Singapore

Singapore / Singapore

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 Singapore, you'll need a prescription for birth control. If you don't already have one, you can visit a gynecologist for a consultation. They will ask you basic questions but will probably not require a pelvic exam. It appears that, if you're a minor, you can confidentially obtain contraceptives. As advised by WTF zine: "It is routine and lawful medical practice for your doctor to keep your medical records confidential. You can also consult a doctor other than the one your family sees. It is also easy to discreetly use birth control methods. For added confidentiality, ask your doctor about how you will be billed on your account or insurance statement. If it explicitly states birth control, you can request for it to show up as miscellaneous fees."

For details on Singaporean population control history, check out the "Pregnancy" section.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Common birth control brands in Singapore are Yasmin, Yaz and Diane-35.

Some people find it cheaper and easier to buy birth control in Malaysia, where brands like Marvelon, Mercilon, Gynera, Diane(35), Nordette, Novynette can be purchased over-the-counter for $6-10 (as of August 2014).

Costs

A one month supply of hormonal BC pills typically costs between $25-40. For an IUD, you can expect to pay around $400-500. For a contraceptive injection, you can expect to pay around $150-200. For a birth control implant, which lasts 5 years, you can expect to pay $400-500.

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.

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.

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.

Pregnancy

Laws & Social Stigmas

In 1970, Singapore began to advocate for population control, telling its citizens to "Stop at Two." The government legalized sterilization and abortion as well. However, by the 1980s, the birth rate had significantly dropped. In reaction to this change, the Singaporean government changed its stance and Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's government developed a new slogan: "Have Three or More (if you can afford it)." Incentives were also given to mothers who had more than two children. For example, families with a third child received 750 SGD in child relief.

As written on Wikipedia: "Though newer modern policies exhibit 'signs that the government is beginning to recognise the ineffectiveness of a purely monetary approach to increasing birth rates', a former civil servant noted that the government needs 'to learn to fine-tune to the emotions rather than to dollars and cents. It should appeal more to the sense of fulfilment of having children'. Such measures include promoting workplaces that encourage spending time with the family, and creating a 'Romancing Singapore Campaign' that '[directly avoided being linked] to pro-children and pro-family initiatives," since "people get turned off' when the government appears to intervene in such intimate social affairs as marriage."

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.

List of Additional Resources

• AWARE: "AWARE is Singapore’s leading gender equality advocacy group. AWARE believes in the rights of women and men to make informed and responsible choices about their lives and to have equal opportunities in education, marriage and employment, and in the right of women to control their own bodies, particularly with regard to sexual and reproductive rights."
• WTF!: A Singapore-based website/zine focused on sexuality, relationships, LGBTQ, sexual assault and safe sex