Female Contraception and the Pill in France

France has several contraception options available to women, including birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), contraceptive patches, and injectable birth control.

How to access contraception in France

Contraception is available to all women on a “no questions asked” policy. However, a prescription is required for all forms of contraception except condoms and spermicides. Parental consent for contraception is not required for those aged 15 and over.

Make an appointment with your Medecin Traitant, Midwife or Family Planning Centre (Centre de Planning Familiale) and ask for a prescription. An appointment can also be made using Doctolib.

Doctors generally make prescriptions for six to twelve months for contraceptive treatments depending on your health and previously existing conditions.

Is contraception/the pill covered by France’s state healthcare?

In 2022, France introduced free birth control for women between the ages of 18 and 25 years (it is already free for young women under the age of 18). This is with a view to significantly reducing the toll of unwanted pregnancies in this age category, to boost women’s rights and to alleviate the effects of youth poverty.

This change includes birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and contraceptive patches and injectable birth control. The scheme is estimated to benefit more than three million women in France.

For other age groups, most pills and IUDs are reimbursed by Assurance Maladie up to 65%, and many mutuelle health insurance policies will cover the difference. Prices for contraceptive pills are typically between €3 to €10 per month, with patches and coils costing around €15 and implants and IUDs between €1-€2 per month.

The morning after pill (known as the “pilule du lendemain” or “la contraception d’urgence” in French) is readily available from all pharmacies without a prescription. The morning after pill typically costs between €3 and €7 and is available to all women on a “no questions asked” basis.

Abortion is legal in France within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy and is known as an IVG in French – an ‘Interruption Volontaire de Grossesse’- or ‘un avortement’. The right to an abortion is available to all women, and there is no need to prove a risk to the mother or child or provide any other ‘reason’ for the procedure. Both medical abortion and surgical terminations are available.

You will need to visit your Medecin Traitant or family planning clinic, and two appointments are required – an initial appointment in which the procedure will be explained, and counselling services will be offered (attending counselling is mandatory for under 18s), followed by a second appointment in which you must confirm your abortion request in writing.

The following resources may be of use if you need advice on sexual health issues and contraception in France.

France’s Family Planning Helpline: 0800 08 11 11 – for advice relating to contraception, sexual health and abortion.

www.onsexprime.fr Government website aimed at educating young people

www.service-public.fr, which gives details about the reimbursements available regarding your choice of contraception.

www.questionsexualite.fr for contraceptive advice

Contraception: useful vocabulary

Preservatif – male and female condoms

Projestatifs injectables – contraceptive injections

Implant – contraceptive implant

Pilule – pill

Dispositif intra-uterin – IUD

Patch – contraceptive patch

‘Interruption Volontaire de Grossesse’ (IVG) or ‘un avortement’ – termination of pregnancy or an abortion

“Pilule du lendemain” or “la contraception d’urgence” – the morning after pill or emergency contraception