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Contraception

One of our main priorities is to ensure universal access to, and informed use of effective contraception. Millions of people lack the knowledge and information to determine when or whether they have children, and they are unable to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Articles by Contraception

cover page
07 January 2016

Access to Modern Contraceptive Choice in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

The factsheet presents data and trends in the use of contraceptives in Eastern Europe and Central Asian (EECA), highlighting major factors influencing contraceptive behaviour, demand and access. It explains what role donors can play to enable women in EECA to access modern contraceptive methods. 

EU Countries Failing On Commitments To Women’s Contraceptive Needs
22 September 2015

EU Countries Failing On Commitments To Women’s Contraceptive Needs

Brussels, 22 September 2015 - for immediate release **Latest Barometer figures show EU Member States are still failing to meet their commitments to women’s modern contraceptive needs as situation stagnates or worsens at unacceptably low levels** A Barometer of Women’s Access to Modern Contraceptive Choice in 16 European Union (EU) member states, highlights a worrying trend that EU countries are yet again failing in their commitments to improve equitable access to modern contraceptive needs. Significantly, the research shows that very few policies have improved since 2013, and alarmingly in most countries, the situation has stagnated, or even worsened, over the past few years. The findings pinpoint an erosion of human rights, and the urgent need to re-establish reproductive health as a priority policy on the European and national agendas. IPPF EN calls on decision-makers at all levels to support the implementation of a comprehensive approach to contraceptive choice in Europe within a broader sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) agenda. A comprehensive SRHR policy is fundamental to ensuring the wellbeing of all women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable, and is a crucial precondition to allowing women and couples the freedom to choose parenthood or not. It is a competence of member states to formulate and implement SRHR policies at a national level. Yet, when it comes to public health and non-discrimination, the EU can and should exercise policy-making, foster research and the exchange of best practices, as well as better supporting the implementation of SRHR at national level. Therefore, we call for a structured dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders at EU and national levels and urge the EU to make a greater investment in SRHR research and data collection. This is critical to empowering women in their personal, social and professional lives. Sophie in‘t Veld MEP (Netherlands, ALDE) strongly supported the IPPF EN report. She said that: “The inequalities identified in the Barometer are very disturbing, and not in line with the aim of equal access to health care throughout the EU. Such differences in rights and access would not be tolerated in any other area of health care. It underlines the importance of including SRHR in the Commission’s new EU Health Strategy. The EU should be committed to supporting a European and a human rights approach on SRHR in order to guarantee access to information, prevention services and intervention for all, thereby reducing inequalities across the EU.” She continued by saying: “The Commission has ignored our calls to include SRHR in EU health policies as it did before 2012, strengthening the exchange of best practices and funding research on sexual and reproductive health, claiming it is an exclusive member state competence. However there is no reason why SRHR should be treated differently from other areas of health. The Commission should stop applying double standards. SRHR are high on the EU's international development agenda, but are taboo within the European borders.  We have to continue to fight for change – so that the right to access to modern contraceptives will be an integral part of the EU health strategy." IPPF EN believes that by increasing transparency by showing the EU countries with a poor performance, the report can contribute towards positive change. Its recommendations include: developing integrated and comprehensive national SRHR policy frameworks that would increase access to modern comprehensive contraceptive choice; strengthening comprehensive sexuality education in schools; and increasing awareness-raising campaigns including information on the full range of modern contraceptive methods. The Barometer highlights that women’s access to modern contraceptives varies significantly from one EU country to the next. Encouraging developments include some limited examples of improved sexuality education policies, more generous reimbursement schemes for contraceptives in France and improved medical guidelines on contraceptive service delivery in Poland and Sweden. But overall, these are overshadowed by growing obstacles to women getting the contraception they need. Access in countries such as The Netherlands that have a relatively strong track record is under threat from austerity measures and financial constraints. Meanwhile, in several countries where access is already more problematic, political and economic instability and lack of funding have prevented progress. Malin Björk MEP (Sweden, GUE/NGL) also backed the report, saying that: “Access to safe and modern contraception for women and girls is fundamental for deciding over one’s body and sexuality. Together with access to all sexual and reproductive health services and sexuality education, it is the very basis of SRHR and gender equality. In Europe today it seems to me that one of the big challenges is the issue of financing. To ensure that all women have access to contraception without discrimination, we need to ensure increased public financing and prioritising of SRHR more generally.” Marie Arena (MEP Belgium S&D) stressed that: ‘the control of one's fertility, alike the acquisition of economic, social and political rights equal to those of a man, enables a woman to have full citizenship status. Contraception also allows for affective and sexual relationships which are responsible, fulfilling and free (of constraint). Contraception must be financially and mentally accessible to all women without discrimination of any kind". Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (MEP, EPP) "I am committed to improve access to sexual health and reproductive rights for women and girls everywhere, as a key to women empowerment and free choice. We have to overcome the many differences in the Member States identified by the IPPF barometer and address the main challenges regarding access to information and services. We as policy makers at EU level, have to raise awareness and join forces to combat discrimination and share best practices in order to improve access for all women and girls in Europe to safe and modern contraception methods".                                                              ***ENDS***   For more information, please contact:  Irene Donadio, IPPF EN: +32 (0)2 250 09 50, [email protected] or Sophie in‘t Veld MEP: +32 (0)2 284 57 96, [email protected] NOTES TO EDITORS: The Barometer provides a comparative policy and status overview on women’s access to modern contraceptive  choice across the following 16 EU member states: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden. The report’s findings are based on information about the national policy landscapes provided by national experts in each of the 16 countries, using a series of policy benchmarks that are key to ensuring access to modern contraceptives. The information was collected, analysed and reviewed between May and November 2014. The report is endorsed by the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESC) and International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH). About IPPF EN: The International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network is one of the six regions of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, an international NGO which was founded in 1952 and is the strongest global voice safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for people everywhere. IPPF EN includes 39 membership-based national associations throughout Europe and Central Asia, as well as a Regional Office in Brussels.

