Emergency contraception (EC) is available in Armenia: local pharmacies distribute LNG, UPA, and mifepristone EC pills. LNG EC, UPA EC, and the use of IUD for EC are included in national guidelines for family planning. As of 2015, the government has pledged to procure free contraceptives, including EC, for certain populations.
- Sexual & reproductive health background information
- Accessibility & prescription status
- Cost
- Guidelines & common practices
- EC use
Sexual & reproductive health background information
| Female population aged 15-49 | Mean age at first sexual intercourse | Mean age at birth of first child | Total fertility rate | % use of modern contraceptive methods | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 721,0001 | 21.12 | 22.52 | 1.72 | 27.22 |
| Year | 2015 | 2010 | 2010 | 2010 | 2010 |
Accessibility & prescription status
In Armenia, LNG EC is available behind the counter from pharmacies, which means that EC is available without a prescription but is not on the shelves and needs to be requested in order to purchase. LNG EC is also available from hospitals, family planning clinics, women’s health centers, and some outpatient departments. UPA EC has been registered in Armenia as of 2012 as a prescription-only drug, although anecdotal data suggests that it can be obtained without a prescription. A mifepristone EC product is also available from pharmacies and is registered as a prescription-only drug.
Physicians are the sole health care professionals who are authorized to prescribe or provide LNG EC, UPA EC, and mifepristone for EC.
Cost
| Type of EC | Approximate Cost | Brand(s) Available |
|---|---|---|
| LNG | € 6 – € 11 | Postinor, Escapel |
| UPA | € 19 – € 20 | Dvella |
| Mifepristone | € 6 | Gynepriston |
There are no formal reimbursement mechanisms in Armenia for EC, but beginning in 2015, the government committed to procuring free contraceptives, including EC, for low-income and socially vulnerable populations.
Guidelines & common practices
In 2015, guidelines were published in Armenia that include EC among other contraceptive methods. These guidelines include recommendations on LNG EC and the use of copper IUD for EC and more general information on UPA EC.
Health care providers sometimes provide general information about EC during regular consultations. Doctors rarely prescribe EC in advance of need. Health care providers do not require a pregnancy test or a pelvic exam before prescribing EC.
EC use
| Knowledge of EC among all women aged 15-49 years (%) | Knowledge of EC among currently married women aged 15-49 years (%) | Knowledge of EC among all man (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 26.82 / 40.13 | 33.32 / 46.13 | 463 |
| Year | 2010 / 2016 | 2010 / 2016 | 2016 |
Overall, the level of awareness of EC among currently married women and men has increased since 2010. However, more than half of married women still have not heard about EC.
Sources
1 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision. New York, 2013.
2 Armenia Demographic and Health Survey 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2015, from http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR252/FR252.pdf.
3 National Statistical Service – NSS/Armenia, Ministry of Health – MOH/Armenia, and ICF. 2017. Armenia Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16. Yerevan, Armenia: NSS, MOH, and ICF. Available at http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR325/FR325.pdf. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
Last update: November 2021
Previous update: November 2015
