The Comprehensive Guide to Cost of Birth Control in Malaysia

Hello women and men who live alongside women. Today, let’s learn about the options and costs of birth control in Malaysia.

This guide is divided into the following sections: 

• Section one: preventative (how to avoid getting pregnant), 
• Section two: access to emergency contraception (where to get morning-after pill), and
• Section three: how and where to get an abortion in Malaysia (I don’t want you to get to this stage but I’d rather you not die with DIY methods, so)

I wrote this article in collaboration with Jasmine King, sex-positive advocate and Let’s Red Talks, a Twitter-based sex education group. Aside from birth control, they also talk about periods, reproductive health and all those good stuff. 

Some notes:

• All cost figures are estimates, based on multiple sources, including Reddit threads (like this one and this one). It varies depending on the type of institution you go to – pharmacies, public/private hospitals or local/specialist clinics. 
• Birth control IS NOT the same thing as STD (sexually-transmitted disease) or STI (sexually-transmitted infection) prevention. Only abstinence and condoms help prevent STDs and STIs.
• Access to birth control is legal in Malaysia. There are no official laws stipulating certain marital status is required. Any doctor that denies you simply because you’re unmarried has no right to do so. If they refuse to provide services, simply go to another doctor who is unbiased

Without further ado, scroll down to the sections you need. 

Section one: Preventative birth control in Malaysia

The methods are sorted from least to most costly. Data about effectiveness were taken from the Planned Parenthood website. 

#0 – Abstinence, the rhythm method or the withdrawal method

What is it:

• Abstinence method: Much like its name, this is when an individual completely abstains from having sexual intercourse.
• Rhythm method: This is when an individual tracks their reproductive cycle to see when their fertile window is. The “fertile window” is when a female is most vulnerable to pregnancy due because those days are near when ovulation would occur. “Ovulation” is when the egg is released from the ovary. Those who use the rhythm method would engage in sexual intercourse during the days which are not part of their fertile window.
• The withdrawal method: Also known as the “pull-out method”, this is when the male would ejaculate outside of the vagina to avoid a pregnancy from occuring.

Cost: None, but taking a test to find out ovulation period for the rhythm method can cost you RM12 to RM20 per test

Effectiveness: 

• Abstinence: 100% if there’s no sexual activity. But the reality is ‘intentions to abstain from sexual activity often fail’
• The rhythm method: 76-88% effective
• The withdrawal or pull-out method: 78% effective

The theory behind these methods make sense, but don’t rely on them. If you’re sexually active, add on another birth control method. See #1-7 below. 

#1 – Condoms

What is it: The male condom is used over the man’s erect penis. It may be made of latex, polyurethane or polyisoprene. For those allergic to latex, there are specialised condoms made of lambskin available. It is the most common contraceptive used by couples worldwide.

The condom is the only form of birth control method that not only prevents pregnancy but also the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI) like HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea. 

Note: Female condoms exist, but not available/sold in Malaysia as far as we could tell.

Effectiveness: 85% and even LOWER if you don’t know how to put it on correctly

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Did you know that buying a condom is just the first step against protection against HIV/AIDS? The most crucial step to make sure you’re fully protected is knowing how to use it! Check out my step by step guide on how to use a condom plus some facts and figures on HIV/AIDS. While you’re at it, why don’t you join me in fighting against AIDS and #givethegiftoflife by showing your support and purchasing @durexmalaysia products at the Durex Flagship Store on Lazada? Thanks for watching!

A post shared by Jasmine King // Sex Education (@ohheymissking) on Apr 30, 2019 at 7:53am PDT

Cost of condoms in Malaysia: 

• Male condoms: Ranges from RM6 for a 3-pack box, RM20 per 12-pack box and onwards. Sometimes even distributed for free at health clinics.

Where to get it: Pharmacies, convenience stores or online stores like Lazada or Shoppee. Always buy well-known trusted brands like Durex or One Condoms.

#2 – Birth control pills (Oral Contraception)

What is it: Birth control pills are a kind of medicine with hormones to stop ovulation. No ovulation means there’s no egg hanging around for sperm to fertilise, so pregnancy can’t happen.

Birth control pills come in one pack (either for 21 days or 28 days) and need to be taken daily and exactly at the same time for it to be fully effective. It is usually taken for the next 21 days after your period has ended. 

When a pack is finished, you take a break for 7 days (to allow the period to happen) before starting a new pack/box. Some brands have 28 pills in them, with 7 pills being placebo pills – pills with no hormones, taken only by those who have problems keeping track of when they need to take the new box.

