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Australia/en: Difference between revisions
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
[[File:Levlen australia.jpg|300px | thumb|left|frame|'''Levlen ED birth control pills purchased in Australia''']] | |||
In Australia, you will need a prescription from a physician to obtain birth control. However, these consultations are pretty straight-forward and do not typically require pelvic exams. There is an incredibly wide range of contraceptives offered, from hormonal pills to injectables and IUDs, and practically every known contraceptive is available in Australia. It is estimated that 67%-70% of Australian women of fertility age (who are married or in unions) use some form of contraception,<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide, 2015]</ref> without about 24% of Australian women on oral contraceptives. | In Australia, you will need a prescription from a physician to obtain birth control. However, these consultations are pretty straight-forward and do not typically require pelvic exams. There is an incredibly wide range of contraceptives offered, from hormonal pills to injectables and IUDs, and practically every known contraceptive is available in Australia. It is estimated that 67%-70% of Australian women of fertility age (who are married or in unions) use some form of contraception,<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide, 2015]</ref> without about 24% of Australian women on oral contraceptives. | ||
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===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
[[File:Femme ed australia.jpg|200px | thumb|right|frame|'''Femme-Tab ED birth control pills purchased in Australia''']] | |||
* For a full list of contraceptive options available in Australia, click [http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=AU here]. | * For a full list of contraceptive options available in Australia, click [http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=AU here]. | ||
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===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
* For '''birth control pills,''' you'll pay $3-6 for a month supply. | |||
* For '''condoms''', if you're a young person, you should look into the Condom Credit Card, which is "a friendly, confidential way for young people to get FREE condoms! Simply go to a Family Planning NSW clinic or a service that displays the CCCard posters and ask for your own CCCard. Then you can to receive free condoms every time you present your CCCard at a registered provider." For more information about the Condom Credit Card, visit the [https://www.fpnsw.org.au/media-news/news-events/health-promotion-projects/condom-credit-card-project NSW website] or the [http://www.bettertoknow.org.au/AMS Aboriginal Medical Services website]. | |||
* For an '''IUD''', costs will vary, depending on whether your health coverage. If you're not covered, you can expect to pay around $100 for the insertion procedure, plus the additional cost of the IUD device (which is around $200 without sedation and around $450 with sedation), at [https://www.mariestopes.org.au/ Marie Stopes Australia], as of November 2018. | |||
* For a '''contraceptive implant''', you can expect to pay around $100 for the insertion procedure, plus the additional cost of the implanted device (around $100), at [https://www.mariestopes.org.au/ Marie Stopes Australia], as of November 2018. | |||
* For a '''contraceptive shot/injectable''', you can expect to pay $90 for the injection and and $30 for necessary medications at [https://www.mariestopes.org.au/ Marie Stopes Australia], as of November 2018. | |||
* One Australian wrote, "I am from Queensland (Gold Coast) and have Medicare so costs might be a bit different. Levlen cost $10-12 ish (for a box of 4 x 28 pills). The Implanon (without Medicare) was about $200 and with Medicare about $30 plus I had to go to a clinic to have a doctor put it in. Average cost of doctor's visit in Australia (without Medicare) is $60-80." | |||
'''Important Tip''': If you qualify, you may want to get a Medicare Card and look into Bulk Billing, which is a payment option under Australia's Medicare system. When the health service provider (e.g. doctor) bills the government (via the patient's Medicare card), the provider is paid 85% of the scheduled fee for outpatient services and 75% of the scheduled fee for inpatient services by the government. This allows the service provider to receive a fixed proportion of the scheduled fee and avoid debt collection. And, as a patient, this means you may not be charged anything. | * '''Important Tip''': If you qualify, you may want to get a Medicare Card and look into Bulk Billing, which is a payment option under Australia's Medicare system. When the health service provider (e.g. doctor) bills the government (via the patient's Medicare card), the provider is paid 85% of the scheduled fee for outpatient services and 75% of the scheduled fee for inpatient services by the government. This allows the service provider to receive a fixed proportion of the scheduled fee and avoid debt collection. And, as a patient, this means you may not be charged anything. | ||
==Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)== | ==Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)== | ||