bank-phrom-Tzm3Oyu_6sk-unsplash-min_4.jpg
24 March 2015

New IPPF EN report on EU contraceptive access: gaps are unacceptable, say MEPs

Press release A new ‘Barometer’ report launched by IPPF EN on 24 March analyses how easily women in 16 EU countries can access modern contraceptives. It reveals that overall the situation in most countries has stagnated or worsened in recent years. IPPF EN calls on decision-makers at all levels to implement a comprehensive approach to contraceptive choice in Europe as a crucial precondition to ensuring the wellbeing of women and adolescent girls. The Barometer highlights that women’s access to modern contraceptives varies significantly from one EU country to the next. Encouraging developments include some limited examples of improved sexuality education policies, more generous reimbursement schemes for contraceptives in France and improved medical guidelines on contraceptive service delivery in Poland and Sweden. But overall, these are overshadowed by growing obstacles to women getting the contraception they need. Access in countries such as The Netherlands that have a relatively strong track record is under threat from austerity measures and financial constraints. Meanwhile, in several countries where access is already more problematic, political and economic instability and lack of funding have prevented progress. Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP (Netherlands, ALDE) strongly supported the IPPF EN report. She said that: “The inequalities identified in the Barometer are unacceptable, and underline that it is time the EU included sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in its public health policies. We have set harmonised standards for medicine, but we have not set standards for something as basic and important as access to contraceptives. Reproductive health must be taken out of the area of morality, and brought into the area of public health.” The Barometer confirms that it is crucial to establish reproductive health as a long-term policy priority on the EU and national agendas in order to empower women in their personal, social and professional lives. IPPF EN believes that by increasing transparency and naming and shaming the EU countries with a poor performance, the report can contribute towards positive change. Its recommendations include: developing integrated and comprehensive national SRHR policy frameworks that would increase access to modern comprehensive contraceptive choice; strengthening comprehensive sexuality education in schools; and increasing awareness-raising campaigns including information on the full range of modern contraceptive methods. Malin Björk MEP (Sweden, GUE/NGL) also backed the report, saying that: “Access to safe and modern contraception for women and girls is fundamental for deciding over one’s body and sexuality. Together with abortion rights and sexuality education, it is the very basis of SRHR and gender equality. In Europe today it seems to me that one of the big challenges is the issue of financing. To ensure that all women have access to contraception without discrimination, we need to ensure increased public financing and prioritising of SRHR more generally.” Vicky Claeys, Regional Director of IPPF EN, added:  “IPPF has committed globally to engaging with the pharmaceutical industry, including generic manufacturers, to demand affordable pricing strategies for contraceptives. IPPF EN believes that government funding should prioritise the affordability of contraceptives for vulnerable populations, and include a broad range of modern contraceptive methods in the government essential drug list and insurance coverage, again prioritising vulnerable groups.” She also stressed that: “There is a major gap in research and data collection in Europe on SRHR, including access to modern contraception. This hampers evidence-based policy making that could improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls. We strongly urge EU decision-makers to boost investment in research and data collection.” In response to the gaps highlighted by the Barometer, Sophie in ‘t Veld today addressed three Parliamentary questions to the European Commission, calling on it to clarify its position regarding the fundamental importance of contraceptive access in the EU, and explain what action it plans to take to ensure access for women in all Member States (see full EP questions in notes below). The fundamental importance of access to contraception was reaffirmed earlier this month by a European Parliament report on gender equality drafted by MEP Marc Tarabella. This stated that women in the EU must have control over their SRHR, including access to contraception.   *** For more information, please contact:  Irene Donadio, IPPF EN: +32 (0)2 250 09 50, [email protected]  Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP: +32 (0)2 284 57 96, [email protected] ***   Notes to the editor:   - Link to Barometer report: http://www.ippfen.org/resources/barometer-2015-womens-access-modern-contraceptive-choice   - The EU countries covered by the report are: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, and Sweden. Information on participating national partners can be found in the report.   - The report’s findings are based on information about the national policy landscapes provided by national experts in each of the 16 countries, using a series of policy benchmarks that are key to ensuring access to modern contraceptives. The information was collected, analysed and reviewed between May and November 2014.   - The report is endorsed by the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESC) and International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH).   - Written questions to the Commission tabled by Sophie in ‘t Veld on 24 March 2015: “Access to Modern Contraceptives.  The 2015 Barometer report illustrates a stagnating or declining number of women and adolescent girls having access to modern contraceptives. The Barometer also highlights significant variance between Member States in women’s access to modern contraceptives.  1. Does the Commission consider access to modern contraceptives is a pre-condition for women’s independence and ability to fully and freely participate in all sectors of society? 2. Does the Commission agree that access to modern contraceptives for women is therefore essential for the implementation of Article 3 TEU on the promotion of gender equality, but also for the achievement of the goals of EU2020 and the strategy for gender equality? 3. What action has the Commission taken and does it intend to take to ensure that women in all EU Member States have full and equal access to safe and modern contraceptives?"   - EP resolution of 10 March 2015 on progress on equality between women and men in the EU in 2013, drafted by Marc Tarabella: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2015-0050   - About IPPF EN: The International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network is one of the six regions of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, an international NGO which was founded in 1952 and is the strongest global voice safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for people everywhere. IPPF EN includes 39 membership-based national associations throughout Europe and Central Asia, as well as a Regional Office in Brussels.

