Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan / Bishkek

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 Kyrgyzstan, you can purchase condoms and oral contraceptives (birth control pills) without a prescription at pharmacies. You can also access longer-lasting contraceptive methods, such as IUDs, at clinics and hospitals in the country.

Generally speaking, women in Kyrgyzstan are expected to marry and have large families. However, women are increasingly trying to space out their births at least three years apart, leading to a larger demand for contraceptive options. In 2015, it was estimated that 42% of women (who are married/in unions and of reproductive age) in Kyrgyzstan use some form of contraception, and about 17% of women have unmet family planning needs. This is below the average rate of contraceptive use in Central Asia, which is 57%. The most common contraceptive methods were found to be IUDs (22%), male condoms (10%) and birth control pills (4%). There were low usage rates for traditional methods (2%), female sterilization (1%) and withdrawal (1%). Meanwhile, less than 1% of women used contraceptive injectables or the rhythm method, and there was no recorded usage of male sterilization, female barrier methods or contraceptive implants.

For women in Kyrgyzstan, contraceptive access depends on many factors, including location, income status, and personal autonomy. While wealthy women in urban centers, like Bishkek, can find contraceptives in pharmacies and clinics, women from low-income or rural backgrounds often struggle to access and afford contraceptives. In the 1990s, the Kyrgyz government launched a program to promote family planning and reduce the infant mortality rate, but the majority of women still could not access birth control pills. During that time, the most common family planning methods were IUDs and abortion. In the 2000s, UNFPA launched a temporary program that provided free birth control pills to Kyrgyz families from impoverished backgrounds. However, the program ended in 2017 and the Kyrgyz government has not done enough to fill the gap left by UNFPA's departure. While the government has begun to offer a 50% discount for birth control pills, this only applies to people who hold medical insurance policies, which excludes many rural women.

Generally speaking, Kyrgyzstan is a socially conservative country. The majority of Kyrgyz citizens are Muslim (75%) followed by Russian Orthodox (20%). The Kyrgyz people (who make up about 71% of the population) are not extremely religious on average, but they can be considered very traditional. Frank discussion of sexuality is typically considered taboo, and and bride kidnappings (“ala kachuu”) are sadly common. In fact, it was estimated that up to 40% of ethnic Kyrgyz women were married after being kidnapped and nearly two-thirds of bride kidnappings are unplanned. While bride kidnapping has been technically illegal since 1994, it is still widely practiced.

In 2015, Parliament passed a bill that established the legal basis to teach sexuality education in schools. While the bill was controversial and opposed by some people, it was also welcomed by others. In fact, it was found that 80% of parents in Kyrgyzstan wanted their children to receive sexuality education, and many stated that they did not know how to talk about sexuality with their children.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Kyrgyzstan, you should be able to purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) without a prescription at pharmacies. Some of the brands you can expect to see are Belara, Ovidon, Microgynon and Rigevidon. While there are many pharmacies, some of the ones that you can check out are Central Pharmacy (Address: 127 Abdrakhmanov (former Sovetskaya) st. crosses Moskovskaya st.; Tel: (312) 901011, 665500) and Prestige (Address: 95 A Kievskaya St.; Tel: (312) 621462).
• If you cannot access dedicated emergency contraception, you can use regular birth control pills as replacement ECPs. Talk to your local pharmacist or physician about how this can be done.
• If you cannot access dedicated emergency contraception, you can get an IUD, which can sometimes prevent pregnancy up to five days after unprotected sex.

Costs

• At one Bishkek pharmacy, a box of Belara pills cost 970 soms.

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 Kyrgyzstan, it appears that you may need a prescription to obtain emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) at pharmacies.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Kyrgyzstan, you can obtain emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) in pharmacies, certain clinics and IPPF-affiliated programs, but a prescription is required. Some of the brands you can expect to find available are Escapelle, Postinor and Dvella.

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.