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==Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)== | ==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 [https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/prevention/reduce-your-risk/post-exposure-prophylaxis/ 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 [http://www.whatisprep.org/ here] | '''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 [https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/prevention/reduce-your-risk/post-exposure-prophylaxis/ 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 [http://www.whatisprep.org/ here]. | ||
===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
If you are applying for permanent Australian visa, you will be required to take an HIV test. If you are found to be HIV+, this will not automatically disqualify you but it will be included in the criteria used to assess your application.<ref>[HIV Travel: Australia]</ref> | If you are applying for permanent Australian visa, you will be required to take an HIV test. If you are found to be HIV+, this will not automatically disqualify you but it will be included in the criteria used to assess your application.<ref>[HIV Travel: Australia]</ref> | ||
====Testing Facilities==== | ====Testing Facilities==== | ||
* You can get STI/STD tests from most doctors, family planning clinics or sexual healths clinics. Check out the city pages, such as [[Melbourne]] for specific | * You can get STI/STD tests from most doctors, family planning clinics, or sexual healths clinics in Australia. Check out the city pages, such as [[Melbourne]] and [[Sydney]] pages, for specific recommendations. | ||
* HIV self-administered test kits (home HIV test kits) are not sold in individual pharmacies although the kit was actually introduced in Australia in 2014 following the government lifting restrictions of self-testing, direct to consumer kits. But these kits have not yet been approved by the TgA (The Therapeutic Goods Administration which falls under the Department of Health in Australia). Hence, because they have not yet been regulated or approved by the TGA they are currently not legally allowed to be sold or exported. When it comes HIV testing in Australia, the choice is between Rapid HIV testing, which has TGA approval, but is limited to clinical situations and must be carried out by appropriately trained workers and laboratory based tests, which involve a medical blood draw and laboratory analysis of the sample. | |||
* [http://www.checkyourrisk.org.au/ Check Your Risk] - This is NOT a replacement for an STI/STD test. But it is a resource, based out of Australia, that helps you assess your risk | * [http://www.checkyourrisk.org.au/ Check Your Risk] - This is NOT a replacement for an STI/STD test. But it is a resource, based out of Australia, that helps you assess your risk | ||
* There are companies, for example INSTI®, that provide rapid HIV screening testing kits online anywhere in Australia but, in the case of INSTI® the company is Canadian and based in Canada. Positive HIV screening results will require further testing by a laboratory/clinic which can actually diagnose the disease. | |||
===Support=== | |||
* [http://www.ahmf.com.au Australian Herpes Management Forum] | * [http://www.ahmf.com.au Australian Herpes Management Forum] | ||
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==Medications & Vaccines== | ==Medications & Vaccines== | ||
[[File:Priceline Pharmacy Australia.jpg|300px | thumb|left|A pharmacy in Australia]] | |||
===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
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===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
For yeast infections, you should be able to buy Canesten in Australia pharmacies or online at [http://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/Shop-Online/1402/Thrush-Treatments Chemist Warehouse]. Regarding the HPV vaccine, Australia is incredibly proactive and has vaccination programs in place for both girls and boys. For more info on Australia's HPV vaccination program, check out [http://www.australia.gov.au/hpv this link]. For most STI/STD medications, you will need to first visit a physician for a prescription, which you can then usually fill at hospitals or pharmacies. | * For yeast infections, you should be able to buy Canesten in Australia pharmacies or online at [http://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/Shop-Online/1402/Thrush-Treatments Chemist Warehouse]. Regarding the HPV vaccine, Australia is incredibly proactive and has vaccination programs in place for both girls and boys. For more info on Australia's HPV vaccination program, check out [http://www.australia.gov.au/hpv this link]. For most STI/STD medications, you will need to first visit a physician for a prescription, which you can then usually fill at hospitals or pharmacies. | ||
* '''Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)''' is available, but the drugs are extremely expensive and require a medical prescription. You can order the drug online as importation is permitted under the Personal Importation Scheme Rules set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Only a three month supply for personal use is permitted. According to PrEPWatch: "There are three ongoing demonstration projects in Australia—VicPrEP in MSM, transgender women, heterosexual serodiscordant couples and people who received N-PEP on more than two occasions; PRELUDE in men and women at high and ongoing risk of HIV; and EPIC-NSW enrolling high-risk, mostly gay and bisexual men in New South Wales. A fourth demonstration project, PrEPX, will start later this year. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved daily oral Truvada for HIV prevention."<ref>[http://www.prepwatch.org/australia/ PrEP Watch: Australia]</ref> | |||
