Oslo: Difference between revisions

In Norway, most forms of contraception, such as pills and IUDs, are only available with a prescription.<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, once you have a prescription, you can find many forms of contraception at pharmacies and health clinics. Additionally, condoms are widely available and require no prescription. They can be found in pharmacies, supermarkets, sex shops, kiosks and many other locations.

 

Like other Scandinavian countries, Norway is rather progressive when it comes to sexual and reproductive health. The government has donated a substantial amount of its money and resources to international efforts related to gender equality and women's health. In 2017, the revised budget proposed to further expand these efforts with an additional NOK 32 million in funding.<ref>[https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/reproductive_health/id2552780/ Government increases support for sexual and reproductive health]</ref> Furthermore, sex education remains a crucial cornerstone in daily life. For example, the state-funded educational television series, Newton, runs a sex education program, which provides frank discussion on a range of topics.<ref>[http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a40506/norwegian-sex-ed-show-teaches-kids-what-we-all-wish-wed-learned-back-then/ Norwegian Sex-Ed Show Teaches Kids What We All Wish We'd Learned Back Then]</ref>  

* In Norway, you can buy '''condoms''' at pharmacies, kiosks, vending machines, grocery stores, department stores, sex shops, perfume boutiques, hairdressers and petrol/gas stations.<ref>[https://hivnorge.no/English/Condoms HIV Norway: Condoms]</ref> You can purchase condoms from online retailers like [https://www.biovea.com/ Biovea], which sell a variety of brands, such as Trojan and Durex, and can deliver the condoms to your Norwegian address. There's also a [https://helsenorge.no/sex-og-samliv/prevensjon/kondom website] where you can order condoms online for free.

* You can find '''spermicide''' at the pharmacy/chemist and no prescription is needed.<ref>[http://introengelsk.cappelendamm.no/c35003/artikkel/vis.html?tid=35116 Contraception]</ref>

* In Norway, you can find a variety of '''birth control pill''' brands. But first, you'll need to get a prescription to access the pills. To do this, you can arrange an appointment with a General Practitioner, who will provide a basic consultation and may offer to do a pelvic exam/pap smear (though this isn't compulsory). Then, a one-year prescription for a birth control pill is usually written. Once you have a prescription, you can obtain the pills at pharmacies, health clinics or IPPF-affiliated programs. Some of the birth control pill brands you can expect see at pharmacies include Almina, Cerazette, Conludag, Desogestrel Orifarm, Marvelon, Mercilon, Microluton, Microgynon, Nordette, Oralcon, Qlaira, Synfase, Vinelle, Yasmin, Yasminelle and Yaz.<ref>[https://www.felleskatalogen.no/medisin/m Felleskatalogen - Medicines]</ref>

** Tip: "After losing our luggage by the airline, we went to the pharmacy Boots Apotek Grunerløkka, located Sofienberggata 6, 0551 Oslo, Norway. The pharmacist very kindly helped me to find the equivalence of my pill in its database and sold it to me without problem."

* You can find the '''contraceptive patch,''' like the Evra patch, in Norway, but a prescription is needed. Once you have a prescription, you can find it at the pharmacy.<ref>[http://introengelsk.cappelendamm.no/c35003/artikkel/vis.html?tid=35116 Contraception]</ref>

* You can find '''IUDs and hormonal coils''' in Norway, including Jaydess, Kyleena, Levosert and Mirena. <ref>[https://www.felleskatalogen.no/medisin/m Felleskatalogen - Medicines]</ref>

* You can find '''contraceptive implants,''' such as Nexplanon, in Norway.<ref>[http://introengelsk.cappelendamm.no/c35003/artikkel/vis.html?tid=35116 Contraception]</ref> <ref>[https://www.felleskatalogen.no/medisin/m Felleskatalogen - Medicines]</ref>

* You can find '''contraceptive rings''', such as Nuvaring, at pharmacies in Norway. <ref>[https://www.felleskatalogen.no/medisin/m Felleskatalogen - Medicines]</ref>

* The cost of '''condoms''' should be around 3-4 Norwegian kroner each. They usually come in packs of five or ten.<ref>[https://hivnorge.no/English/Condoms HIV Norway: Condoms]</ref> However, there are also ways to access free condoms online in Norway.

