Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Whiskeyjack]

Hi there.

I think this is the right forum for this question.

I'm considering taking a job in Korea, but I'm wondering about the availability of the birth control pill. I'm taking it for health concerns other than preventing pregnancy, and I need to find a specific brand that suits my needs. Is the pill widely available in Korea? If so, does anyone know if regular American brands are easily found? I'll have to make other arrangements if I don't think this is a prescription I can have filled there.

Thanks!

[egrog1717]

They sell an Irish brand over the counter at pretty much every drug store I've ever been in... Think it's somewhere in the neighbourhood of 4 bucks...

With all meds, it's better to try and nab a year's supply to bring with you, just in case you can't find it here...

[bassexpander]

You really think it's tough to find meds here?

Heck, I've found they usually have it all... and cheaper. The hardest thing is being a newbie and getting to a doctor, and/or overcoming the uncomfortable feeling of it.

[peppermint]

In general, prescriptions aren't required for the pill in Korea, though American brands aren't necessarily available. Lots of Irish ones are though, and they're very cheap. Lots of chicks use Mercilon, but check with your doctor and see what she thinks.

[iammac2002]

If it's Yasmin, you need a prescription, but it's also a little more expensive. Mercilon is cheaper and otc.

[Ruthdes]

Why not post the brand you're on? Then someone can tell you for sure whether you can get it and whether you'll need a prescription.

There's a good thread under the FAQ forum about women's health. The last post is still current. http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=24208&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[sjkim34]

There's an OBGYN that I've been going to with an English speaker available. I'm actually helping him start up walk-in hours for foreigners. Would you guys be interested in soemthing like that? They are located in Apgujeong, between Hyundai and Galleria Dept Stores...

*edit* I see taht there's another thread for this, will post there.

[wenchstalker]

I was in the same situation. I find that only one particular cocktail works for me, but I can not get it in Korea. For medication, you can bring a three months supply with you, and you can get it shipped in in three months supply without violating any laws (as far as my research goes).

I found a fairly cheap online pharmacy and I just order it (pay online with either my visa or an online check) and get it delivered every few months. I'm going on my third year in Korea, and that's been fine.

When I went to an obgyn and asked if my medication was available, he said that it wasn't and to just keep having it shipped in rather than messing with my hormones and trying a different type.

Since it was initially prescribed in the US, I listed my US doctor as the contact to verify that I need it for medical purposes, but he's never been contacted.

Send me a pm or msg to: wenchstalker(at)yahoodotcom and I'll send along the pharmacy info, if you want it. I don't want to post it online, seems too much like i'm trying to sell viagra.

[penguin]

You can buy Mercilon (pink box) at any pharmacy for about 6000-7000 won. It is made in Ireland- .150 mg desogestrel & .020 mg ethinylestradiol. You don't need a prescription.

[iammac2002]

I brought 6 months' pills with me, all on prescription. It's a little difficult to get the doc to write me a prescription for a few months, so I just get a different brand otc. And I can even ask for more than one packet at a time -that is nice, I don't have to go to the pharmacy every single month then!

[dalem]

man, you guys seem to be having so much easier of a time with this than did! I had a lot of trouble getting birth control. I went to my doctor first, and him being the useless jerk he is, he told me it doesn't exist in korea.... yeah sure....

So i went to an obygyn clinic, and they made a big fuss about it too.... what is with this? You'd think it would be a common thing for an obygyn clinic. Finally a receptionist told me to follow her, and took me to the pharmacy down the street. After about 20 minutes discussion and many worried looks between the receptionist and pharmacist, they found me some birth control. This was after many questions regarding my marital status (i'm not). I was really blown away that this happened this way.

I now go to a different pharmacy, where they decided, after much deliberating, that they would sell me birth control without a prescription, but only one box at a time (i offered to get a prescription, but the question seemed to be whether they would sell it to me at all). It was completely stupid.

[iammac2002]

[dalem]

[redaxe]

[iammac2002]