05/07/2025
I went to a sari-sari store the other day and saw contraceptive pills like Lady and Trust being sold right next to mosquito coil and diapers.
At first glance, it might seem convenient โ but as a health professional, I couldnโt help but feel alarmed.
Contraceptive pills are NOT candy โผ๏ธ Theyโre not โsafe for allโ just because theyโre available over the counter in some tindahans. These are hormonal medications that affect your entire body โ and they are NOT meant to be taken without proper medical guidance and a prescription.
Hereโs why self-medicating with birth control pills can be dangerous:
1. ๐๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ก๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ข๐.
Iba-iba ang pills. Merong progestin-only, meron namang combined estrogen-progestin.
Kung mali ang mapili mo (lalo na kung may health condition ka na โdi mo pa alam), puwedeng magka breakthrough bleeding, hindi umepekto ang pills, o magka serious side effects.
โธป
2. ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Nag-aadjust ang katawan mo sa estrogen at progesterone sa pills โ kaya puwedeng tumaas ang risk ng stroke, blood clot, migraine, o high blood pressure, lalo na kung ikaw ay over 35 o naninigarilyo.
โธป
3. ๐ต๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ = ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐.
Hindi ito gaya ng vitamins.
Kailangan muna ng screening ng doktor or pharmacist โ titingnan kung mataas ang BP mo, kung may history ka ng sakit, or kung bagay ba sa iyo yung formulation. Sa sari-sari store? Wala niyan. Walang counseling, walang assessment.
โธป
4. ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Hindi lang katawan ang naaapektuhan โ pati emosyon at isip.
According to recent studies, may ilang babae na nagka-anxiety, mood swings, o kahit depression matapos magsimula ng pills.
โธป
5. ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ = ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Kung mali ang araw ng pagsimula o kung nakakalimot kang uminom, puwedeng bumaba ang effectiveness ng pill โ at magresulta sa hormonal imbalance o unplanned pregnancy.
โธป
6. ๐๐ฉโ๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฌ.
Under RA 10918 (Philippine Pharmacy Act), bawal magbenta ng pills sa hindi lisensyadong lugar gaya ng sari-sari store.
Dapat sa FDA-licensed pharmacy lang, at may reseta ng doktor at proper counseling ng pharmacist.
โ
What should you do instead?
โ๏ธ Consult a doctor before starting any contraceptive.
โ๏ธ Buy from licensed pharmacies only.
โ๏ธ Ask a pharmacist to explain how and when to take it properly.
โ๏ธ Be informed. Your health is too important to leave to chance.
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ.
Birth control isnโt candy. Itโs a tool that needs to be handled wisely โ with screening, counseling, and monitoring, not impulse-buying.
So no, hindi porket nabibili sa tindahan, safe na. Binalaan na kita ๐
Your general health matters, and so does your right to be informed. Letโs protect both. ๐ง โจ
