Moscow

Russia / Central Russia / Moscow

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 Russia, you can obtain birth control pills without a prescription. However, sex education remains very low in Russia, contributing to limited knowledge of contraceptive methods. Sex education is not compulsory in Russian public schools. It's estimated that only 5% of Russian teens have been educated on contraception and family planning.

Fortunately, contraception is becoming a more dominant method in Russian society. In 2003, the NYTimes reported, "For 50 years, Russian women relied on state-financed abortions as their main form of birth control. With pills, condoms and other contraceptives often in short supply, most women in Russia expected to face at least one and sometimes more than a dozen trips to the abortion clinic over their childbearing years. Now the Russian government is attempting to slow the abortion rate. It is an admirable goal, given the toll that multiple abortions have taken on the health and fertility of Russia's women."

What to Get & Where to Get It

You can buy birth control at pharmacies ("apteka" in Russian). One brand, Jess, is approximately $30/month. But there are cheaper brands. You can also expect to see brands like Microlut, Ovidon, Microgynon, Minisiston and Rigevidon.

You can buy condoms in many shops and markets, some of which are open 24 hours.

For a list of pharmacies in Moscow, including 24-hour pharmacies, you can visit Vapteky. The website is in Russian. Also, here's a list of some recommended pharmacies in Moscow:

• A5 Pharmacy: This is a large chain of pharmacies, so you can trust it be standardized.
• Stariy Lekar: This is a larger brand that has multiple locations, including Kievsky Vokzal Square, 1, Moscow. +7 (495) 978 1827, +7 (901) 517 1827
• 36.6: Network of pharmacies in Moscow. Addresses: Tverskaya Ulitsa, 25 (Tverskaya area, metro Mayakovskaya (green), walk to the centrum direction 4 mins) | Zemlyanoi Val, 25 (east center, metro Kurskaya (blue)) | Novy Arbat, 15 (Arbat area, west center, metro Arbatskaya (blue) or Smolenskaya (blue)). Phone: 797-6366.
• "24-hour pharmacies are at the beginning of Novy Arbat street (metro Arbatskaya) and the one at the beginning of Nikolskaya street (Kitai Gorod or Kremlin area, metro Lubyanka (red) or Ploshchad Revolutsii (blue)."
• Rigla: Network of pharmacies in Moscow
• Самсон-Фарма8.5: ул. Генерала Кузнецова, 17, Moscow, Moscow
• Аптека Здоров.Ру: Академика Петровского

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 Russia, you technically need a prescription to obtain emergency contraception (also known as "the morning after pill"). However, it appears that you can purchase EC at many pharmacies without a prescription. As reported by the European Consortium for Emergency Contraception, "Although a prescription is mandatory in order to purchase LNG EC and all types of hormonal contraceptives, anecdotal data suggests that EC pills can often be obtained without a prescription from pharmacies and that UPA EC can be obtained from neighboring countries via the Internet."

What to Get & Where to Get It

• For assistance or information, you can contact the Russian Family Planning Association. Address: 18/20 Vadkovsky per., Moscow, 101479. Phone: +7 (499) 973 15 59 Email: info@rfpa.ru

Dedicated Emergency Contraception

In Russia, if you want dedicated emergency contraception that's anti-progestin, you'll find some of these pill brands. You should take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex.

• Agesta
• Gynepriston
• Mifepristone 72
• Negele

In Russia, if you want dedicated emergency contraception that's progestin only, you'll find some of these pill brands. You should take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex.

• Escapelle
• Escinor 1.5

You can also find these progestin only brands. You should take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex.

• Escinor 0.75
• Postinor

Oral Contraceptives Used as EC

If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception, you can also use normal contraceptives (i.e. birth control pills) as replacement emergency contraception. To do this, you take progestin-only oral contraceptives. For these brands, take 50 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex.

• Microlut

If you have progestin-estrogen combined pills, take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later. Note that only the first 21 pills can be used.

• Ovidon

For these brands, take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later. Note that only the first 21 pills can be used.

• Microgynon
• Minisiston
• Rigevidon

Costs

You can expect to pay € 7 – 10 for dedicated emergency contraception.

