Birth control pill still unpopular in Japan 10 years after introduction

By Akemi Yoshimoto

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JoiceRojo at 09:57 PM JST - 13th October
Dubya at 09:44 AM JST - 12th October "The Pill" does not always work as a contraceptive; sometimes it works as a abortafacient - an "abortion pill". Very few people are aware of this.

That would probably be the case because that's not true.

Actually, it is true, and the pharmaceutical companies will be the first to admit it. Just check the insert that comes with any pill prescription; it describes the effect dubya is referring to in pretty much the exact language that BobbieWhickham (above) used.
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 It is not true for some pills. The low-dose pills prevent ovulation, many of them contains levonorgestrel, this is also used in the morning-after pill but in larger doses than the one contained in a normal pill. But taking the pill daily it will not work as "abortifacient" because the dosage is not enough.
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For "low dosage" pills with levonorgestrel (which prevents the attachment of the embryo to the uterus)combined with other components the dosage is to take 4 pills in two dosis every 12 hours aprox., after having intercourse and did not use condoms or you have suspicions of being ovulating. For "normal" pills with only levonorgestrel, you have to take 25 pills the inmediate morning after having sex, and then 12 hours later take 25 more pills.

But, there are some pills that do not have lervonogestrel, so they cannot act as "morning-after pill".

And if even it that were the cause, given the fact that there is a high rate of abortions, the fact that some pills are "abortifacient", shouldn't be a problem.

I my opinion, I think that the pill is contraceptive for profits of abortion clinics as well as child birth control method.

And for the side-effects, some of them are beneficial for many women, but there is also some bad effects for some women, it is important that the composition of the pill is matched with the characteristics of the periods, regularity, side effects of each women separately.
OneForAll at 10:39 PM JST - 13th October

littlehammer - As G. K. Chesterton said about birth control, "There will be no births and no control."

Europe, Japan, America are committing national suicide by low birthrates. It only shows the absolute selfishness of men and women that they will not have children within the framework of traditional marriage. The countries that embrace the immoral use of contraceptives and abortion, out of nothing more than pure selfishness, will die and are dying.

Children are a gift and those that consider them a burden or a hobby to fill their time while pursuing a career or self-fulfilment are guilty of the gravest sin and worthy of being tossed onto the trashheap and forgotten.

Good post. Traditional marriage certainly is the best place for children and Love Making. Thanks for pointing this out.

As one has said above there is freedom, but it can fail. WWII is a great example. We know the areas of human sexuality where freedom fails and its consequences. Not pretty. Individuals should never be judged by us because who really understands someones situation, but the action can always be condemned. Now birth control pill. Well I have to agree with Chesterton, what a great thinker. Those hormones must do something and not all good. But for health reason? How about preventing abortions? It is funny that Japan does not use it much but has less abortions as a nation. Curious. Sex is dynamite folks.
usaexpat at 11:25 PM JST - 13th October

Zaichik, I think you misunderstood my comment. The pill is equally reliable if you remember to take it every day. My point was that my wife remembering to do anything every single day with the chaos of our lives wouldn't be reliable.
usaexpat at 11:51 PM JST - 13th October

Wow, some people are actually against birth control in this day and age. I have 2 children and that is what we wanted. I do not have the space, time or emotional support to give to an army of children. If my wife and I let nature take its course we would probably be able to have 20 kids, that certainly doesn't mean we should.

Littlehammer: do you speak from experience? Children certainly are a gift but unless you are a parent and realise the amount of work, money, and time it takes to raise a child I don't think you are in a position to tell people to just breed unrestrained.
JHansen at 12:15 AM JST - 14th October

The Japanese women I know use the pill. I am amazed to find that so many people have such backwards and illogical ideas of birth control. Then again in Japan, with a quickly graying population perhaps the idea of birth control is counter productive to the wellbeing of society :-)
Triple888 at 12:42 AM JST - 14th October

"Birth control pill still unpopular in Japan 10 years after introduction"

Isn't that good news for the government?
cracaphat at 12:47 AM JST - 14th October

I feel sad reading some of the comments from some of the the anti pill/anti birth control/pull out whilst with a condom on brigade What's with that anyway?Might as well not bother doing it,if you are so fearful of knocking someone up,because if you are in a happy, monogamous relationship and you can have natural,spontaneous sex without the checklist being advocated would be better no ?The pill has shown to be a great invention and I am glad my wife was open to taking it,which she did for over 15 years AND she's fine and then thru destiny one day whilst on the pill,her period didn't come and we thought she was pregnant.And we fretted a bit she moreso,but then when it came a week later.You know what we did ? We took stock of our lives and thought how about a kid. 10 months later she gave birth, stopped the pill and I feel blessed that I could enjoy my 20s and 30s not thinking,"Hold on,let me get a ... every time.That would not be fun. Another person mentioned something similar with his wife,so it can be done,but overcoming your own fears and negativity in most cases is the key.
realist at 12:50 AM JST - 14th October

No surprised about this. We all know that abortion is the main form of contraception in japan.
flatearther at 02:52 AM JST - 14th October

Condoms AND the pill are the only way to go. Having an abortion is a very serious medical procedure, something that most Japanese people seem to be unaware of. I have spoken to women here whose attitude towards abortion mirrors my attitude towards a dental appointment. They treat it as an ugly, unfortunate necessity, but nothing to get worked up over. Considering this attitude, I find it hilarious that they blanch when I mention I'm on the pill and therefore don't have to go around having abortions. The misinformation they get is hilarious. I've had people ask me bizarre questions such as "Doesn't it make you infertile?" Temporarily, absolutely. Permanently? No. I'm sure that having regular abortions is a lot more risky than my low-dose B.C.P as far as permanent infertility risks are concerned.
alphawolf at 08:08 PM JST - 14th October

So Megumi's boyfriend had his condom split... happens to me all the time.

aw
dolphingirl at 09:11 PM JST - 14th October

flatearther: I agree. I think the attitude towards abortion in Japan is just 'shoganai' and this is not proactive at all. Plus, I heard that many abortions are not reported so the number--250,000 is probably grossly underestimated. For single people, condoms and birth control pills is defininetly the way to go. For monogamous couples, well, the choices are perhaps more numerous. The main point being, women and men should know their options and be responsible.
Makkun70 at 01:12 PM JST - 16th October

"10 years after it's introduction."

I'll leave it at that..
memyselfI at 08:07 AM JST - 17th October

Repeat after me, " Idiots " Can you say it one more time " Idiots " Thank you
Miyaratmosphere at 08:21 AM JST - 17th October

While the number of abortions has been declining in recent years, it was still more than 250,000 in fiscal 2007.

Jesus %&$# wept!! This country can't get any worse.
Cicada at 11:40 PM JST - 18th October

LFRAgain:

Posts like that... are one of the primary reasons the birth control pill is such a hard sell in Japan.

Golly, you sure seem to think some posters have a lot of power. Why is it that anti-pill posters have the power to make the pill a hard sell, while pro-pill posters are powerless?