top of page

Contraception Types

Being sexually active is completely normal, but it is important to be safe. If you (and/or your partner) does not want to get pregnant, contraception is needed. In the Netherlands, a big variety of anti conception methods are available and of which a lot are insured. 

​

To prevent both pregnancy and STI’s, condoms are the easiest way to go. However, using both condoms and another type of contraception is the safest choice, as condoms can break or slip off. All pharmacies (such as the Kruidvat, Etos, DIO, etc) sell condoms. It is not necessary to buy expensive brands such as Durex, the shops own brand are sufficient. Using condoms is especially important if you are sexually active with multiple partners. 

Condoms can, unfortunately, break or slip off. In that case, it is always important to take the morning after pill to make sure you will not get pregnant. You can buy the morning after pill in every pharmacy, but do make sure to take it within 72 hours after being sexually active. The sooner you will take the anti conception pill, the better it will work. 

​

If you are sexually active with only one partner (who is only sexually active with you too), and you are sure you are both clear from any STI’s, you can choose to not use condoms. To prevent pregnancies, using contraceptives is still needed. There are many different contraceptives available in the Netherlands, and everyone has their own preference.  Some examples of contraceptives are :

​

  • The pill. You will need a prescription from your GP to get the pill. The pill will be insured in the Netherlands, with a Dutch insurance, for all women aged 21 or younger. The most common type of pill has to be taken everyday for 21 days and then 7 day ‘rest’, in which you will get your period. It is possible to ‘plan’ your menstruation, as you will not get your period if you continue taking the pill during the rest period. Important to note that you can only do this once or twice in a row, otherwise you might risk bleeding. When the pill will start working depends on when you first start taking it. If you start taking the pill on the first day of your menstruation, you will be immediately protected from pregnancy. If you start on any other day, it will take a week (7 days) before being protected from pregnancy. Other types of pill allow no 7 day ‘rest’ or 7 day ‘rest’ every three months and have different levels of hormones somministration. A consultation with your gynecologist or GP will help you choose the best option for you. Do note that using the pill will NOT protect you from any STI’s. 

​

Price: for the pill prices vary according to brand and type, however they usually range from 12 to 18 euros per box.  

​

​

  • Contraceptive spiral. The biggest benefit of the spiral is that it will protect you from pregnancy for up to 5 years. There are different sorts of contraceptive spirals, the two most common in the Netherlands are the copper spiral and the hormonal spiral.

    • copper spiral, which can have side effects such as​

      • anemia (a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues. Having anemia can make you feel tired and weak.)

        • backaches

        • spotting between periods

        • vaginal discharge

        • pain during sex

    • hormonal spiral, which can have side effects such as

      • breast soreness

      • breast tenderness

      • headaches

      • nausea

      • mood changes

      • weight gain

      • acne

​

Price: 130-180 euro.

​

​

  • Contraceptive patch. The contraceptive patch has to be put on clean skin, preferably on the areas of the butt cheeks, the belly or the arms, on the first day of menstruation. A new patch has to be used every 7 days.

​

Price: 10-13 euro per box (with three contraceptive patches)

​

​

  • Contraceptive ring. The contraceptive ring is a ring made of polyethylene vinyl acetate that has to be inserted in the vagina. It has to stay in place for 3 weeks and then to be removed for the duration of the menstruation, after the period a new ring has to be used. 


Price: around 18 euro per ring

​

​

  • Contraceptive diaphragm

A contraceptive diaphragm works as a barrier method. If used with spermicides it is 92-96% safe.


Price: around 40 euro

​

​

  • Contraceptive injection

the contraceptive injection releases the hormone progestogen into your bloodstream. It can last for 8 or 13 weeks depending on the type of injection.


Price: around 165 euros

​

​

  • Morning after pill. If you have had unprotected sex and do not want to get pregnant, an easy, accessible choice is the morning after pill. Having had ‘unprotected sex’ also means when a condom has broken or whenever you have forgotten to take the pill…. The morning after pill is NOT meant to be a standard contraceptive, it is an emergency measure. The morning after pill is less reliable than other forms of anticonception, and it can give side effects. There are two types of morning after pill; one that is effective up to three days after unprotected sex (72 hours) and one that is effective up to 5 days (120 hours) All pharmacies sell them, and it is almost always anonymous to buy it. They will not ask any information from you (only whether or not you have been sexually active in the last 120 hours). The morning after pill is effective up to 120 hours after being sexually active, but the sooner you take it the less chances of getting pregnant there are. Prices of the morning after pill vary. Etos sells two variants, the EllaOne Ulipristalacetaat (20,59) and the Norlevo Levonorgestrel Morning After Pil 1,5 mg (15,59). Kruidvat ….. Another solution is the IUD. Getting an IUD within 120 hours after unprotected sex is the most effective type of emergency contraceptive.

​

Price: the morning after pill that is effective up to 72 hours after unprotected sex costs around 15 euros. The pill that is effective up to 120 hours after unprotected sex is more expensive,  around 20-25 euros.

​

​

Reimbursement:


https://www.hollandzorg.com/dutch-healthcare-insurance/reimbursements/contraceptives

​

With public healthcare insurance in the netherlands, you will qualify for the reimbursement if:

  • you are younger than 21

  • the contraceptives are necessary to treat certain complaints. The exact conditions are set out in Appendix 2 of the Healthcare Insurance Regulations (Regeling zorgverzekering).


The following contraceptives qualify for reimbursement (if you are younger than 21) 

​

  • the contraceptive pill;

  • the contraceptive injection;

  • the spiral;

  • the hormonal contraceptive plaster;

  • the hormonal ring;

  • Implanon;

  • femcap;

  • silicon cap.

​

Condoms do not fall under the contraceptives specified by the government for reimbursement.

​

©2020 par UniAid. Créé avec Wix.com

bottom of page