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.

While some women contact hospitals for contraception (since they often have a wide selection), you should be aware of an important fact: Doctors and hospitals in Jordan often act under the assumption that you're married. They may ask you questions like, "For how many years have you been married?" This can be interpreted as a form of social pressure that is meant to discourage unmarried women from seeking out birth control. Some unmarried women choose to say that they're divorced rather than single. The choice is yours to make.

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 in pharmacies. While you may technically need a prescription, this isn't always enforced, so you can often walk into a pharmacy and directly buy birth control pills from the pharmacist. Some of the brands you may find in pharmacies are Angeliq, Belara, Climen, Diane, Gracial, Kliogest, Femoston, Microgynon, Microgynon-30, Neogynon, Nordiol, Ologyn, Ovral, Lo-Femenal, Nordette, Norethindrone, Norethisterone, Trisequens, Rigevidon and Yasmin. For more information on birth control brands available in Jordan, click here.
• If you need to get the check-up that's (technically) legally required for birth control pills, you can get it at The Jordanian Association for Family Planning and Protection for 3 dinar.
• You can find IUDs in Jordan. However, we'll need more details about where to find IUDs, which brands are available and costs.
• You can order many forms of contraceptives at Farah Maternity Hospital. However, you should be aware that the doctors may ask for your marriage status (i.e. "For how many years have you been married?") before giving you medications or a prescription. If you are single but want to keep this information private, you may choose to say that you're divorced. Mailing Address: PO Box: 5323, Amman 11183, Jordan. Phone: +962 6 460 3777. Click here to access their online contact form.

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

Jordanian Nationals & HIV

If a Jordanian national tests positive for HIV, they will receive treatment funded by the government. The treatment will typically be at the Health Ministry's center at Jabal Al Hussein, where trained physicians, nurses and psychiatrists will provide support.

Foreigners & HIV

Generally speaking, foreigners who are HIV-positive are not allowed to enter Jordan. It should be clarified that, if you're a foreigner who is planning to visit Jordan for a short-term stay (one month or less), you will not be asked for a medical certificate or proof of HIV-negative status when entering the country. For this reason, you should be able to enter the country without issues. Yet it should be noted that, according to HIVTravel, "Travelers known to have HIV are denied entry at ports of entry, including land border crossings." Furthermore, the laws around entry are always subject to change.

If you are foreigner who is planning to stay in Jordan for an extended period of time (for example, if you are coming as a student, worker or prospective resident), you will need to take an HIV test within a month of your arrival. The test is mandatory if you want to receive a Jordanian student permit or work permit. If you test positive, the National AIDS Programme and The Minister of the Interior will be informed of your results. You will also be deported from Jordan.

Testing & Social Stigmas

Aside from the legal restrictions related to HIV and foreigners, there are also social stigmas that all people face in Jordan related to STIs. According to some Jordanian women, especially Jordanian single women, it can be an uncomfortable experience getting tested. 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.

Testing Facilities

• If you would like to go to a private clinic or laboratory to get an STI test, you can check out Biolab. They are "a group of medical diagnostic laboratories that offer a full range of laboratory services in Jordan," and have many locations in Amman. You can also check out Diagnostic Medical Laboratories, which also provides STI tests with a focus on HIV and hepatitis.

Support

• UNAIDS Jordan: Contact - Yamina Chakkar, Director, Regional Support Team for Middle East and North Africa. Telephone: +201093260898. Email: CHAKKARY@UNAIDS.ORG

Medications & Vaccines

What to Get & Where to Get It

• If you have a yeast infection, you can ask the pharmacist for Fluconazole, which is an antifungal medication often used to treat yeast infections. While the pharmacist may not specifically have Fluconazole, the pharmacist can give you similar medication with the same (or similar) active ingredients.
• There is no Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program in Jordan, as of July 2017.

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

The majority of Jordanian women use pads (rather than tampons or menstrual cups).

What to Get & Where to Get It

• The most common menstrual products in Jordan are pads and pantyliners, and they can be found in many stores.
• You can find tampons at certain pharmacies or international supermarkets, such are Carrefour or Cozmo. They are easiest to find in Amman. You should be aware that the tampons that are for sale typically have no applicators.
• We can't find any evidence of menstrual cups (such as LadyCup, RubyCup, MoonCup, DivaCup, etc) sold in Jordanian stores. However, you can find menstrual cups sold in some online stores that deliver to Jordan. For example, from Ubuy, you can purchase DivaCup for 20 JOD, Blossom Menstrual Cup for 14 JOD, LENA Cup for 21 JOD, Dutchess Menstrual Cup (set of 2) for 14 JOD, etc (as of July 2017). These menstrual cups will be delivered to your Jordanian address.

Costs

• According to one website, a box of tampons in Amman may cost around 3.62 JOD.
• If you buy a menstrual cup online that is delivered to your Jordanian address, you can expect to pay between 7-25 JOD, depending on the brand (not including shipping costs).

