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In India, contraceptives are legal and can be purchased without a prescription in pharmacies. Emergency contraception is also sold without a prescription, although some brands, such as ellaOne, are available. Abortion is also permitted under certain criteria, under which many women qualify. Regarding menstruation, you can find pads, pantyliners and tampons in Mumbai, but you can only buy menstrual cups in Bangalore and Dehli. However, it should be noted that many services, such as contraception purchases, are made more difficult due to social pressure and fear of social judgment. Women have reported feeling uncomfortable when buying contraceptives at local pharmacies, and many therefore to make purchases online. | |||
==Contraception (Birth Control)== | ==Contraception (Birth Control)== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In India, contraceptives are fully legal. Oral contraceptives or condoms can be purchased at pharmacies, large stores or online. However, many women report feeling uncomfortable and harshly judged when buying contraceptives at pharmacies. For these reasons, they tend to visit pharmacies outside their neighborhoods or only pharmacies that have very few customers in line. Others avoid pharmacies entirely and buy online. Check out this [https://www.quora.com/How-difficult-is-it-for-women-to-buy-contraceptives-in-India Quora thread for some perspectives on buying contraceptives in India] for details. As someone wrote, "I have bought contraceptives from pharmacies in India but I make sure there are very few customers at the counter. It is definitely an intimidating experience. I am not embarrassed, but always worried about what if someone I know is there at the shop as well. But I can never ask the salesperson for choices. Sometimes, I write it down on a piece of paper and pass it on. If the salesperson is understanding, the contraceptive gets wrapped in a brown paper bag and I just pay for it without even checking the contents." Another user wrote, "Albeit the degree of judgment varies. Even if this female is a middle aged woman, looks married maybe, there is no narrow escape. But if this female looked like a normal college going girl, she would now be branded as a next door harlot." <ref>[https://www.quora.com/How-difficult-is-it-for-women-to-buy-contraceptives-in-India How difficult is it for women to buy contraceptives in India?]</ref> | |||
Regarding condom purchases, Mumbai locals are generally shy. Yet some younger women are becoming more comfortable. One medical worker told DNAIndia, "Women above the age of 35 are quite reserved, but the ones between 25 to 35 are the bold ones. Mostly women ask for condoms for men. A few months ago, a woman asked for female condoms. I didn't even know they existed." Another said, "Mostly men between the age group of 20-40 years buy condoms. We have few women customers who ask for them. Those who live in this area only buy medicines from us. The people who buy condoms don't live anywhere here because many are still very shy."<ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/speak-up/report-mumbai-s-shy-asking-for-condoms-1096118 Mumbai's Shy Asking for Condoms]</ref> | |||
Statistically, female sterilization is the most popular contraceptive method in India. As written in a 2015 UN Report, " in countries where childbearing begins at a young age, the dominance of a permanent method (e.g., an estimated 65 per cent of use in India is female sterilization) suggests a potential mismatch between the method used and reversible methods that meet preferences for delaying or spacing births ."<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use, 2015]</ref> | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
Check out the [http://www.medindia.net/doctors/drug_information/home.asp MedIndia] website to see which brands you can expect. Some reliable pharmacies in Mumbai are Noble Medicals and Royal Chemists. | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In India, emergency contraception is available without a prescription. There are no age restrictions. Television advertisement of EC is restricted. In the public sector, health workers are allowed to dispense EC. But, in the private sector, you must be at least be a pharmacist to dispense the medicine.<ref>[http://www.cecinfo.org/country-by-country-information/status-availability-database/countries/india/ EC Status and Availability - India]</ref> | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
For dedicated progestin-only products, there's i-pill and Unwanted 72 (take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex). There's also E Pills, ECee2, Pill 72, Postinor-2 and Preventol (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex). If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception, you can use regular contraception instead. In India, you can find Duoluton L or Ovral (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). There's also Mala D and Nordette (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later). You can also take Loette (take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later).<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/worldwide/ Princeton Emergency Contraception Website]</ref> | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
