from a friend) and they can also get you discounted prices on the BC.

[Not Available 0]

Yes you need a prescription, and will probably need a pap smear. I noticed the same with my Nuvaring, it's more expensive in the USA than in Canada

[Chicken_Little 0]

If you really like Yasmin, then I'd stick with it. I know the costs here suck (in Canada my pills cost me about $4 a month, whereas here they want $40!) but why fix what isn't broke?

Planned Parenthood uses a sliding scale to decide how much you pay, and so I will be getting my pills for $17/month. More still then I would like, but not bad compared to getting them through a random pharmacy.

Yes, you need a perscription, and may need a pap before hand, but not always. They may also give you a three month supply and have you come back in for a pap after that.

I'm not sure where you are in America, but in Boston, MA, the PPHs offer the HOPE program -- Hormonal Contraception with Optional Pelvic Exam. It means you can opt to not have the pelvic exam and they give you a year's supply of pills. After the year is up, you'll need a pap to get a new script.

www.pplm.org (MA)

www.plannedparenthood.org

[Not Available 0]

I'm not sure where you are in America, but in Boston, MA, the PPHs offer the HOPE program

Hahahaha, sorry i read the HORE program the first time i read it.

So its not just me, something was actually CHEAPER in Canada?

Edited April 19, 2006 by Stina

[Ladylethal 12]

I´m actually going to Puerto Rico. Geez, this is so hard! Here in Brasil I can simply walk into any pharmacy and get any ammount of Yasmin boxes as I want! So much easier!

Am I allowed to bring some with me? ´Cus it´s cheaper here so maybe I can at least take 3 boxes with me until I sort out this whole medical exam thing and getting a prescription.

[Not Available 0]

Sure, I brought 6 boxes of Nuvarings with me

[Ladylethal 12]

So that wouldn´t be a problem at POE at all? Good, I´ll buy some to bring with me, until I can sort out this whole prescription thing and see if I can get it for cheaper. Since I switched to Yasmin I decided not to switch again until they make something MUCH better. It doesn´t compare how no side effects are present with Yasmin. Huge thumbs up for it, didn´t want to go back to cheaper pills simply ´cus 48 dollars for 28 pills is a bit too much for my taste. That´s like 95 reais!

[Jasman0717 9]

I took Claudeth to the Doc and he put her on the basic pill. Fortunately for us the insurance covers all but 10 bucks.

[MrMrsKnight 1]

Hahahaha, sorry i read the HORE program the first time i read it.

[nina1 0]

I'm no longer on the birth control, but in Canada , i used to use Alesse21, and it also had no side effects, it was great.. I don't remember paying a dime for it though, i dont' know why... I dont know if they sell it here in the US..

[sarah and hicham 3]

Go to Planned Parenthood and they have a new program where you don't need an "exam" for a whole year and they will give you a years supply. I got all of mine for free because I am a student and I can't afford to buy it every month. If you don't have insurance and don't make much money they'll give it to you for cheap or even for free! Yeah, free birth control can you believe it!!!???

Sarah

[Chicken_Little 0]

I'm no longer on the birth control, but in Canada , i used to use Alesse21, and it also had no side effects, it was great.. I don't remember paying a dime for it though, i dont' know why... I dont know if they sell it here in the US..

Yep, Alesse is available in the US. Most pills are, though there are slight differences sometimes in dosing. For example, Demulen has 30mcg of progestin in it in Canada, but 35mcg in the US. Also, Ortho-Evra (the "patch") is only called "Evra" in Canada and has less estrogen then it's American version. Also, in the United States what is called "Desogen" is known as "Marvelon" in Canada.

If you're moving ot a new country, the easiest thing to do is take note of the amount and type of progestin in your pill, and tell the doctor so he/she can find the US version. There is only one kind of estrogen used in birth control pills, so that's the same universally, but the progestin varies.

http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm

If you scroll down, there's a chart listing the amounts and types of progestins and the brands of pills in the US that use them.

[chocolaterie 1]

I loved aleese! when I first came down to the states they told me it wasn't approved yet! So now i'm on ortho tri cyclen lite, cost 16 bucks a month. My friend is from Suranam (sp?) and she took 12 packs of pills with her to the states...