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
• 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.
• Tip from an Amman local: "I have a great gynecologist here. Her name is Mariam Ghanma. I have health insurance but I believe her cost per visit is 15JD. She is very experienced and gives you all her time. She'll advise you on all contraceptives options and the best place to do them at. She is also very sweet and honest and answers all her phone calls in case you ever have an emergency. Her office number is 064644244. She's located on Khalidi Hospital street, past the pharmacy called Pharmacy 1, very easy to get to." (June 2017)

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.
• Farah Hospital: The hospital is known to have many resources. Their pregnancy resources include obstetrics, home monitoring, labor & delivery, and neonatal ICU.

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 Jordan, abortion is generally illegal, and it's only permitted in certain cases. It is prohibited under the Penal Code, Law No. 16 from 1960, which states, "A woman who through any means performs an abortion on herself or consents to another person applying such means shall be punished with six months to three years imprisonment." However, according to Public Health Law No. 20 of 1971, an abortion may be performed if the life or physical health of the pregnant woman is endangered by the pregnancy. For the abortion to be legal, it must be approved by two physicians. Furthermore, the woman must give written consent for the abortion -- or, in cases when she cannot write or speak, her spouse or legal guardians will give formal consent. In such cases, there's no official time limit for when the abortion can be performed, according to Jordanian law.

There is currently a political campaign to liberalize abortion policy in Jordan. The Sisterhood is Global (Amman chapter) is lobbying for abortion to be permitted in cases of incest or rape.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• If you are pregnant and wish to obtain an abortion, you may want to consider obtaining the procedure outside of Jordan. There are many countries where abortion is generally legal, and available to women upon request, with much less restrictions than Jordan. You may consider traveling to countries like Turkey, Greece, India or Azerbaijan, where you can obtain an abortion upon request.

Advocacy & Counseling

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Emergency Hotline Numbers for Jordan: 0096 262 508 900, 0096 262 508 902, 0096 262 508 903, 0096 262 508 904, 0096 262 508 939, 0096 262 508 941
• Jordanian Women's Union Hotline: Hotline Number:+962(6)5675729. "The main function of the hotline is to provide a confidential, non-judgmental environment in which vulnerable or abused women can freely discuss their problems and receive legal, social and psychological counselling. Once the woman has established contact with the hotline, a team of professionals – a psychologist, a social worker and/or a lawyer – will assess her needs. The team will then formulate possible solutions to her problem."

List of Additional Resources

LGBTQ Resources:

• Click here to learn about LGBT rights in Jordan.
• LGBT Jordan: This is an informal Facebook group.
• LGBT Jordanian Youth Support: This is an advocacy group on Facebook.
• My.Kali Magazine: "My.Kali is the first LGBTQIA-inclusive — and the only regularly updated — webzine in Jordan and one of the first in the Middle East and North Africa."

General Women's Resources:

• Al Kutba Institute for Human Development: P.O. Box 9446, Amman, Jordan
• Arab Women's Organization of Jordan: "AWO is a grassroots non-governmental, non profit organization dedicated to make a difference in the lives of Jordanian women." Founded in 1970. Email: awo@nets.com.jo. Phone: +962 - 6 - 4 650 414
• Exploitation Of Women Arab WON Solidarity Association: P.O.Box 926775, Amman, Jordan
• Federation Of Professional And Business Women: c/o Office of HM the Queen, The Royal Palace, Amman, Jordan, e-mail: bpwcamm@go.com.jo
• General Federation of Jordanian Women: P.O. Box 9796, Jabel El-Hussain, Amman, Jordan, Fax: +962-6-694-810
• General Federation of Jordanian Women: P.O. Box 921687, Amman, Jordan, Tel: 00962 6 66 68 97, Fax: 00962 6 69 48 10, e-mail: nicw@gfjw.index.com.jo
• Human Rights Forum for Women's Rights: PO Box 921687, Amman, Jordan. Telefax: 859873
• Jordanian National Committee for Women: P.O. Box 5118, Amman 11183, Jordan, Tel: 962-6-825241, Fax: 962-6-827350, Email: asma@nol.com.jo
• Jordanian Women's Union: "The Jordanian Women’s Union (JWU), headquartered in Amman, is a non-governmental, democratically elected organization that is committed to improving the status of women." Address: PO Box 960723, Amman, Jordan, Fax: 96-2-66-87-061
• Princess Basma Women's Resource Centre (PBWRC): P.O. Box 230511, 11123 Amman, Jordan. Tel: +962 6 505 2431. Fax: +962 6 505 8199. E-mail: pbwrc@amra.nic.gov.jo
• Sisterhood Is Global Institute - Jordan (SIGI/J): 5 Nadim Al-Mallah Street, Jebel El-Lweibdeh, Amman, Jordan. Tel/Fax: 962-6-462-3773. Email: sigi@firstnet.com.jo
• UNIFEM Western Asia Regional Office: Umbrella Organisation: PO Box 830 896, 11183, Amman, Jordan. Tel: 962 6 619727/8. Fax: 962 6 610944. Email: unifem@nets.com.jo
• Women's Department - Ministry Of Social Development And Labor: P.O. Box 8160, Amman, Jordan
• Working Women's Club:c/o Office of HM the Queen, The Royal Palace, Amman, Jordan