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The Pill available online

The Pill

The contraceptive pill we be available to buy online from today through an officially-sanctioned UK website.

A private company, DrThom, is set to offer the Pill to women over the age of 18 who have taken it before and then plans to offer the contraceptive to new patients in the future.

Dr Thomas Van Every, Medical Director at DrThom, explained the decision saying: 'The aim of our new contraceptive service is to make it easier and more convenient for women throughout the UK to get access to the pill.

'Our specialist service is ideal for a woman living a long way from her GP or a woman who is too busy because of work or childcare to take the time to visit her GP.'

In order to make use of the new online service, women must register on the DrThom website and answer an online questionnaire about their general health and previous use of the Pill. Those who have never used the contraceptive before must give detailed information about their blood pressure.

The new service has prompted concern from some experts who fear without physical checks on a patient's blood pressure, weight and medical history, patients could be at risk of difficulties. Further worries of underage girls lying about their age to gain access to the Pill have also emerged.

Kate Guthrie, representing the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) said of the decision: 'In principle we are all for it, providing there are sufficient build-in safety checks. But the two big problems are; how are the health checks, particularly blood pressure done, and are you giving the pills to who you think you are.'

Monday 23 June 2008

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I have just read your article with regards to purchasing the contraceptive pill online and i am in full support of this. I have been taking the pill for fourteen years and during this time i have found it harder and harder to get an appointment with a doctor or a nurse in order to try and get my refill. I work approx 1 hours bus journey away from my doctors, although it is only five minutes walk from my home, but as i work during the week i find it difficult to get an appointment unless i book approx 3 months in advnace in order to get my next prescription. A system such as this will save me time and reduce stress as i often feel i am "fighting" with my surgery to get an appointment
Comment by FRANKIE HEMMINGS on June 23 10:41

Personally i wouldn't buy the pill online. You dont know what they have put in the pill, and it could be a big scam
Comment by Leah on June 23 11:35

In theory, anything that prevents unintended pregnancy is FAR safer than an unintended pregnancy in terms of a woman's health and mental well being. As long as all of the right questions are asked and that women who are buying combined pills know the risks and contra-indications(especially blood pressure, obesity, smoking) then this is in principle very liberating, and empowering for women.

However, I suspect that the sale of contraceptive pills has declined recently because women can now access much longer acting hormonal contraceptive methods which once in place are much less hassle (implants, intra-uterine systems, injections)

So maybe there is commercial motivation for this, to give another boost to the Pill?
Comment by Barbara Hastings-Asatourian on June 23 12:23

I'm quite interested in this. At the moment, to get a repeat prescription I have to go to my doctor, having organised an appointment to do so, usually in my lunchtime, drive across town, park, wait in the waiting room, then go to the chemist and wait again. It takes forever, and is a waste of time.
Comment by Rebecca on June 23 13:09

all very well, i would use it! but charging £29.99 for 3 months supply, when the pill is free from your doctors or clinic???

Comment by kaleigh durney on June 23 14:32

I find this really worrying. I know that when I go to get my pill from my doctor they perform numerous health checks, including checking my blood pressure and my weight, so they can monitor how the pill is affecting me. I also know that when I started the pill, I was a heavy smoker and I was advised to stop smoking whilst on the pill as the pill can cause blood clots in smokers. A friend of mine temporarily lost the use in her legs due to clotting - a mixture of smoking and the pill! I also can't see how they can perform thorough checks on a person's age and medical history without meeting with the person. They is so much fraud online anyway these days, surely this is a service just waiting to be exploited? I think this whole service is incredibly irresponsible.
Comment by Emma on June 24 09:27


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