Question

I need a reply to the discussion below.

As a twenty-four-year-old, who has been taking oral contraceptives, I firmly stand by the fact that they should not be available over the counter. Many concerns come up for young girls or young adults when they wish to start birth control. Most concerns come from, preventing pregnancy, helping to alleviate painful menstruation, ovulating issues and hormone deficiency or too much hormones. If a woman has too much of a certain hormone it can increase blood pressure and cause hypertension (high blood pressure). A female should go through a gynecologist so the doctor can choose the best method of oral contraceptives for her to use. After seeing a gynecologist, she or he may decide that oral contraceptives are not the best route to take for the patient and to use another method. There can be issues with insurance coverage going through the insurance companies when seeing a gynecologist. However, studies show that “consequences of improper use are substantial: unwanted pregnancy, psychological stress, health risks from an abortion, risk of mortality from childbirth” (Stone, 1993). “Women might stop having the routine gynecological examinations now required for the prescription, so clinicians would not be able to screen for contraindications, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and AIDS or provide advice about condom use to prevent STDs and AIDS” (1993). “The risk of hormonal birth control causing serious side effects like deep vein thrombosis is low, it does increase with certain risk factors like smoking, poorly controlled high blood pressure, and a history of stroke” (Todd, 2019).

            Overall, it is important for a female of any age to see a gynecologist to see what the correct form of treatment is best for that specific person. There are also great risk factors to not getting a doctor’s order about oral contraception. There are firm believers that it can be more cost effective, but at what cost? The patient’s health and wellbeing? To me, that just does not seem like a great enough risk for any woman and all oral contraceptives and birth controls should not be available over the counter.

(PLEASE TYPE YOUR RESPONSE) THANK YOU!

Answer 1

True. Oral contraceptives should not be available over the counter as it has got many side effects in the long term which may not be visible now. Without prescription of doctor the pharmacy should not sale these kinds of drugs. It is safe to plan pregnancy in advance and if unplanned safe period should be maintained. Taking these drugs OTC has been increased due to the crime this happened , illegal couples , adolescence pregnancy opt for these drugs without understanding the consequences.

Government should take strict action on sale of these drugs over the counter. Always ask for the prescription which makes us sure that gynaecologist have examined the patient and have found it safe to administer this drug.