Paris

France / Île-de-France / Paris

OVERVIEW

Contraception

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 France, you need a prescription to obtain hormonal birth control. According to some accounts, French pharmacies accept foreign prescriptions. Other accounts have stated that French pharmacies do not accept foreign prescriptions, so this ultimately seems to be a case-by-case basis. If you speak some French, this may increase your chances of successfully using a foreign prescription. Meanwhile, condoms are widely available and commonly used; it's estimated that France has the third most prevalent condom use of all countries in the world.

Here is a personal testimonial about getting birth control in France.

What to Get & Where to Get It

If you don't yet have a prescription, it can be easily obtained by visiting an ob/gyn. If you have a foreign prescription, you should bring your prescription and an empty packet, if possible, to a pharmacist for refill. You can say, “Pourriez-vous me dépanner avant que j’obtienne une nouvelle ordonnance?” They may sell you a 1-3 month supply, especially if you promise to go to a doctor soon.

Costs

Without French insurance (Sécu), most brands of the pill will cost 15 euro for a month's supply. If you have Sécu, some pill brands are partially covered, along with Depo-Provera and diaphragms. The patch, rings (like Nuvaring), spermicide and cervical caps are not covered by Sécu, so you'll need to pay 100%.

Emergency Contraception

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 France, you can obtain emergency contraception (the morning after pill) without a prescription. There are no age restrictions.

What to Get & Where to Get It

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.

You can obtain EC in pharmacies and family planning centers. There are also some French websites where you can buy EC online.

Credit to Princeton EC Website for below information...

Dedicated Products / Anti-Progestin Take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• ellaOne

Dedicated Products / Progestin Only Take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• Levonorgestrel Biogaran 1500 (available from a pharmacist without a prescription)
• NorLevo 1.5mg (available from a pharmacist without a prescription)

Take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• Anthia (available from a pharmacist without a prescription)

If you can't access emergency contraception, you can use oral contraceptives as EC, which include the following:

Oral Contraceptives used for EC / Progestin Only Take 50 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• Microval

Oral Contraceptives used for EC / Progestin-Estrogen Combined Note: in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used Take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later:

• Ovral

Take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later:

• Minidril
• Nordette

Costs

LNG: € 6,75 (as of 2013); UPA: € 18,88 (as of 2015). If you have a prescription, 65% of EC costs are reimbursed. You can typically get EC for free at family planning clinics or if you're under 18.

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.

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.