If I Don't Want to Have a Child Now, What Should I Do?
Contraception is necessary if you are not ready to give birth.
Contraception is the responsibility of both men and women.
Some contraceptive methods used in your country of origin are not allowed in Japan.
Using a male condom is the first step.
During pregnancy, a woman's mind and body will be heavily burdened.
If a woman needs an abortion because a man’s refusal to use contraception, both the woman and the man will bear the cost.
Contraception is the responsibility of both men and women.
Some contraceptive methods used in your country of origin are not allowed in Japan.
Using a male condom is the first step.
During pregnancy, a woman's mind and body will be heavily burdened.
If a woman needs an abortion because a man’s refusal to use contraception, both the woman and the man will bear the cost.
Approved Contraception in Japan
Male Condom
A condom is worn by men over the penis to prevent semen from entering the woman's vagina. It is used only during sex. This may help STDS, as well as, contraception.
Male condoms are sold at pharmacies, drug stores, convenience stores, and some 100-yen shops. There are various types, from 100 yen for two condoms to 1,000 yen for twelve condoms per box. Anyone, regardless of gender or age, can buy it without an ID.
Do not wear the condom improperly. Be careful not to tear it with your nails. Do not flush the condom down the toilet, it will clog. Please dispose of it properly as garbage. Check the expiration date before use.
How to Use a Condom (English) by Dr. Iwamuro, Shinya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dThmCyxz5RA&ab_channel=mangachop
Low-Dose Pill / Oral Pill (OC)
If a woman takes daily hormone tablets, ovulation can be controlled. When woman decides that she wants to have a child, she can just stop taking the pill.
You will need to have checkups by an ob‐gyn to get a prescription. Regular checkups and blood tests are required once or twice a year. If you stop taking the pill everyday even when not having sex, it will not continue to control your ovulation. Use a smartphone app to remind you when to take the pill. It is recommended that you quit smoking while taking the pill, since the pill increases the risk of thrombosis.
Health insurance covers the pill cost, if the purpose is for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. If you have health insurance, you will have to pay only 30% of the cost, which is about 1,700 yen including medical treatment and pill.
If the purpose is contraception, however, health insurance will not cover the cost. You must pay 100% of the expenses yourself. In such cases, the cost and the period for which you can get the pill vary depending on the clinic. The cost of the pill varies depending on the pharmacy. Generic pills cost about 2,000 yen for one month. An original pill costs around 2,500 to 3,000 yen.
Intrauterine Device/ IUD
A T-shaped plastic birth control device inserted into the uterus that prevents pregnancy. It is valid for 3 to 5 years, depending on the type.
The IUD will be inserted after a checkup at the ob-gyn. If you want to have a child, ask your doctor to remove it. It costs 30,000 to 70,000 yen. Health insurance does not cover this cost.
Sterilization
If you don't want to have children anymore or already have enough children, you can have surgery. Men's "vasectomy" (pipe cut) costs more than 200,000 yen, and women's "tubal ligation" costs more than 50,000 yen.
Rhythm/ Calendar method
This method is used to predict the period when it is easiet to get pregnant and the days when it is difficult to get pregnant based on the woman’s menstrual cycle. You need to measure your basal body temperature and record your menstrual cycle. Women with irregular menstrual cycles may not be able to use this method for contraception, so it is recommended to combine it with other methods.
A condom is worn by men over the penis to prevent semen from entering the woman's vagina. It is used only during sex. This may help STDS, as well as, contraception.
Male condoms are sold at pharmacies, drug stores, convenience stores, and some 100-yen shops. There are various types, from 100 yen for two condoms to 1,000 yen for twelve condoms per box. Anyone, regardless of gender or age, can buy it without an ID.
Do not wear the condom improperly. Be careful not to tear it with your nails. Do not flush the condom down the toilet, it will clog. Please dispose of it properly as garbage. Check the expiration date before use.
How to Use a Condom (English) by Dr. Iwamuro, Shinya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dThmCyxz5RA&ab_channel=mangachop
Low-Dose Pill / Oral Pill (OC)
If a woman takes daily hormone tablets, ovulation can be controlled. When woman decides that she wants to have a child, she can just stop taking the pill.
You will need to have checkups by an ob‐gyn to get a prescription. Regular checkups and blood tests are required once or twice a year. If you stop taking the pill everyday even when not having sex, it will not continue to control your ovulation. Use a smartphone app to remind you when to take the pill. It is recommended that you quit smoking while taking the pill, since the pill increases the risk of thrombosis.
Health insurance covers the pill cost, if the purpose is for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. If you have health insurance, you will have to pay only 30% of the cost, which is about 1,700 yen including medical treatment and pill.
