Taiwan: Difference between revisions

In Taiwan, you will find a rather progressive cultural climate with many health care options. You can purchase birth control pills without a prescription at pharmacies. While you need a prescription for emergency contraception (the morning after pill), you can use regular birth control as replacement ECPs. For more information on how to do this, you can visit the "Emergency Contraception (The Morning After Pill)" below. Regarding STIs, there are no travel restrictions related HIV status, and if you're a foreigner who tests HIV-positive, you will not be deported from Taiwan. If you are interested in getting an STI test, we have also found some recommended and LGBTQ-friendly testing services. You can find pads and tampons in Taiwan, although pads are generally more common than tampons. If you would like to buy a menstrual cup, the product is generally new to Taiwan, however some brands are either forming in Taiwan or shipping to Taiwan. Abortion is legal in some cases, as detailed in the "Abortion" section below. The "abortion pill" is available in Taiwan upon prescription (if one qualifies for the medication).

 

 

Taiwanese people are understanding and strongly respect other people's privacy. There are low stigmas, as your health and way of life is your thing alone. For example, LGBT issues are not very polarizing in Taiwan and the LGBT community is making peaceful progress as awareness grows. The respect of social peace is expected from everyone at a level close to Japanese standards. Also, noise, drunkenness and aggressive behavior are deeply despised. It is known to be a very safe place for women.

 

===Cost===

 

===Short stays===

 

Costs are low and service is good compared to western economies. Due to the low Doctors-for-population rate, most consultations are really speedy, about 2-5 minutes, for physicians as for specialists.

 

In Taiwan, you can obtain birth control pills without a prescription.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraception Availability]</ref>

* In Taiwan, you can purchase '''birth control pills''' at pharmacies without a prescription. The pills typically come from major US and German pharmaceutical companies, like Bayer, Merck and Pfizer. Some brands you can expect to see are Diane, Duoluton, Gynera, Logynon, Marvelon, Meliane, Mercilon, Microgynon-30, Minigynon 30, Minulet, Nordette, Ortho Novum 1/50, Trinordiol, Trinovum, Yazmin and Yaz.<ref name=ippf>[http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=TW IPPF Taiwan]</ref>

* If you want '''condoms''', you can find them in convenience stores, drug stores and supermarkets. Widths (documented on the packaging) from ~52mm (most brands) to 56mm (for example some Durex brand types) are available. You can also purchase them online, such as through [https://www.caretobeauty.com/tw/condoms/ this company].

* If you want a '''contraceptive shot/injectable''', you can find Depo-Provera SAS 150mg/ml in Taiwan.<ref name="ippf" />

* If you want a '''contraceptive injectable''', you can find Norplant in Taiwan.<ref name="ippf" />

* If you want an '''IUD''', you can find Mirena in Taiwan.<ref name="ippf" />

* In Taiwan, you can purchase emergency contraception (the morning after pill) at pharmacies with a prescription. You can find ella (take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex). You can also find Escapelle or NorLevo 1.5mg (take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex) or Postinor-2 (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex).<ref name=princeton>[http://ec.princeton.edu/ Princeton EC Website]</ref>

** Take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later: Duoluton, Neovlar, Nordiol, Primovlar<ref name="princeton" />

** Take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later: Minigynon 30, Nordette<ref name="princeton" />

** Take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later: Loette<ref name="princeton" />

* Rainbow Queer Health Culture Center: 9F.-4, No.70, Sec. 2, Roosevelt Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan (R.O.C.) 02-23920010

* [http://www.taiwanaids.org.tw/ Taiwan AIDS Foundation]: This is an LGBTQ-friendly clinic that offers HIV tests, as well as potentially more STI tests. Address: 8F., No.410, Nanjing W. Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City 103 02-25592059

 

* [http://www.cdc.gov.tw/english/info.aspx?treeid=e79c7a9e1e9b1cdf&nowtreeid=e02c24f0dacdd729&tid=7D01A79F5FD3B63D Center for Disease Control - HIV/AIDS Info, Taiwan]

