If you are planning on having sex and you do not want to be pregnant it is important to use contraceptives. If you have had just had unprotected sex (sex without using a contraceptive) and you are not ready to be pregnant it is key to access emergency contraceptives.  Below you find information about which emergency contraception optionsmay be available, in the services section you can find a list of clinics that can provide you with emergency contraceptives. In Myanmar it is illegal to abort an unwanted pregnancy, however it is not illegal to access post-abortion care.

What is the best emergency contraceptive for you?
	Copper-T Intra Uterine Device	1,5 Levonorgestrel  [brand: NorLevo].
Effectiveness	Best	Very good
When to use	Up to 5 days after unprotected sex	Up to 3 days (72 hours) after unprotected sex. Less effective on day 4 and 5 but you can still use it.
Who can use	All women	All women
How to get	Inserted by a doctor or midwife at the health centre	At the pharmacy or clinic. Not available in all places.
Extra information	Provides very effective ongoing birth control for up to 5 years. Reversible method – if you take the IUD out, you will be able to get pregnant the same way as before insertion.	Reversible method – using emergency contraceptives will not change your chances to get pregnant in the future. If you have sex regularly you should use contraceptives. Emergency contraceptives contain a high dose of hormones and should not be used regularly.

Ending a pregnancy

Ending a pregnancy is also known as having an abortion. An abortion is when a pregnancy is ended so that it does not result in the birth of a child. Abortion in Myanmar is illegal under most circumstances.

Grounds on which abortion is permitted in Myanmar

                  To save the life of the woman                      Yes

                  To preserve physical health                          No

                  To preserve mental health                            No

                  Rape or incest                                               No

                  Foetal impairment                                          No

                  Economic or social reasons                           No

                  Available on request                                       No

The law on abortion in Myanmar

Under the Penal Code of Myanmar, abortion is illegal and any person performing an abortion is subject to up to three years’ imprisonment and/or payment of a fine.  A woman who induces her own abortion is subject to the same penalties. However, a pregnancy may be legally terminated in good faith to save the life of the pregnant woman, this is decided by the senior obstetrician or gynecologist at public health facilities.

Safe abortion

If done in a medical facility with trained healthcare providers abortion is safe, and serious complications are rare. However, abortions performed by quacks who do not have the right knowledge, skills and equipment for reproductive health are very dangerous. In Myanmar unsafe abortion contributes significantly to maternal mortality. There are different types of abortion, some through taking medication and some through minor surgery.

Post-abortion care is legal and allowed in Myanmar. Complications of unsafe abortion are a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in Myanmar, and are recognised by the Myanmar Ministry of Health as a priority health care issue. In fact, the Ministry of Health is working with township medical officers to increase access to post-abortion care and is training midwives to provide these services. So, if you have had an abortion, and you feel something is wrong, you should go to the nearest health centre for post abortion care. This post abortion care can help you to prevent infections and bleeding which are dangerous for your health and can lead to infertility.