* You can be assessed for '''Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)''' at sexual health clinics, doctors (including some general practitioners) who specialise in HIV/AIDS, and hospital accident and emergency departments (which are open 24 hours). There are sexual health (MSHC) centres, which are walk-in clinics providing testing and treatment for sexually transmissible infections. For people with a relevant visa, that have applied for permanent residency or are a visitor from a reciprocal health care agreement country, treatment is given for free, if they hold a Medicare card. You can call PEP Information Line (1800 889 887) for more information. | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
==Menstruation== | ==Menstruation== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In January 2019, the federal government officially abolished the GST (goods and services tax) from menstrual products sales. In the past, menstrual products were considered a "luxury," so a 10% tax was added to their sales.<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-03/tampon-tax-to-go-states-and-territories-agree-to-remove-gst/10332490 Tampon tax to go, with states and territories agreeing to remove GST from sanitary products]</ref> | |||
There have been some state initiatives to improve menstrual product access. For example, in the state of Victoria, the Victorian Women's Trust implemented paid period leave.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/03/health/period-leave-australia-explainer-intl/index.html Employer's paid period leave policy in Australia stirs world debate]</ref> | |||
'''Here are some Australian menstrual resources to check out:''' | |||
* [https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Jean Hailes Organisation - FAQ on the menstrual cycle] | |||
* [https://lovelibra.com/ Love Libra] - They sell menstrual products and provide educational resources | |||
* [https://lovelibra.com/libra-girl/ Love Libra Girl] - This is a resource for teenage girls in Australia and New Zealand | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In the past, the Australian health care system recommended a "pap smear" every two years. However, in the last few years, the system has been completely overhauled and a "cervical screen" is now recommended, which is done every five years (if your results are clear). The cervical screen is considered more effective at finding health risks.<ref>[http://www.cancerscreening.gov.au/internet/screening/publishing.nsf/Content/the-pap-test-has-changed-more-accurate-less-often The Pap test has changed: More Accurate. Less Often.]</ref> | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
* For local recommendations of gynecologists and women's clinics, please visit the city pages, such as the [[Melbourne]] and [[Sydney]] pages. | |||
* You can get a cervical screen from your General Practitioner (GP) and, if you’re eligible for a Medicare card, they’re usually bulk billed. | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
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===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
* [http://homebirthaustralia.org/ Home Birth Australia]: "HBA is the peak national body for Homebirth in Australia. We are consumers, midwives and related health professionals committed to ensuring the survival of homebirth as a birth option for Australian women." email: info@homebirthaustralia.org | |||
* [http://www.maternitychoices.org.au/ Maternity Choices Australia]: "We aim to see all women, no matter their circumstances have access to a number of maternity care choices that are based on respectful, women-centred care and are modelled and delivering care that is formed on best evidence." | |||
* [http://www.mothering.org.au/ The Australian Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement (AMIRCI) ]: The Australian Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement (AMIRCI) is a non-profit organisation devoted to promoting research into mothering, motherhood, motherwork, and related areas." | |||
* [https://www.panda.org.au/ PANDA - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia]: "PANDA - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood. PANDA operates Australia’s only National Helpline (Call 1300 726 306) for individuals and their families to recover from perinatal anxiety and depression, a serious illness that affects up to one in five expecting or new mums and one in ten expecting or new dads." | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
