What types of birth control are available in Japan?

I'm 17 and I'm going to live in japan next year due to a school exchange program.
now I've read in a book about japan,that the antibaby pill is not available there;the book was written in '97,so maybe the information is already old.
it's not that I'm planning anything during my stay there,I just would like to be informed.
sara

Hi Sara,

Good for you for searching out answers before your trip! Yes, birth control pills are now legal in Japan and most doctors can prescribe them for you. If you are coming to Japan on a short-stay school exchange program, then I would recommend that you just bring along a supply with you from home. You are allowed to bring in three months' worth of medication when you enter Japan (that includes cold medicine and Tylenol, etc.). If you are staying for longer than three months, you might want to have a friend mail them out to you from home (it might be cheaper and less hassle for you than visiting a doctor here).

Hope this helps,

Karen

Dear Sara:

It's true that the pill is now available in Japan, but remember that the mini-pill (progesterone-only) is NOT. Having used both, I can say that only the mini-pill is good for me as the normal pill gave me a lot of nausea. Good luck!

Hello,
I would like to know whether contraceptive jelly is available in japan and where is it available and what is it called in japanese? I am looking for the one which comes in tampoon like applicator, ones which are available over the counter in States. The pill and IUD dont work for me.

I'm afraid I don't know about the spermacide question. The condoms here almost never have nonoxynal-9 on them, the opposite of the USA where you have to really look hard to find them without nonoxynal-9. So I love Japanese condoms because I have a reaction to nonoxynol-9 and it really tastes bad too.

Of interest to many women would be a home abortion remedy using vitamin C. I used it with success once. It does require you to be quite aware of your body and your cycles because it must be used absolutely no later than 14 days after missing your period, if not sooner. Here is a link that explains it very thoroughly.
http://www.sisterzeus.com/Hsp1shlp.htm

Vitamin C is cheap, and over-the-counter. And you can bring a couple of bottles with you in your suitcase if you are new coming to Japan and don't feel familiar with local stores and local products. It can even be used vaginally when a condom breaks, for example.

Satuseisizai which means to kill sperm, comes in two forms both inserted vaginally: tablet and jelly. They are not considered effective by themselves but are recommended to be used along with condoms.

Microval Progesterone Only (Mini Pill) can now be purchased online. Has anyone used it? What sort of side effects if any did you have? Would you recommend it? Do you know of any other mini-pill available online?

Does anyone have a good method of buying a diaphragm via internet or mail? They don't seem to sell them here in Japan.

Hi Jenny.
I wonder if you've already tried contacting the Nihon Kazoku Keikaku Kyokai (03-3269-4727) which in
http://m1.aol.com/toramomo/toramomo/15.html
claim to be the only organization selling diaphragm as of 1998. The website also explains that they once tried to import from NY, but the Japanese government didn't allow it because of safety reasons. Sorry for the old info, but just trying.

Thanks Yuko ! As soon as I read your post I called them. I spoke to: Ichikawa-san
They are open M thru F 9:00 - 17:15
pasari is the Japanese word for diaphragm and it costs Y7350 yen plus another Y500 for something ! (I paid Y1800 at American Pharmacy years ago. I sure wish they still carried them!)
Ichigaya station (has JR and 3 subway lines stopping there)
Ichigaya Tamachi 1-10, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0843
It seems you sort of have to make an appointment. I have one, but I might cancel it. I can't get over the price just yet.
The little wandering eyes on the web site are a bit un-nerving!

Great to know that the info was still effective after all these years. But I merely found it by searching yahoo japan so I really can't be responsible. I just thought it was better than nothing. However, the Kazoku Keikaku organization itself do seem to have a better website providing various info on birth control. They don't have the weird eye thing
:-)
http://www.jfpa.or.jp/19-kyouzai/05.html

IN an attempt to beat the Y7350 price I tried contacting the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, and that was a big zero.

From: The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong unattended[at]famplan.org.hk

Dear x,
Our Birth Control Service provides diaphragm to our clients, however we do not provide online ordering service, we are sorry that we cannot provide any help.
Regards, The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong.

> Your question is : Hello, and thank you for your time.
I am living in Japan. I used to travel to Hong Kong frequently but since I became a mother it is no longer possible to travel!
I have a faithful old diaphragm which has begun to disintigrate. I need a new one, and no one here in Tokyo seems to sell them. Do you know any Hong Kong service or internet pharmacy where I might order one? I am missing the use of the diaphragm.
Sincerely x,

Australia and USA also won't send a diaphragm by mail. They all insist on a fitting. (I know the size since all I have to do is measure my old one, but that is not good enough.)

Does anyone know if the mini-pill has become available here yet? There was a post above but it is quite old and i was wondering if anyone has any new information? Thanks

Hi, Does anyone know if the IUD (intrauterine device) available in Tokyo.

Dear Shakiba, sorry for the late reply but I only recently actually went there and spoke to anyone in person.

The Japan Family Planning Association (Nihon Kazoku Keikaku Kyokai)
mentioned above would be the place to check out.
tel: 03-3269-4727
address: 1-10 Ichigaya Tamachi (see above)
closest station: Ichigaya on the JR Sobu/Chuo line and various subways. It's the grey/silver building between the Sony Music and the PoraRoka supermarket. It's what's called an NGO (Non-government organization).
Mrs. Ashino speaks English, but Mr. Konagai speaks English very well. (He's the Director General and I think travels a lot).

You are supposed to make an appointment before going there... so it might be best to start with a phone call. Both Mrs. Ashino and Mr. Konagai have their desks on the 3rd floor.

To prevent confusion, the Japan Family Planning Association at Ichigaya does not have a clinic (well, I didn't see one), but they can tell you if and which IUDs might be available in Japan and where.