Emergency contraception (EC) is available in Austria but is not widely recommended by health professionals or supported by governmental policies. EC is not included in national policies for family planning, is not reimbursed or covered by social security, and is only available for purchase from pharmacies.

Sexual & reproductive health background information

Female population aged 15-49Mean age at first sexual intercourseMean age at birth of first childTotal fertility rate% use of modern contraceptive methods
Estimate1,963,000116.5228.531.43467%5
Year20152005201120112011

Accessibility & prescription status

In Austria, LNG EC and UPA EC are available behind the counter from pharmacies, which means that EC is available from pharmacies without a prescription but is not on the pharmacy shelves and needs to be requested from the pharmacist in order to purchase.

Cost

Type of ECApproximate CostBrand(s) Available
LNG€ 12,90 – € 13,50Vikela, Postinor 1500, Levodonna
UPA€ 31,90ellaOne
UPA€ n/aLencya 30 mg – Filmtabletten
UPA€ n/aUllionce 30 mg Filmtablette

The cost of EC is not reimbursed or covered by social security in Austria.

Guidelines & common practices

Medical guidelines in Austria do not include EC at all, and health care providers rarely provide general information about EC during regular consultations or prescribe EC in advance of need.

Health care providers do not require a pregnancy test or a pelvic exam before prescribing EC.

EC use

Ever use of ECEC use in the last 12 months% with no prescriptionRepeated use of EC in last 12 months
Estimate18%6n/an/an/a
Year2012n/an/an/a

 

Sources

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision. New York, 2013.

2 Durex Global Sex Survey Results 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2013, from http://www.durex.com/en-jp/sexualwellbeingsurvey/documents/gss2005result.pdf.

3 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division Database. Mean Age of Women at Birth of First Child by Country and Year. Updated 23 November 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013, from http://w3.unece.org/pxweb/dialog/varval.asp?ma=04_GEFHAge1stChild_r&path=../database/STAT/30-GE/02-Families_households/&lang=1&ti=Mean+age+of+women+at+birth+of+first+child.

4 European health for all database (HFA-DB), World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. Total fertility rate. Retrieved 18 June 2013, from http://data.euro.who.int/hfadb/.

5 Österr. Frauengesundheitsbericht 2011.

6 Österr. Verhütungsreport 2012, from www.gynmed.at.

 

Last update: January 2021

Previous update:  June 2015