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 a tourist visiting Russia, there are no restrictions imposed based on your STI status. However, if you are applying to be long-term stay (i.e. over 3 months), and if you want a student or worker visa, you will probably be required to take some tests. If you test negative for HIV, you will be given an "HIV Certificate" that verifies that you're HIV-negative. If you test positive for HIV or TB, you may be expelled from the country. However, as reported by HIVTravel, "According to the feedback we received from a number of EU citizens, an HIV test is not required in order to apply for a work permit or a multy entry visa. We have no evidence that Russia has changed its policy. There might be a softening of requirements for citizens of specific countries."

In Russia, HIV is on the rise and inadequate sex education exacerbates the problem. The first reported HIV diagnosis in Russia (then the USSR) was in 1984, but the Soviet Union denied any diagnoses until 1987. Furthermore, the authorities denied the existence and rejected studies of at-risk groups, such as men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers and injection drug users (IDU). In the early 2000s, Russia began collaborating with the World Bank to form join projects aimed at combating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. However, "Programs implemented largely through NGOs and funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS were terminated years ago, primarily because Russia sees itself as a global power who should be donating to other countries, not the recipient of help. The Russian government wants to present Russia as a strong, global leader, so it’s apparently willing to risk a few thousand extra deaths." In 2014, in excess of 85,252 new infections were reported. Globally, one of eight new HIV infections is in Russia. Unsafe sex practices are reportedly very common in Russia, and condoms are completely rejected by many sexually-active people. Other common unsafe practices include sharing needles and using dirty needles in unofficial tattoo parlors.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Testing Facilities

• European Medical Center: "A full range of STD tests is available at our clinic, among others. We have English-speaking doctors who will do the tests and maintain confidentiality." Address: Спиридоньевский пер, дом 5; Орловский пер, дом 7, Moscow, Russia. Phone: +7 495 933-66-55.
• InVitro - Has many locations in Moscow
• Sklifosovsky Institute - "Best and fastest place in town. Entrance from prospect Mira. right in the back of the old buildings. You register, pay and after 2 h the tests are done. unfortunately lots of people, suppose that shows that they are good! have reasonable prices! and there are no hassles and questions ( i don't know what the procedure will / might be if one of the tests might be positive i.e. if the person HAS aids or a STD..)"

Support

• Federal AIDS Centre Moscow: Head: Prof W.W. Pokrowski, Phone: +7 (459) 366 0518, 365 3009
• Community of People Living with HIV: 11/22, 1st Neopalimovsky lane, Moscow, Russia, 119121, Phone/Fax: +7 (495) 246 4279, 246 7675
• AIDS Infoshare: American organization in Moscow providing support and information on HIV and AIDS (in English and Russian)
• Positive News (in Russian)

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 Russia, you can buy tampons or pads/panty-liners everywhere, especially in supermarkets. You'll be able to find tampons in bigger cities, typically a Tampax Compact (witha plastic applicator) and other brands that don't have applicators (like OB). If you're interested in menstrual cups, you won't generally find them in most stores but there are some Russian vendors. For DivaCup, contact Comfort Mama (Tel: +7 913 737 0577, Contact: Olesya Strizhova, info@comfortmama.ru). For LadyCup, check out Ekinol or Supercups.ru. For Lunette, check out the Russian Lunette website. We're not clear if MoonCup is sold in Russia. There's also a Russian menstrual cup brand called LilaCup.

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

International Clinics

• European Medical Center: Some people say that this is a great (but expensive) facility, and they highly recommend it. Other people didn't have good experiences at ECM ad feel like "they only care about money." Medical Center address: 10 2nd Tverskoi-Yamskoi Pereulok, 125047 Moscow, Phone: 787-7000, Dentistry Center address: 34 Konushkovskaya Ul., 123242, Moscow, Phone: 797-6767
• International SOS Clinic: Address: 10th Floor, Polyclinic No. 1, 31 Grokholsky Pereulok, 129010 Moscow, Phone: (7-095) 937-5760, Emergency Phone: (7-095) 937-6477, Contact: Maxine Ash, 937-5760, E-mail: mow.marketing@internationalsos.com to make an appointment or askthedoctor@internationalsos.com for free medical advice.
• American Medical Center: Open 24/7, Address: 26, build. 6, Prospekt Mira (entrance from Grokholsky Pereulok), Tel: (495) 933-77-00, Fax:(495) 933-77-01, E-mail: info@amcenter.ru
• Medsi - A large chain of private hospitals in Russia

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.