What to expect when getting the pill online…
In recent years, companies such as Femma, have revolutionised the experience of getting the pill. What once required a trip to the doctors surgery and waiting rooms, taking time out of your day and away from work or the home or your kids every 3 months to renew your script, can now be done online. From the convenience of home or work or even a shopping centre, you can complete an online consultation with a number of companies, and get your pill delivered straight to your door.
Whilst this convenience is a welcomed relief for all women who continually carry the financial, emotional, and psychological load of obtaining contraception or managing their women’s health issue, there are some considerations that need to be made to ensure your online health experience when obtaining the pill is one that has your best health interests at heart.
A real GP consultation
The journey to renewing the script for your contraceptive pill should be the same online, as it is in person, which means you will need to consult with an Australian registered GP. Usually, this takes form in a text, call, or video based consultation, whereby a GP will review the script and reissue if everything is a-okay. Most online telehealth services should have an “About Us” or “Meet the Team” page, where you can check out the doctors that consult for that particular company. The more transparency here, the better!
Demand better
Whilst it is not mandatory, we recommend you seek out a doctor that has extra training in women’s health. Why? Because the contraceptive pill is a women’s health issue! Any doctor can prescribe the pill, and in many cases, this is totally fine, especially for the women that know which pill works for them. With this said, there are many women who are on the wrong pill or source of contraception altogether, or who have outgrown their pill and need a different pill that better aligns to their health goals. Consulting with a doctor that has extra training in women’s health would ensure that the right questions are asked and interventions made if they believe a different type of pill or method of contraception may work better. This process should be as collaborative as possible to make sure all of your needs and concerns are met.
There will be questions…and that’s a good thing!
It is highly unprofessional for doctors to prescribe you any medication, including the contraceptive pill, for the first time without asking you questions first. Again, this is to make sure they are giving you the best treatment possible. It might also prompt you into sharing symptoms such as pelvic pain, acne or feelings of anxiety that may seem unrelated, but are actually caused by your original pill. Because of this, you should expect a thorough consultation form or call when seeking out a prescription for the pill.
