Cairo

Egypt / Lower Egypt / Cairo

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 Egypt, contraceptives are legal and require no prescription, as supported by the Ministry of Health. They can be purchased at local pharmacies. However, there is strong social stigma against purchasing birth control, especially for people perceived to be single. This leads to many Egyptians buying contraceptives from pharmacies outside their neighborhoods or even boyfriends or foreign friends to buy contraceptives for them. Read this article on these stigmas and how they are managed by Egyptians.

What to Get & Where to Get It

You should be able to buy contraceptives at most pharmacies. Brand name brands are often available at reduced prices. It's common for pharmacists in Cairo to speak some English. While almost all pharmacies will work, here are some bigger name pharmacies that you can trust:

• Seif Pharmacies
• Ezaby

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

Emergency contraception is available in Egypt by prescription only. There is strong social stigma attached to the pill, and many Egyptian women lack basic education on its usage. In 2013, a study found that 75% of Egyptian women in Alexandria lacked knowledge of EC methods. Furthermore, 18.8% thought that EC and the abortion pill were the same thing. Many women did not know the legality of EC either, with 51% incorrectly thinking it was illegal and 38.4% not knowing at all. "Despite the fact that EC has been available and registered for a long time in Egypt and some other Middle Eastern countries as Algeria, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, and Yemen," the study found "EC remains relatively unknown and is discussed controversially in such countries, and the problem of unintended pregnancy still exists."

For some thought around EC in Egypt, check out this blog post: "Why is there no official EC fatwa in Egypt?"

What to Get & Where to Get It

Note: The longest-lasting EC is currently ellaOne, which lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Egypt doesn't carry ellaOne, but 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.

In Egypt, if you have a prescription, you can purchase the following dedicated EC:

Dedicated Products / Progestin Only Take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• Contraplan II
• Postinor-2

Oral Contraceptives used for EC / Progestin Only

• Take 50 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex:
• Microlut

If you can't access an EC prescription, you can use the following regular contraceptives as replacement EC:

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:

• Primovlar

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

• Nordette

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.

Medications & Vaccines

What to Get & Where to Get It

Warning: "Due to rampant poverty, Egyptian pharmacies are sometimes flooded with generic drugs of questionable quality. Some of these drugs don’t work, others are extremely powerful and a very small percentage have proven fatal. As a rule, never take anything that does not come in a clearly marked package, and always take care to follow dosage instructions to the letter (even generic packaging usually has English instructions alongside the Arabic). If you’re unsure that you’ve been given an effective (or safe) generic medicine, ask an Egyptian friend or co-worker (or a fellow expat) for her opinion."

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.

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

Here's a list of the main hospitals in Egypt:

• Cairo Medical Centre: Tel: + 20 2 450 9800, Address: 4 Abou Obaida, Al Bakry, Roxy, Helioplis
• City Medical Clinic: Tel: +20 238 571 591, Address: Hadaeq Al Ahram, 427N, Entrance 4 (Mena)
• Cleopatra Hospital: Tel: + 20 2 414 3931, Address: 39 Cleopatra Street, Salah El Din Square, Helioplis
• As-Salam International Hospital: Tel: + 20 2 303 0501, Address: Cornich El Nile, Maadi
• Hawwa International/Egyptian British Hospital: Tel: +20 2 760 9258, Address: 25 Mohammed el Gaimini Street
• Integrated Clinic: Tel: + 20 2 653 5553, Address: 59 Abdelmonem Road, El Mohandeseen

Pregnancy

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.

Advocacy & Counseling

List of Additional Resources

• General number for the police: 122
• Number for the tourist police hotline: 126