Amman

Jordan / Amman

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 Jordan, you can purchase birth control pills without a prescription. By law, you may technically need a prescription to purchase birth control pills, however it appears that this isn't commonly requested by many pharmacists.

According to a 2015 study, it was found that 61.8% of Jordanian women (who are in unions/married and of reproductive age) use some form of contraception, including traditional methods. Meanwhile, 12% of Jordanian women have unmet family planning needs. The most common methods of contraception were IUDs (22.3%), withdrawal, also known as the "pull-out method" (13.6%), birth control pills (8.4%), condoms (8.2%) and the rhythm method (3.3%). There were low usage rates for female sterilization (2.3%), contraceptive injectables (0.9%) and contraceptive implants (0.3%).

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Jordan, you can find birth control pills, but you may need a prescription before obtaining them. Some of the brands you can expect to see are Neogynon, Nordiol, Ologyn, Ovral, Lo-Femenal, Microgynon-30, Nordette and Rigevidon. You can get the check-up required for birth control pills for 3 dinar at The Jordanian Association for Family Planning and Protection.
• You can find IUDs in Jordan.

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.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Jordan, you cannot find any dedicated emergency contraception (morning after pills) that are officially registered. However, you can use regular birth control pills as replacement ECPs, or you can get an IUD, which can also serve as emergency contraception. For more details, check out the section below ("What to Get & Where to Get It"). Overall, however, public awareness of emergency contraception remains low. In 2012, it was found that 15.3% of Jordanian women (who were married and of reproductive age) had knowledge of emergency contraception. In 2009, it was found that 0.5% had ever used emergency contraception.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• While you cannot find dedicated emergency contraception that's legally registered in Jordan, you can take oral contraceptives (regular birth control pills) as replacement emergency contraception. To do this, you can do the following:
  • Take 40 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex: Ovrette
  • Take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later (only the first 21 pills can be used in pack): Neogynon, Nordiol, Ologyn, Ovral
  • Take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later (only the first 21 pills can be used in pack): Lo-Femenal, Microgynon-30, Nordette, Rigevidon

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.

Laws & Social Stigmas

When you get an STI chance, you may be asked if you're married. Some single women (who are sexually active) choose to say that they're divorced rather than single, so as to reduce judgment and shaming. Unfortunately, many single women avoid STI tests all together due to the stigma surrounding unmarried women engaging in sexual activity.

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.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can find tampons at certain pharmacies in Jordan (usually in big cities, like Amma). The tampons for sale will typically have no applicator.

Gynecological Exams

Laws & Social Stigmas

If you visit a gynecologist and you're married, the gynecologist may ask for the name of your husband, according to Jordanian locals. For some married women, this is an invasion of privacy, and they may not wish to include their husbands in the results of their exams If you don't want to give the name of your husband, you can say that you're divorced. Above all, it's advised that you feel prepared for this question.

If you visit a gynecologist and you're unmarried (and sexually active), you have two choices. Your first choice is to say that you're divorced (that way, you don't have to give the name of a husband). Your second choice is to be honest and say that you're unmarried and sexually-active. The latter choice may expose you to a certain degree of shaming or judgment, particularly for local Jordanian women. No matter what you choose, the choice is yours.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Dr Al Bashir at Istishari Hospital: This ob/gyn comes highly recommended by an Amman local. Speaks Arabic and English. Clinical interests include OBGYN, IVF and Embryo Transfer, Ovulation Induction, OOCYTE Retrieval, Fetal Medicine and Intrauterine Blood Transfusion. Outpatient contact information: 44 Al Kindi St. Amman, Jordan. Phone: +96265001024, or +962796361177. Fax: +96265698833. Email: clinics@istisharihospital.com
• Nagham Abu-Shakra on Khaldi Street: This ob/gyn comes highly recommended by an Amman local, who says, "She's great! Perfect English, too."
• Dr Ismaiel Abu Mahfouz Clinic: This gynecologist comes highly recommended by an Amman local who says, "I went to Dr Ismaiel Abu Mahfouz Clinic and very happy with his service. I had a IUD implanted a few months ago, D&C AND Biopsy done at Abdulhadi Hospital and had top class treatment. Staff was great. I guess having a great health insurance helps. I'm at ease putting my life in this doctor's hands." Address: 46. Jordan Healthcare Center. Ibn Khaldoun St، Jabal Amman، Amman. Phone: (06) 464 9901.
• Dr. Lana's Clinic: This clinic provides gynecological exams with routine pap smear. A consultation and Pap smear is 65, the lab is 25 JDs (as of July 2017). Gynecological issues are addressed, such as irregular menstrual cycles, infertility issues, gynecological infections, etc. Address: 50 Sultan Al-Adwan St. Um Al Summaq, Amman. Tel : +962 6 5525451. Fax : +962 6 5525415. Mob : +962 79 8708783. E-mail : dr@drlanasclinic.com
• [hhttp://jafpp.org/?q=en The Jordanian Association for Family Planning and Protection]: They provide gynecological exams for 4.000 Dinar and pap tests for 5.000 Dinar (inclusive). There's a 0.500 Dinar registration fee. On the website, the mission statement is the following: "JAFPP is a voluntary non-profit Organization that provides high quality reproductive and sexual health services and programs for women and families, based on its belief that access to such services is a basic human right." Tel: + 962 6 5160999. Fax: + 962 5161020 6. E-mail: info@jafpp.org.

Costs

If you have Jordanian insurance and you're married, your insurance may cover pap smears. However, if you're single, there's a chance that your insurance will not cover pap smears.

Pregnancy

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Dr. Lana's Clinic: This clinic provides a range of services, including prenatal care, women's health care, child health care, vaccinations, etc.

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.