What you need to know about birth control

Birth control or contraception is the use of medicines, devices, or surgery to prevent pregnancy.

Ciara O’Gorman, Development Manager with South Munster Citizens Information Services advises; “You can get contraception from most pharmacies in Ireland. Most contraception will need a prescription from a GP but you do not need a prescription for emergency contraception or condoms.

“You can get prescriptions for contraceptive drugs and devices, as well as advice about contraception from GPs, voluntary organisations and private family planning clinics. 

Voluntary and private family planning clinics usually have charges but may waive them or have lower fees in certain cases.

“Free contraception has now been extended to women aged 32 to 35. This came into effect from 1 July 2024,” says Ciara.

You can get free contraception if you are:

• woman or person with a uterus
• Aged 17 to 35
• Living in Ireland.

What contraception costs are free for people aged 17 to 35?

• Any GP appointments about your contraception options
• Contraception prescriptions from your doctor (at participating pharmacies)
• Emergency contraception (the morning-after-pill)
• Fitting, removal and check-ups of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs)
• Other types of contraception such as contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and contraceptive ring
• Prescriptions for combined oral contraception (the daily pill)

How do I get free contraception if I am aged 17 to 35?

“You do not need a medical card,” says Ciara. “You can book an appointment with a GP or doctor to discuss your contraception. This appointment will be free. If you do not have a GP or do not want to go to a GP you can also get free contraception from some family planning clinics, women’s health clinics, student health clinics or health centres.

You can Freephone the HSE on 1800 700 700 to find a GP or clinic offering free contraception.

At your appointment, you will need to give details of your PPS number, name, your date of birth and your address. Your information is used to let the pharmacy know not to charge you for your free contraception prescription. You can also collect your free contraception from some family planning clinics.

Medical Cards & Contraception

If you have a medical card, you get free contraceptive drugs, devices and free GP services including contraceptive advice. You can also get emergency contraception with the medical card. You will have to pay a prescription charge for items you get from pharmacies under the medical card scheme.

If you do not have a medical card, and you are not eligible for the free contraception scheme, you will have to pay for contraception and contraceptive services.

You may be able to reduce the cost of your contraception through the Drug Payment Scheme. For example, the cost of long-acting reversible contraceptives such as the IUS (hormonal coil) or IUD (copper coil). You may also be able to claim tax relief on medical expenses.”

You can get free condoms from:

• Sexual health or GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinics
• Some sexual health NGOs
• Many third level colleges

You can also buy condoms without a prescription from many supermarkets, newsagents and pharmacies. Condoms are not free under the medical card or free contraception scheme.

Emergency contraception

Emergency contraception is a back-up contraception. You can use emergency contraception to stop an unplanned pregnancy after you have had sex without using contraception, or if your method of contraception has failed (for example, the condom slipped, or you missed a pill).

You can choose different types of emergency contraception options:

• The emergency contraceptive pill (sometimes called the morning-after pill)
• The copper coil (also known as post-coital IUD)

You can use emergency contraception up to five days after having unprotected sex, but it is more effective the sooner you take it after unprotected sex. You can get emergency contraception tablets over the counter in most pharmacies without having to go to a doctor for a prescription.

You can get free emergency contraception if:

You have a medical card, or You are a woman or person with a uterus, aged 17 to 35 and living in Ireland

Unplanned pregnancy in Ireland

“If you have an unplanned pregnancy and need support, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has free confidential counselling and information services to help you consider your options and access the services that you need,” says Ciara. “My Options is a HSE free phone line (1800 828 010) and webchat ( www.myoptions.ie) providing free and confidential information and counselling for people experiencing unplanned pregnancy. It’s important to note that this counselling and information service is also available to you if your partner is going through an unplanned pregnancy.”

John Beausang and Yvonne Rayner, Cork City’s Citizens Information Managers, said; “Our telephone lines in Cork City are monitored from 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. In addition, the Cork City Centre CIC in Cornmarket Street is open to the public Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 9.45am to 1pm and Wednesdays from 2pm to 4.30pm. The Blackpool CIC is open to the public each morning from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday and Thursday. Full details for all Citizens Information Centres and their opening times are available on our website.”