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Dublin

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OVERVIEW

In Dublin, as the largest city in Ireland, you will find many health care resources. The traditionally Catholic country has made enormous strides related to family planning in the last few decades. Since 1980, birth control has been legal and, since 2011, emergency contraception (the morning after pill) is available over the counter. The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) provides many educational and health resources to the general public, as well. There are a few sites in Dublin that provide free HIV tests, and you can also get at-home kits for STI tests from IFPA. While there is currently no major PrEP program in Ireland, you can access PEP at many locations throughout the country. There is a national HPV vaccination program as well.

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 Ireland, contraception (birth control) has been legal since 1980. You generally need a prescription to obtain birth control. Once you have a prescription, you can get birth control at pharmacies. You don't need a prescription for condoms. According to a 2015 report, 67.2% of Irish women (who were married or in-unions) used some form of contraception. The most common methods were condoms (23.7%), the pill (17.5%), IUDs (8.5%) and male sterilization (7.3%).

From 1935 to 1980, contraception was banned in Ireland. This was largely due to the Roman Catholic Church's view on birth control, which stated that birth control "deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life" and was therefore "an offence against the law of God and of nature." However, during this period, there were legal loopholes that allowed some people to obtain condoms (like making donations to family planning associations). The first serious attempt to liberalize Irish abortion laws came in 1971, when Senator Mary Robinson tried to introduce a bill into the Seanad, the upper house of the Irish legislature, but was not allowed to read the bill. The bill caused both controversy and discussion, but it was not passed. Later, in 1973, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing marital privacy, which included the right to make contraceptive choices. However, the prohibition on contraceptive sales was not lifted until 1980, when the Health (Family Planning) Bill was passed. In 1985, the law was further broadened to allow the sale of condoms and spermicide (without a prescription) to anyone over 18 years old.

While some Irish people still oppose contraceptives, a large percentage of Irish women today use some form of contraception.[1] However, contraceptive use in Ireland does remain one of the lowest in the European Union, signaling room for further education and accessibility among women.[2]

What to Get & Where to Get It

  • In Ireland, you can purchase condoms at pharmacies, supermarkets, GUM clinics and at vending machines (found in pubs and nightclubs). They can also be found at student unions and health centers, where they're often free. In Dublin, you can get free condoms at HIV Ireland (70 Eccles St., Dublin 7) or, if you're a man who has sex with men, you can get them from the Man2Man Programme (they have locations in Outhouse, Pantibar and The George). For more information on where to find free condoms in Ireland, click here.
  • In Ireland, you need a prescription for birth control pills. To do, you should go to a GP (General Practitioner). At you need advice, you can get a contraceptive consultation at IFPA for €55.00. Once you have a prescription, you can find both combined (estrogen-progestin) and progestin-only (also known as "mini pills") birth control. You can expect to see brands like Yasmin, Ovranette, Ovranette 30, Microlite, Miranova, Microgynon, Cerazette, Cilest, Femodene, Mercilon, Marviol and Minulet at pharmacies. For information on birth control pills in Ireland, as well as general information about pill types, click here.
  • If you want a vaginal ring (Nuvaring), it's been available in Ireland since 2003, which is when it was approved by the IFPA.[3]
  • If you want an intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine system (IUS), you can get it at your GP surgery, genito-urinary (GUM) clinic or sexual health clinic. For example, you can get it at The Well Woman Centre, where you can get the Mirena and Jadelle.
  • If you want a contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera),you can get it at your GP surgery, genito-urinary (GUM) clinic or sexual health clinic. While Depo-Provera is the most common type of injectable, there may be other types of injectables in Ireland.
  • If you want a contraceptive implant (Implanon), you can get it at your GP surgery, genito-urinary (GUM) clinic or sexual health clinic. Currently, Implanon is the only contraceptive implant used in Ireland, according to Health Service Executive.[4]
  • If you want the contraceptive patch, you can get it from your GP, local family planning clinic or sexual health (GUM) clinic.

Costs

At IFPA, prices vary depending on the contraceptive. For a consultation for the contraceptive pill, the price is €55.00. For a one-month supply of birth control pills, you can expect to pay around €6.00-€15.00. For IUDs (the copper coil), you can expect to pay €255.00 (for insertion and the device). For IUD removal, it's around €55.00. For IUS (Mirena or Jaydess), the price is €210.00, which does not include the device. They provide 6-week check-ups for free. Removal of the device €55.00. The contraceptive implant (Implanon) costs €175.00 (excluding the device) and €120.00 for removal. For a diaphragm/cap, the price is €120.00 for the procedure, €20.00 for the device and €60.00 for removal.

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 Ireland, you can purchase emergency contraception (the morning after pill) without a prescription. There are no age restrictions (so, if you're an adolescent or teenager, you can also purchase it). Since 2001, emergency contraception has been directly available behind the counter. The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) calls emergency contraception "a safe, effective and responsible method of preventing pregnancy" and provides thorough information about EC on its website.

Before May 2015, you could only purchase ella (currently considered the most effective EC) with a prescription in Ireland. However, it is now available for purchase without a prescription. If customers wish to purchase emergency contraception on their medical cards, they may still need a prescription.[5]

What to Get & Where to Get It

  • You can purchase dedicated emergency contraception in Ireland without a prescription. To do this, you can go to a pharmacy, emergency room, public clinic or private clinic and say that you want emergency contraception. They may give you a brief consultation or questionnaire before they give you the pills. You can buy ellaOne (take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex), which is an anti-progestin pill and currently the most effective EC on the market. Here's a link to the ellaOne website for Ireland, if you want more information. You can also purchase progestin-only emergency contraception, such as Levonelle 1500 or NorLevo 1.5mg (for these take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex). You should note that, generally, most EC lasts for 3 days but ella can be effective for up to 5 days.
  • If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception, you can use oral contraceptive (regular birth control) instead. To do this, you should remember to only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs. You can take Ovranette or Ovranette 30 (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later). You can also take Microlite or Miranova (take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later).
  • You can also get an IUD as emergency contraception. To see your options, check out the "Contraception (Birth Control)" section.

