Guide to Women’s Health
Female Products
While napkins for periods are readily available in all sizes, the use of tampons is growing in popularity. You can buy Japanese brands with limited choices in most stores, including 7-11, and drugstores. Tampons are available on amazon.co.jp for delivery to you, including Japanese products (image right) and brands common overseas (OB, Tampax, Kotex). You can arrange to make payments at 7-11 if you do not have a credit card.
Disposal: Please wrap used products (tampons or napkins) up in tissue or plastic bags to dispose of using the sanitary boxes in the lavatories or in the dorm garbage bins.
Menstrual Pain Medication
Over-the-counter options are available such as “Eve” (ebu) or “L-Pain 4” (Arupain 4); or by prescriptions from a gynecologist. If you brought some from home, please be sure it is legal in Japan!
Gynecology
We recommend Hitomi Ladies Clinic near the McDonalds in Muikamachi.
The city bus drops you near it. https://hitomi-lc.com/ The doctor is female and speaks English.
Pap smears/mammogram services are readily available through the “Ningen Dock” as part of an annual physical available for fees at Yamato Hospital. However, they are not performed in routine gynecological visits, and are not generally covered by health insurance. If your doctor suspects there may be a problem, then your doctor may have you undergo the check. In this case, it is covered by insurance.
Pap smears are usually conducted in a private room with a curtain that separates you from the doctor/nurses.
Moegi Clinic and the Yamato Hospital do NOT offer gynecological services.
Birth Control
Condoms
The most common form of birth control in Japan is a male condom “Kondo0mu.” These are readily available in drug stores and convenience stores, also in the IUJ shop and dorm public restroom vending machines (SD2 and 3). Condoms should be THE method of protection from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
Morning After Pill
This is available at the KIKAN Hospital on request. You need to take this pill within 72 hours of unprotected sex if a possible unwanted pregnancy is suspected. The cost is at least 20,000yen per pill. A required follow up visit after your next period is required, and has a usual visit fee of around 500-1000yen. The After Pill should NOT be used as a method of birth control, but in emergency situations only.
The Pill & IUD
“The Pill” for birth control is traditionally only given to those with specific medical conditions in Japan. IUDs are only just becoming available. You may consult a doctor here about your circumstances.
More Information:
Japan Health Information
A wealth of information is provided by JHI, It covers basically everything, including women’s health, pregnancies, child birth, child raising, and expressions to use at hospitals and clinics, etc. http://japanhealthinfo.com/
A handout of this information is available in the OSS “Self Help” shelves. Please pick one up for your reference.