Choosing the contraception that’s right for your body and lifestyle is most important.  

We know that cost can also be a big factor, so this month we take a look at the cost of contraception at Family Planning.

The appointment costs for New Zealand residents are:

• Under 22: Free
• 22 and over, with Community Services Card: $5
• 22 and over, with no Community Services Card: $40

You might also need to pay for some services and items. Other items are free with a prescription. Let’s have a look at them:

Condoms

Male Condoms
Free with a prescription
Lasts for: Use a new condom every time you have sex. Check the expiry date.
Without a prescription, condoms can cost between $12.00 and $20.00 for a box of 12.

Female Condoms
$3.10 online for each condom
Lasts for: Use a new condom every time you have sex. Check the expiry date.

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Methods (LARCs)

Mirena or Jaydess Hormonal IUD
Free for New Zealand citizens and residents
Lasts for: 3-5 years

Copper IUD
No extra cost
Lasts for: 5-10 years

Jadelle Contraceptive Implant
No extra cost
Lasts for: 5 years
If you are 22 or older and don’t have a Community Services Card, there is a $10 dressing fee.

Depo Provera Injection
No extra cost
Lasts for: 12 weeks

Oral Contraceptive Pill

Free with a prescription (with some exceptions)
Lasts for: 6 month supply
Some types of the pill aren’t funded and may cost about $100

Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP)

No extra cost at a Family Planning appointment. Free with a prescription
Lasts for: Only protects up to 3 days after unprotected sex
You can buy it at a pharmacy without a prescription. This will cost between $35 and $50.

*These costs are for New Zealand residents. They may be different if you are not a resident.

DO I REALLY NEED A PRESCRIPTION…?

Having an appointment and getting a prescription is usually the cheapest way to get condoms and ECP.

CONDOMS

You can buy condoms without a prescription from supermarkets, dairies, pharmacies and lots of other places. They cost between $12 and $20 for a box of 12.

Or you can come and see us for a prescription. With a prescription, you can get condoms from a pharmacy for free. 

You can get a prescription or buy condoms at any age, even if you’re under 16.

ECP

You can buy the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) without a prescription from pharmacies. They can cost between $35 and $50 for one pill.

Or you can visit one of our clinics, where you will be given a free ECP. If you’re 22 or older, you’ll just need to pay for your appointment. We can also give you a prescription for one or two ECPs to take home, for free.

GETTING A PRESCRIPTION JUST GOT EASIER

We offer phone appointments for some services. This means you talk to a nurse on the phone, just like you would at a clinic.

In your phone appointment, the nurse can help you with:

• A prescription for the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP)
• A prescription for boxes of condoms

The nurse will send the prescription to a pharmacy near you, and you can pick it up. The pharmacy might charge you a 'fax fee', which is usually between $3 and $5.

The costs for a phone appointment are the same for a clinic appointment, but it can save you travel or parking costs, so it might be a cheaper option.

You can also have a phone appointment for some of our other services:

• Pre-IUD appointment advice
• Pre-implant appointment advice
• Getting you a repeat pill prescription
• Talking about your contraception options

WORK AND INCOME Support

Work and Income may be able to help with the cost of some long action contraception. There is lots of information on their website about ways they may be able to help.

These costs were updated on 1 July 2019 and are accurate at that time.