If the purpose is contraception, however, health insurance will not cover the cost. You must pay 100% of the expenses yourself. In such cases, the cost and the period for which you can get the pill vary depending on the clinic. The cost of the pill varies depending on the pharmacy. Generic pills cost about 2,000 yen for one month. An original pill costs around 2,500 to 3,000 yen.
Intrauterine Device/ IUD
A T-shaped plastic birth control device inserted into the uterus that prevents pregnancy. It is valid for 3 to 5 years, depending on the type.
The IUD will be inserted after a checkup at the ob-gyn. If you want to have a child, ask your doctor to remove it. It costs 30,000 to 70,000 yen. Health insurance does not cover this cost.
Sterilization
If you don't want to have children anymore or already have enough children, you can have surgery. Men's "vasectomy" (pipe cut) costs more than 200,000 yen, and women's "tubal ligation" costs more than 50,000 yen.
Rhythm/ Calendar method
This method is used to predict the period when it is easiet to get pregnant and the days when it is difficult to get pregnant based on the woman’s menstrual cycle. You need to measure your basal body temperature and record your menstrual cycle. Women with irregular menstrual cycles may not be able to use this method for contraception, so it is recommended to combine it with other methods.
Methods Not Available in Japan
Hormone injection:
Not available at any Japanese clinic.
Hormonal implants:
Not available at any Japanese clinic. It's also hard to find a clinic to remove it.
Contraceptive stickers, contraceptive patches, female condoms:
Not available in Japan.
Not available at any Japanese clinic.
Hormonal implants:
Not available at any Japanese clinic. It's also hard to find a clinic to remove it.
Contraceptive stickers, contraceptive patches, female condoms:
Not available in Japan.
Precautions for Bringing in Medicine From Your Country of Origin
Up to one month’s supply of prescription medicine can be brought into Japan. If you carry more than one month’s supply, the custom will “hold” them. You may be required to submit an “import declaration” with a copy of your doctor's prescription and a medical certificate, as well as, a product description of the medicine. The prescription can be written by a Japanese doctor or by a doctor in your country of origin.
You can apply by mail. After the application is approved, you can go to customs to pick up the medicine. If you can't go on your own, you can write a letter of proxy and have someone else pick it up.
If you give or sell the medicine you brought in, you shall be punished by imprisonment for one to two years or a fine of one to two million yen for "violation of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act".
参考:厚生労働省関東信越厚生局「医薬品等の輸入手続きについて」
https://kouseikyoku.mhlw.go.jp/kantoshinetsu/iji/yakkanhp-kaishu-2016-3.html#yakkan-shoumei
You can apply by mail. After the application is approved, you can go to customs to pick up the medicine. If you can't go on your own, you can write a letter of proxy and have someone else pick it up.
If you give or sell the medicine you brought in, you shall be punished by imprisonment for one to two years or a fine of one to two million yen for "violation of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act".
参考:厚生労働省関東信越厚生局「医薬品等の輸入手続きについて」
https://kouseikyoku.mhlw.go.jp/kantoshinetsu/iji/yakkanhp-kaishu-2016-3.html#yakkan-shoumei
Precautions for Asking Someone to Send Medicine From Your Country of Origin
Take precautions when you ask someone to send medicine from your country of origin. You are allowed to ask someone to send you the medicine. However, you cannot receive your package directly. When your package arrives in Japan, Customs will contact you by registered postcard. You need to submit them as a doctor's medical certificate with the import declaration. If you get permission, it will be shipped to you from Customs.
If you give or sell the medicine you received, you will be punished by imprisonment for one to two years or a fine of one to two million yen for "violation of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act".
参考:医薬品、医療機器等の品質、有効性及び安全性の確保等に関する法律
https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=335AC0000000145
If you give or sell the medicine you received, you will be punished by imprisonment for one to two years or a fine of one to two million yen for "violation of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act".
参考:医薬品、医療機器等の品質、有効性及び安全性の確保等に関する法律
https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=335AC0000000145
Abstain from "Pharmacy" on the Internet
Only qualified companies can sell medicine on the Internet. If an unqualified person sells the medicine, he or she will be punished by imprisonment for one to two years or a fine of one to two million yen for "violation of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act". It is risky to use some medicines that are distributed on the Internet or SNS because they might have expired or be of poor quality.
参考:厚生労働省「医薬品等の個人輸入について」
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/kojinyunyu/topics/tp010401-1.html
参考:厚生労働省「医薬品等の個人輸入について」
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/kojinyunyu/topics/tp010401-1.html