Emergency contraception (EC) is available in Norway: LNG and UPA EC pills, and the use of IUD for EC are included in national policies for family planning. LNG EC is often delivered free of charge to young people and vulnerable populations. The sale of EC pills outside of pharmacies was approved in 2009.
Accessibility & prescription status
In Norway, LNG EC is available over the counter from pharmacies, schools, family planning clinics, youth health services, Norway-based Internet sites, and (since 2009), also from non-pharmacy outlets, such as supermarkets or gas stations. EC pills can be purchased without a prescription, the product is on the shelves, and a woman can just take it to the check-out counter. UPA EC can also be purchased without a prescription since 2016.
When EC is procured from non-pharmacy outlets, age restrictions apply and only women above 18 can buy EC pills. This applies to all medicines sold outside of pharmacies.1
While physicians are the sole health care professionals who are authorized to prescribe UPA EC, physicians, midwives, and nurses are authorized to provide or prescribe LNG EC.
Cost*
| Type of EC | Approximate Cost | Brand(s) Available |
|---|---|---|
| LNG | € 19 | NorLevo |
| LNG | € 23 | Levonorgestrel Norfri |
| UPA | € 25 | ellaOne |
| UPA | € 29 | Femke |
*Aproximate prices listed by Sex og Samfunn (2025) in eMetodebokfor seksuell helse.
There are no national reimbursement policies in Norway for LNG EC or UPA EC. EC is delivered free of charge to young people in youth health services and to vulnerable populations, although this varies between municipalities. EC always provided free of charge to rape victims.
Guidelines & common practices
Norway’s family planning guidelines, which include information on EC among other contraceptive methods, are revised periodically: eMetodebok for seksuell helse. These guides include recommendations on LNG and UPA EC pills as well as on the use of the Cu-IUD for EC.
Health care providers often provide general information about EC during regular consultations and often recommend or prescribe EC in advance of need. Health care providers usually require a pregnancy test before prescribing EC, but do not require a pelvic exam.
EC use
| Ever use of EC | EC use in the last 12 months | Repeated use of EC in last 12 months | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 35,1%2 | n/a | n/a | |
| Year | 2011/2012 | n/a | n/a |
According to a population-based study of 2011-2012, 35,1% of Norwegian women aged 18-45, had used ECP at least once in their lifetime.2 In 2019 the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Folkehelseinstituttet) reported a decline in EC sales3. According to the Institute, “117.730 EC doses were sold in 2018, a reduction by 4% since 2017, and the share of sale in non-pharmacy has been limited since the sale of emergency contraceptives outside pharmacy was allowed in 2009. In 2018, the sale in non-pharmacy outlets accounted for only 6% (7400 doses) of the total sale. In total, the sale of emergency contraceptives measured in Defined Daily Doses (DDDs) has decreased by around 29% during the period 2009-2018.“ Furthermore, in 2024 Folkehelseinstituttet reported that in “in 2023, around 129,000 packages of emergency contraception (NorLevo®, Levonorgestrel, EllaOne® and Femke®) were sold. After 2015, there has been a gradual decline in sales of emergency contraception, but in the last couple of years, sales have increased. At the same time, there has been a reduction in sales of hormonal contraceptives. Whether the increase in sales of emergency contraception is due to fewer people using hormonal contraceptives is uncertain, but it is important to monitor this further.”4
Sources
1 M. Johansen (personal communication, November 9, 2020)
2 Guleria, S, Munk, C, Elfström, KM, et al. Emergency contraceptive pill use among women in Denmark, Norway and Sweden: Population‐based survey. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2020; 99: 1214– 1221. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13849
3 Sakshaug, S (red), Legemiddelforbruket i Norge 2014–2018 [Drug Consumption in Norway 2014–2018], Legemiddelstatistikk 2019:1, Oslo: Folkehelseinstituttet, 2019. http://www.legemiddelforbruk.no/english/
4 Olsen, K (red), Legemiddelforbruket i Norge 2019-2023 – Data fra Grossistbasert legemiddelstatistikk / Drug
Consumption in Norway 2019-2023 – Data from Norwegian Drug Wholesales Statistics, 2019-2023, Oslo: Folkehelseinstituttet, 2024. Pag. 21. Accessible at: https://www.fhi.no/contentassets/b0802ad9303347b682cf6a8fa701ec91/legemiddelforbruket-i-norge-2019-2023-rapport-2024.pdf
Last update: June 2025
Previous update: May and March 2025, November 2020, December 2017