Getting Birth Control in the UK vs the US: A Comparison
UK
Go to your GP and express an interest in starting hormonal birth control. Request the pill, patch, shot etc. They will perhaps ask some brief questions about your sex life, advising you to still use condoms if sleeping with various people, and then will take your height, weight and blood pressure. They may check a family or personal history of illness. You can express preference on the type of pill you want, and they will let you know what specific side effects you can expect with each. You do not have to undertake any kind of pelvic exam. You’ll either be given the medicine right away, or go to a chemist’s counter where you will not pay, as birth control is free. Your GP can also give you free condoms if you ask.
US
Varying levels of TOTAL FUCKING BULLSHIT.
Birth control — at least, the pill — isn’t even free in Canada. My sister would regularly complain about how expensive it is to have safe sex.
Especially without health insurance to cover birth control. 3 NuvaRing packets cost ~$58.
And doctors will tell you that they have to give you a Pap smear before they can give you a prescription for any kind of birth control.
Condoms are available for free in a few clinics, though.
True, certainly in Ottawa you get free condoms from loads of places. I actually had a HILARIOUS time trying to get my first cervical screening because my devout Christian of a GP insisted it wasn’t necessary until I was having intercourse, the subtext being that he didn’t want to be the one to break my hymen. He also didn’t think it was necessary for me to know my blood type unless I was a) giving blood or b) thinking about starting a family.
Religious up-fuckery! We has it in Canada too, alas.
