Taking contraceptive pills to China

[Xiaoyan]

I'll soon be leaving for China for a year of study and I worry a little bit about the fact of taking one year's supply of my contraceptive pills (which I need to take rather due to my medical condition than for the sake of birth control) to China. I'm not from an English-speaking country and therefore it would be quite difficult to force my doctor into writing a letter in English about my need to take the pills. I only have the prescription he gave me for the pills and the receipt from the chemist's for buying the needed number of packages (which is five) - both in my native language, but quite demonstrative, I think. Do you think it might present a problem when entering China or would it be enough to explain? Thanks a lot.

[Erbse]

Just put them in your luggage. Nobody will ask you.

[anonymoose]

Your chance of being asked is very low, and even if they do ask, if you have the correct visa (in other words, show that you will be staying for a year legitimately), then I doubt that they would have any problem with you taking those things.

With the thousands of foreigners passing through Beijing and Shanghai airports every day, I'm sure you're not the only one to carry such things, and if there had been a problem, I guess we would have heard of it by now.

[jbradfor]

I don't really know much about the situation, but I'm just curious, do you have a specific concern about what might cause trouble or not be allowed? Or is it more a general concern and problems in general?

[parasite]

I've probably entered China 15 times, they never ask anything or look at anything...

Once I had metal handcuffs in my suitcase, which (unbeknownst to me) are illegal period there. I didn't find this out until a month LATER when I tried to get on a China domestic flight with them and my bag was x-rayed haha =)

[Brian US]

My first trip to China I brought along a few cigars. Cute little security girl pulled them out and asked what they were. She didn't know what cigars were and after I tried to explain she simply said,"Wow, these are the biggest cigarettes I've ever seen!"

I was not questioned further, so I would suggest just putting them in your bag.

[Xiaoyan]

Thanks to you all. I guess I'm just nervous a little more than necessary before my first big trip to China. Just now I'm still in the process of waiting for my visa to be issued, but as I applied for the student visa with all the document saying I'm staying till July 2011, I suppose it should be ok... It's just that the woman selling me the pills told me to be aware that some countries may have restrictions about taking medicaments in and that I'd better check whether this is the case. Let's just hope my suitcase won't get lost on the way... :-)

[crisgee]

Just to give you more confidence --

I've brought several months worth of anti-rejection meds (i had a transplant) which were literally hundreds of pills. Customs checked my bag ONCE so i showed them my prescriptions, medical certificates and my visa. Then i was allowed to proceed. All the while i talked to them in English and they seemed to understand. In my subsequent entries to China, they let me through without incident.

So as long as you have the proper docs they should let you through no problem.

[ansileran]

I don't think pills will be a problem, especially if you have the prescription with you. After all, it is recommended to bring along medication when you go to China... I don't know how controlls are now, but I went there in 2006 and had quite a few pills in my carry on item, most of them without prescription. They never asked a single question about that. The only thing that posed problems at the time was my oboe. They didn't seem to know what it was and I had to actually play it in the airport for them to believe it really was a music intrument...

I would suggest that you keep one package with you (just in case...) and put the rest in your luggage. You shouldn't have any problem then. Beside, they will probably only check your bag in your home country (that's what they usually do) so they won't have trouble reading your prescription there !

[zingo]

I have been in and out of China regularly over the last several years and not once were my bags checked. A tip: when you walk out of the customs area, look confident and walk with your head up high. If you walk like a sheep perhaps they may stop you.