How birth control access works in Korea
Birth control is legal in South Korea and the main methods used elsewhere are available here. Condoms are sold in convenience stores and pharmacies. Daily birth control pills are sold at pharmacies. Ask the pharmacist whether the brand you use needs a prescription in Korea.
Emergency contraception works differently from the United States, Canada and most of Europe. In Korea every emergency contraceptive pill requires a prescription. You need to see a doctor at an obstetrics and gynecology clinic or an emergency department first, then fill the prescription at a pharmacy. A published study of Korean emergency department records from 2019 to 2021 notes that the pill itself cost roughly 10 to 30 US dollars at the pharmacy at the time, while an emergency department visit added about 100 dollars in fees that were paid out of pocket. A daytime clinic visit is the cheaper route.
IUDs and the contraceptive implant are placed by a doctor at a gynecology clinic or hospital. You do not need a referral.
Hormonal IUD or copper IUD
An IUD is a small T-shaped device placed inside the uterus. There are two families. A hormonal IUD releases a small amount of progestogen inside the uterus. Brands include Mirena, Kyleena and Jaydess, and depending on the brand they are approved for 3 to 8 years of use. A copper IUD contains no hormones and is approved for up to 10 years.
Both types are more than 99 percent effective, meaning fewer than 1 in 100 women using one will become pregnant in a year. They work from the day of insertion when fitted at the right point in your cycle, and fertility returns as soon as the device is removed. Neither type protects against sexually transmitted infections, so condoms are still needed for that purpose.
The difference you will notice is in your periods. A hormonal IUD tends to make periods lighter and shorter, and some women stop having periods. For the first 3 to 6 months bleeding can be irregular or more frequent. A copper IUD does not change your hormones, but it can make periods heavier and more painful for some women. The copper IUD can also be fitted as emergency contraception within 5 days of unprotected sex, and NHS guidance rates it as the most effective form of emergency contraception.
Which type suits you depends on your bleeding pattern, your medical history and whether you want to avoid hormones. A hormonal IUD may not be suitable if you have had breast cancer or certain liver conditions. This page is general information and is not a diagnosis; a consultation is needed to decide whether a procedure suits you.
Before the insertion visit
The doctor takes a short history, asks about your cycle and previous pregnancies, and confirms that you are not pregnant, which may mean a pregnancy test. You may also be offered STI testing, since an untreated infection raises the risk of pelvic infection after insertion. Whether a test is required, and which one, is decided at consultation.
Bring the name of any contraception you are using now, the date of your last period and a list of regular medication. Timing in the cycle matters for how soon the device protects you, so tell the clinic when your period is due when you book.
Most women have some cramping during insertion. Taking a standard dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen about an hour before the appointment can help with the cramping afterward. Local numbing options exist for the fitting itself; whether one is used is discussed at consultation. If you are worried about pain, say so before the appointment.
What happens at insertion
The fitting itself usually takes 5 to 10 minutes; allow at least half an hour for the appointment. You lie as you would for a Pap test. The doctor places a speculum, cleans the cervix, measures the depth of the uterus with a thin instrument, and then slides the IUD into place through a narrow tube. The threads attached to the device are trimmed so that they sit just inside the vagina.
Some clinics check the position of the device with a pelvic ultrasound afterward. Whether that check is included, and when a follow-up visit is scheduled, is stated in your written plan. You can usually go back to normal activities the same day.
A copper IUD protects you from the day it is fitted. A hormonal IUD protects you from the day it is fitted if it is placed within the first 5 days of your period. Outside that window you need to use condoms or another method for 7 days. Your doctor will tell you which applies.
Side effects and when to call
Serious problems are rare. The device can be pushed out of the uterus, most often in the first few months, which is why the doctor shows you how to feel for the threads. If you cannot feel them, or you can feel the plastic of the device, use another form of contraception and arrange a check. Very rarely the device can pass through the wall of the uterus during insertion. Pelvic infection is most likely in the first three weeks after fitting.
Call the clinic, or go to an emergency department if the clinic is closed, if you have severe lower abdominal pain that does not settle with painkillers, a fever, an unusual discharge, new pain during sex, or a positive pregnancy test with an IUD in place.
