I have been accepted into an American university and am excited to begin my study abroad journey soon! There is one thing that bothers me at the moment: contraceptives. I know health care in the United States can be expensive, so how do I get it there? Do universities provide birth control to students on campus?
Dear student,
First of all, big congratulations are in order! Living the American Dream as an international student is a journey filled with adventure, both challenge and excitement. Stepping out of your comfort zone opens new doors for you to meet new people and learn about their cultures, which is a big plus if you live in such a diverse place as the United States.
Beneath all this excitement, students often forget how different things are in another country, and that includes the healthcare system. The United States is known to have the the most expensive healthcare in the world. one in seven in the United States, women have no means of birth control at all, which has a negative impact on their well-being and their personal choices when it comes to participating in education and the market work.
Birth control pills are a popular contraceptive choice among young women for their ease of use, but can be difficult to obtain in the United States without a prescription. Source: Philippe Huguen/AFP
If you are already taking birth control right now, remember that environmental factors can affect how well they work. For example, if you take birth control pills every day, traveling and changing time zones put stress on your body due to exhaustion and disrupted sleep cycles due to jet lag. You might also not know when to take your next pill because of the time difference from your departure city.
Under the F-1 student visayou can usually buy student insurance provided by universities that are integrated into your tuition fees for general health care. Unfortunately, birth control can only be obtained by prescription in the United States, and not all student mutuals cover contraceptives.
International students can access birth control services and contraceptives at the nearest Planned Parenthood clinic. Source: Saul Loeb/AFP
There’s no need to worry though – many US universities and colleges offer low-cost birth control for students, and prescriptions can be obtained through on-campus clinics or student health services. . Remember, only doctors can write prescriptions in the US, so you want to make sure you’re getting yours from a trusted supplier.
With your student insurance, you can contact the campus clinic for a doctor’s appointment to get prescriptions for birth control. They can be purchased at the campus pharmacy or at popular retail pharmacies such as Walgreens or CVS. Once your name is registered in the system, you can usually request top-ups online or over the phone. If you are considering other methods of birth control, doctors and nurses on campus can advise you on the best options available to you.
Look for the nearest community or Planned Parenthood clinics, as they usually provide birth control and other sexual and reproductive health services, such as screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) and urinary tract infections. The website Bedsider.org has a good database of clinics near you that can provide cost-effective contraception in your area, and even has a online tool to determine if you are entitled to a free contraceptive. Websites like Nurx and SimpleHealth offer birth control as low as US$15 with online consultations.
Bringing birth control pills from home can be risky because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict regulations on what drugs are allowed in the United States. You should have a valid medical prescription in English from your home country if you plan to store your stock, and they must be in the original packaging.
You have the great foresight to anticipate access to contraceptives abroad, so more power to take ownership of your health and your body! Birth control for students is very accessible in the United States — just look for them in the right place.