* As for '''contraceptive rings''', the price for a 3-piece pack of Nuvaring is 368.50 kr, as of January 2018.<ref>[https://www.felleskatalogen.no/medisin/m Felleskatalogen - Medicines]</ref>

The official guidelines for emergency contraceptive usage in Norway can be found in the [http://www.sexogsamfunn.no/klinikk-og-tilbud/for-helsepersonell/metodebok/ Metodebok: Sex og samfunn], which was revised in 2012.

* In Norway, you can obtain '''emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills)''' at family planning clinics, youth clinics, pharmacies, supermarkets, gas stations, schools and IPPF-affiliated programs. They can also be purchased online from Norwegian websites. No prescription is needed and there are no age restrictions. Some pills you can expect to see are [http://www.ellaone.com/ ellaOne], which is the longest-lasting EC that is currently available (as of January 2018). It lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. You also may find Levonelle 1500 or NorLevo 1.5mg. You may also find Postinor<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/ Princeton EC Website]</ref> For updated instructions on how to take these pills, click [http://ec.princeton.edu/worldwide/default.asp#brand here].

The cost of ECPs are not reimbursed by the National Insurance Scheme. However, ECPs are always free for rape victims. They are also often delivered free of charge to young people at youth clinics or to vulnerable populations at public health centers. Generally, for LNG type of pills (like Levonelle 1500, NorLevo and Postinor), you can expect to pay around €26,50, as of 2013. For UPA type of emergency contraceptive pills (like ellaOne), you can expect to pay around € 39, as of 2013.<ref>[http://www.ec-ec.org/emergency-contraception-in-europe/country-by-country-information-2/norway/ ECEC: Norway]</ref> <ref>[http://www.cecinfo.org/country-by-country-information/status-availability-database/countries/norway/ EC Status and Availability: Norway]</ref>

In Norway, there are no legal restrictions related to people with HIV/AIDS. This means that, if you're not Norwegian, you can legally visit the country, regardless of your HIV status. You will not be asked for your medical records or information about your HIV status upon entry into the country. It's important to note that, if you want to stay in the country for more than three months, you will probably be offered the option to take a tuberculosis test and an HIV test. However, you can decide to stay in Norway for an extended period of time and apply for residency, regardless of HIV status. Furthermore, if you're a foreigner who is found to be HIV positive, you will not be penalized or deported based on your HIV status. You can also import antiretroviral medications for personal use.<ref>[http://hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=137 NORWAY - REGULATIONS ON ENTRY, STAY AND RESIDENCE FOR PLHIV]</ref>  

* You can find a variety of '''menstrual cups''' in Norway, either in physical stores or online. You can buy RubyCup at Chillout Travel Centre in Oslo (Address: Markveien 55, 0554 Oslo. Tel: 22 35 42 00; Email: post@chillout.no), Chillout Travel Centre in Bergen (Address: Torggaten 11, 5014 Bergen; Tel: 55 23 30 00; email: post@chillout.noor) or Jordnært (Address: Storgata 61, 2609 Lillehammer, Norway; email: post@jordnart.no). You can find Organicup sold at Mølleren Sylvia (Address: Hegdehaugsveien 14B, Oslo, Norway). You can find online retailers of LadyCup that cater to Norwegian customers, such as [https://menskopp.ladycup.eu/ LadyCup Norway], [https://www.fertil.no/ Fertil.no] and [https://www.komplettapotek.no/ Komplett Apotek]. Menstrual cups are also available to order from [https://www.menskopp.se/ Menskopp]. They offer free shipping worldwide. Menstrual cups are also available for comparison at [https://www.minmenskopp.se/databas minmenskopp.se database]. The database contains over 150 different menstrual cups.

Norwegian abortion laws fall under the The Act Relating to the Termination of Pregnancy of 1975. This was followed by revisions to the law in 1978 that allowed a woman to decide on her own to terminate the pregnancy.