Effectiveness: 91%

Cost of birth control pills in Malaysia:

• Pharmacies: RM10-55 per month (1 box supply)
• At government clinics: FREE or RM1 (Locations of Klinik Nur Sejahtera)

Where to get it: Pharmacies. Ask for Yaz, Yasmin and Dienille (latest one in the market; can be found in Caring Pharmacy).  EDIT: See the comments section for feedback from readers

#3 – Birth control shot/injection

What is it: The birth control shot, Depo-Provera, is a hormonal injection that prevents unplanned pregnancy for three months at a time. The hormone in this shot is progestin.

The birth control shot works similarly to the birth control pill. It prevents ovulation and increases the mucus buildup around the opening of the cervix.

Effectiveness: 94%

Cost of birth control shot in Malaysia: 

• RM18-36 per shot (effective for up to 3 months per shot)
• At government clinics: FREE or RM1 (Locations of Klinik Nur Sejahtera)

Where to get it: Private clinics, OBGYN or government clinics.

#4 – IUD

What is it: “IUD” stands for “intrauterine device”. It’s shaped like a “T”, a bit bigger than a 5 cents coin and fits inside your uterus. Pregnancy is prevented by stopping the sperm from reaching and fertilising the eggs. Once inserted, it can last from 3 to 10 years depending on what kind of IUD you have gotten. 

Effectiveness: 99%

Cost of IUD in Malaysia: 

• Hormonal IUD: RM80-110 (effective for up to 3-6 years, depending on the brand). Removing it will cost approx RM20
• Copper IUD: RM600 at a specialist centre (effective for up to 10-12 years)
• At government clinics: FREE or RM1 (Locations of Klinik Nur Sejahtera)

Where to get it: Private clinics, OBGYN or government clinics.

#5 – Hormonal implants

What is it: Hormonal implant or contraceptive implant is a tiny tube which is placed (‘implanted) under the skin of the upper arm. It releases hormones that significantly reduce the chance of pregnancy

Effectiveness: 99%

Cost of hormonal implants in Malaysia: RM500 (effective for up to 3 years). Removing it will cost approx RM100.

Where to get it: Private clinics, OBGYN or government clinics.

#6 – Vasectomy

What is it: Sterilisation method for men; minor surgery which blocks sperm from leaving the testis

Effectiveness: 99%

Cost of vasectomy is Malaysia: 

• RM300-500 (under LPPKN; call them for more info) EDIT: doesn’t appear to be an easy process. See comments section
• RM2k-6k for private (based on RoR readers)

Where to get it: Private or government medical centres

#7 – Tubal Ligation

What is it: Sterilisation method for women; surgery which blocks or removes part of the Fallopian tubes

Effectiveness: 99%

Cost of tubal ligation is Malaysia: 

• Unknown – please comment if you have the figures

Where to get it: Private or government medical centres

Section two: Access to emergency contraception in Malaysia

#1 – Morning-after pill (Plan B or Emergency Contraception)

What is it: Pill taken by the woman after exposure of semen in vagina, such as condom breakage. You have to take it up to 5 days after the incident. Not recommended to take it too often as there may be side effects. 

Effectiveness: It is estimated that Postinor-2 will prevent 85% of expected pregnancies. 95% of expected pregnancies will be prevented if taken within the first 24 hours, declining to 58% if taken between 48 hours and 72 hours after unprotected intercourse.

Cost of morning-after pill in Malaysia: RM5-RM53

Where to get it: Pharmacies. Ask for Postinor-2, Escapella or Ella.

Section three: how and where to get an abortion in Malaysia

Please visit the Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia page and this informative Reddit thread for medical and surgical abortion options. 

Cost of abortion in Malaysia: The abortion pills, for termination of pregnancies under 9 weeks, is RM350. We lack information on cost of surgical abortion in Malaysia (please comment if you have this info). EDIT: See the comments section

If its too late for abortion but you/your partner don’t want to keep the baby, please call Talian Kasih at 15999 so you can give them up for adoption. If anonymity is important, ask for locations of baby hatches to leave the baby behind in safe conditions.

Last words on birth control in Malaysia

Are you on birth control? Which one(s)? Why did you pick that option? Was it easy to get? How much was it? How did you discuss it with your partner (if you discuss at all).

Share your experience in the comments section. Information on birth control in Malaysia is not the easiest to get – I need your help to make this article more comprehensive.

Lastly, do check out and follow Jasmine King and Let’s Red Talks to learn more about this important topic. Feel free to share other sex education platforms you think is useful too.

Stay safe kids.