Birth control in France
There are many types of contraceptive methods available in France.
History and important dates
The legalization of birth control occurred in France in 1967, with the commercialization of the contraceptive pill.[1] The Neuwirth Law legalized the free prescription of the contraceptive pill.[1]
In 1973 the Movement for the Freedom of Abortion and Contraception (MLAC) was created.[1] Then, in 1974 the pill is reimbursed by the social security system in France.
In 1999 he morning-after pill (or emergency contraception pill) is available in pharmacies without prescription. And two years later in 2001, the law of the Aubry law by the Parliament on abortion in France and contraception was finally adopted.[2] The statutory period for abortion is fixed to 12 weeks and not only 10. Minors can be accompanied by an adult of their choice to obtain an abortion.
Laws and Policies
In France, you need a prescription to obtain hormonal birth control. According to some accounts,[who?] French pharmacies accept foreign prescriptions.
- December 2015 : With the Health Act[3] law by Marisol Tourraine, no questions will be asked and the potentially abortive “emergency contraceptive,” heavily laced with hormones, will be administered by school nurses, regardless of the “state of emergency” or “distress” of the young girl. [4]
- October 26, 2017 : A bill[which?] extends free contraception to all minors aged 15 to 18. The goal of putting greater free access to contraception in place is to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, and thus the number of abortions, in France.[5]
- French law on modernization of the health system: Young girls will unconditionally be able to obtain morning after pills in secondary school infirmaries without parental consent or notification.[4]
Different means of contraception in France
In France, there are various means of contraception.
The pill is the most famous and the most used mean of contraception in France. There are different pills. It is necessary to see her gynecologist to have the prescription and to see which pill is more suitable. If it is the more used mean of contraception, it is also important to notice that, in France, less and less women use the pill. [6] This is due to the debate related to the risks of 3rd and 4th generation pills[7], and also to the development of alternative and less restrictive contraceptions.
The contraceptive implant is a little stick put in place under the skin. The implant contains the same hormones as contraceptive pills. These hormones are diffused directly into the blood and suppresses ovulation. The advantages of this kind of contraception are that it is easy to put in place, efficient and discreet. It is possible to keep the same implant for 3 years. In France, it is possible to find contraceptive implants since 2001. [8] The implant can be bought in pharmacies, costs 106.76 euros and is reimbursed up to 65% by the Social Security. Implant, pose and removal are free for women under 18 years old in the planning centers of public hospitals.
The patch can be used for 4 consecutive weeks and should be applied on the stomach, on the shoulders or in the lower back. It should never be applied near a breast. A box of patches can be bought in pharmacies with prescription, costs around 15 euros but it is not reimbursed by the Social Security.[9]
Condoms are also used in France. There are two kinds of condoms : male and female. It is easy to find male condoms in France: in pharmacies, in convenience stores, in café/tobacco shops, or automatic machines.[10]
Spermicides are substances, in the form of gel or eggs inserted in the vagina, which inactivate or destroy the spermatozoa. In France, spermicides are available without prescription but they are not reimbursed by the Social Security. [11]
You can also find intrauterine device (IUD) : There are copper IUD or hormonal IUD. The insertion of an IUD is done by a gynecologist or a midwife. The intrauterine Device (IUD) must first be prescribed by a doctor or midwife. It is necessary to have a prescription to get it. The price depends on the type of IUD: for the copper IUD, it is around 30€ and for the hormonal IUD, it costs 125,15€. Both are reimbursed up to 65% by the Social Security.[12]
Injectable contraceptive is a synthetic progestin (medroxyprogesterone) is injected intramuscularly every three months. During 12 weeks, the product is active. Every dose costs 3,44€ and it is reiumbursed up to 65% by the Social Security.[13]
Diaphragm is generally in latex or silicone, it slides into the vagina, in contact with the cervix, to prevent the passage of sperm to the inside of the uterus. It can be set up in advance and it is reusable.[14]
Vaginal ring is a flexible porous plastic ring that contains a combination of estrogen and progestin. The advantage compared to the pill is not to forget it. It costs 16€ and is available in pharmacies with prescription, but it is not reiumbursed by the Social Security. [15]
Sterilization can be a female (tubal ligation) or a male sterilization (vasectomy). It is definitive. The intervention can be only operated after a reflection period of 4 months after the first consultation.
Natural methods are another mean of contraception, without hormon: Ogino method, temperatures method, Billings method, withdrawal.
You also have two kinds of emergency contraception. The morning after pill must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex and is available in pharmacies. The intrauterine device (IUD) be also used as an emergency contraception which can be used up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse to prevent pregnancy.
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A brand of birth control Pills in France -
Plate of birth control pills -
Vaginal Ring -
Patch -
Cream and Eggs Spermicides
References
- ^ a b c Catherine, De Guibert-Lantoine,; Henri, Leridon, (10 May 1999). "Contraception in France: An Assessment After 30 Years of Liberalization (Population, 4, 1998)". Population. 11 (1).
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Allwood, G.; Wadia, K. (2009-08-21). Gender and Policy in France. Springer. ISBN 9780230244382.
- ^ "The guidelines of the Health Act". Gouvernement.fr. 19 June 2014.
- ^ a b "France passes law expanding abortion, contraception, and imposing presumed consent for organ donation".
- ^ "France: Payment for Abortions and for Contraceptives for Minors - Global Legal Monitor". www.loc.gov. 7 November 2012.
- ^ "Less and less French women use the pill". Europe 1.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Pilules de 3ème et 4ème générations (contraceptifs oraux combinés) 3rd and 4th generation pills (in English)".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help); line feed character in|title=at position 67 (help) - ^ "The first contraceptive implant in France". 2001.
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