Women’s healthcare in the UK is changing. Women now prefer to order contraception pills online with just a few clicks of the mouse. As this may sound convenient for them, it bypasses a very vital aspect of the health industry – ‘prescription’. Prescription medicines require a doctor’s appointment, and some questionnaires to determine if the patient would buy the contraceptive pill or not. Taking hormonal contraception pills without a face-,to-face conversation with the doctor carries a risk that most people don’t know.
The policy shift in 2023, where the British government classified some progestogen-only pills as OTC pills, led to controversy. While some claimed it was an overdue policy, many argued that it could lead to abuse of the pill without proper medical examination.
Why caution should be applied
When GP sees patients, she checks their BP, reviews their medication history, checks family history, and provides other vital information that they need to know. Some of these prescription drugs might not be suitable for someone with certain conditions or a family history. It’s by consulting with a GP that they would know whether to prescribe a certain medication for you or not.
Caution is important
Some of the contraception pills carry the tendency to cause blood clots, although this is very rare, but studies show that it happens in 3-9 times per 10,000 users. They advise women with a family history of blood clots to avoid those pills. Online forms most likely would not see these tiny details, because patients mostly underreport or are ignorant of the risk factor. 3-9 patients might look small to me, but when you do the math in millions of women, then you begin to fear.
Is there a Solution?
The growing online market cannot be put on ‘hold’. There is a massive need that needs to be met. Privacy, unavailability to GP in rural areas, lack of immediate access by modern women,
And the discretion that online provides makes it difficult to stop the growing number of women choosing this option.
However, a reputable website like contraceptive-oill.co.uk ensures that patients complete a detailed clinical questionnaire before they would prescribe or dispense any medication, after a professional prescriber might have examined their questionnaire. It is fair to say that there’s a good option for women buying contraceptive pills who truly care about their health. Their privacy is safe; no familiar health professional in their district is looking at them somehow. They also get quick access, as well as trusting that the website would make a good judgment on their accurately filled forms.
A Question of Misinformation
When misinformation occurs in the health industry, it is very risky as it might affect lots of lives.
Dr. Sue Mann, NHS Clinical Director for Women’s Health, has described online misinformation about the pill as “a real cause for concern.” She warned that ignoring contraception pills might lead to a high rate of abortion.
Conclusion
Birth control pills are not bad, but need to be prescribed by a professional after checking a patient. As online purchase of contraception pills is on the rise, reputable sites are available to consult with a patient to ensure she gets the right prescription to ensure the safety of women all over the world, even for those with limited access to a GP offline.
