Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan / Bishkek

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 Kyrgyzstan, you should be able to purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) without a prescription at pharmacies.

In 2015, it was estimated that 42% of women (who are married/in unions and of reproductive age) in Kyrgyzstan use some form of contraception, and about 17% of women have unmet family planning needs. This is below the average rate of contraceptive use in Central Asia, which is 57%. The most common contraceptive methods were found to be IUDs (22%), male condoms (10%) and birth control pills (4%). There were low usage rates for traditional methods (2%), female sterilization (1%) and withdrawal (1%). Meanwhile, less than 1% of women used contraceptive injectables or the rhythm method, and there was no recorded usage of male sterilization, female barrier methods or contraceptive implants.

Generally speaking, Kyrgyzstan is a socially conservative country. The majority of Kyrgyz citizens are Sunni Muslim, and while they are not strongly religious on average, they can be considered tradition. Frank discussion of sexuality is considered taboo, though social attitudes are beginning to change. In 2015, Parliament passed a bill that established the legal basis to teach sexuality education in schools. While the bill was controversial and opposed by some people, it was also welcomed by others. In fact, it was found that 80% of parents in Kyrgyzstan wanted their children to receive sexuality education, and many stated that they did not know how to talk about sexuality with their children.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Kyrgyzstan, you should be able to purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) without a prescription at pharmacies. Some of the brands you can expect to see are Belara, Ovidon, Microgynon and Rigevidon.

Costs

• At one Bishkek pharmacy, a box of Belara pills cost 970 soms.

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 Kyrgyzstan, it appears that you may need a prescription to obtain emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) at pharmacies.

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.