Hormonal IUD users sometimes report headaches, acne, breast tenderness or mood changes in the first months. There is not enough evidence to say the device causes them, and they often settle. Results and recovery vary from person to person.
Removal, replacement and IUDs placed abroad
Any trained doctor can remove an IUD at any time. Removal is usually quicker than insertion: the doctor finds the threads and draws the device out with gentle traction. A new one can be placed at the same visit. If you want to become pregnant, you can try as soon as the device is out. If you do not, and are not replacing the device, use condoms or another method for the 7 days before removal.
Expats often arrive with an IUD that was placed in another country. Bring the brand name and insertion date so the doctor can tell you when it expires. If you do not know the brand, an ultrasound can show the device and its position, and the doctor can usually identify the type from its shape.
If the threads cannot be seen at the cervix, the doctor checks with ultrasound that the device is still in the uterus before attempting removal. Occasionally a device that has moved or embedded needs removal in a hospital setting.
What an IUD costs in Korea
The device, the insertion visit and any tests are usually separate items, and fees differ between clinics, which is why a search for "IUD Korea" price turns up such different numbers. Whether Korea's National Health Insurance covers any part depends on your enrollment status and on the reason for insertion, and the clinic confirms this for your case at consultation. At Podo the fee list and the way quotes are written are explained on the pricing and insurance page.
If you have private or employer health insurance from home, check whether contraception is a covered benefit before you book. Whether a procedure is reimbursed depends on your policy. The documents we prepare for international insurers are listed on the pricing and insurance page.
Booking a consultation in English in Gangnam
Gangnam Podo Women's Clinic is a women's clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, focused on gynecologic surgery and pelvic floor care. Consultations are available in English. All three doctors are board-certified specialists in obstetrics and gynecology, and two of the clinic's three OB-GYN specialists are women. If you want an English-speaking gynecologist for a contraception consultation, a gynecology clinic in Korea does not require a referral.
All types of IUD can be inserted at Podo on the day of your visit. Contraception counseling is part of the routine gynecology Podo provides for foreign patients, so you can talk through the options with the doctor first. Whether a pre-insertion test is needed and what the visit costs are confirmed at consultation and stated in a written plan before anything is done. English documents, clinic hours and directions are covered when you write to the clinic.
Questions
Is birth control legal in South Korea?
Yes. Condoms, daily pills, IUDs, the implant and emergency contraception are all available. Emergency contraceptive pills need a prescription from a doctor, which is different from the United States and much of Europe.
Can I get a Mirena or copper IUD in Korea?
Yes. Hormonal IUDs such as Mirena and Kyleena and copper IUDs are placed at gynecology clinics in Korea. At Podo, all types of IUD can be inserted on the day of your visit.
Can I have an IUD inserted on the day of my consultation?
At Podo, all types of IUD can be inserted on the day of your visit. The doctor first takes your history and confirms that the timing in your cycle suits the device.
How long does IUD insertion take?
The fitting usually takes 5 to 10 minutes, with the whole appointment lasting about half an hour. Cramping and light spotting for a few days afterward are common.
When does an IUD start working?
A copper IUD works from the day it is fitted. A hormonal IUD works from the day it is fitted if placed within the first 5 days of your period; otherwise use condoms or another method for 7 days.
Can a Korean clinic remove an IUD that was inserted in another country?
Yes. Bring the brand name and the insertion date if you have them. If the threads cannot be seen, the doctor checks the device's position with ultrasound before removing it.
Does Korean health insurance cover an IUD?
It depends on whether you are enrolled and on the reason for insertion. The clinic confirms which fee items apply to your case at consultation, before anything is done.
Sources
- NHS: IUD (copper coil)
- NHS: IUD (copper coil), getting it fitted or removed
- NHS: IUS (hormonal coil)
- ACOG FAQ: Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC): IUD and Implant
- NHS: Emergency contraception
- Medicine (Baltimore) 2023, via PMC: Emergency contraceptive provision in the emergency department in South Korea
About the reviewer
Dr. Mo Hyung-jin, MD, PhD, board-certified OB-GYN specialist, is the medical director of Podo Women's Clinic. He developed the pelvic ligament suspension technique used at the clinic for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Profile