One of the most difficult systems to navigate in health care is that of a woman’s own health. In the 20 some odd years that I have lectured about health promotion, through the countless teenagers, young adults, newly married, and the over 60 crowd, there is always one common denominator that spans across culture, age and continents. No woman likes to go to the gynecologist.
As our lives become busier with work, family obligations, and relationship demands, it is easier to delay the visit; we can find a million excuses why not to go. Yet one thing will always push us, the need for contraception.
Today surprisingly, we do have a wide range of possibilities, yet I meet many women who are not aware of the options they have. So now, I’ll take you on a quick review of what your contraceptive options are in Israel.
Hormonal Options:
Pills: The COC, or combined oral contraceptive pill, is, by far, the most widely used method and is good for women who want an easily reversible, non-invasive method, for either during nursing (see minipill below) or not.
Because names tend to change across countries, I’m including a table so you can figure out the name that your pill is under here In Israel (Kind of reads like a family reunion).
| Brand Name in Israel | Active Ingredients | Company |
| Diane 35 | cyproterone and ethinyl estradiol. | Bayer |
| Emily | ethinylestradiol + gestodene | Haupt Pharma Munster |
| Feminet | ethinylestradiol + Desogestrel | Dexxon |
| Flame | ethinylestradiol + gestodene | Dexcel |
| Floret | ethinylestradiol + gestodene | Dexcel |
| Gynera | ethinylestradiol + gestodene | Bayer |
| Harmonet | ethinylestradiol + gestodene | Pfizer |
| Lodene/Meliane | ethinylestradiol + gestodene | Bayer |
| Logynon | ethinylestradiol + Levonorgestrel | Bayer |
| Mercilon | ethinylestradiol + Desogestrel | Organon |
| Microdiol | ethinylestradiol + Desogestrel | Organon |
| Microgynon | ethinylestradiol + Levonorgestrel | Bayer |
| Minesse | ethinylestradiol + gestodene | Pfizer |
| Minulet | ethinylestradiol + gestodene | Pfizer |
| Neogynon | ethinylestradiol + Levonorgestrel | |
| Minovlar* | Not identified in misrad habriut | |
| Nordette | ethinylestradiol + Levonorgestrel | Pfizer |
| Seasonique
|
ethinylestradiol + Levonorgestrel | Teva [not for sale in Israel as of April 2017] |
| Zoely | Nomegestrol acetate/ Estradiol | Organon |
| Shelly | ethinylestradiol + gestodene | Haupt Pharma Munster |
| 4th generation with different type of progesterone and smaller dosage of estrogen | ||
| Yasmin | Drospirenone and Estrogen | Bayer |
| Yaz | Drospirenone and Estrogen | Bayer |
| Progesterone Only Pills (Mini-Pill) | ||
| Cerazette | Desogestrel | Organon |
| Microlut | Levonorgestrel | Bayer |
You can see that the active ingredients are often the same, but dosage and timing differ, that’s why if you’re experiencing negative side effects from your current contraceptive, ask your doctor to try another type.
In addition, some pills are given for additional positive benefits, such as reducing facial hair or severe acne. Discuss those alternatives with your physician as well.
Costs of these products also depend on the product itself, and to which kupah you belong.
I found this good resource online, not so updated, but helpful if you’re traveling through Europe, Israel and the United States and want to know how to ask the doctor for your specific contraceptive.
http://www.clissmann.com/pil/ocs_intl.htm
Part 2 next week: long-lasting hormonal options, and non-hormonal methods available in Israel
Hi Aviva,
When you discuss FAM in Israel- maybe you want to check in with me ? if appropriate-
to get update/info about where teachers are. Can send you list of teachers by area. Also- re barrier methods- I also have list of all nurse-midwives who fit diaphragms… Am happy to share..
Excellent summary of the different pills! Sort of love some of the names!
my daughter is currently in israel and visited a doctor and asked for birth control pills. She was told she needed to go to a gynocologist and have an internal examination. Is this true?
While I would be surprised if the gynecologist were to insist on an internal exam, initial prescriptions of birth control pills are supposed to be subscribed by a gynecologist. this is actually a good thing, as a thorough medical history should be taken before prescribing hormonal contraceptives. but she shouldn’t be worried about the internal exam. If the doctor does suggest it she can refuse if she wants, though I would doubt that would actually happen.
Hi how can i get birth control pills here in Israel.
Go to a Terem clinic if you are not a citizen.
What kind of pills must I take..I have PCO but my gynecologist can’t give me contraceptive pills because i have hypertension and hyperlipidemia. And she said I must see a Contraception advicer..but I dont know where to. I have a big problem in my appearance now because of my hormonal imbalance. All signs and symptoms of PCOS are already present. Thank you
Good to know that there are such things as contraception advisors out there. :). But if you can’t find one, the gynecologist needs to be prescribing that. Change gynecologists because this is definitely something they should be handling. managing PCOS and contraception though are two different things, especially in your case because of the high blood pressure. For contraception, you can seek out a non hormonal method like the diaphragm, or a low dose local hormone like the nuvoring, or non hormonal iud. As for managing PCOS, that is what you should seek out a specialist for.
Hi Aviva, what if I am already pretty sure which pill I want? I have really bad PMS and I know of a friend who started taking Cerazette against that and it helped her a lot. So I would also like to try a progesterone only pill. Is it common in Israel to go to a gynecologist and to basically say that one knows which pill one wants to take?
Yes. Definitely. You can always go to the dr and say I know what works for me. Almost always the dr is fine with that and will offer a prescription.