Condoms
Japanese condoms for men tend to be smaller than their western counterparts. Some JETs get Western-sized condoms sent from home or order them on the Internet (try www.comdomania.com or www.fbcusa.com). The female condom is sold under the name “MyFemy”
Birth Control Pills
Birth Control Pills are available in Japan but they cannot be purchased at a public hospital. They are not very common or popular with Japanese women. Private hospitals and clinics can distribute the Pill, but some JETs get the Pill sent from home or order them on the Internet (try http://www.birthcpills.com , http://www.drugstore.com). You can import one month’s supply at a time and you need to include a prescription from the doctor.
The Morning-After Pill
In Japan the “Morning After Pill” is officially only given in emergencies as it is viewed by many Japanese doctors as unsafe. In Japanese, it is called ‘kei kou shinin yaku’ or in katakana ‘moriningu afuta pilu’. It must be taken within 72 hours after the incident. It is not covered by national insurance and you cannot get it at a pharmacy without a prescription. Fukuda Women’s Hospital is the only place in Kumamoto willing to administer this pill.
HIV/AIDS and other STD Tests
HIV/AIDS and other STD tests are available for free at Public Health Centers (hankenjo). The central hankenjo is in downtown Kumamoto City but there are branch centers in other areas. The tests are anonymous. You need to return to the center in person a week after the test to get your results. Gynecologists and General Practitioners can also do the tests if asked but they may cost more and ‘
Gynecologists
Fukuda Women’s Hospital is the best place in Kumamoto for women’s health-related concerns. It is located outside near the central post office and the Kotsu Center in central Kumamoto. The clinic is open weekdays 9:00 - 6:00 and Saturday 9:00 - 6:00. There are English speaking doctors (Dr. Yamamoto and Dr. Obaru) who are used to working with foreigners. The phone number is 322-2995.
Pregnancy and Pregnancy Tests
The home pregnancy test called “Clear Blue” is available at pharmacists (chemists) for about 500Yen. It is reportedly quite accurate and comes with English instructions.
If you decide to have a baby in Japan, you need to register the pregnancy at your city/town/village office. You will be given a mother and child information booklet and the Tokyo Childbirth Education Association (see the JET Diary) has information about pregnancy and childbirth in Japan.
Abortion
Abortion is not covered by insurance and cannot be done after the second trimester. Fukuda Hospital in Kumamoto City is able to do abortions. While abortion is still a big decision for women (and their partners) to make, there is often minimal counseling offered at the clinic.
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