[borasolit]

Will be moving abroad soon. Wondering where I should go for or how I should go about getting birth control pills in Bangkok? Is it difficult?

[didrexx]

you can easily get (buy) the pills at any chemist shop

[Emedgella]

You can buy pills at any pharmacy, without a "note" giving you permission (prescription). There are also other options that are not available in the west. There is an injection that lasts up to three months and an implant that lasts up to five years. Like they say in Thailand, "Up to you."

[Pwy9egVW]

Wow, I didn't know about this injection. Sounds like a great idea!

[didrexx]

if I remember it correctly, the injection costs about 700 baht

[sobre]

A little add on to the topic: Is it common for girls to go on birth control in Thailand?

[mireOpekrhype]

many women are on birth control. It is available without prescription at any pharmacy. Do your research on the shot that lasts three months A friend of mine tried it and her hormones were off the wall. Good Luck

[Roorseprate]

Quote[/b] ]Is it common for girls to go on birth control in Thailand?

Well, there are not that many Catholic's in Thailand, so there is no reason to have to hide the fact or lie about taking birth control.

[Zdmlscid]

Actually, there are quite a few reasons to keep it secret, Paul, although you are right about Catholics.

As far as I know, Thai society still places a great deal of importance on the virginity of girls before marriage. So I'd imagine that such couples would be hesitant to openly admit taking birth control pills. It might be different in the case of married women - I don't know.

Furthermore, Thailand is still a family-centered society; it is not uncommon to see large families with 4-5 or more children living together under one roof, especially in rural areas. So birth control doesn't seem to be a popular option here, for whatever reason.

Quote[/b] ] Do your research on the shot that lasts three months A friend of mine tried it and her hormones were off the wall.

Can't have something for nothing; this happens whenever there is an attempt to tamper with the well-established biological balance for shallow reasons: anabolic steroids to get huge muscles quickly and easily, or birth control methods for "unlimited" fun.

[sobre]

Seeker, although I am sure you only had good intentions with your comment, taking steriods and taking birth control are not analogous to one another.

Most women don't go on birth control so that they can engage in unlimited sex, nor do most decide to go on birth control for various other shallow reasons. Given a 99% effectiveness rate, birth control methods such as the pill are far more effective than condoms in preventing pregnancy. (Let's not forget that some do not even use condoms at all!)

I wonder if the younger girls who are sexually active go on birth control. There would be a far lower rate in teen pregnancy, but I am sure most are too afraid to tell anyone or unaware. But that's just not in Thailand.

[66paptroump]

I agree with you csdncer; the pill is a very effective method of pregnancy prevention, and it is a very prudent step for couples who are intimate with each other and do not want to risk an unplanned pregnancy.

[Emedgella]

My wife's reason for being on birth control in the past was not to have "unlimited fun," but to avoid unending misery. Her common law husband left her with three children to practically raise on her own. He would run off to Bangkok to work and, whenever he would return, he would not give her any money to help take care of the kids. All he wanted was to be intimate and, if she refused, he smacked her around. The poor woman was exhausted from working her tail off to feed the babies she already had, so she didn't want to have any more. It's not like she could just go on AFDC like in America. She raised her children until they were old enough to fend for themselves, then she left him. She went through all this and she is now only 38. For some women, life is not a bowl of cherries. FFT

[Zdmlscid]

IMO the ones who truly benefit from birth control (ie. the above-mentioned sexually abused, and the ill women for whom pregnancy means certain death) are minority compared to the rest of the normal, healthy population for whom birth control simply means that they can go "all the way" without consequences.

That, in my opinion, is a shallow reason to tamper with one's well-established hormonal equation, causing perhaps more permanent damage to one's body than what the short-time fun would be worth.

Others may disagree; let's exchange opinions.

[66paptroump]

I don't think that the use of birth control pills is about short-time fun; like I said before, I think it's about responsibility and safer sex. Remember: the only true way to prevent a pregnancy is abstinence. For those who choose not to take that route, birth control pills have shown themselves to be nearly infallible, with barrier methods considerably less effective. However, Seeker's brought up a good point that is worth exploring. Namely:

What are the implications of long term use of female oral contraceptives? What are the consequences of the disruption of natural hormonal balance?

In the meantime, I'm gonna settle down with a beer and wait for this one to heat up

[Zdmlscid]

Jonny, I think you just pointed out the root of our disagreement.

My line of thinking comes from a point of view where "abstinence" is simply the way of a responsible life; it's not religious dogma, nor it is just a set of nice ideals for one to say and others to follow.

Quote[/b] ]for couples who are intimate with each other and do not want to risk an unplanned pregnancy.

Without getting too technical here, I'm sure most all of us know that there are several ways of "getting intimate" without engaging in the actual intercourse - it's not all about copulation, right? Thus there is another way of reducing the risk of pregnancy to zero: an option for those who choose not to take the "A" route.

Overcoming carnal instincts with responsible, conscientous mind and heart - this is one thing that makes us human, after all.

[66paptroump]

Quote[/b] ]" is simply the way of a responsible life; it's not religious dogma, nor it is just a set of nice ideals for one to say and others to follow.

Aaaaah and the mystery is now unlocked!

[Zdmlscid]

lol

[Pwy9egVW]

Seeker, what about a husband and wife who do not wish to have any children until they are in a better financial position to support them? Should they be looked down upon too if they use birth control pills?

[forotis]

abstinence is hard when we live in a society that promotes sex to all ages and generations, if taking birth controls lowers you risk of becoming pregnant then what is wrong with it? The only problem with it, is that it doesn't protects against HIV/AIDs and STDS.

[Emedgella]

Quote[/b] ]...it's not all about copulation, right?

Wrong. That is exactly what it is all about. That holds for every species engaged in courtship rituals, including humans. The ultimate goal of initiating an intimate relationship is to, to coin a phrase from American football, "put the ball in the end-zone."