ARTS & LIFE | F E AT URE
TAKE CONTROL A Guide to Birth Control in China By Rakini Bergundy
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o your yearlong stash of Alesse has finally run out, and now you’re in search of birth control in China. Here’s everything you need to know. The main type of birth control available in China is combination pills, meaning they contain a blend of progesterone and estrogen to stop the ovaries from releasing eggs. The oral contraceptives listed on the following page all contain some form of synthetic progesterone and ethyl estradiol, a synthetic form of estrogen. Where to Buy? Oral contraceptives can be purchased without a prescription at Chinese drug stores or even on Meituan. Search yaofang ( 药房 ) on Dianping to find your nearest drugstore or maiyao ( 买药 ) on Meituan.
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What brands are available? The four most common brands are: Yasmin, Yaz, Diane-35 and Marvelon. The first three are all produced by Bayer – a wellknown German pharmaceutical company – while Marvelon is produced by MSD, a US-based pharmaceutical company. What is Plan B or the day after pill called in China? Postinor (baoshiting , 保仕婷 ), costs around RMB50. It contains one 1.5 milligram dose of levonorgestrel and no prescription is needed. *Prices vary at different retailers.
