Birth control while just visiting?

I'm off for a long visit with the boyfriend in a couple months, and I'm not sure I'll be able to get enough of my pill to last me the entire trip - I get them from PP and afaik they can only let me have three months at a time.  I'm happy to pay for them in the UK - I just need to know if I WILL be able to get them, and from where?  Will I need to bring a prescription with me?  Sorry if there's been a topic on this already - a quick search didn't turn one up

It's probably a better/easier idea to talk to PP and see if they can either give you enough to last (if you explain the situation, they might be able to).  I haven't had to deal with it yet, but I know other people have mentioned having trouble getting the exact same pills.  It seems there's some variation in the formula. 

If they do give you a prescription to have filled in a UK pharmacy, I'd ask them to make sure that, in addition to a brand- or generic-name pill, they also specify the exact amounts of the drug combo (i.e. .24 mg norgestimate/.035 ethinyl estradiol), to make it easier for the UK pharmacist to fill if they don't have the same exact pill. 

Yes, the formulations do tend to be different. 

I don't think you would just be able to take your US scrip to a UK pharmacy.  You would either need to go to a GP and pay a fee as a private patient and get a scrip to take or go to a clinic and get an appointment and the pills from them.

The second choice is probably best since it is free even for non-UK residents.  I suppose so you don't create UK citizens while you are here. 

Definitely talk to your doc or PP before you go.  I was often able to get 6 months + of prescriptions before I went abroad (if I remember correctly, it was called something inventive like a "travel prescription" or something) with no trouble. If you can't, your best bet here would probably be a sex health clinic.

I don't think you would just be able to take your US scrip to a UK pharmacy. 

Yes, this is true - UK pharmacies cannot dispense foreign prescriptions, so you would need to get a UK prescription for your pill... having a US prescription with you will show them what you are prescribed in the US so that they can try to prescribe you the same drug.

If you can get enough to last you before you go, do that.

If not, you can go to a sexual health clinic in the UK. I went to one while I was staying with my boyfriend (now my husband) for 4 months. I was only a visitor at the time. I just had to fill out a simple form and had a chat with a nurse. In fact, they just gave me the pills right there. No prescription needed.