Job Discussion Forums

ILoveCov · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 6

Hi everyone, first post! Hope this isn't too sensitive a subject area...

I'm moving out to Japan sometime in March as an ALT and I was wondering what any current female ALTs are doing about getting the pill in Japan? I did a year abroad at Keio Uni and survived by getting repeat prescriptions when I returned to England for the holidays.

I use it for pain and PMT reducing reasons rather than contraceptive reasons, so was hoping I might still be able to get it out there somehow.

Thanks!

Harajuku Girl · Joined: 05 Jan 2010 Posts: 14

Hi there

I'm also going to Japan as an ALT in March. My doctor told me that it can be very tricky getting the pill in Japan and that it's better to get a supply from your home country. However, she didn't elaborate so maybe it's better to hear from people already living there. Maybe it's not quite as difficult as she was led to believe.......

ssjup81 · Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:29 pm Post subject:

I remember coming across a topic like this on the ITIL board. Maybe the information in these particular threads can help you. I know they spoke a lot about them in the second link, but you'll have to go through the thread to find out specific things.

http://www.ithinkimlost.com/showthread.php?t=11014&highlight=Birth+Control

http://www.ithinkimlost.com/showthread.php?t=7283&highlight=Birth+Control

lenoreelux · Joined: 30 Nov 2009 Posts: 44

I know that I am going with at least a one year supply just in case, but form what I heard is that you can ask for it. The doctors are just not used to people asking for it because it is not that popular. I don't think there will be too much of a problem. They understand that foriegners are different

iheartsyntax · Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Japan

After having a baby, the nurse spoke to me and my husband about birth control options (in terms of family planning and spacing children) and the pill was one of the options presented. Depo provera was not talked about, which leads me to believe it's not an option (??). I think if you just go to any sanfujinka (ob/gyn) you should be able to get a prescription.

seklarwia · Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:51 pm Post subject:

I'm getting my mother to pick up my repeat prescription and post it or picking it up when I visit. You my have to foot a quite a substantial bill to get it in country. There are some online pharmacies that will ship them, but they still work out extremely dear if you are used to getting them for free as we do in the UK.

I used to get a year prescribed when I was abroad before, but last March, I was told that GPs were no longer allowed to prescribe more than 6 months in one go.

ILoveCov · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 6

seklarwia, I've been reading back through Interac posts and you're British too, right? Same here Smile

coming out with Interac in March, found all of your previous posts to be really informative!

How have you gotten around the blood pressure tests etc to get repeat prescriptions?

seklarwia · Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:52 pm Post subject:

You don't need to see the nurse every time you get the pill if you have been on the pill for a couple of years already. So if you go and have the check up before you come out, you'd be fine to get repeat prescriptions without having the another test for at least a couple more years and can just tell your GP that somebody else will be picking up your prescriptions on your behalf.

tsunatuna · Joined: 29 Jan 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Japan

First of all, you're only allowed to bring medicine for 1 month with you and not more.

Furthermore it's not a problem at all to get the pill in Japan.
I thought so as well before coming here and I think it used to be difficult, but it's not a problem nowaydays.

Pitarou · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan

You might have problems.

Many of the newest versions of The Pill are not licensed in Japan. You will need to do a bit of research to find out whether yours is.

Even if it is available, you may find that Japanese gynaecologists are reluctant to give you it. Bear in mind that the Japanese Medical Association successfully blocked licensing of The Pill, in any form, until 1999! Even today very few Japanese women take it.

I understand that, while you are on The Pill, you are expected to have a gynaecological check-up every 3 months, and your health insurance probably won't cover the costs.

EDIT

Judging from what others have said, it appears that my information is out of date. I do still recommend that you check whether your particular prescription is available in Japan. Japan is rather slow to license new medicines.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Caroline Pover has written this about the pill on her site Being a Broad (and presumably in her book by the same title):

G Cthulhu · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:30 am Post subject:

seklarwia · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:24 am Post subject:

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Harajuku Girl · Joined: 05 Jan 2010 Posts: 14

So it seems that some pill brands are easier to come by than others. Has anyone had any experience of getting the "Yasminelle" pill over there?

I have been off the pill for a couple of years and don't have any immediate plans to go back on it. But it would be handy to know if anyone has gotten that brand over there, as I found it quite good and it would be my first choice if I went on it again........