Barometer cover picture contraceptive access
15 January 2015

Women's access to modern contraceptive choice - Barometer 2015

A ‘Barometer’ report launched by IPPF EN in 2015 analyses how easily women in 16 EU countries can access modern contraceptives. It finds that overall, the situation in most countries has stagnated or worsened in recent years. The EU countries covered by the report are: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, and Sweden. Information on participating national partners can be found in the report. The report’s findings are based on information about the national policy landscapes provided by national experts in each of the 16 countries, using a series of policy benchmarks that are key to ensuring access to modern contraceptives. The information was collected, analysed and reviewed between May and November 2014. The report is endorsed by the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESC) and International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH).

Barometer call to action
10 January 2015

Call to Action: Women's access to modern contraceptive choice - Barometer 2015

We call on national decision-makers to support the implementation of a comprehensive approach to contraceptive choice in the 16 countries within a broader sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda. This is fundamental to ensuring the wellbeing of all women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable and is a crucial precondition to allowing women and couples the freedom to choose parenthood or not. It is a competence of EU Member States to formulate and implement SRHR policies at a national level. Yet when it comes to public health and non-discrimination, the EU can exercise policy-making, foster research and the exchange of best practices, and better support the implementation of SRHR at national level. Therefore, the Barometer partners call for a structured dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders at EU and national levels. Additionally, we urge the EU to make a greater investment in SRHR research and data collection.  

This World Contraception Day, we highlight the worrying situation in Romania, where the political climate as well as the loss of development funding since the country joined the EU has created a serious obstacle to access to contraception.
26 September 2014

