Port Louis

Mauritius / Port Louis

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

Contraception was introduced to Mauritius in 1958 by thePlanning Association, a private Catholic organization..

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 to prevent pregnancy. 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 Mauritius, emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) are available over-the-counter at pharmacies. No prescription is required.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can find emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) at pharmacies, and they are sold over-the-counter. Some brands you may find are NorLevo 1.5mg, Pregnon, and ellaOne.
• 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.

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

For short-term travelers in Mauritius, there are no known travel restrictions related to HIV/AIDS status. This means that you can enter the country, regardless of your HIV status, and you will not be asked for a medical certificate. However, if you want to apply for legal residency, you may need to prove that your HIV-negative.

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.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Mauritius, abortion is permitted in certain circumstances, which include: to save the life of the pregnant person, to preserve the mental or physical life of the pregnant person, if the pregnant was the result of rape or incest, or if there is severe risk of fetal impairment.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• "The availability of Misoprostol is unknown." - Women on Waves

List of Additional Resources

• Ministry of Health
• The Mauritius Family Planning & Welfare Association (MFPWA): "Set up in 1957, the Mauritius Family Planning & Welfare Association (MFPWA) was one of the earliest organizations in Africa focusing on family planning issues. As the nation struggled to find a way to address pressing population issues, a group of advocates formed MFPWA and started to provide services directly to women."
• Mauritius Alliance of Women: Postal Address (Main Contact)Shand Street, Beau Bassin Mauritius.
• Mauritius - List of Women's associations
• Equaldex - Mauritius: Click here to learn about LGBTQ rights and laws in Mauritius.
• LGBT Mauritius: "The island is small, and so as our LGBT community. However, we are here and queer, so we will try to answer ALL your questions, LGBT and others!"
• Young Queer Alliance: "The Young Queer Alliance (YQA) is a non-governmental, youth-led and apolitical organisation registered in the Republic of Mauritius to empower youth, promote equality and leading change in the field of Sexual Orientation, Gender Expression and Gender Identity." Email: info@youngqueeralliance.com