Lisbon: Difference between revisions

As a member of the European Union, Portugal has aligned itself with many European standards. Birth control pills are available in Portuguese pharmacies without a prescription, and pill prices tend to be low-cost and standardized. Meanwhile, condoms can be found in a variety of places, including supermarkets, pharmacies and even vending machines. You can purchase emergency contraception (the morning after pill) at pharmacies without a prescription as well. There are no travel restrictions related to HIV status, and you can get STI tests at a variety of health centers, including public clinics, community health centers and private clinics. While menstrual cups aren't as common as pads or tampons, you can find some sellers in Portugal. Since 2007, abortion has been legally available upon request for the first ten weeks of gestation.

In Portugal, contraceptives are legal and accessible. You can informally buy birth control pills without a prescription. This means that, while you may technically need a prescription, this isn't typically enforced. You can visit a pharmacy and purchase birth control pills over-the-counter.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraception Availability]</ref> <ref>[http://freethepill.org/where-on-earth/ Free the Pill: Where on Earth]</ref> However, if you contact a pharmacy over email, phone or Facebook with questions, they may recommend that you consult with a physician before obtaining birth control pills. Meanwhile, if you want to purchase condoms, they can be easily acquired without a prescription at a variety of stores and even vending machines.

In Portugal, contraceptives are widely used, and Portugal has one of the higher rates of usage in Southern Europe. According to a 2015 UN report, it was found that 74.3% of Portuguese women (who are reproductive age and married or in unions) use some form of contraception. This is similar to rates in [[Spain]], which are at 72.7%, but noticeably higher than [[Italy]] and [[Greece]], which both show rates lower than 70%. However, there is some room for improvement, as the study found that 6.6% of Portuguese women still have unmet family planning needs. The most common forms of contraceptives in Portugal were found to be birth control pills (49.9%), condoms (9.5%), IUDs (6.2%) and female sterilization (4.3%). Some traditional methods were also found to be used, including the withdrawal or "pull-out" method (4.2%) and the rhythm method (2.5%). There appeared to be practically no users of contraceptive injectables or implants in the study, but these methods may have become more popular in the years since the study was released.<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use 2015]</ref>

 

* For the contraceptive patch (Evra), you can expect to pay the following prices: for 1 month is 11,72€ and for 3 month is 33 € (as of October 2017).

'''IMPORTANT NOTE:''' In Portugal, you can find a 24-hour pharmacy in your area, but the pharmacies run on a rotational basis. This means that, each day, a different pharmacy is open for 24 hours. To see which 24-hour pharmacies are open in Lisbon on which days, click [http://www.farmaciasdeservico.net/localidade/lisboa/lisboa here].

* If you have a '''yeast infection''' ("infecção por fungos" in Portuguese), you can ask the pharmacist for Fluconazole, which is antifungal medication. They'll be able to give you Fluconazole or something similar.

In Portugal, abortion is legal for the first 10 weeks of gestation.<ref>[http://worldabortionlaws.com/map/ World Abortion Laws]</ref> <ref>[https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/4229/portugal Women on Waves - Portugal]</ref> However, if you're a minor, you will be typically required to get parental permission from your parents or guardian.<ref>[http://worldabortionlaws.com/map/ World Abortion Laws]</ref> <ref>[http://www.svss-uspda.ch/pdf/Abortion%20legislation_Europe2012.pdf Abortion Legislation in Europe]</ref> Furthermore, before any women obtains an abortion, she must first consult with a doctor, and then she must have a period of reflection of at least three days, before she can obtain an abortion.<ref>https://www.loc.gov/law/help/abortion-legislation/abortion-legislation.pdf Abortion Legislation in Europe]</ref> <ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/apr/10/1 Portugal ratifies law allowing abortions]</ref> Once the reflection period is over, the pregnant person can receive an abortion at a public hospital or private clinic that is recognized by the Health Ministry.

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