World Contraception Day 2014 – Why girls’ futures are at stake in Romania

This World Contraception Day, we highlight the worrying situation in Romania, where the political climate as well as the loss of development funding since the country joined the EU has created a serious obstacle to access to contraception. The impact on young girls, particularly from vulnerable groups such as the Roma community, is very damaging. Borbala Koo, Executive Director of the Societatea de Educatie Contraceptiva si Sexuala (SECS), IPPF’s Romanian Member Association, explains:   “For more than a decade, unintended pregnancies in Romania have significantly affected young people. More than 11% of deliveries in the country are by girls below 20 years of age. Of these, the number of girls giving birth at below 15 years of age is rising, from 551 in 2006 to 748 in 2011. 30 of these very young girls gave birth to their second child in 2011. SECS works to mobilise civil society organizations to join its advocacy efforts aiming to persuade the government to design coherent strategies and interventions to tackle this issue.      Sexuality education is provided very unevenly across the country, partly due to religion sensitivities. Meanwhile, general awareness campaigns about SRHR do not exist, and there is no training for teachers and healthcare professionals who are so key to improving access to contraceptive choice and reducing the number of unintended pregnancies. All modern contraceptive methods are available across the country to a certain extent. But there is currently no reimbursement for contraceptives, and while in the past some kinds were available free of charge to vulnerable groups (e.g. students, unemployed people, those living in rural areas and people with limited financial resources), this is no longer the case. In any case, these efforts to increase access were hampered by small budgets leading to limited stocks. The result is that in recent years, more than 17,000 women with three or more children have given birth to another one, and around 2000 women have had their eighth, ninth or tenth child. SRHR policies tackling unintended pregnancies, particularly among the very young and vulnerable groups, are urgently needed.    This situation is all the more frustrating given that a progressive and human-rights based SRHR strategy was drafted between 2009 and 2011 as part of a collaborative effort between NGOs, WHO, UNFPA and the Romanian Ministry of Health. This included access to family planning services and contraception, education, and awareness of modern contraceptive methods. It contained a particular emphasis on vulnerable groups, with special attention to rural communities and the inclusion of community nurses and Roma health mediators among professionals delivering FP services.   Sadly, as a result of political instability and lack of commitment, the strategy was never endorsed and is now becoming out of date.  In the meantime, the political climate has become less favourable to SRHR, and the Health Ministry has stopped truly consulting NGOs in policy formulation. This is partly due to the powerful influence of religious groups. In all, we fear that the progressive and human rights-based elements of the previous strategy may be written out of any future policy, which will be very damaging for young women, and particularly vulnerable groups, in Romania.    We call urgently upon our government to put an end to this regressive slide backwards and ensure sufficient resources to increase accessibility for all young women. It is essential that Romania implement a new SRHR strategy as soon as possible.”   Photo: IPPF/Graeme Robertson

How social norms stand in the way of girls' contraceptive choices in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
06 October 2014

How social norms stand in the way of girls' contraceptive choices in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Zofia, 15, is Bulgarian. She plans to finish her studies before looking for a job. She’s in a steady relationship and wants to avoid getting pregnant. Her family doctor told her that hormonal contraceptives were dangerous and threatened to tell her parents that she had a boyfriend. She could probably buy condoms in a nearby town, but knows that people would talk. In any case, her boyfriend gets angry if she talks about contraception, and insists that as long as he withdraws when they have sex, there’s no risk. By Lene Stavngaard, IPPF EN Regional President and Vice Chair of IPPF's Danish Member Association, Sex og Samfund In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the use of modern contraceptives is alarmingly low. The “art” of withdrawal is seen as a sign of virility and as the man’s responsibility. A study by UNFPA in 2012 showed that in several middle-income countries in the region, usage was below 28%, which is the average in the world’s poorest countries. One of the reasons for this is that social norms make it difficult, if not impossible, for girls to find out about, and get hold of, reliable contraception. Macho culture means that men will often refuse to use condoms and prohibit their partners from using other modern contraceptives, so that a ‘good’ method is one that can be used without a man’s knowledge. For young people in particular, a lack of confidential, youth-friendly services is a true obstacle to accessing modern contraceptives. In 2012, research led by IPPF EN in Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, TFYR of Macedonia, Serbia, Kazahkstan and Azerbaijan confirmed that social norms contribute to the very low use of modern contraception, even when this is available and relatively affordable. Conservatism makes it impossible to talk about anything related to sex or sexuality, and prescribed gender roles and tradition also limit contraceptive use. For example, in Armenia a young bride is expected to be a virgin and to become pregnant soon after marriage. If she does not have a child within a reasonable time period, her husband may seek a divorce. There are many reasons why people don’t use modern contraception, including misinformation that is often based on myths about hormones, as well as poor counselling, high costs and lack of choice. But social norms are pervasive and play a key role in influencing contraceptive choices that increase the vulnerability of women and girls. How then can Eastern European and Central Asian countries overcome these obstacles and empower women and girls? IPPF EN believes decision-makers need to make sure that health systems use evidence-based argumentation to calm fears about hormonal contraceptives, and that all young people receive comprehensive sexuality education that covers gender, rights and sexuality. Promoting condoms as a family planning method would help tackle the social norms defining men’s role in avoiding pregnancy, as well as protecting against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. It is essential that men are included in these efforts with due respect for their needs. It is only through education, access and male involvement that we can enable girls and women to enjoy good sexual and reproductive health and make their own life decisions.    Photo: IPPF EN/Layla Aerts

Barometer on Women's access to Modern Contraceptive Choice 2013
06 June 2013

Barometer on Women's access to Modern Contraceptive Choice 2013

The Barometer of Women’s Access to Modern Contraceptive Choice in 10 EU Countries was developed by the IPPF European Network. The report is supported by a grant from Bayer HealthCare as a contribution improved delivery of healthcare and related health services. The following ten countries were included in the report: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden.

cover page
07 January 2016

Access to Modern Contraceptive Choice in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

The factsheet presents data and trends in the use of contraceptives in Eastern Europe and Central Asian (EECA), highlighting major factors influencing contraceptive behaviour, demand and access. It explains what role donors can play to enable women in EECA to access modern contraceptive methods. 

