Korean Job Discussion Forums

sallymonster · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Location: Seattle area

This is a question for the ladies who take birth control pills in Korea. I tried searching Google and posting in the FAQs but didn't find out what I need to know.

Are extended-cycle birth control pills (such as seasonale/seasonique, levora, lybrel, or similar) available in Korea? Can you buy them without a prescription?

I know that other kinds of pills like Mercilon are available, but not all birth control pills are the same and I don't want to switch types. It was too expensive for me to buy a year's supply in the US and I am running out. . .

Thanks very much for your help!

conbon78 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008

You could try calling an obgyn and ask if they prescribe that or just call the international clinic at Yonsei. I don't know about those types, but I've received my brand here.

lille · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Location: Seoul

you should be able to get them from the pharmacy, but they may be under a different name. this year i switched from hormonal birth control to a copper IUD and i love it to bits. it's non-hormonal and doesn't mess with my mood like HBC did.

there's a great obgyn in hannam-dong, though, who can get you any BC you're after. i can repost directions if you'd like.

mariposita · Joined: 07 May 2010 Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Thanks for posting, i was wondering the same thing! I LOVE Seasonique, but I'm not sure my insurance will let me buy a year's worth at one time. At least I don't have to bring as many boxes of tampons with Seasonique. Laughing

Ruthdes · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul

You guys know you don't need Seasonique to skip periods right? Just skip the sugar pills and you'll have no period. I used to bleed only once every 10 or 13 weeks (because if you don't take the sugar pills, each "month" is only 3 weeks). i.e., I'd have a period once every 3 or 4 packs. It costs you a bit more than having a regular period, but Mercilon is very cheap here anyway. I don't know the price of Seasonique, but I suspect that my way is still much cheaper.

The only thing that is really different between doing it this way, and with Seasonique, is that the timing is a little different. Otherwise, Seasonique is just marketing hype. The only reason to use it is if the particular hormone combo it uses is particularly agreeable to your body.

sallymonster · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Location: Seattle area

Ruthdes · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul

That's true, I should've been clearer. If the hormone dosage changes through the month, you shouldn't skip periods. Most of the cheaper brands are a constant dosage. If you look on the pack you'll see two drugs with one dose each. For example, Seasonique is

levonorgestrel 0.15mg
ethinyl estradiol 0.03 mg and

and then instead of a placebo, they have the low dose estrogen for the week of your period:
ethinyl estradiol 0.01 mg

I tried to use this website: http://www.druginfo.co.kr/ to search to see if you can get it here, but you need to be a member, and to sign up as a foreigner, you need to fax them a copy of your ARC, (and I'm not going that far to find out). One member, Crossmr, seems to have access to this site (he's posted links before), so maybe PM him to see if he'll search it for you.

butter_opera · Joined: 07 Apr 2010

When I go to Korea last year, I came with a 3 month supply and I made sure to keep the inserts detailing the drug information contained in the pack. I brought the insert to my local pharmacist in Korea and she was able to give me the birth control that was pretty much the same as what I took in the US. The hormones in the Korean one are slightly and I mean slightly less than what I took in the US but I have never had a problem! If the pharmacist doesn't speak goo English just show him/her the insert and say "same same"....most do speak English though!

And it costs 12,000 krw versus the $20 per pack in the US. Needless to say....I stocked up before I returned home!

sarahsiobhan · Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 10:38 pm Post subject:

12, 000? Mine is only 7,000.

Janny · Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Location: all over the place

When I go home I pick up 6 months worth, sometimes more if I have the cash.

However, most of my friends have relied on BCPs from a Korean pharmacy with no issues or problems at all. And MUCH cheaper.

Bring your brand and let the pharmacist match them while you're here. I'm sure the pharmacies in the Yongsan area would be the best bet, in terms of experience with US brands / language.