Support

• UNAIDS Krygyzstan: Meerim Sarybaeva, UNAIDS Country Manager. Phone: +996312611232. Email: sarybaevam@unaids.org

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.

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

• NEOMED Clinic: This general clinic has a number of specialists, and some staff may only speak English. Address: 46 Orozbekov str.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 720040. Phone: +996 312 906 090. They're also on Facebook.

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.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Kyrgyzstan, abortion is legally available upon request in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. This means that people can obtain an abortion for any legal reason during the first trimester. After this period, abortions are legally permitted in certain circumstances. Between twelve and twenty-two weeks of pregnancy, abortion can be legally performed at the request of the patient, which may often be due to physical or economic reasons. Furthermore, an abortion is always legally available if the pregnancy endangers the life of the pregnant person.

The abortion laws in Kyrgyzstan are based on the Soviet Decree of 23 November 1955 and Decree in 1982, which declared the right for women to obtain abortions. These laws were further expanded upon i Ministry of Health Order № 249 in 1998, after Kyrgyzstan had become an independent state.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Kyrgyzstan, abortion is legally available to people upon request. According to some sources, only surgical abortion is available and medical abortion (i.e. the "abortion pill") is not available, but this may no longer be the case (this fact needs to be confirmed).

Advocacy & Counseling

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Bishkek City Ambulance: Dial 103
• Commercial Ambulance Services: Dial 139, 548666, 549999, (0554) 548666; Dial 151 or 439151; Dial 1130 or 577115

List of Additional Resources

• Click here to learn about LGBTQ rights and laws in Kyrgyzstan. As of April 2018, homosexuality is legal and there are laws that protect LGBTQ people from housing discrimination and employment discrimination. However, gay marriage is unrecognized and conversion therapy is not banned.
• Forum of Women’s NGOs of Kyrgyzstan (FWNGO): "Forum of Women’s NGOs of Kyrgyzstan (FWNGO) was set up in 1994... Main areas of the Forum’s activity are included joining of the activities of women’s NGOs, development of women’s networking and training in Kyrgyzstan and in Central Asia, advocacy and lobbying women’s issues, provision of the complex of consultative services to all organization and private individuals dealing with gender issues, publication of newsletter for women, protection of women’s human rights, development and holding educational training effective programs, promoting women’s advancement, their adaptation to new social conditions, organizations and holding of conference, workshop, seminars."
• UN Women - Kyrgyzstan: "UN Women in Kyrgyzstan prioritises initiatives and programmes in these areas that are fundamental to women’s equality and that can unlock progress for both women and men: Economic empowerment, Ending violence against women, Peace and security and engendering humanitarian action, National planning and budgeting and UN system coordination."
• Women Support Center: "Women Support Center works to encourage gender equality in Kyrgyzstan through the advancement of human rights and active participation in democratic reforms. It was established in 1995 to promote a democratic society through understanding the role and capacities of each individual." Address: zip 549, Bishkek, 720044, Kyrgyz Republic. Phone: +996312547416. Email: kyrgyzwomen@gmail.com
• Kyrgyz Women’s Leadership Development and NGO Capacity: This program ended in 2011, but certain elements may still be active. "Kyrgyz Women’s Leadership Development and NGO Capacity – Building is a two-year, multi-phase program. The project is designed to positively impact emerging professionals (community leaders, political leaders, educators, and youth workers), to strengthen grassroots organizations in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, as well as the mutual understanding of the role of civil society in the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan."
• Human Rights Movement: Bir Duino-Kyrgyzsta: "Human Rights Movement: Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan, is the successor of the NGO “Citizens Against Corruption” (CAC ), which was founded in May 2000. The mission of Bir Duino is to protect human rights, particularly freedom of association, to defend the political space for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in Kyrgyzstan through culture and arts, and to facilitate practical implementation of humanitarian articles, international legal instruments, and other obligations of Kyrgyzstan in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms."
• Voices on Central Asia: Feminism through Pictures: How Girls of South Kyrgyzstan Fight for Women’s Rights