Someone mentioned to me recently that they don't just keep condoms at home anymore, they also keep Emergency Contraceptives as well. They are available without a prescription and the sooner you take them the better. They are available without a prescription and, in my little town at least, the pharmacy can sometimes be closed for a few days which leaves you SOL or begging at the hospital.
Something I never considered but it makes a lot of sense.
Also something I didn't know:
An intrauterine device (IUD) can also be used as a method of emergency contraception when inserted by a physician up to 7 days after unprotected sex.
Huh.
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/std-mts/ec_cu-eng.php
IUDs are super effective as well yet I have never heard them recommended or known any women that took them. I always preferred two methods of birth control (i.e. condoms and something), not sure why the IUD never came up. I know there are some risks/complications with it, but are they any more significant that the pill, injections, etc? It is quite cheap and is good for years. Seems to be a cultural thing? Or is it because it requires a doctor visit?
The IUD is the world's most widely used method of reversible birth control, currently used by nearly 160 million women (just over two-thirds of whom are in China where it is the most widely used birth control method, surpassing sterilization). The device has to be fitted inside and removed from the uterus by a doctor or qualified medical practitioner. It remains in place the entire time pregnancy is not desired. Depending on the type, a single IUD is approved for 5 to 10 years, and trials have demonstrated the copper T 380A to be effective for at least 12 years.
Cultural?
Maybe it is cultural, but I don't know. IUD's seem to be the most preferred method down here. I had one implanted at my 6 week pospartum check up. Most of the women I know or talk to have done the same thing (if they aren't looking to have more kids right away).
For me, it was the best option for long term, enabled me to still breastfeed, and had VERY low user error (I am not so good with pills I have to take daily AND at the same time of day). I have had it for just over a year and have had no problems. To me it also seemed like the best bang for my buck... I mean it lasts 5 years, is charged to my insurance ONCE and then I don't have to worry about if I will have enough insurance coverage in the near future to continue keeping the cost of my contraceptive down.
Anyway, I don't really know a ton about the morning after pill, but in the circumstances you described it would seem wise to have one or two on hand for those sticky situations. I am so glad I don't have to worry about that- LOL.
Interesting
Thanks for sharing that.
Do you know how much it cost? Those are some excellent points for its use, especially the insurance comment.
If I recall it was about 600
If I recall it was about 600 bucks total (office visit and insertion charges included). My insurance at the time covered it completely, so I paid nothing out of pocket. That insurance was expiring 2 weeks after that appointment so I knew that I would have to pay out of pocket for birth control pills if that was the route I wanted to go. Even if I had supreme insurance the pills would have been a 20 dollar co-pay. So, I could get the long term IUD, for free and not have to worry or hassle with something day to day for the next 5 years- or, I could decide to use BC pills (which would start off as a mini pill), then I would have to see my doctor again when I was done nursing to be perscribed a regular pill, then again every couple of months for a refill perscript. That alone would add up to a ton, so for me, it was a no brainer to get the IUD.
Plus I know that the benefit for a lot of women who decide to go that way is that the IUD can actually be removed before it expires and they are able to get pregnant almost immediately (as compared to other BC methods which take longer for your body to stabalize back to normal before ovulation begins again).
That may be TMI, but w/e.
Cool.
No way, not TMI - was interesting.
I have been doing a little reading. It seems that healthcare (in Canada) covers the doctor's visit (of course), but probably not the cost of the IUD.
A copper IUD (no hormone) is under $100. A Mirena is $400 or less and is often covered by work health plans.
Can I ask where you heard about it? Was it recommended by your doctor? Were you aware of them already?
Good point about the removal/pregnancy.
My wife informs me that IUDs are frequently recommended where we live (the ass end of nowhere) due to difficulties in women getting/filling a birth control prescription and the high cost/low availability of condoms. Though there are some limited family planning help centres that will give them out for free, condom use seems to be extremely low among teens. Unfortunately, a lot of the girls refuse to get them and are very disturbed at the idea of having something "stuck in them."
Teen pregnancy is very common in the north. It's quite standard actually.
According to this (pdf) article, Preventing pregnancy: a fresh look at the IUD, in Canada less then 1.5% of women aged 15–45 use an IUD.
The NuvaRing
The NuvaRing is another easily administered contraception device. i don't personally know anyone who has tried it, but i have encountered several on other forums who use it and love it (one husband decribed the device as adding a new dimension to intercourse, one that resembled ring toss.
Interesting option
Interesting option
What will they think of next! :)
ahhh
Now I understand what you were talking about the other day. I think I just wasn't present for the first half of your sentence and the rest didn't seemed so out of context because I hadn't read this thread yet.