Birth Control
Story by Ashley Thomas | October 2009

 

            Birth control prices increased dramatically in 2007 after the federal government passed a law ending incentives for companies who provide discounts to college students.

            However, earlier this year President Obama reversed the legislation, but prices remain high, according to Eastern Illinois’s Health Services Pharmacist, Amy Malmen. “Insurance companies are starting to cover the costs of birth control more than they did before,” she said. This may be one reason the prices aren’t falling.

            Birth control was developed in 1962 and the use has been somewhat of a taboo subject, but now it is much more popular and widely accepted. It is not uncommon for a lot of teenagers and young women to use oral contraceptives. There are over 30 different combinations of birth control available in the U.S. 

            The Health Services pharmacy on campus offers 18 oral contraceptives, as well as Nuva Ring (“the ring”) and a birth control shot. One of the oral contraceptives is call Jolessa and it is the only 91-day pill available, the rest are 28-day cycle packs.

            Health Services has most birth control pills available for $25 per cycle, Nuva Ring for $50 per cycle, and the shot for $50 per injection. Doctors who specialize in women’s health at Health Services are Dr. Sheila Baker, Dr. Katie Blesch, and Dr. John Hutchinson.

            Malmen said, “The women have the option of scheduling an appointment here [Health Services] for an exam and our doctors are very willing to discuss all the different products.”

            Walgreens’ Pharmacy also has birth control available by prescription. It carries nine brand name contraceptives and Nuva Ring ($74.39).  The contraceptives offered are Yaz ($85.99), Yasmin ($83.99), Ortho Tri-Cyclen 10 ($65.99), Loestrin 24 ($71.99), Kutera ($33.99), Trivora ($19.97), Seasonique, a 91-day cycle pack (194.99), Necon 1/35 ($31.99) and Estrostep ($76.99). These prices are higher because they are name brand, whereas the Pharmacy on campus at Health Services provides mostly generic brands.

            Wal-Mart also carries birth control in their pharmacy. They have 12 name brand contraceptives, all 28-day cycle packs, and 5 generic versions of the name brand drugs, also all 28-day cycles. Wal-Mart also offers Ortho Evra, also known as the patch. The name brand contraceptives run from $9 (Tri-Sprintec) to $78.68 (Yaz and Yasmin). By taking a generic brand you can save more money.

            Health Services confirmed that contraception is the number one reason birth control is used, but some students take it for other reasons.

            Senior biology major Lauren Sturtevant said she takes birth control to help with a medical condition that runs in her family.

            There are plenty of options for birth control in Charleston, so do your homework to find out about the best birth control at the right price for you.