Emergency contraceptive (EC) pills are available behind-the-counter in Austria (LNG since 2009 and UPA since 2015). EC pills are not included in national policies for family planning nor reimbursed or covered by social security. EC pills are only available in pharmacies.
Accessibility & prescription status
In Austria, LNG and UPA EC pills are available behind the counter from pharmacies. That is, EC pills are available without a medical prescription but are dispensed only in pharmacies.
Cost
| Type of EC | Approximate Cost | Brand(s) Available |
|---|---|---|
| LNG | € 13 – € 17 | Vikela, Postinor 1500, Levodonna |
| UPA | € 39,90 | ellaOne |
| UPA | € 37 | Lencya 30 mg – Filmtabletten |
| UPA | € 39 | Ullionce 30 mg Filmtablette |
The cost of EC is not reimbursed or covered by social security in Austria.
Guidelines & common practices
The Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists (Österreichische Apothekerkammer) provides basic recommendations for EC dispensing in this article of 2021.1
EC use
| Ever use of EC | EC use in the last 12 months | % with no prescription | Repeated use of EC in last 12 months | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 18%2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Year | 2012 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
According to the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) the country has no official statistics on EC use.3
Sources
1 Österreichische Apotheker-Zeitung (2021) Notfallkontrazeption. Available at: https://www.oeaz.at/OEAZTara/Notfallkontrazeption.html (Accessed: May 2025).
2 Österr. Verhütungsreport 2012, from https://gynmed.at/. See also 2019’s edition at https://www.verhuetungsreport.at.
3 Gaiswinkler, Sylvia; Antosik, Jennifer; Pfabigan, Johanna; Pilwarsch, Johanna (2024): Verhütungsbericht 2024. Bedarf und Versorgung mit Verhütungsmitteln in Österreich. Bundesministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz (BMSGPK), Wien. Pag. 32
Last update: May 2025
Previous update: January 2021. June 2015