EU Countries Failing On Commitments To Women’s Contraceptive Needs
22 September 2015

EU Countries Failing On Commitments To Women’s Contraceptive Needs

Brussels, 22 September 2015 - for immediate release **Latest Barometer figures show EU Member States are still failing to meet their commitments to women’s modern contraceptive needs as situation stagnates or worsens at unacceptably low levels** A Barometer of Women’s Access to Modern Contraceptive Choice in 16 European Union (EU) member states, highlights a worrying trend that EU countries are yet again failing in their commitments to improve equitable access to modern contraceptive needs. Significantly, the research shows that very few policies have improved since 2013, and alarmingly in most countries, the situation has stagnated, or even worsened, over the past few years. The findings pinpoint an erosion of human rights, and the urgent need to re-establish reproductive health as a priority policy on the European and national agendas. IPPF EN calls on decision-makers at all levels to support the implementation of a comprehensive approach to contraceptive choice in Europe within a broader sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) agenda. A comprehensive SRHR policy is fundamental to ensuring the wellbeing of all women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable, and is a crucial precondition to allowing women and couples the freedom to choose parenthood or not. It is a competence of member states to formulate and implement SRHR policies at a national level. Yet, when it comes to public health and non-discrimination, the EU can and should exercise policy-making, foster research and the exchange of best practices, as well as better supporting the implementation of SRHR at national level. Therefore, we call for a structured dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders at EU and national levels and urge the EU to make a greater investment in SRHR research and data collection. This is critical to empowering women in their personal, social and professional lives. Sophie in‘t Veld MEP (Netherlands, ALDE) strongly supported the IPPF EN report. She said that: “The inequalities identified in the Barometer are very disturbing, and not in line with the aim of equal access to health care throughout the EU. Such differences in rights and access would not be tolerated in any other area of health care. It underlines the importance of including SRHR in the Commission’s new EU Health Strategy. The EU should be committed to supporting a European and a human rights approach on SRHR in order to guarantee access to information, prevention services and intervention for all, thereby reducing inequalities across the EU.” She continued by saying: “The Commission has ignored our calls to include SRHR in EU health policies as it did before 2012, strengthening the exchange of best practices and funding research on sexual and reproductive health, claiming it is an exclusive member state competence. However there is no reason why SRHR should be treated differently from other areas of health. The Commission should stop applying double standards. SRHR are high on the EU's international development agenda, but are taboo within the European borders.  We have to continue to fight for change – so that the right to access to modern contraceptives will be an integral part of the EU health strategy." IPPF EN believes that by increasing transparency by showing the EU countries with a poor performance, the report can contribute towards positive change. Its recommendations include: developing integrated and comprehensive national SRHR policy frameworks that would increase access to modern comprehensive contraceptive choice; strengthening comprehensive sexuality education in schools; and increasing awareness-raising campaigns including information on the full range of modern contraceptive methods. The Barometer highlights that women’s access to modern contraceptives varies significantly from one EU country to the next. Encouraging developments include some limited examples of improved sexuality education policies, more generous reimbursement schemes for contraceptives in France and improved medical guidelines on contraceptive service delivery in Poland and Sweden. But overall, these are overshadowed by growing obstacles to women getting the contraception they need. Access in countries such as The Netherlands that have a relatively strong track record is under threat from austerity measures and financial constraints. Meanwhile, in several countries where access is already more problematic, political and economic instability and lack of funding have prevented progress. Malin Björk MEP (Sweden, GUE/NGL) also backed the report, saying that: “Access to safe and modern contraception for women and girls is fundamental for deciding over one’s body and sexuality. Together with access to all sexual and reproductive health services and sexuality education, it is the very basis of SRHR and gender equality. In Europe today it seems to me that one of the big challenges is the issue of financing. To ensure that all women have access to contraception without discrimination, we need to ensure increased public financing and prioritising of SRHR more generally.” Marie Arena (MEP Belgium S&D) stressed that: ‘the control of one's fertility, alike the acquisition of economic, social and political rights equal to those of a man, enables a woman to have full citizenship status. Contraception also allows for affective and sexual relationships which are responsible, fulfilling and free (of constraint). Contraception must be financially and mentally accessible to all women without discrimination of any kind". Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (MEP, EPP) "I am committed to improve access to sexual health and reproductive rights for women and girls everywhere, as a key to women empowerment and free choice. We have to overcome the many differences in the Member States identified by the IPPF barometer and address the main challenges regarding access to information and services. We as policy makers at EU level, have to raise awareness and join forces to combat discrimination and share best practices in order to improve access for all women and girls in Europe to safe and modern contraception methods".                                                              ***ENDS***   For more information, please contact:  Irene Donadio, IPPF EN: +32 (0)2 250 09 50, [email protected] or Sophie in‘t Veld MEP: +32 (0)2 284 57 96, [email protected] NOTES TO EDITORS: The Barometer provides a comparative policy and status overview on women’s access to modern contraceptive  choice across the following 16 EU member states: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden. The report’s findings are based on information about the national policy landscapes provided by national experts in each of the 16 countries, using a series of policy benchmarks that are key to ensuring access to modern contraceptives. The information was collected, analysed and reviewed between May and November 2014. The report is endorsed by the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESC) and International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH). About IPPF EN: The International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network is one of the six regions of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, an international NGO which was founded in 1952 and is the strongest global voice safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for people everywhere. IPPF EN includes 39 membership-based national associations throughout Europe and Central Asia, as well as a Regional Office in Brussels.

