Rome/en: Difference between revisions

In Rome, you will find many health care resources. You need a prescription to obtain birth control pills, but you can find condoms with no prescription required. Emergency contraception (the morning after pill) is available for purchase without a prescription (since 2015), which is a positive update after years of required prescriptions. You can get an STD/STI test at one of the many clinics in the city, and there are some nationwide support networks. Maternity leave of five months is required for all pregnant women who are employed. Abortion is legal during the first 90 days of gestation, and it's free for Italian citizens. Foreigners will need to pay for an abortion procedure. There are many health care professionals who do not provide abortions due to their moral or religious beliefs so, if you need an abortion, it is imperative to secure a physician who is willing to perform the procedure.  

==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  [https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control here].

In Italy, you need a prescription for hormonal birth control, like birth control pills or shots. You don't need a prescription for condoms. According to a 2015 study, 65.3% of Italian women (of reproductive age) used a contraceptive method, and 48.9% of Italian women used a modern method. It was estimated that 11.4% had unmet family planning needs <ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref>

===What to get and where to find it===

* To see a comprehensive list of contraception options in Italy, click [http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=IT here].

* Once you have a prescription for '''birth control pills''', you can them at local pharmacies ("farmacia" in Italian). There are over 20 brands registered in Italy. Some brands you can expect to see are Novogyn 21, Microgynon, Ovranet, Loette and Miranova. To see a full list, click click [http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=IT here].

* Nuvaring (the '''contraceptive ring''') is available in Italy. In 2009, it cost around 13 euro. We'll need to update with a more recent rate.

* You can get '''condoms''' ("(preservativi") at grocery stores and pharmacies. There are also [http://italianintrigues.blogspot.com/2012/01/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html condom vending machines], which can often be found outside of pharmacies.

* If you want a '''contraceptive injectable/shot''', you can get Depo-Provera in Italy.<ref>[http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=IT IPPF Italy]</ref>

* If you want an '''IUD''', you can get Mirena in Italy.<ref>[http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=IT IPPF Italy]</ref>

Some birth control pill brands are around 13 euro per month.

==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 [https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/morning-after-pill-emergency-contraception here] and [http://ec.princeton.edu/info/ecp.html here].

In Italy, you can purchase two emergency contraceptive types (morning after pills) without a prescription. LNG EC (like Escapelle and NorLevo 1.5mg) and UPA EC (like ellaOne) are now available over-the-counter from pharmacies for women who are 18 years of age or older. If you want LNG EC, you must get it from a physician (not a pharmacist). If you want UPA EC, you must go to a pharmacy and specifically ask the pharmacy clerk for it, since it's not on the shelves. Also, if you're under 18 years old, you'll still need a prescription to purchase them. However, for all other EC brands, you do need a prescription. <ref>[http://www.ec-ec.org/emergency-contraception-in-europe/country-by-country-information-2/italy/#pub1 European Consortium for Emergency Contraception - Italy]</ref>  

This is a major improvement over past Italian laws, when all EC required a prescription. This caused much distress for women in the past, and you can read a personal account a foreign student's difficulties trying to access EC in the past [http://www.xojane.com/it-happened-to-me/i-was-refused-emergency-contraception-in-italy here]. Fortunately, since April 2015, UPA EC has been available over-the-counter, and since October 2015, LNG EC has been available over-the-counter.

===What to get & Where to Get It ===

* In Italy, you can purchase emergency contraception/the morning after pill ("pillola del giorno dopo" in Italian) at pharmacies. For many brands, you no longer need a prescription, which is a new update as of 2015. Some brands you can expect to see are ellaOne (this is an anti-progestin pill, and it's considered the most effective but it's a bit more expensive). There's also some progestin-only brands (which are cheaper but usually not effective after 3 days), such as Lonel, NorLevo 1.5mg, Unlevo 1500 and Levonelle. For all of these brands, you should take the pill as soon as possible after unprotected sex in order to prevent pregnancy. For more details about accessing these pills with or without prescriptions, see the section above ("Laws & Social Stigmas").

* If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception, you can use birth control pills as replacement EC. Remember that, in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used. You can take Novogyn 21 (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). You can also take Microgynon or Ovranet (for both of these brands, take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later). There's also Loette and Miranova (for both of these brands, take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later).

Note: "RU-486 (Mifegyne) is a pill used under medical supervision in a hospital that terminates a pregnancy within 49 days after implantation of the fertilised egg. It is legal in Italy however some regional governments have opposed the use and therefore the drug may not be readily accessible in all localities."<ref>[https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/italy/healthcare/pregnancy-birth/termination-abortion Termination of Pregnancy and Abortion in Italy]</ref>

===Costs===

If you want an LNG type of birth control (like Escapalle or Norlevo), you can get it for around € 13,10. If you want UPA EC (like ellaOne0, you can get it for around € 26,90.

==Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)==

* "If you want to know where the Roman women go to deliver children, I can say that traditionally, there are two places and equipes considered the best in town for giving birth. # 1 The hospital of [http://www.fatebenefratelli-isolatiberina.it/It/MaternitaLibrettoInformativoDipartimentale FatebeneFratelli] on the Isola Tiberina. They work jointly with # 2 Clinica Santa Famiglia, a small clinic in via dei Gracchi where you can be addressed if you want a little more privacy and ready to spend some money. Both are working for NHS and the best obstetrician and gynecologists work there. What kind of expat are you? if you are extraeuropean you may need an insurance. If you are from UK, you don't (yet)."