Moscow

Russia / Central Russia / Moscow

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 Russia, you can obtain birth control pills without a prescription.

In 2003, the NYTimes reported, "For 50 years, Russian women relied on state-financed abortions as their main form of birth control. With pills, condoms and other contraceptives often in short supply, most women in Russia expected to face at least one and sometimes more than a dozen trips to the abortion clinic over their childbearing years. Now the Russian government is attempting to slow the abortion rate. It is an admirable goal, given the toll that multiple abortions have taken on the health and fertility of Russia's women."

What to Get & Where to Get It

You can buy birth control at pharmacies. One brand, Jess, is approximately $30/month. But there are cheaper brands. You can also expect to see brands like Microlut, Ovidon, Microgynon, Minisiston and Rigevidon.

You can buy condoms in many shops and markets, some of which are open 24 hours.

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 Russia, you technically need a prescription to obtain emergency contraception (also known as "the morning after pill"). However, it appears that you can purchase EC at many pharmacies without a prescription. As reported by the European Consortium for Emergency Contraception, "Although a prescription is mandatory in order to purchase LNG EC and all types of hormonal contraceptives, anecdotal data suggests that EC pills can often be obtained without a prescription from pharmacies and that UPA EC can be obtained from neighboring countries via the Internet."

What to Get & Where to Get It

=Dedicated Emergency Contraception

In Russia, if you want dedicated emergency contraception that's anti-progestin, you'll find some of these pill brands. You should take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex.

• Agesta
• Gynepriston
• Mifepristone 72
• Negele

In Russia, if you want dedicated emergency contraception that's progestin only, you'll find some of these pill brands. You should take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex.

• Escapelle
• Escinor 1.5

You can also find these progestin only brands. You should take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex.

• Escinor 0.75
• Postinor

=Oral Contraceptives Used as EC

If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception, you can also use normal contraceptives (i.e. birth control pills) as replacement emergency contraception. To do this, you take progestin-only oral contraceptives. For these brands, take 50 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex.

• Microlut

If you have progestin-estrogen combined pills, take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later. Note that only the first 21 pills can be used.

• Ovidon

For these brands, take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later. Note that only the first 21 pills can be used.

• Microgynon
• Minisiston
• Rigevidon

Costs

You can expect to pay € 7 – 10 for dedicated emergency contraception.

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.

What to Get & Where to Get It

You can buy tampons or pads/panty-liners everywhere. DivaCups seem very hard to come by, and don't seem generally available.

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.