bank-phrom-Tzm3Oyu_6sk-unsplash-min_4.jpg
24 March 2015

New IPPF EN report on EU contraceptive access: gaps are unacceptable, say MEPs

Press release A new ‘Barometer’ report launched by IPPF EN on 24 March analyses how easily women in 16 EU countries can access modern contraceptives. It reveals that overall the situation in most countries has stagnated or worsened in recent years. IPPF EN calls on decision-makers at all levels to implement a comprehensive approach to contraceptive choice in Europe as a crucial precondition to ensuring the wellbeing of women and adolescent girls. The Barometer highlights that women’s access to modern contraceptives varies significantly from one EU country to the next. Encouraging developments include some limited examples of improved sexuality education policies, more generous reimbursement schemes for contraceptives in France and improved medical guidelines on contraceptive service delivery in Poland and Sweden. But overall, these are overshadowed by growing obstacles to women getting the contraception they need. Access in countries such as The Netherlands that have a relatively strong track record is under threat from austerity measures and financial constraints. Meanwhile, in several countries where access is already more problematic, political and economic instability and lack of funding have prevented progress. Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP (Netherlands, ALDE) strongly supported the IPPF EN report. She said that: “The inequalities identified in the Barometer are unacceptable, and underline that it is time the EU included sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in its public health policies. We have set harmonised standards for medicine, but we have not set standards for something as basic and important as access to contraceptives. Reproductive health must be taken out of the area of morality, and brought into the area of public health.” The Barometer confirms that it is crucial to establish reproductive health as a long-term policy priority on the EU and national agendas in order to empower women in their personal, social and professional lives. IPPF EN believes that by increasing transparency and naming and shaming the EU countries with a poor performance, the report can contribute towards positive change. Its recommendations include: developing integrated and comprehensive national SRHR policy frameworks that would increase access to modern comprehensive contraceptive choice; strengthening comprehensive sexuality education in schools; and increasing awareness-raising campaigns including information on the full range of modern contraceptive methods. Malin Björk MEP (Sweden, GUE/NGL) also backed the report, saying that: “Access to safe and modern contraception for women and girls is fundamental for deciding over one’s body and sexuality. Together with abortion rights and sexuality education, it is the very basis of SRHR and gender equality. In Europe today it seems to me that one of the big challenges is the issue of financing. To ensure that all women have access to contraception without discrimination, we need to ensure increased public financing and prioritising of SRHR more generally.” Vicky Claeys, Regional Director of IPPF EN, added:  “IPPF has committed globally to engaging with the pharmaceutical industry, including generic manufacturers, to demand affordable pricing strategies for contraceptives. IPPF EN believes that government funding should prioritise the affordability of contraceptives for vulnerable populations, and include a broad range of modern contraceptive methods in the government essential drug list and insurance coverage, again prioritising vulnerable groups.” She also stressed that: “There is a major gap in research and data collection in Europe on SRHR, including access to modern contraception. This hampers evidence-based policy making that could improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls. We strongly urge EU decision-makers to boost investment in research and data collection.” In response to the gaps highlighted by the Barometer, Sophie in ‘t Veld today addressed three Parliamentary questions to the European Commission, calling on it to clarify its position regarding the fundamental importance of contraceptive access in the EU, and explain what action it plans to take to ensure access for women in all Member States (see full EP questions in notes below). The fundamental importance of access to contraception was reaffirmed earlier this month by a European Parliament report on gender equality drafted by MEP Marc Tarabella. This stated that women in the EU must have control over their SRHR, including access to contraception.   *** For more information, please contact:  Irene Donadio, IPPF EN: +32 (0)2 250 09 50, [email protected]  Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP: +32 (0)2 284 57 96, [email protected] ***   Notes to the editor:   - Link to Barometer report: http://www.ippfen.org/resources/barometer-2015-womens-access-modern-contraceptive-choice   - The EU countries covered by the report are: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, and Sweden. Information on participating national partners can be found in the report.   - The report’s findings are based on information about the national policy landscapes provided by national experts in each of the 16 countries, using a series of policy benchmarks that are key to ensuring access to modern contraceptives. The information was collected, analysed and reviewed between May and November 2014.   - The report is endorsed by the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESC) and International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH).   - Written questions to the Commission tabled by Sophie in ‘t Veld on 24 March 2015: “Access to Modern Contraceptives.  The 2015 Barometer report illustrates a stagnating or declining number of women and adolescent girls having access to modern contraceptives. The Barometer also highlights significant variance between Member States in women’s access to modern contraceptives.  1. Does the Commission consider access to modern contraceptives is a pre-condition for women’s independence and ability to fully and freely participate in all sectors of society? 2. Does the Commission agree that access to modern contraceptives for women is therefore essential for the implementation of Article 3 TEU on the promotion of gender equality, but also for the achievement of the goals of EU2020 and the strategy for gender equality? 3. What action has the Commission taken and does it intend to take to ensure that women in all EU Member States have full and equal access to safe and modern contraceptives?"   - EP resolution of 10 March 2015 on progress on equality between women and men in the EU in 2013, drafted by Marc Tarabella: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2015-0050   - About IPPF EN: The International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network is one of the six regions of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, an international NGO which was founded in 1952 and is the strongest global voice safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for people everywhere. IPPF EN includes 39 membership-based national associations throughout Europe and Central Asia, as well as a Regional Office in Brussels.

