"Expanding knowledge and access
to emergency contraception"
"Expanding knowledge and access to emergency contraception in Europe"
Emergency contraception (EC) is available in Bulgaria: LNG EC, UPA EC, and the use of IUD for EC are included in national policies for family planning. EC pills can be procured in local pharmacies, but are not reimbursed or covered by social security. Accessibility & prescription status Cost Guidelines & common practices EC use Accessibility…
Emergency contraception (EC) is available in Belgium: LNG EC, UPA EC, and the use of IUD for EC are included in national policies for family planning; local pharmacies, hospitals, and family planning clinics distribute EC; and Belgium includes EC in its drug reimbursement policies. Sexual & reproductive health background information Accessibility & prescription status Cost…
Emergency contraceptive (EC) pills are available behind-the-counter in Austria (LNG since 2009 and UPA since 2015). EC pills are not included in national policies for family planning nor reimbursed or covered by social security. EC pills are only available in pharmacies. Accessibility & prescription status Cost Guidelines & common practices EC use Accessibility & prescription…
Emergency contraception (EC) is available in Albania: LNG EC is included in national policies for family planning but is only available for purchase from pharmacies and is not provided for free or reimbursed by social security. Since mid 2017 UPA EC is also available. Sexual & reproductive health background information Accessibility & prescription status Cost…
This section provides information on EC availability in European countries. This information is based on data gathered in 2012 through an expert survey conducted by ECEC and validated in 2013. The last general update of the data presented in these pages was conducted in 2015, but individual updates are made when needed. Please note that…
On June 20, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially announced its approval to sell LNG EC over-the-counter with no age or point-of-sale restrictions. This decision puts an end to an almost decade-long dispute over the accessibility of EC, and the US now joins a small group of countries where LNG EC is sold…
A recent UK study examined how the use of ulipristal acetate (UPA), levonorgestrel (LNG), and the copper-intrauterine device for emergency contraception changed following the introduction of new UK Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) guidelines. The new guidelines recommend that for emergency contraception, health professionals should discuss individual needs and inform women of the…
On May 15th, the Health Committee of the Bundestag (German parliament) resolved not to remove the prescription status of LNG EC. The coalition currently in office (CDU and FDP), turned down the request by the SPD and Die LINKE parties to change LNG to prescription-free status. The political parties that requested the change of status claim…
Data from the study “Women’s perception of emergency contraceptive pills” are now available. The study examined Spanish women’s opinions and knowledge on hormonal EC. The researchers’ findings included the following: 84% of Spanish women consider that having the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) available is a major breakthrough for woman. 76% considered that the ECP is…
In Germany, the discussion continues over whether levonorgestrel-only emergency contraception should be issued in the future without a doctor’s prescription. Currently, a prescription is still needed in order to purchase emergency contrantraception, and only physicians can prescribe it. At a hearing of the Health Committee of the Bundestag in April, testimony was given by health…
A health group in Scotland is calling on government Ministers to allow school nurses to dispense emergency contrantraception to students. The Scottish Sexual Health Lead Clinicians Group suggests that nurses could dispense condoms and emergency contraception to school children in order to help reduce teen pregnancy rates, which have been holding steady at 7.1 per 1,000…
It was decided at the Swiss Catholic Bishops Conference that women who have been raped may use emergency contrantraception, echoing similar rulings made recently by German bishops. However, the Swiss bishops confused the issue by stating that EC can only be used when there is a contraceptive effect and not when it induces an abortion,…
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