Emergency contraception (EC) is available in the Russian Federation: LNG EC and mifepristone EC pills are available from pharmacies and family planning clinics, and LNG EC is included in the national contraceptives guide, but EC is not reimbursed or covered by social security.

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
Estimate35,038,0001n/a24.621.29365.0%4
Year2015n/a200920052007

Accessibility & prescription status

In the Russian Federation, LNG EC and mifepristone EC pills are available by prescription from pharmacies and family planning clinics. UPA EC is not registered. Although a prescription is mandatory in order to purchase LNG EC and all types of hormonal contraceptives, anecdotal data suggests that EC pills can sometimes be bought without a prescription and that UPA EC can be obtained from neighboring countries via the Internet.

Gynaecologists are the only health professionals authorised to prescribe EC pills.5

Cost

Type of ECApproximate CostBrand(s) Available
LNG€ 7,55Escapelle, Escinor, Postinor
Mifepristone€ 7 – 10Gynepriston

The cost of LNG EC and mifepristone EC pills is not reimbursed or covered by social security in the Russian Federation.

Guidelines & common practices

“The Russian Federation National Medical Criteria for Contraceptive Use,” published in 2012, includes information on EC among other contraceptive methods. Additionally, civil society organizations are working to strengthen knowledge of EC among health care providers and have developed a Russian version of the ICEC and FIGO EC guidelines Emergency Contraceptive Pills: Medical and Service Delivery Guidelines.

Health care providers sometimes provide general information about EC during regular consultations but rarely prescribe EC in advance of need. Health care providers also do not require a pregnancy test 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
Estimaten/an/an/an/a
Yearn/an/an/an/a

 

Sources

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

2 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.

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/.

4 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Contraceptive Use 2012. New York, 2012.

L. Erofeeva, personal communication, December 11, 2021.

Last update: December 2021

Previous update: September 2013