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In Australia, abortion laws are determined by state. In Victoria, abortion is permitted for up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. After 24 weeks, it is legal if two physicians agree that it is appropriate. All standard reasons for an abortion are permitted, including: to save the life of the woman, to preserve physical health, to preserve mental health, rape or incest, fetal impairment, economic or social reasons, and available on request. Furthermore, Mifepristone (the abortion pill) was registered in 2012. The abortion laws in Victoria have been in place since the Abortion Law Reform Act (2008). Before that time, the Victorian Crimes Act, abortions were only permitted if the pregnancy threatened the life of health of the woman.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_Law_Reform_Act_2008_(Victoria) Abortion Law Reform Act 2008 (Victoria)]</ref> | In Australia, abortion laws are determined by state. In Victoria, abortion is permitted for up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. After 24 weeks, it is legal if two physicians agree that it is appropriate. All standard reasons for an abortion are permitted, including: to save the life of the woman, to preserve physical health, to preserve mental health, rape or incest, fetal impairment, economic or social reasons, and available on request. Furthermore, Mifepristone (the abortion pill) was registered in 2012. The abortion laws in Victoria have been in place since the Abortion Law Reform Act (2008). Before that time, the Victorian Crimes Act, abortions were only permitted if the pregnancy threatened the life of health of the woman.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_Law_Reform_Act_2008_(Victoria) Abortion Law Reform Act 2008 (Victoria)]</ref> | ||
In the state of Victoria, abortion is permitted for up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. After 24 weeks, it is legal if two physicians agree that it is appropriate. All standard reasons for an abortion are permitted, including to save the life of the woman, to preserve physical health, to preserve mental health, rape or incest, fetal impairment, economic or social reasons, and available on request. Furthermore, Mifepristone (the abortion pill) was registered in 2012. The abortion laws in Victoria have been in place since the Abortion Law Reform Act (2008). Before that time, the Victorian Crimes Act, abortions were only permitted if the pregnancy threatened the life of health of the woman.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_Law_Reform_Act_2008_(Victoria) Abortion Law Reform Act 2008 (Victoria)]</ref> | |||
In Queensland, abortion laws changed in 2018, when the state’s parliament voted to legalize abortion upon request.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/17/queensland-parliament-votes-to-legalise-abortion Queensland parliament votes to legalise abortion]</ref> | |||
In the state of New South Wales, abortion is technically a criminal offence. However, it is legally permitted in most scenarios, which include: when there is a medical, social, or economic reason that causes a "serious danger" to a pregnant person's life, or when negative health consequences may be felt by the pregnant person after the birth of the child. These rules are very general and broad, meaning that most people are able to find legal means of obtaining an abortion in New South Wales, even if abortion is technically not fully legal.<ref>[https://www.clinic66.com.au/pregnancy-termination-abortion/abortion-legal-australia/ Is Abortion Legal in Australia?]</ref> | |||
Regarding MIsoprostol availabilty, Women on Waves reports that "Misoprostol is available as cytotec. We do not have any information how easy it is to get in a phamacy. In 2012, mifepristone and misoprostol were approved for use in termination of pregnancy by our Therapeutic Goods Administration (http://www.tga.gov.au/hp/information-medicines-mifepristone-gymiso.htm). They are only available through medical practitioners, and cannot be purchased over the counter in pharmacies without a prescription. In practice, access will be difficult for women who don’t live geographically near a clinic or practitioner who provides this service (a similar problem for surgical abortion in Australia)."<ref>[https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/4970/australia--organizations-and-clinics Australia: Organizations and clinics, Women on Waves]</ref> | Regarding MIsoprostol availabilty, Women on Waves reports that "Misoprostol is available as cytotec. We do not have any information how easy it is to get in a phamacy. In 2012, mifepristone and misoprostol were approved for use in termination of pregnancy by our Therapeutic Goods Administration (http://www.tga.gov.au/hp/information-medicines-mifepristone-gymiso.htm). They are only available through medical practitioners, and cannot be purchased over the counter in pharmacies without a prescription. In practice, access will be difficult for women who don’t live geographically near a clinic or practitioner who provides this service (a similar problem for surgical abortion in Australia)."<ref>[https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/4970/australia--organizations-and-clinics Australia: Organizations and clinics, Women on Waves]</ref> | ||
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===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
====Medical Abortion ("the abortion pill") Providers==== | ====Medical Abortion ("the abortion pill") Providers==== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
* For legal information, you can look into contacting the [https://feministlegal.org/ Feminist Legal Clinic] | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||