Emergency contraception (EC) is available in Sweden: LNG EC, UPA EC, and the use of the Cu-IUD for EC are included in national policies for family planning. Local pharmacies, hospitals, and family planning clinics distribute EC pills, which and also be bought in non-pharamcy outlets. LNG EC and UPA EC are available free of charge from youth clinics, and Cu-IUDs may also be provided free of charge depending on the area.
- Sexual & reproductive health background information
- Accessibility & prescription status
- Cost
- Guidelines & common practices
- EC use
Sexual & reproductive health background information
| Female population aged 15-49 | Mean age at first sexual intercourse | Mean age at birth of first child | Total fertility rate | % use of modern contraceptive methods | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 2,124,0001 | 16.12 | 28.93 | 1.94 | 64.8%5 |
| Year | 2010 | 2005 | 2010 | 2011 | 1996 |
Accessibility & prescription status
In Sweden LNG EC is available over the counter from pharmacies, hospitals, and family planning clinics, which means that EC can be purchased without a prescription, the drug is on the shelves, and a woman can just take it to the check-out counter. Since 2015 UPA EC can also be purchased without a prescription from pharmacies, hospitals, and family planning clinics. EC pills can also be sold in non-pharmacy outlets, such as supermarkets. The Yuzpe regimen is specifically not recommended for use in Sweden.
Physicians and also midwives are authorized to to provide or prescribe EC.
Cost
| Type of EC | Approximate Cost | Brand(s) Available |
|---|---|---|
| LNG | € 17 | NorLevo 1.5mg, Postinor 1.5 |
| LNG | € 12,60 – 14,85 | Levonorgestrel, Levodonna |
| UPA | € 27,84 | ellaOne |
LNG EC and UPA EC are free when they are procured from youth clinics and some other types of clinics in Sweden. Cu-IUDs are also free in most areas. Otherwise, though, the cost of EC is not reimbursed or covered by social security in Sweden.
Guidelines & common practices
The Swedish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology published guidelines dedicated to contraception. The chapter on EC was updated in 2014, and revised in 2016. It includes recommendations on LNG and UPA ECPs as well as on the use of Cu-IUD for EC.
Health care providers often provide general information about EC during regular consultations and sometimes 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 EC | EC use in the last 12 months | Repeated use of EC in last 12 months | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 34,6%6 | n/a | n/a | |
| Year | 2011/12 | n/a | n/a |
Sources
1 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision. New York, 2011.
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 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Contraceptive Use 2012. New York, 2012.
6 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
Last update: November 2021
Previous update: November 2021, September 2015
