Big subject, also personal to many.. but decided to make this thread because, hey - where else is this info? Though only join the discussion if you are okay with telling others of what contraception you have used... So, as you all know myself and Joy will be getting married next year in the Philippines and I am curious as to the availability of contraception in the Philippines, Condoms as well as the various forms of the pill. I am guessing that there is very little availability with an obvious leaning brought about by bishops high up in their merry mansions. From what I also understand, in Manila all forms of contraception has been banned according to this article Is this correct? And does anyone know the situation in Mindanao? Camiguin?
Kuya, Both in Manila and in Davao my wife would pop off to Mercury Drug and get contraceptive pills. I think they were called Diana or similar. Having said that we have not made any visit to Phils longer than 1 month since May 2010. So if something changed since then I have no idea. I cannot imagine that contraceptive pills or condoms are banned. Plenty of our friends were always stocked up. Also I don't know how to go about getting stuff here in UK, but must be worth a trip to the GP just to ask. No harm in that. I'll ask wifey ............. later
Here in the UK, you could go to the GP, Pharmacy or to a family planning clinic.. clinics give out free condoms too, to cut down on unwanted pregnancies to the poor and STI/STD's.
Kuya, I think that the article you cite is related to free issue/government funded from health centres. I do not believe contraception is banned for retail sales. Of course I could be wrong...........................I usually am
Sean this directive was specific to Manila city not "Metro Manila" so I presume it would have been ok to buy a condom in Makati or Pasay but not in Manila. I must say I find this local law very strange as Mayor Atienza was considered a liberal who was supposed to have encouraged licentious behaviour particularly in the bars along the front of Manila Bay. Mayor Lim came in and swept it all away in 2007. Personally I don't remember ever buying any condoms over there (got two kids remember ) but I did take them over in my luggage after James was born. They were certainly available in hotels in Cebu back in 2005. A lady would certainly never go into a store and buy any because it would be too embarrassing for them, they would be considered immoral even if married (silly I know ), the guys well I never asked any of them and I certainly never bought any there so I have no recollection of seeing any in the chemists. You land in Paranaque which is not Manila so I would just take some with me if I were you, I don't think you can be arrested for being in possession In 2008 I went for the snip as the final (hopefully) solution
Oh and a word of advice, I took quite a large box with me after James was born, when Ana saw that she looked at me like "just what exactly do you think you are here for", I was just being practical and trying to save money but it didn't look like that to her
FYI - there were "johnnies" in many of the pharmacies in Cebu City in February It's obvious we didn't buy any :vhappy: I just watch what goes on there.
Sensible it will save you a fortune in hospital bills and later visa's and visits to the British Embassy.
Contraceptive are widely available (O.C.) and very cheap here. I never had any troubles convincing Gf's to use them, just program the time in the CP's and they take them meticulously. of course a bit of knowledge which "pill" is good or not for the individual person is important too. An OB gyne should be mandatory, but isn't available all the time, i also made the experience, that they do NOT know much about OC always. However, the OC with names "Diana" or "Lady" (between 30 and 35 pesos per month pack !) are generally harmless and have no side effects on average persons, they are the most widespread OC's here. The hormonell dosage is so low, it almost never causes problems. On research i found, that the dosage given is about the same one gives to teenage girls in Europe. Condoms : i only saw the one size fits all and that is not always the correct one. for the average grown European male. (Sorry, not pun intended, its just, smaller people, smaller size, makes sense somehow) So i would advise guys to bring their own ones if they don't want to suffer from 'blood bruises" or worse.
Hmmm, so not picking up the jonnies from Mindanao then... Though, the tight fit might look good:vhappy:
I.U.D.s are available either free or about 500 piso from health centers in Cebu dito condoms but the problem as i saw it is lack of proactive info and education in these things so uptake may be patchy Condoms apart from the size thingy may be cheap copies so beware
