3 ms·

> As another example, I’ve been on the same medication for the 8 years. I get the same dose, and it’s never changing. Yet my provider makes me visit every 3 mon

by mrep 7y ago

> As another example, I’ve been on the same medication for the 8 years. I get the same dose, and it’s never changing. Yet my provider makes me visit every 3 months for a refill. Know the feeling, my girlfriend has to get pap smears every 1 or 2 years in order to get birth control and she despises those checkups. Yeah, let's put more barriers to women getting birth control... Fortunately, I only have to deal with yearly eye exams to get contacts which are still super annoying but the pap smears sound awful.

pravda 7y ago
> Fortunately, I only have to deal with yearly eye exams to get contacts Try http://daysoft.com http://daysoft.com
elliekelly 7y ago
It's ridiculous that birth control even requires a prescription in the US but it's not an issue you ever hear debated or discussed. The reason? If it were OTC (and no longer covered by health insurance) it would be prohibitively expensive for many of the young women who need it the most. So instead we end up getting annual pap screening even though it's only necessary every 3-5 years. Quite a corner we've painted ourselves into with this whole health insurance mess.
- astura 7y ago
  Birth control can safely be prescribed without a pap test. A pap test is merely a screening for cervical cancer. The fact that a medical provider would require a pap for a birth control prescription when that's not medically necessary is a problem. Overscreening for cervical cancer is also a big problem. Once every year is an inappropriate screening interval for most people.[1] In some states pharmacists can prescribe birth control pills after a consult.[1] There's no reason why we can't require insurance to cover birth control pills even if they are OTC. We can still have a pharmacist run it through insurance, you just don't need a doctor's note. [1] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/prevention-and-early-detection/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/prevention-and...
hdfbdtbcdg 7y ago
Do you know what the pap smear is for? Clue I know people who are only alive today because of regular check ups. And no every 5 years is nowhere near often enough!
- astura 7y ago
  >And no every 5 years is nowhere near often enough! Not quite. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/prevention-and-early-detection/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/prevention-and... >All women should begin cervical cancer testing (screening) at age 21. Women aged 21 to 29, should have a Pap test every 3 years. HPV testing should not be used for screening in this age group (it may be used as a part of follow-up for an abnormal Pap test). Beginning at age 30, the preferred way to screen is with a Pap test combined with an HPV test every 5 years. This is called co-testing and should continue until age 65. Another reasonable option for women 30 to 65 is to get tested every 3 years with just the Pap test.

by mrep 7y ago

pravda 7y ago

> Fortunately, I only have to deal with yearly eye exams to get contacts Try http://daysoft.com http://daysoft.com

elliekelly 7y ago

It's ridiculous that birth control even requires a prescription in the US but it's not an issue you ever hear debated or discussed. The reason? If it were OTC (and no longer covered by health insurance) it would be prohibitively expensive for many of the young women who need it the most. So instead we end up getting annual pap screening even though it's only necessary every 3-5 years. Quite a corner we've painted ourselves into with this whole health insurance mess.

astura 7y ago
Birth control can safely be prescribed without a pap test. A pap test is merely a screening for cervical cancer. The fact that a medical provider would require a pap for a birth control prescription when that's not medically necessary is a problem. Overscreening for cervical cancer is also a big problem. Once every year is an inappropriate screening interval for most people.[1] In some states pharmacists can prescribe birth control pills after a consult.[1] There's no reason why we can't require insurance to cover birth control pills even if they are OTC. We can still have a pharmacist run it through insurance, you just don't need a doctor's note. [1] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/prevention-and-early-detection/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/prevention-and...

hdfbdtbcdg 7y ago

Do you know what the pap smear is for? Clue I know people who are only alive today because of regular check ups. And no every 5 years is nowhere near often enough!

astura 7y ago
>And no every 5 years is nowhere near often enough! Not quite. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/prevention-and-early-detection/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/prevention-and... >All women should begin cervical cancer testing (screening) at age 21. Women aged 21 to 29, should have a Pap test every 3 years. HPV testing should not be used for screening in this age group (it may be used as a part of follow-up for an abnormal Pap test). Beginning at age 30, the preferred way to screen is with a Pap test combined with an HPV test every 5 years. This is called co-testing and should continue until age 65. Another reasonable option for women 30 to 65 is to get tested every 3 years with just the Pap test.