So, the FDA is considering allowing oral contraceptives
(hereafter referred to as BCPs, or birth control pills) to be made available
over the counter (OTC) and without a prescription (RX).
At first I thought this was a joke, but the joke is on me.
It’s a real consideration… not something anyone thinks will happen in the next
5 minutes, but it’s a real thing. A real STUPID thing.
First, let’s consider the pro’s:
1.
Even today, approximately 50% of pregnancies are
unplanned and/or unwanted. Easier access
to BCPs could impact this statistic and decrease the # of unwanted pregnancies.
2.
Many women have difficulty affording the doctor
visit to get the RX, or getting the appointment in a timely manner when their
pills are running low, which in turn leads to skipped pills and decreased
efficiency. If available OTC, they can go get more pills the same day that they
take the last one.
3.
The main “serious” side effect of BCPs is
developing blood clots, and even then, it happens infrequently and the clots
are quite small; plus such clots are even more dangerous during a pregnancy or
right after giving birth.
IMO, all 3 pro’s are nonsense.
Ok, so the stat for unplanned/unwanted pregnancies remains
at about 50%, unchanged over the past 20 years. This, despite the onset of HIV
and AIDS, increased transmission of Hepatitis, etc. What does one have to do
with the other? CONDOMS are
available OTC for purchase by anyone, anytime. There are also advocacy groups
all over who provide baskets or fishbowls filled with condoms (at bars,
bookstores, lots of places) FOR FREE. Women are more than welcome to purchase
condoms or grab a few at their leisure. The up side? Not only will they help
prevent an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy, but they will protect themselves from
giving or receiving a sexually transmitted disease. The fact that these
unplanned/unwanted pregnancies continue to occur at such a high rate is proof
positive that those folks who are having unprotected sex are doing so by
choice. Making BCPs available OTC will not change that.
Next: women can’t afford the doctor’s appointment or the
BCPs. This is bullshit (pardon my French) for reasons both pre- and
post-Obamacare.
Pre-Obamacare: I have 2 words for you: Planned Parenthood.
This is a federally funded program that provides wellness care for women on a
sliding scale, based on your income. If you have insurance, great. Provide that
info and they will either bill insurance for you OR provide you with the info
you will need to file the claim on your own behalf. No insurance? No problem.
That’s where the sliding scale comes in. Women who have little or no income pay
little or nothing for the care received.
I remember when I was much younger, taking BCPs, I was in college and
worked a part time job, about 10-15 hrs/week. I had no money really. I paid $10
for my doctor visit and my pills were free. So, no… the affordability is not a
valid issue. Go to Planned Parenthood.
Post-Obamacare: I have 2 new words for you: Mandated
Coverage. Under Obamacare, insurance plans are required to provide coverage for
well-woman visits with no cost-sharing to the member (so there’s no
out-of-pocket expense to the member). Insurance is also required to provide
coverage for BCPs.
If you make BCPs available OTC, women are even worse off
financially. Insurance does not provide a benefit for OTC medications, such as
Tylenol, Benadryl, cold medicines, etc. The cost of the pills will fall back to
the woman, 100%. In addition, because the BCPs are no longer an RX item,
Planned Parenthood’s ability to provide the pills to its patients at low- or
no-cost may also be impacted. But… even if they are still able to provide the
pills, we are back to a pre-Obamacare state where the pills can be obtained at
low- or no-cost from Planned Parenthood OR women can pay the cost out of pocket
at the pharmacy. (And… might I add… they will still have to stand in line to
get them from behind the pharmacy counter due to the age limit that will be on
them. End result: no gain.)
This so-called difficulty getting appointments with doctors
in time so that you don’t miss pills is just an attempt to cover up
individuals’ sheer, unadulterated LAZINESS.
Personal responsibility and accountability, my friends.
Last, let’s talk about the side effects. It’s been reported
that the main “serious” side effect is developing blood clots, which isn’t that
serious after all (see http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/21/obgyns-back-over-counter-birth-control-pills/).
I beg to differ.
The possible side effects of BCPs include not only
developing blood clots, but also increased blood pressure (worse for smokers
and/or women over the age of 30), acne, breast tenderness, breakthrough
bleeding/spotting between periods, nausea and vomiting, changes in vision,
headaches, dizziness, and decreased libido. The thing is, these symptoms could
also be indicative of more serious medical problems. Without medical
management, a woman may just think that it’s because of the pills and not
pursue any additional medical attention.
That notwithstanding, if a blood clot moves to the lung or
brain, you die. Simply put, you die. I find it appalling that the clots are
considered not all that serious.
I can also attest from personal experience that BCPs can
have effects on a person’s blood pressure. I was on BCPs for about 3 years in
my late teens/early 20s. Initially, I had no side effects at all. Each year, when I would have my exam (at
Planned Parenthood, by the way), they noted that my blood pressure was slowly
increasing. Did I “feel” anything on a
day-to-day basis? No. But it was at my yearly exam, to renew my RX, that it was
noted. After discussing options, I
decided to stop using BCPs and switch to Depo Provera injection. This is a little more inconvenient, since I
had to go into the office every 3 months for the injection. But, it was the
best alternative overall for me. So, when I returned 3 months later for my
second injection, the clinician took my blood pressure, and it was back down to
where it normally was.
If I didn’t need to see the doctor every year to renew my
RX, I never would have known that the BCPs were affecting my blood pressure. I
would have continued to use the pills, increasing my risk for heart disease and
adverse effects on other vital organs. There’s a reason for medical management
by a licensed medical provider.
Lastly… let’s talk about one oral contraceptive option that’s
currently available by prescription only: Yaz.
There are currently over 10,000 lawsuits filed in this country against
Bayer Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Yaz, due to strokes, blood clots, and other dangerous side
effects suffered by women who took Yaz (http://www.drugwatch.com/yaz/lawsuit.php).
One of the claims of the lawsuits is
that the side effects of the drug were considerably down played. Can you think
of any more considerable down play of effects as removing the requirement of a
prescription for the drug? Really?
Now let’s see what might really be behind this…
People all over the place are pissed off about
Obamacare. This appears to me to be a
way to sidestep one of the provisions of Obamacare. By making BCPs available OTC and without a
prescription, insurance companies will not have to provide coverage. People
(and let’s be honest, WOMEN) will be back on the hook for procuring and funding
their contraceptive rights.
We are talking about our health and wellness. The inclusion
of a licensed healthcare professional should not be taken out of the mix.
