Kiev

Ukraine / Kiev

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 Ukraine, contraception (birth control) is available without a prescription. According to a 2015 report, 66.5% of women (who are of reproductive age and married or in unions) use some form of contraception and 10.2% have unmet family planning needs. The most common forms are contraception are condoms (26.1%), IUDs (15%), withdrawal or the "pull out method" (12.5%), birth control pills (6.9%) and the rhythm method (2.6%).

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Ukraine, you can purchase birth control pills at pharmacies, including phasic pills and combined pills. Many of the pills come from Germany, Hungary and the USA. Some brands you can expect to see are Anteovin, Diane, Diane-35, Femoden, Jeanine, Logest, Marvelon, Mercilon, Microgynon, Microgynon-30 and Minisiston.
• You can find contraceptive shots/injectables, including Depo-Provera SAS 150mg/ml and Noristerat.
• You can find contraceptive implants, including Implanon.
• You can find IUDs, including Mirena.

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.

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

In Ukraine, there are no travel restrictions related to HIV status. In the past, there was a Law on Prevention of AIDS and Social Protection of Population, but this law has been removed. Before its removal, from 2001-2015, HIV positive people were not allowed to visit Ukraine and HIV-positive Ukrainians were not allowed to travel outside of Ukraine.

Currently, Ukraine is experiencing and HIV/AIDS epidemic, and it has one of the highest HIV infection rates in Europe. It's estimated by UNAIDS that 223,000 people are infected with HIV but only one half of infected people are aware of their status. For many years, Ukraine was considered a "low-risk" country for HIV, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The disease was only first reported in Ukraine in 1987 and, by 1995, there were still only a few cases. However, this began to change. From 1995-2007, the majority of HIV infections came from injection drug use. However, since 2007, heterosexual sex has been the primary means of transmission. There has also been a significantly increased infection rate among prison inmates and children (who transmitted the disease from their mother) in the past two decades. Some of the biggest challenges in controlling the infection rate include: lack of services for injection-drug users, limited access to affordable condoms, limited access to affordable HIV tests, and the stigma around men who have sex with men (MSM).

Regarding HPV, it's estimated that 9.7% of women in Eastern Europe are infected with HPV HPV-16/18. However, there is no nationwide HPV vaccination program in place in Ukraine, as of 2016.

Testing Facilities

• You may be able to get a free HIV test if you donate blood. In the past, this was the case in Ukraine, and it may still be the case.

Support

• International AIDS Alliance in Ukraine
• AIDS Healthcare Foundation - Ukraine: Address: AHF Ukraine, Ukraine, 03055, Kyiv 5, Shulyavska Str., Office 10
• Alliance for Public Health: "The Alliance for Public Health has successfully developed and implemented HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis responses in Ukraine." They've helped people get Hepatitis C treatment. Address: Alliance for Public Health, 5 Dymytrova Street, Building 10A, 9th floor, Kiev, 03680. Tel +380 44 490 5485. Email office@aidsalliance.org.ua

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

• You can buy menstrual cups from LadyDream, which is a Ukrainian company that sells Lunette (for 890 UAH), LadyCup (590 UAH), Yuuki (490 UAH), Si-Bell (590 UAH).

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

• "I would recommend Medicom clinic located at Obolon and their gynecologists. It should be in the range of 300-500 uah." - Kiev local

Pregnancy

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Isida: This is a very well-known clinic and locals seem to be divided on its quality. For some locals, it's highly recommended. For others, they have had some issues or find it too expensive. One local said that her consultation was 390 hryvna.
• One local says: "Leleka or Nadia Clinic, same owner: Pr Valeri Zuki."

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 Ukraine, abortion is legal upon request during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. Between twelve to twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy, abortion is also legal on many grounds, including medical and social reasons. If a commission of physicians approve of an abortion (up to 28 weeks), any reason that they deem acceptable is also accepted.

List of Additional Resources

• Gay Alliance Ukraine: "UPO “Gay Alliance Ukraine” – is a strong and stable organization that is a partner of the state and international donors, and is being a leader of LGBT-movement in Ukraine and at the regional level of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA)." Email: gau.infoservis@gmail.com or info@upogau.org. Phone: +38 (044) 38 38 266
• National LGBT Portal of Ukraine: "The international project «National LGBT portal of Ukraine» — the only of its kind in the marketplace, where each / every lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people will find the information needed for everyday life and be able to share their thoughts and experiences."
• Fulcrum:"FULCRUM is working to create opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to be righteous citizens accepted at home, at work, in society, and to have a healthy and happy life, equal rights and obligations."