The price of EC ranges from INRs 2 to INRs 100 ($0.03 - $1.60), as of 2013. | |||
==Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)== | ==Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
According to AIDS Alliance, "India accounts for roughly half of Asia’s HIV epidemic with approximately 2.1 million people living with HIV. The Government of India has conservatively estimated that there are 2.3 million MSM and transgender people, of whom 412,000 are considered to be at high risk for HIV infection. HIV rates in MSM are 4.43% and in transgender people at 8.82% with the overall adult HIV prevalence at 0.27%."<ref>[http://www.aidsalliance.org/our-impact/making-it-happen-old/152-they-tell-me-im-a-criminal-transgender-rights-in-india They tell me I’m a criminal: Transgender rights in India]</ref> Furthermore, "Testing pregnant women for HIV is an essential entry point into treatment, care and prevention of HIV. However, only 20% of the 27 million annual pregnancies in India are currently tested for HIV."<ref>[http://www.aidsalliance.org/resources/725-providing-oral-rapid-hiv-testing-to-pregnant-women-in-india Providing oral rapid HIV testing to pregnant women in India]</ref> | |||
Many young people also neglect to find help. As reported by the Times of India, "Reluctant to visit government clinics, they usually withdraw into a shell, expecting a natural cure. But in 90% of the cases, that doesn't happen, points out a study by an NGO. It claims that this group is not only at a higher risk of contracting HIV, it remains sexually active and spreads the infection in the community."<ref> | |||
[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Young-STD-patients-shy-away-from-treatment/articleshow/46273480.cms Young STD patients shy away from treatment]</ref> | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
====Testing Facilities==== | ====Testing Facilities==== | ||
* Check the city pages, like the [[Mumbai]] page, for local recommendations. | |||
====Support==== | ====Support==== | ||
Regarding HIV, the Greater Mumbai Area has HIV treatment available JJ Hospital, KEM Hospital, Nair Hospital, Godrej Hospital, L+T Health Centre Andheri, Thane Civil Hospital, Central Hospital Ulhasnagar, and NMMC Hospital Vashi.<ref>[https://jeevansahara.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/my-loved-one-has-hivaids/ My loved one has HIV/AIDS… now what?]</ref> Check out [http://www.thebody.com/index/hotlines/asia.html#india this list] and also [http://www.karmayog.com/lists/hivaids.htm this list] for a more comprehensive survey of HIV/AIDS organizations in Mumbai. | |||
* [http://www.hivaidsmumbaiindia.com/ HIV/AIDS Mumbai]: "The Comprehensive Care clinic for HIV/AIDS." Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre. DR RAJ HARJANI and DR RAM MALKANI. | |||
* [http://www.allianceindia.org/ India India HIV/AIDS Alliance]: This is New Dehli but may be of use to some people. 6 Community Centre, Zamrudpur. Kailash Colony Extension, New Delhi, 110 048. Tel +91-11-4536-7700 Email info@allianceindia.org | |||
* [http://www.nlfindia.com National Liver Foundation]: Voluntary, non-profit organization that focuses on liver diseases, including hepatitis-based ones. Address: Opp. Jaslok Hospital, 303, Doctor House, Peddar Road, Mumbai, 400026. Indiadrshahsamir@gmail.com. nationalliverfoundation@gmail.com. T: +91 2223 535 591. M: +91 9819 563 416 | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
Regarding HPV, India has been slow to begin offer vaccination programs. The first national program was launched in New Dehli in 2016.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.co.in/delhi-launches-countrys-first-hpv-vaccination-programme-fight-cervical-cancer-668834#wflESAjVaLqv6qM3.97 Delhi launches country's first HPV vaccination programme to fight cervical cancer]</ref> Regarding PrEP, according to PrEPWatch: "India is host to a PrEP demonstration project among female sex workers in Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a brothel-based project in Sonagachi, and the Ashodaya Samithi project for street-based sex workers based in Mysore. It is scheduled to run from December 2015 to early 2017. Truvada is registered for treatment. It is not registered for prevention. There is no national PrEP policy or guidance at present. However, the ongoing demonstration project may be used to inform such policy."<ref>[http://www.prepwatch.org/india/ PrEpWatch: India]</ref> | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
