Auckland

New Zealand / Auckland

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 New Zealand, you need a prescription for the birth control pill by a general practitioner or nurse. While the age of consent is 16 years old, there are no age restrictions and parental consent is not required to receive a prescription. The birth control pill has been available in New Zealand since the 1960s, and it became widely available to NZ women in the 1970s. It is estimated that 71.3% of NZ women use some form of contraceptive and that 67.4% use a modern method.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Check out this helpful breakdown of contraceptive methods available in New Zealand, provided by New Zealand Family Planning. You'll see methods like birth control, IUDs, shots and more. Click here to see if you're covered by New Zealand health care (and to learn more about coverage).

• You can find condoms in grocery stores, pharmacies, dairies, pubs public toilets, petrol stations, nightclubs and sex shops in New Zealand. There are no age restrictions to purchase condoms. They typically cost $12-$20/pack. However, if you get a condom prescription (which is not required), the cost can go down to $5 for 144 condoms. For more details on getting a condom prescription, click here. You can also get free condoms and lube at New Zealand AIDS Foundation - click here for details.
• If you want birth control pills, you'll need a prescription from a general practitioner or nurse. If you go to New Zealand Family Planning, the consultation will cost $27 if you're not covered by NZ medical care. If you don't go to NZ Family Planning, you can expect a doctor's appointments to range from $10-$60. Once you have the prescription, you will be able to buy your pills. There are many birth control pill brands available in New Zealand (both progestin-only and combined progestin-estrogen combined). Some brands you can expect to see are Alesse, Desogen, Duphaston, Mircette, Microlut, Microval, Nordiol, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Ovral, Levlen ED, Microgynon 30 ED, Microgynon-30, Monofeme 28, Nordette, Loette, Microgynon 20 ED, Miranova and Yasmin.
• The contraceptive ring, like Nuvaring, is available in New Zealand. You can get it at New Zealand Family Planning for about $90.
• If you want an IUD, you can call New Zealand Family Planning to have a consultation and determine next steps. Here's the link to their page on IUDs. If you're a New Zealander, you can get the copper IUD at no cost. If you're a foreigner, there will be some extra costs. If you want a non-hormonal IUD (Mirena), you'll need to pay $333, regardless of whether you're from NZ or not.
• You can get the contraceptive shot (Depo-Provera) at a local medical center. You'll explain that you need a shot and then book an appointment. If you're a foreigner (and potentially if you're an NZ national), you'll have to pay a consultation fee. It normally cost around $80-100 and lasts for 3 months. If you to to the same medical center for the second injection, it will be much cheaper.
• If you want to get the contraceptive implant, you can get Implanon (costs about $270 and lasts for 3 years) or Jadelle (costs about $22 and lasts for 5 years). Jadelle is cheaper because it "is fully funded. However, there is a small dressing and prescription fee. This is $22.00 at Family Planning clinics."
• Sterilization is a fairly common contraceptive practice in New Zealand. Women get tubal ligation and men get vasectomies. According to New Zealand Family Planning, New Zealand has one of the highest vasectomy rates in the world.

Costs

Condoms cost $12-$20/pack (but they're much cheaper if you get a prescription). At New Zealand Family Planning, you can get birth control pills ranging from $5-100 for a 6-month supply, depending on the pills and your status (for example, if you have health care funding). For an IUD, you can get a copper one for free if you're from NZ (you'll need to pay if you don't have NZ health coverage). For non-copper IUDs, will pay for the cost of the device (for example, Mirena is $333). They also do Depo-Provera injections for free, which last for 3 months. You may also pay around $80-100 for a Depo-Provera injection at certain medical facilities. The Implanon implant costs $270 and the Jadelle implant costs $22. The contraceptive ring (Nuvaring) is about $90.

