A survey on low-dose oral contraceptive transactions at pharmacies.

Low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) were approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 1999. However, few women use low-dose OCs (married 1.9%, unmarried 0.7%). A survey of pharmacies was conducted to determine the current status of OC transactions. Of the 449 pharmacies randomly selected from each prefecture in Japan, 408 agreed to be interviewed. The survey results indicated that few pharmacies (15.1% of the total) stocked low-dose OCs. Even among pharmacies where they were available, only a few (13.5%) offered a wide variety of low-dose OCs for immediate dispensing. The price of low-dose OCs varied widely (yen 1,167-yen 7,000). In many pharmacies, the amount of space and interior structure were not adequate for users to seek advice on and receive low-dose OCs. The survey revealed that the current environment of many pharmacies is not adequate for users to visit, consult on OC use, and receive their prescriptions. To promote wider use of low-dose OCs, the facilities of pharmacies as well as the behavior of pharmacists need to be improved to safeguard the privacy of users.