Denied Contraceptives... Help.
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| Thu, 02-12-2004 - 11:25pm |
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

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
Hi Chelsie,
What medical groups told you this?