Denied Contraceptives... Help.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-20-2003
Denied Contraceptives... Help.
4
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 11:25pm
Hello Ladies,

I have visited this board a couple times in the past and am always very pleased with the advice I receive. This time, I have a different sort of question. I am in college now and was been taking the pill for about a year and a half. I was under 18 when I first started taking the pill and so it was free. Now I am over 18 and ran out of pills to take. The medical group at home no longer honors me for free service. Medical groups here (in a different state) require me to be a resident. They tell me that I am not a resident since I am only going to school here. (Mind you, that is about 10 out of the 12 months). My boyfriend and I, we both are serious about the topic of sex, haven't had sex in a long time because we do not want a child at this point in our lives. Given, I have only been off the pill for about a month. But a month prior to that, we decided not to have sex since I was not going to be protected soon. When I was on the pill, we used a condom all the time too. Now, we won't have sex because condoms are not as effecive as the pill.

I would like your advice on this matter. Are there any alternatives for me right now? I cannot afford to pay for the pill because I have no insurance and my parents cannot help me. I am not interested in being on the pill just to have sex. I first went on it because of my sporadic periods and the terrible pain. Yes, it was a definite plus to be on the pill when I did start having sex though.

Has anyone had an experience like this before? Furthermore, are condoms that trustworthy? I'm frankly scared to get my period or have sex without the pill.

Thank you in advance!

Chelsie

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-15-2003
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 11:31pm
Condoms are very effective when used properly, but if you're concerned about it, how about combining condom use with withdrawl? That way if the condom does break, it's outside of you anyway. You could even add tracking your fertility to that, where you only have sex when you're not ovulating. Between the three of those, your chances of becoming pregnant are pretty much nil, and it's cheap as can be!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 02-13-2004 - 12:34am
Hi Chelsie,

Does your school have a student health clinic that can provide BCPs? Or, is there a Planned Parenthood clinic in your area. Look in their locator http://www.plannedparenthood.org/Zip.htm to find one near you. They have an income based sliding scale for prices. They may require verification of income but if you are in school PP is usually pretty inexpensive. A good 2% Nonoxynol-9 spermicide (not the stuff that comes with some condoms) used with condoms improves their effectiveness considerably. Post and let us know how you are doing, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-13-2004
Fri, 02-13-2004 - 10:20am
Thats really bad... over here in the UK contraceptives are prescribed free of charge to anybody. I have been having sex for a little over 3 years. The first two years we used just condoms and there were absolutley no problems with them. Of course no method of contraception can be 100% effective, if used correctly condoms are something like 98%? although don't quote me on that one. I went onto the pill last year and stopped using condoms and again have had no problems. I suppose it depends on what situation in life and your relationship you are. I'm in my final year at university and in a long term relationship, so I know whatever happened my boyfriend would stick by me. A baby isn't really on the cards for me right now, but it wouldn't be the end of my world.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 02-13-2004 - 11:53am

Hi Chelsie,


What medical groups told you this?

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