Tehran

Iran / Central Iran / Tehran

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 Iran, you can purchase contraception (birth control) at pharmacies without a prescription. According to a 2015 report, 76.6% of Iranian women (who are of reproductive age and married/in unions) use some form of contraception. The most common forms of contraception are withdrawal/"the pull out method" (16.9%), birth control pills (15.6%), female sterilization (14.8%), male condoms (13.7%) and IUDs (8.4%). Overall, it is estimated that 6.5% of Iranian women (who are of reproductive age and married/in unions) have unmet family planning needs, a rate that is lower than many Western European countries.

From a historical perspective, Iran has frequently changed its family planning policies. In the 1960s, Iran recognized that it was experiencing rapid population growth, and national family planning policies were introduced. Yet, following the Iranian Revolution (1979), the newly formed Iranian government, under Ayatollah Khomeini, focused on a traditional, pro-natalist approach. Family planning clinics were closed down, birth control policy was suspended and abortion was re-criminalized.

However, in 1989, the government's policies began to rapidly change. The war with Iraq had ended, Ayatollah Khomeini had died, and the new leaders, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, recognized that there was a population growth problem. The government launched a new campaign to encourage families to have a maximum of two children under the slogan, "One is good. Two is enough." Furthermore, Iran's Health Ministry began providing free contraceptives, including condoms, pills, implants, IUDs and sterilization, which could be obtained at urban clinics, rural clinics and mobile clinics. The government also required that college students, soldiers and engaged couples take classes on family planning. These changes helped to successfully bring a decline in population growth and fertility rates.

The last decade has seen further shifts in family planning policy. In 2006, President Ahmadinejad declared that he wanted the population to increase, and many Iranian leaders and clerics have stated that population control measures belong in the past or were mistakes to begin with. The government has cut its its budget for subsidized condoms and family planning services, increased paid maternity and paternity leave and tried to make female or male sterilization illegal. However, many Iranian married couples, particularly middle-class and educated couples, may not feel the desire to have many children or any children at all. This is partially due to the increase in education among women, but many couples also cite the political and financial instability of the country.

At times, Iran has experienced shortages of birth control pills in pharmacies, particularly due to Western embargoes. You can read a personal account of attempting to buy birth control pills in Tehran, during a period of embargoes, here.

More information:

• AP Archive Video on Iranian Family Planning History/Laws

What to Get & Where to Get It

• If you want condoms, you can buy them in drug stores and supermarkets in Iranian cities, according to local sources. Some of the brands you can expect to see are Kapoot, Good Life and Nach. You can also find special condom brands, like Fiesta, which are manufactured locally in Iran, come in nine different flavors/types and were launched by DKT Iran (an NGO). In the past, Iran even launched condom vending machines in Tehran, which were meant to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, but they were later considered to be promoting "immoral acts" and were removed.
• If you want birth control pills, you can find Contraceptive L.D., Lynestrenol, Yasmin and Yaz in Iranian pharmacies. These brands are either made by Aburaihan Pharmaceutical Company (Iranian company) or Bayer HealthCare (German company).
• If you want an IUD, you can find a variety of options in Iran, both locally-produced and from international manufacturers. For example, you may find the Pregna brand, which is a locally-produced IUDs taht was launched launched by DKT Iran (an NGO). Furthermore, you may find internationally recognized IUD brands like Mirena.

Costs

• For a pack of birth control pills, you can expect to pay around 260,000 IRR (as of 2016).

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 Iran, emergency contraception (morning after pill) is available without a prescription.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Iran, you can purchase emergency contraception (morning after pill) without a prescription at pharmacies. You'll find that the brands being sold are typically produced by Iranian pharmaceutical companies. The most common brands are Longil and Ovocease.

Costs

• The average cost of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) in Iranian pharmacies is around 50,000 IRR, as of 2017.

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

If you are tourist or short-term visitor to Iran, you do not need to take an HIV test. However, if you plan to obtain a work or residence permit, or if you plan to stay in Iran for over three months, you will need to take an HIV test. If you are found to be HIV positive, your visa or permit will probably be denied. There are an estimated 73,000 people in Iran living with HIV, and 0.1% of the population is HIV positive.

Regarding HPV, according to the HPV Information Centre, "Cervical cancer ranks as the 12th most frequent cancer among women in Iran and the 9th most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. About 2.8% of women in the general population are estimated to harbour cervical HPV-16/18 infection at a given time, and 59.4% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18."

Testing Facilities

• You should be able to find HIV and some other STI tests in most blood/urine testing labs in Iran.

Support

• Dr. Mohraz: Provides HIV treatment. Address: Sanaie Place no 49, Teheran/Iran, Phone: +98 21 646 3728.
• UNAIDS Iran: Fardad Doroudi, Telephone: +98 21 22 85 89 50. Email: DOROUDIF@UNAIDS.ORG

Medications & Vaccines

What to Get & Where to Get It

• There is no nationwide HPV vaccination program in Iran. However, you may be able to access HPV vaccine, like Gardasil, in some Iranian clinics or hospitals.
• We cannot find evidence of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) being available in Iran. If anyone has information on this topic, please add info.
• We cannot find evidence of PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) being available in Iran. If anyone has information on this topic, please add info.

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

In Iran, pads are widely available. You should also be able to find tampons in supermarkets in cities. There have been some reports of a declining level of tampons, but this is not confirmed so we'll need someone to update this section with more info. Generally speaking, menstrual cups are extremely uncommon and it's unlikely that you will find them sold in Iranian markets.

Gynecological Exams

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.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Iran, abortion is only legal during the first four months of pregnancy, and only when the pregnancy either endangers the woman's life or when there is severe risk of fetal impairment. Three medical specialists must confirm that the pregnant woman's life is endangered or that there's risk of fetal impairment before an abortion can be legally performed.

In all other cases, abortion is illegal. This means that abortion is not available upon request, and it's not available when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or when the woman has serious physical, mental or social reasons for seeking out an abortion. If someone pursues an abortion for any of these reasons, they may be made punished. According to Penal Code of 1991, which is based on Islamic law, an illegal abortion is considered a crime of bodily harm (also known as "oisas"). This is punishable and the involved parties must pay blood money or compensation (also known as "diyah") to the victim's relatives.

Advocacy & Counseling

List of Additional Resources

• Click here to learn about LGBTQ rights in Iran.
• Omid Foundation: "OMID is committed to strengthening the social, emotional and economic opportunities of disadvantaged young women in Iran. We provide them with a sense of self worth and life and opportunities in three key areas: self-empowerment, education and training." Email: info@omidfoundation.com