Vientiane

Laos / Central Laos / Vientiane

OVERVIEW

Contraception (Birth Control)

General Note: There are many types of contraceptives, also known as "birth control," including IUDs, oral contraceptives, patches, shots, and condoms, etc. If you would like to view a full list, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Laos, you can purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) over-the-counter. No prescription is required. According to 2015 report, it was found that 53.6% of Laotian women (who are married/in unions and of reproductive age) use any form of contraception. The most common methods were birth control pills (23.2%), injectables (14.9%), female sterilization (5%) and the rhythm method (4.8%). There were very low rates of usage of IUDs (1.8%), condoms (1.25) and implants (0.1%).

Historically, Laos has experienced periods of both rejecting and embracing family planning. In 1969, the International Planned Parenthood Foundation teamed up with the United States Agency for International Development to develop family planning programs. It was under these efforts that the child‐care and maternity wing of Mohosot Hospital, based in Vientiane, was developed. The hospital performed some vasectomies and tubal litigation procedures. However, in 1976, the Laotian government officially banned birth control. There may have been a few reasons for this ban. First, after the decades long Laotian Civil War (1953-1975), the government wanted to build up its population with a new generation of Laotians. Furthermore, the family planning policies of the past were associated with American involvement in Laos, which the government wished to distance itself from. During this period, birth control pills disappeared from the shelves and any remaining supplies were treating as contraband.

By the late 1980s, birth control was accessible again, though it was primarily adopted by urban women. In the remote and rural areas, the rate of contraceptive use remained very low into the 1990s, and in areas that were far from provincial capitals or the Thai border, contraceptive usage was "virtually nonexistent," according to one source.

As of 2017, Laos is a changed country, and the years of the birth control ban are long gone. While rural communities still have low birth control usage, some inroads are being made. Community-based distribution (CBD) workers, are educating their communities and distributing free contraceptives. The CBD workers have received training from the Laotian government and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). One of the main issues is that the majority of the CBD workers are male (not female). To read more about CBD workers in Laos, click here.

Today, over half of Laotian women use some form of birth control. Some unmarried women report feeling shamed by judgmental health care providers, yet others report that they can easily purchase contraceptives at their local pharmacy.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Vientiane, you can find condoms in many stores and minimarts.
• You can purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) at pharmacies. No prescription is required. Some of the brands you can expect to see are Anna and Preme, which are both produced by Thai Nakorn Patana (a Thai pharmaceutical company). Some locals have warned against purchasing medications from China or Vietnam, since they may be lower-quality or unreliable.
  • One local health care professional says (June 2017): "OC pills are widely available in most pharmacies and from public and private hospitals, even in rural areas. The brands will vary and providers may not stock consistent problems [sic: brands]. This can be an issue because it means that women may not always be able to find the brand that they are used to, especially in areas where the outlet may be bringing the drugs in from Thailand, Vietnam, China, etc. A lot of providers just drive over the border to buy their stocks."
• If you want an IUD, you'll be able to find copper-T IUDs in Laos. You can get them at public hospitals in Vientiane, such as Ban Home Health Center, Chanthabouly District hospital, etc. You can also get an IUD at private hospitals/clinics, such as Alliance, LaoViet and the French Clinic. For a full list of hospitals, visit the "Gynecological Exams" section.
• According to locals, you should be able to find contraceptive implants in Laos, but we need more details.
• According to locals, you should be able to find contraceptive injectables in Laos, but we need more details.
• According to locals, you may be able to find the contraceptive patch in Laos. However, whole locals report hearing that it's available, there's no confirmation if anyone can directly report seeing the patch available themselves. We'll need more information.
• The contraceptive ring (such as Nuvaring) is currently not available in Laos, as of July 2017.

Important Notes from Vientiane Health Care Professional (July 2017):

• "The only products registered for use in Laos and widely available are copper-T IUDs, Implants, COC and progestin only pills, Injections, EC pills and condoms. If a provider has anything else, they most likely brought it in illegally from a neighboring country."
• "All contraceptive commodities should be free at public facilities, but they will charge a small fee for the use of consumables (like cotton, betadyne, etc.). This is usually less then 50,00 kip ($6), but it varies by province. Private sector fees will depend on the provider, usually less than $10 I would say."

Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)

Important Notes: Emergency contraception may prevent pregnancy for three days (72 hours) and sometimes five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Take EC as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If you don't have access to dedicated EC, oral contraceptives can be used as replacement EC, but remember the following: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC 2) Different contraceptives require different dosages and time schedules to work as EC 3) You must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs and 4) They may be less effective than dedicated EC. For general information on emergency contraceptives, click here and here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Note: The longest-lasting EC is currently ellaOne. It lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Check to see if your country carries ellaOne. If your country doesn't carry ellaOne, copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If none of these options are available, and it's been over 3 days since you had unprotected sex, you can still take EC, which may work up to 5 days. Note that EC pills are not 100% effective and should be taken as soon as possible.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)

Important Notes - Learn about PEP and PrEP: If you think that you've been recently exposed to HIV (i.e. within 72 hours), seek out PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a month-long treatment to prevent HIV infection after exposure, and it may be available in your city. Take PEP as soon as possible. For more information, click here. If you are at risk of HIV exposure, seek out PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a daily oral pill that can prevent HIV infection before exposure. To learn more about PrEP, click here.

Menstruation

Note: In addition to pads and tampons, you can also use menstrual cups and menstrual underwear for your period. To learn more about menstrual cups, click here. To learn more about menstrual underwear, click here.

Abortion

Important Note: There are two main types of abortions: medical (also known as the "abortion pill") and surgical (also known as "in-clinic"). For medical abortions, you take a pill to induce abortion. For surgical abortions, a procedure is performed to induce abortion. For general information about medical and surgical abortions, click here.