For yeast infections, the main brand in India is Zocon, which is available in tablet, transgel and lotion forms.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluconazole Fluconazole - Wikipedia]</ref> | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
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===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
Bulky pads are the easiest to find. For thinner pads, look for Whisper Ultra Thin or Stayfree Dry Max. There are also Carefree pantyliners at larger stores. As for tampons, they're harder to find, but you can expect to find tampons without applicators (e.g. OB) when you do. Some recommended stores are Health & Glow.<ref>[http://lipglossandabackpack.com/feminine-hygiene-around-the-world/ Feminine Hygiene Around the World]</ref> As for menstrual cups, you can buy Mooncups, but only in Dehli (Hygiene & You: tel:11-40817487, care@hygieneandyou.com, B-554, New Friends Colony, New Delhi - 110025) and Bangalore (Hygiene and You, tel:96-86-896676, Sharmada Shastry, sharmadashastry@gmail.com). But there are no sellers of LadyCup or DivaCup in India, so you'll need to buy those brands online. | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
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===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
Check out [http://www.jantareview.com/Mumbai/c_13/Health-Services this JantaReview resource] to find recommended doctors and hospitals in Mumbai. | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In India, medical and surgical abortion is permitted, under certain circumstances, for up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. According to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971, abortion is permitted under the following circumstances: to save the life of the woman, to preserve physical health, to preserve mental health, rape or incest, fetal impairment or failure of contraceptive device. According to some sources, it is also available for economic or social reasons, but this has been difficult to verify. Overall, failure of contraceptive device is reported as the most common reason used by women in India.<ref>[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/rise-in-abortion-cases-contraceptives-failing-most-commonly-cited-reason/ Rise in abortion cases, ‘contraceptives failing’ most commonly cited reason]</ref> | |||
Mifepristone and Misoprostol (the abortion pill) is available on a doctor's prescription. | |||
There are additional restrictions based on permission and facilities. If the woman is a minor (under 18 years old) or mentally disabled, she must obtain the written consent of her guardians. The abortion must be performed by a registered physician. Furthermore, the abortion must be performed in a hospital that is established or maintained by the Indian government or in a facility that is approved for such purposes by the Indian government. If the woman is between 12-20 weeks of pregnancy, a second professional opinion is required to approve the abortion, except in extremely rare and urgent cases. | |||
Historically, until the 1970s, abortion was generally illegal (i.e. only permitted to save a woman's life). But Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971, enacted in 1972, significantly liberalized abortion in India. | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
• For all questions about sexuality, contraception and abortion https://lovematters.in/en/forum | |||
• Marzee Hotline for information about contraceptives and safe abortion: +919075764, Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 6.00 pm | |||
If you would like to obtain the abortion pill, here are some brand names of Mifepristone that are available in India: Abopill, Mefeprin, Mifegest, Mifeprin, Mistrone, Mtpill, Termipill. Here are some brand names for Misoprostol that are available in India: A-Kare, Misonac, Misoprost, Cytotog, Zitotec, MsKare, Misogest. | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
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==List of Additional Resources== | ==List of Additional Resources== | ||
* [http://asap-asia.org/ ASAP Asia]: "In March 2008, 37 participants from 13 countries met in Kuala Lumpur and formed the Asia Safe Abortion Partnership (ASAP), facilitated by ICMA. This network has members from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam." Goal: "To promote, protect and advance women’s sexual and reproductive rights and health in Asia, by promoting access to comprehensive safe abortion services and by reducing unsafe abortion and its complications." | |||
* [http://www.commonhealth.in/ Coalition for Maternal-Neonatal Health and Safe Abortions] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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|description=Find sexual, reproductive and women's health care in | |description=Find sexual, reproductive and women's health care in New Delhi. | ||
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