Tashkent

Uzbekistan / Tashkent

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.

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 to prevent pregnancy. 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 Uzbekistan, emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) are available over-the-counter at pharmacies. No prescription is required. From 2013-15, Escapelle, which is an LNG brand of emergency contraceptive pills, was available by prescription only in Uzbekistan, but these laws were changed and you can now access this brand, along with other brands, without a prescription.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can find emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) at pharmacies, and they are sold over-the-counter. The pills are usually on the shelves of pharmacies, so you don't need to ask a pharmacist to get them for you. Some brands you may find are Escapelle, Postinor, and Rely-X.
• As of 2015, UPA forms of emergency contraception, such as ellaOne, were not yet available in Uzbekistan, but we'll need to get more updated information on their status.
• 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.

Costs

• For LNG brands like Escapelle or Postinor, you can expect to pay around LNG € 14,62, as of 2015. For LNG brands like Rely-X, you can expect to pay around€ 9,23, as of 2015.ref>EC Status and Availability - Uzbekistan</ref>

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

In Uzbekistan, there are no known travel or residency restrictions for people with HIV/AIDS. This means that you can enter the country, regardless of your HIV status, and you should not be deported if you test positive for HIV while you are in the country. In the past, there were restrictions imposed on foreigners who were living with HIV/AIDS, but these restrictions were lifted in 2013.

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.

List of Additional Resources

• Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan
• Family Planning 2020 - Uzbekistan
• Equaldex - Uzbekistan: Click here to learn about LGBTQ rights and laws in Uzbekistan. It is important to understand that male homosexuality is illegal, while female homosexuality laws are ambiguous.