Barometer cover picture contraceptive access
15 January 2015

Women's access to modern contraceptive choice - Barometer 2015

A ‘Barometer’ report launched by IPPF EN in 2015 analyses how easily women in 16 EU countries can access modern contraceptives. It finds that overall, the situation in most countries has stagnated or worsened in recent years. The EU countries covered by the report are: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, and Sweden. Information on participating national partners can be found in the report. The report’s findings are based on information about the national policy landscapes provided by national experts in each of the 16 countries, using a series of policy benchmarks that are key to ensuring access to modern contraceptives. The information was collected, analysed and reviewed between May and November 2014. The report is endorsed by the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESC) and International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH).

Barometer call to action
10 January 2015

Call to Action: Women's access to modern contraceptive choice - Barometer 2015

We call on national decision-makers to support the implementation of a comprehensive approach to contraceptive choice in the 16 countries within a broader sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda. This is fundamental to ensuring the wellbeing of all women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable and is a crucial precondition to allowing women and couples the freedom to choose parenthood or not. It is a competence of EU Member States to formulate and implement SRHR policies at a national level. Yet when it comes to public health and non-discrimination, the EU can exercise policy-making, foster research and the exchange of best practices, and better support the implementation of SRHR at national level. Therefore, the Barometer partners call for a structured dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders at EU and national levels. Additionally, we urge the EU to make a greater investment in SRHR research and data collection.  

This World Contraception Day, we highlight the worrying situation in Romania, where the political climate as well as the loss of development funding since the country joined the EU has created a serious obstacle to access to contraception.
26 September 2014