For more information, check out the Princeton EC website.

Costs

You can expect to pay between €35-50 for emergency contraception at pharmacies, depending on the brand. At IFPA, they charge €33.00 for Levonelle and €65.00 for ellaOne. The costs include consultation and the pill.

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 Ireland, there are no travel or residency restrictions attached to STI status. They do not ask for medical certificates when you enter the country. You can also carry antiretroviral medication for personal use.[6]

Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is available in Ireland. Check out the "Medications and Vaccines" section for details.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is currently not widely available in Ireland, as of January 2017. Check out this page for updates. It is currently more widely available in the United Kingdom.

Testing Facilities

  • HIV Ireland: They do free STI tests. Address: 70 Eccles Street, Dublin 7. Telephone: 01 873 3799. Walk-in clinic: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, 1:00pm to 3:30pm
  • St. James’s Hospital, GUIDE Clinic: They do free STI tests. They provide services for youth (under 18) but by appointment only. Address: James’s Street, Dublin 8. Telephone: 01 4162315 / 4162316. Walk-in clinic: Monday from 9am (Present at 8:00am for tickets), Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30pm (Present from 9:00am for tickets and return in the afternoon for the clinic). Appointment service (must be referred by a GP): Fridays, 9am-1pm.
  • Mater Misercordiae Hospital, Infectious Diseases Unit: You can free STI tests. Address: Eccles Street, Dublin 7. Telephone: 01 8032063. By appointment only: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 1.45pm - 6pm
  • Beaumont Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases: They do free HIV tests (no other STI tests). Address: Beaumont, Dublin 9. Telephone: 01 8093006. Walk-in clinic or appointment: Thursday 10am to 12noon.
  • IFPA Dublin Clinic: Full STI screening: €125. Full STI screening for students (on presentation of a valid student card): €100. Follow-up STI screening: €25. Cost includes prescription for antibiotics if required. A non-refundable deposit of €50 is required to book an STI screening. Extra charge of €16 if repeat bloods are required. STI screening is not covered on the medical or GP card. To make an appointment, please contact our clinics directly: Dublin City Centre Clinic, 5/7 Cathal Brugha Street Clinic - Phone: 01 872 7088 / 01 874 2110. Dublin 1 Tallaght Clinic, Level 3, The Square Shopping Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24 - Phone: 01 4597685 / 01 4597686.
  • You can do STI tests at home through IFPA. Here's the information: "In partnership with Lloyds Online Doctor, the IFPA offers a convenient and easy to use home STI testing service. The STI testing kits can be used to test for genital chlamydia and gonorrhoea and HIV; they are not designed to test for chlamydia or gonorrhoea in the anus or throat." It costs Standard sexual health testing kit (chlamydia and gonorrhoea): €50 including postage. Enhanced sexual health testing kit (chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV) €70 including postage. For details, click here.

Support

  • Hepatitis Partnership: "The Hepatitis C Partnership provides centralised information and support for all those affected by Hepatitis C and those working with them. We aim to enhance and strengthen the support and information sharing network through the community and voluntary sector by working collaboratively with service providers and other stakeholders. Ireland now has a commitment to treating everyone with Hepatitis C - The Hepatitis C Partnership aims to be central to this initiative."
  • HIV Ireland: "Our Mission: To contribute towards a significant reduction in the incidence and prevalence of HIV in Ireland and towards the realisation of an AIDS-free generation. Our Vision: Advocating for individuals living with HIV, preventing new HIV infections and combating HIV-related stigma and discrimination."

Costs

STI screening is not covered under either the medical or GP-only card. There are some health clinics that provide free HIV tests (or STI tests), which we have listed. At IFPA, you can expect to pay €125 for a full STI screening or €70 for an at-home test kit.

Medications & Vaccines

Laws & Social Stigmas

What to Get & Where to Get It

  • If you have a yeast infection, you can ask the pharmacist for Fluconazole.
  • Ireland has had an HPV vaccination program in place since 2010, which targets 12-13 year old girls.[7] The program is fully financed by the national health authorities.
  • Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is available in Ireland. It's free and available in most STI/GUM clinics and Hospital Emergency Departments. However, if you go to a Hospital Emergency Department without a referral letter, you may need to pay €100 (this rule is mandated by the Department of Health). In Dublin, you can get it at St. James Hospital, Mater Clinic, Mater Hospital, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and many other facilities. Check out this this link for a full list of PEP providers in Ireland.
  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is currently not widely available in Ireland, as of January 2017. Check out this page for updates. It is currently more widely available in the United Kingdom.

Costs

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.

Laws & Social Stigmas

What to Get & Where to Get It

Costs

Gynecological Exams

Laws & Social Stigmas

What to Get & Where to Get It

Costs

Pregnancy

Laws & Social Stigmas

What to Get & Where to Get It

Costs

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

What to Get & Where to Get It

Costs

Advocacy & Counseling

Laws & Social Stigmas

What to Get & Where to Get It

Costs

List of Additional Resources

References