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Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 41 No. 26. October 2 1978

Student Health — New Contraceptive Regulations

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Student Health

New Contraceptive Regulations

On August 1st new regulations came into effect concerning the availability of free contraception. The regulations also cover pregnancy tests which are now Free. (Previously $2-3.)

Contraception is not automatically free. The discretion is left to the Doctor but it is available free if the Doctor considers it would be 'inappropriate' for the patient to pay. Most students in fact qualify for financial assistance. Cost of contraception should no longer be a deterrent to use.

The regulations cover all forms of contraception. A few of the more expensive oral contraceptive pills carry a part-charge but most of the commonly used brands are completely free. The injection is available free. The four common IUD's (the Copper 7, Copper — T, Lippes Loop & Multiload) are now free and can be fitted at the Health Service. Diaphragms are free although there is a shortage of some brands from chemists. The Family Planning Clinic is an additional source of supply. Spermicidal preparations can be bought without a prescription from chemists, but if you-have an endorsed prescription under the new regulations the following brands can be obtained free:
  • Delfen foam
  • Gynomin pessaries
  • Koromex, cream, jelly and foam
  • Ortho creme
  • Ortho-Gyne jelly
  • Preceptin gel
  • Rendell's pessaries

Spermicides should never be used alone but only as a backup to another method such as the diaphragm, condom or IUD.

Condoms are now free on an endorsed prescription. Technically this is known as a barrier method and we suspect that the greatest barrier will be the courage to ask the doctor for a prescription. At the Health Service we do our best to remove unnecessary barriers and we would welcome more requests for condoms.

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