Job Discussion Forums

gpars · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Guadalajara

Sorry for getting a bit personal... but... I really want to get the facts about access to birth control pills in Mexico. (specifically Guadalajara) I have heard they are over-the-counter. Is that true? No prescription needed? Are there a wide variety of options? How much do they cost?
Any other related information is appreciated.
Thanks!!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Sorry...not a direct answer to your question. Just wanted to mention that injections are quite common here too for birth control.

MELEE · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject:

I used to do injections, 50 pesos a month, not going to do that again, but that's another story. In a big city like Guadalajara there would definately be a wide range of options available, but I suggest you see a Dr before buying over the counter to talk about the variety and get the exact name of the product you want. For example ultra low dose pills are available but so are mega high dose ones! Shocked

If you get a job with IMSS you can also get free birthcontrol and even get your tubes tied for free if you are so inclined!

sarliz · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Jalisco

Sorry if I'm being dense, but just to clarify, if I'm already on the pill here in the states and know the make and model of my specific pill, I should be able to pick them up over the counter in Guadalajara? Does anyone know about what they cost per month? Thanks for breaking the ice on this one, op.

cwc · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 372

Just bring a box and they can match it OTC for less than 10 bucks.

M@tt · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 473 Location: here and there

i was taking a medication that has a different name in the US (almost all of them do). pharmacists look up the drug by active ingredient, so as long as you know the active ingredient of your prescriptions, they can look it up in a big database. if it's OTC in mexico it will be much cheaper than the prescription price in the US. maybe not important if you're insured, but i wasn't and saved 75% from the US prescription cost.

MELEE · Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 2:13 pm Post subject:

Not all perscription drugs are cheaper in Mexico, only the ones that are made in Mexico. If you have to take a medicine that is imported here in Mexico, you're going to have to pay a lot for it. (I paid 1800 pesos for 5 days of medicine imported from Germany for one of my daughters, and I paid 1500 for my rogham shot, imported from the US)

Regarding birthcontrol pills, bring a packet that not only includes the name of the active ingrediates but the proportions as there is a lot of variety and you're libal to end up with something with a rather high dose here in Mexico, where the term less is best is relatively unknown, particulary when it comes to pharmacuiticles! I personally think it is best to see a Mexican doctor who is familiar with all the options on the Mexican market, because there are actually more options here than in the US. I can't speak for other countries readers of this forum might be from. It just might be that what your using at home is not the best option here.

I just happened to be in a pharmacy last night. And while I was waiting for them to bring my daughters' medicine from another branch in town, I happened to notice a poster for the birthcontrol patch in case anyone is wondering if you can get that in Mexico.

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

When I first came here, I showed my Canadian pills to a pharmacy. They looked up the ingredients and matched them to a brand they had in store. It costs about 120 pesos.

Where I live, IMSS isn't a good option for things like this. They have a limited supply and usually only one type at a time. I'm willing to pay for them myself and save the time and headaches.

pixie8 · Joined: 09 May 2006 Posts: 6

It is so easy to get birth control pills in Mexico. If you know you are not alergic to anything and have been to a doctor before then a very popular one is Yasmin, which can be found in most countries. I prefer to take a familiar brand. A supply for one month caosts about 140 pesos this can vary by about 10 pesos depending where you buy it.

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

Ouch, ouch, ouch, so expensive. Almost as cheap just to let the wife get pregnant and have kids. In my neck of the woods, the most expensive imported birth control pills are $4 per month supply.

pixie8 · Joined: 09 May 2006 Posts: 6

Have I been duped? Where is your neck of the woods? Where are the pills imported from and what's the name?

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

In my neck of the woods, Asia. Imported from various countries, name brand, the big name companies and brands. Just can never understand the disparity in prescription prices from country to country for the exact same product made in the exact same factory. Medical related products should be priced at a level to make an honest profit for the company, not at a level to maximize profits for the company.