World Contraception Day 2014 – Why girls’ futures are at stake in Romania

This World Contraception Day, we highlight the worrying situation in Romania, where the political climate as well as the loss of development funding since the country joined the EU has created a serious obstacle to access to contraception. The impact on young girls, particularly from vulnerable groups such as the Roma community, is very damaging. Borbala Koo, Executive Director of the Societatea de Educatie Contraceptiva si Sexuala (SECS), IPPF’s Romanian Member Association, explains:   “For more than a decade, unintended pregnancies in Romania have significantly affected young people. More than 11% of deliveries in the country are by girls below 20 years of age. Of these, the number of girls giving birth at below 15 years of age is rising, from 551 in 2006 to 748 in 2011. 30 of these very young girls gave birth to their second child in 2011. SECS works to mobilise civil society organizations to join its advocacy efforts aiming to persuade the government to design coherent strategies and interventions to tackle this issue.      Sexuality education is provided very unevenly across the country, partly due to religion sensitivities. Meanwhile, general awareness campaigns about SRHR do not exist, and there is no training for teachers and healthcare professionals who are so key to improving access to contraceptive choice and reducing the number of unintended pregnancies. All modern contraceptive methods are available across the country to a certain extent. But there is currently no reimbursement for contraceptives, and while in the past some kinds were available free of charge to vulnerable groups (e.g. students, unemployed people, those living in rural areas and people with limited financial resources), this is no longer the case. In any case, these efforts to increase access were hampered by small budgets leading to limited stocks. The result is that in recent years, more than 17,000 women with three or more children have given birth to another one, and around 2000 women have had their eighth, ninth or tenth child. SRHR policies tackling unintended pregnancies, particularly among the very young and vulnerable groups, are urgently needed.    This situation is all the more frustrating given that a progressive and human-rights based SRHR strategy was drafted between 2009 and 2011 as part of a collaborative effort between NGOs, WHO, UNFPA and the Romanian Ministry of Health. This included access to family planning services and contraception, education, and awareness of modern contraceptive methods. It contained a particular emphasis on vulnerable groups, with special attention to rural communities and the inclusion of community nurses and Roma health mediators among professionals delivering FP services.   Sadly, as a result of political instability and lack of commitment, the strategy was never endorsed and is now becoming out of date.  In the meantime, the political climate has become less favourable to SRHR, and the Health Ministry has stopped truly consulting NGOs in policy formulation. This is partly due to the powerful influence of religious groups. In all, we fear that the progressive and human rights-based elements of the previous strategy may be written out of any future policy, which will be very damaging for young women, and particularly vulnerable groups, in Romania.    We call urgently upon our government to put an end to this regressive slide backwards and ensure sufficient resources to increase accessibility for all young women. It is essential that Romania implement a new SRHR strategy as soon as possible.”   Photo: IPPF/Graeme Robertson

How social norms stand in the way of girls' contraceptive choices in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
06 October 2014

How social norms stand in the way of girls' contraceptive choices in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Zofia, 15, is Bulgarian. She plans to finish her studies before looking for a job. She’s in a steady relationship and wants to avoid getting pregnant. Her family doctor told her that hormonal contraceptives were dangerous and threatened to tell her parents that she had a boyfriend. She could probably buy condoms in a nearby town, but knows that people would talk. In any case, her boyfriend gets angry if she talks about contraception, and insists that as long as he withdraws when they have sex, there’s no risk. By Lene Stavngaard, IPPF EN Regional President and Vice Chair of IPPF's Danish Member Association, Sex og Samfund In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the use of modern contraceptives is alarmingly low. The “art” of withdrawal is seen as a sign of virility and as the man’s responsibility. A study by UNFPA in 2012 showed that in several middle-income countries in the region, usage was below 28%, which is the average in the world’s poorest countries. One of the reasons for this is that social norms make it difficult, if not impossible, for girls to find out about, and get hold of, reliable contraception. Macho culture means that men will often refuse to use condoms and prohibit their partners from using other modern contraceptives, so that a ‘good’ method is one that can be used without a man’s knowledge. For young people in particular, a lack of confidential, youth-friendly services is a true obstacle to accessing modern contraceptives. In 2012, research led by IPPF EN in Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, TFYR of Macedonia, Serbia, Kazahkstan and Azerbaijan confirmed that social norms contribute to the very low use of modern contraception, even when this is available and relatively affordable. Conservatism makes it impossible to talk about anything related to sex or sexuality, and prescribed gender roles and tradition also limit contraceptive use. For example, in Armenia a young bride is expected to be a virgin and to become pregnant soon after marriage. If she does not have a child within a reasonable time period, her husband may seek a divorce. There are many reasons why people don’t use modern contraception, including misinformation that is often based on myths about hormones, as well as poor counselling, high costs and lack of choice. But social norms are pervasive and play a key role in influencing contraceptive choices that increase the vulnerability of women and girls. How then can Eastern European and Central Asian countries overcome these obstacles and empower women and girls? IPPF EN believes decision-makers need to make sure that health systems use evidence-based argumentation to calm fears about hormonal contraceptives, and that all young people receive comprehensive sexuality education that covers gender, rights and sexuality. Promoting condoms as a family planning method would help tackle the social norms defining men’s role in avoiding pregnancy, as well as protecting against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. It is essential that men are included in these efforts with due respect for their needs. It is only through education, access and male involvement that we can enable girls and women to enjoy good sexual and reproductive health and make their own life decisions.    Photo: IPPF EN/Layla Aerts

Barometer on Women's access to Modern Contraceptive Choice 2013
06 June 2013

Barometer on Women's access to Modern Contraceptive Choice 2013

The Barometer of Women’s Access to Modern Contraceptive Choice in 10 EU Countries was developed by the IPPF European Network. The report is supported by a grant from Bayer HealthCare as a contribution improved delivery of healthcare and related health services. The following ten countries were included in the report: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden.