Now UK women can get contraceptives online

London - Women in Britain can for the first time get the contraceptive pill legally online without having to see medics first, under a new service being launched on Monday.

Medical website DrThom is offering three months' supply for 29.99 pounds.

Until now, "the pill" has only been available on prescription from doctors or clinics.

The online service will initially be offered to women already on the contraceptive pill but will soon be expanded to those who have never taken it before.

Patients have to fill in a health questionnaire and a doctor from the website can ask follow-up questions.

However, DrThom has to rely on patients being honest about their medical history and their age, among other factors.

"The aim of our new contraceptive service is to make it easier and more convenient for women throughout the UK to get access to the Pill," said Doctor Thomas Van Every, DrThom's medical director.

"Our specialist service is ideal for a woman living a long way from her GP (general practitioner - family doctor) or a woman who is too busy because of work or childcare to take the time to visit her GP.

"We see the DrThom service as part of an ongoing trend - a trend consistent with UK government policy - to help women access contraceptive services as close to their home as possible."

DrThom has decided to prescribe only to women aged 18 and over.

The age of consent is 16 in England, Scotland and Wales and 17 in Northern Ireland.

A spokesman for the Internet service said online doctors would have to rely on what the patient told them about their health - the same as with a regular GP.

"A woman has to say how old she is and as part of the registration and will have to supply their date of birth," he said.

"But there's nothing to stop somebody who's, say, 17 lying about their age."

The credit or debit card has to be in the patient's name.

"There's nothing to stop a patient lying when they use the service," the spokesperson said, but they were only doing a disservice to their own health by lying, he added.

A number of websites around the world offer the contraceptive pill. - Sapa-AFP



Source : Babynet