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In Laos, you can purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) over-the-counter. No prescription is required.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraceptive Availability World Map]</ref> <ref>[http://freethepill.org/where-on-earth/ Free the Pill: Where on Earth]</ref> According to 2015 report, it was found that 53.6% of Laotian women (who are married/in unions and of reproductive age) use any form of contraception. The most common methods were birth control pills (23.2%), injectables (14.9%), female sterilization (5%) and the rhythm method (4.8%). There were very low rates of usage of IUDs (1.8%), condoms (1.25) and implants (0.1%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use 2015]</ref>
In Laos, you can purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) over-the-counter. No prescription is required.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraceptive Availability World Map]</ref> <ref>[http://freethepill.org/where-on-earth/ Free the Pill: Where on Earth]</ref> According to 2015 report, it was found that 53.6% of Laotian women (who are married/in unions and of reproductive age) use any form of contraception. The most common methods were birth control pills (23.2%), injectables (14.9%), female sterilization (5%) and the rhythm method (4.8%). There were very low rates of usage of IUDs (1.8%), condoms (1.25) and implants (0.1%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use 2015]</ref>


Historically, Laos has experienced periods of both rejecting and embracing family planning. In 1969, the International Planned Parenthood Foundation teamed up with the United States Agency for International Development to develop family planning programs. It was under these efforts that the child‐care and maternity wing of Mohosot Hospital, based in Vientiane, was developed. The hospital performed some vasectomies and tubal litigation procedures. However, in 1976, the Laotian government officially banned birth control. There may have been a few reasons for this ban. First, after the decades long Laotian Civil War (1953-1975), the government wanted to build up its population with a new generation of Laotians. Furthermore, the family planning policies of the past were associated with American involvement in Laos, which the government wished to distance itself from. During this period, birth control pills disappeared from the shelves and any remaining supplies were treating as contraband.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1976/09/09/archives/laos-bans-birth-control-to-build-population-after-a-decade-of-war.html Laos Bans Birth Control to Build Population After a Decade of War]</ref>
Historically, Laos has experienced periods of both rejecting and embracing family planning. In 1969, the International Planned Parenthood Foundation teamed up with the United States Agency for International Development to develop family planning programs. It was under these efforts that the child‐care and maternity wing of Mohosot Hospital, based in Vientiane, was developed. The hospital performed some vasectomies and tubal litigation procedures.  


By the late 1980s, birth control was accessible again<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/laos/48.htm Laos - Population]</ref>, though it was primarily adopted by urban women. In the remote and rural areas, the rate of contraceptive use remained very low into the 1990s, and in areas that were far from provincial capitals or the Thai border, contraceptive usage was "virtually nonexistent," according to one source.<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/laos/48.htm Laos - Population]</ref>  
However, in 1976, the Laotian government officially banned birth control. There may have been a few reasons for this ban. First, after the decades long Laotian Civil War (1953-1975), the government wanted to build up its population with a new generation of Laotians. Furthermore, the family planning policies of the past were associated with American involvement in Laos, which the government wished to distance itself from. During this period, birth control pills disappeared from the shelves and any remaining supplies were treating as contraband.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1976/09/09/archives/laos-bans-birth-control-to-build-population-after-a-decade-of-war.html Laos Bans Birth Control to Build Population After a Decade of War]</ref>


As of 2017, Laos is a changed country, and the years of the birth control ban are long gone. While rural communities still have low birth control usage, some inroads are being made. Community-based distribution (CBD) workers, are educating their communities and distributing free contraceptives. The CBD workers have received training from the Laotian government and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). One of the main issues is that the majority of the CBD workers are male (not female). To read more about CBD workers in Laos, click [https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jan/13/condoms-contraceptive-pills-laos-birth-control-family-planning here].
By the late 1980s, birth control was accessible again<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/laos/48.htm Laos - Population]</ref>, and since the 1990s, the Ministry of Health has advocated for birth control and family planning. The Ministry has typically advised women to space out births every two to three years.<ref>[https://insearchofvientianeluangprabang.wordpress.com/2016/07/07/women-in-laos-conversations-and-insights-part-ii/ WOMEN IN LAOS: CONVERSATIONS AND INSIGHTS (PART II)]</ref> Since 2012, the the rate of married women using contraception has increased by 0.9% per annum.<ref>[http://ec2-54-210-230-186.compute-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Country_Action_Opportunities-Challenges-and-Priorities_LAO_PDR_FINAL.pdf FAMILY PLANNING 2020: COUNTRY ACTION: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES, AND PRIORITIES - LAO PDR]</ref> In 2017, Laos held its first First National Conference on Family Planning, organized by the Ministry of Health and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).<ref>[https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/05/19/laos-puts-family-planning-on-its-economic-roadmap Laos Puts Family Planning on Its Economic Roadmap]</ref>
 
Yet these changes have primarily affected the lives of Laotian urban women, who have adopted family planning methods in larger numbers. For rural women, however, contraceptive use remained low into the 1990s, and in areas that were far from provincial capitals or the Thai border, contraceptive usage was "virtually nonexistent," according to one source.<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/laos/48.htm Laos - Population]</ref> As women in rural areas come from a wide range of tribal and ethnic backgrounds, and they speak many different languages, it has been crucial that the women receive locally-tailored resources. Most recently, the Laotian government has begun to make inroads in rural communities due to the work of Community-based distribution (CBD) workers, who are educating their local communities and distributing free contraceptives. The CBD workers have received training from the Laotian government and UNFPA. One of the main issues is that the majority of the CBD workers are male (not female). Another issue to overcome is that To read more about CBD workers in Laos, click [https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jan/13/condoms-contraceptive-pills-laos-birth-control-family-planning here].


Today, over half of Laotian women use some form of birth control. Some unmarried women report feeling shamed by judgmental health care providers,<ref>[http://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/analysis-reproductive-healthcare-lags-laos Analysis: Reproductive healthcare lags in Laos]</ref> yet others report that they can easily purchase contraceptives at their local pharmacy.
Today, over half of Laotian women use some form of birth control. Some unmarried women report feeling shamed by judgmental health care providers,<ref>[http://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/analysis-reproductive-healthcare-lags-laos Analysis: Reproductive healthcare lags in Laos]</ref> yet others report that they can easily purchase contraceptives at their local pharmacy.
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