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

Emergency contraception (the morning after pill) is available in NZ. At some pharmacies, you can buy it over-the-counter without a prescription. At other clinics and facilities, you will need a prescription.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can purchase dedicated emergency contraception in NZ at pharmacies or clinics. Some brands you can expect to see are Postinor 1 (take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex), Levonelle and Postinor 2 (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex for these brands). You can generally purchase them at pharmacies without a prescription.
• You can have an IUD inserted to prevent pregnancy. Please refer to the "Contraception" section for details.
• If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception, you can use regular oral contraceptives (birth control pills) as emergency contraception. For progestin-only pills, you'll need to remember that, in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used. You can take Nordiol or Orval (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). You can also take Levlen ED, Microgynon 30 ed, Microgynon-30, Monofeme 28 or Nordette (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later). You can also take Loette, Microgynon 20ED or Miravona (take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later).
• You can buy emergency contraception online, but it may be pricey since you may need to buy in bulk. At one online pharmacy, you'll find an 8-pill pack for $123 and a 12-pill pack for $181."Medication will be shipped in anonymous discreet package without disclosing its content."

Costs

If you go to a Family Planning clinic, you can probably get emergency contraception for free. At the clinic, you may also be able to get a prescription of 3 pills for $5. If you purchase emergency contraception at a pharmacy without a prescription, it will cost around $40-$80. If you buy it online, you can expect to pay around $181 for an 8-pack package.

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.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Testing Facilities

• Auckland Sexual Health Service: "We are a specialist service offering free and confidential sexual health care including: diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections and other related conditions including genital skin conditions, genital pain and sexual dysfunction, reproductive health including contraceptive advice, sexual health counselling, adult sexual abuse service including the care of related medical, nursing and social issues, sexual health education, including Peer Sexuality Support programmes for schools." They have four locations in Auckland (Greenlane, Glenfield, Henderson & Mangere). Check out this link to see the locations.
• New Zealand AIDS Foundation: Provides free HIV & STI testing. "We provide a rapid testing service for HIV, syphilis or hepatitis C which involves just one quick, painless finger prick to produce a single drop of blood which is placed in a sterile testing device. An accurate result is confirmed in just twenty minutes instead of the five to seven days it might take for a result from a standard blood test through your GP or local sexual health clinic. We also offer tests for gonorrhoea and chlamydia which involve a urine test and/or swab depending on your case. The results for these tests are available within five working days and you will only be contacted if you have a positive result." NZAF Burnett Centre. Phone: +64 9 309 5560. Email: contact.burnett@nzaf.org.nz ex 35. Address: Hargreaves Street, St Mary's bay, Auckland 1011

Support

• New Zealand Herpes Foundation: "Founded in 1994 by an alliance of patients, doctors and health professionals, we provide accurate information, improved management and support for people affected by the herpes simplex virus."
• New Zealand HPV Project: "HPV is probably the most common STI there is, affecting most people at some point in their lives. In this site you’ll find nearly everything you need to know about HPV."
• New Zealand AIDS Foundation: "We’re here to answer all your questions about HIV in New Zealand. Our services include prevention, testing, counselling and support."

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.

Advocacy & Counseling

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Counselling @ Auckland Sexual Health Service: "Counselling team comprises a male and a female therapist, plus one psychotherapy student. We provide counselling for individuals and couples, for up to 6-10 sessions where necessary. Issues we cover include : sexual functioning, sexuality and gender issues, STI and HIV counselling, non-ACC covered sexual abuse, sexual compulsion. The service is free of charge." They have four locations in Auckland (Greenlane, Glenfield, Henderson & Mangere). Check out this link to see the locations.
• Sexual assault (Pohutukawa) @ Auckland Sexual Health Service: "Pohutukawa is a free specialist medical and forensic service for adult women and men who have been sexually assaulted or abused. We are committed to providing the highest quality health service that is sensitive, appropriate, accessible and that acknowledges social and cultural differences." How to get an appointment: After hours: If your request is urgent, contact the local police, or crisis counselling agencies below: Auckland Sexual Abuse HELP - Tel:(09) 623 1700. Counselling Services Centre - Tel: (09) 277 9324. In hours: Self referral by phone, email, fax or sending a text message and we will ring you back. Referral by your GP, counsellor, Family Planning clinic, HELP, Police etc.