* If you have a '''yeast infection''', you can ask the pharmacist for Fluconazole. The pharmacist should be able to give you Fluconazole or medication that is similar (which may be Flucon in Taiwan).<ref>[https://www.drugs.com/international/fluconazole.html Fluconazole - International]</ref>

* The '''HPV vaccine''' is available in Taiwan. However, it's unclear if the government has an official vaccination program that it subsidizes. As of 2015, it was not yet subsidized by the government,<ref>[http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201503040027.aspx Experts call for free HPV vaccines for girls]</ref> and was available at National Taiwan University, for example, for TWD 2394.<ref>[http://shmc.osa.ntu.edu.tw/en/policlinic/policlinic4 Vaccination Service]</ref>

* You can find '''Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)''' in Taiwan, but you may need to pay out-of-pocket to access it. You should contact your local health provider for details.

* There is a national '''Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)''' project, which is sponsored by the Taiwanese CDC, and there are an estimated 300 people who are using PrEP in Taiwan, as of 2018. Gilead’s Truvada (TDF/FTC) is approved for prevention, but generic versions of TDF/FTC are not approved for prevention.<ref>[https://www.prepwatch.org/taiwan/ PrEPWatch - Taiwan]</ref> You can read the [https://www.cdc.gov.tw/professional/info.aspx?treeid=7b56e6f932b49b90&nowtreeid=692bcc8b4de949f3&tid=40BCC037DF6290EA National Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Guidelines (2016)] (in Mandarin) for more details.

* You can find '''pads and tampons''' in Taiwan. While pads are especially common, you can find tampons sold in international chain stores like Watson's, FamilyMart and 7-11.<ref>[http://www.reachtoteachrecruiting.com/guide-to-taiwan-before-you-go.html Guide to Taiwan - Before You Go]</ref> You may be more likely to find tampons without applicators (like OB) than tampons with applicators.<ref>[http://www.taiwanho.com/what-to-bring-to-taiwan/ What To Bring to Taiwan]</ref> However, locals report that you can now find a greater variety of tampons, including brands from South Korea and Japan, in Taiwanese stores. Click [http://amateurvagrant.com/2016/08/tampons-in-taiwan/ here] for a August 2016 blog post about tampon options in Taiwan

Abortion has been legal in Taiwan since 1985. Abortion is legal for medical and psychological reasons, rape or incest, "seduction" (which includes but is not limited to statutory rape), and to prevent psychological issues of a parent from being passed on to a child. Abortion is not a right for all women. Unmarried women under the age of 20 need parental permission to terminate a pregnancy. A married woman of any age needs permission from her husband. A woman labeled as mentally handicapped needs permission from her guardian. Although abortion is not available on request in Taiwan, some doctors do not ask for proof that you meet the criteria for abortion. Furthermore, the definition of "seduction" or psychological distress is vague and easily applied to many circumstances. <ref>[https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/taiwan/healthcare/pregnancy-birth/termination-abortion] Termination of Pregnancy and Abortion in Taiwan</ref>

Misoprostol and Mifepristone (the "abortion pill") are available on prescription.<ref name=womenonwaves>[https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/4283/taiwan Women on Waves Country Map]</ref>

* Mifepristone is registered as Apano. Misoprostol is avalable as u-miso in Taiwan.<ref name="womenonwaves" />

* Zhongshan Hospital - Dr. Jean Chang (Chang Pei Lin) and Dr. Bernice Chen (Chen Ming Jer) have been recommended as resources to contact for info.<ref name="womenonwaves" />

|keywords=taiwan, birth control, emergency contraception, morning after pill, std test, sti test, hiv, treatment, medications, pharmacies, abortion, clinic, tampons, women's health, lgbt, lgbtq, sexual health, sexual rights, reproductive health, reproductive rights