New Contraceptives Added to Australia’s PBS

NuvaRing will join PBS from November.

File photo dated 16/11/09 of a pharmacist stocking shelves at a chemist t Julien Behal/PA Wire

New government measures will help Australian women have access to cheaper and more diverse contraceptive options from Nov. 1.

The NuvaRing, a monthly contraceptive device, will be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), reducing annual costs from more than $270 to $31.60 per script, or $7.70 for concession card holders.

Each script provides three months of supply, and from January 2026, prices will drop further to a $25 cap under the government’s affordability reforms.

NuvaRing is a flexible vaginal ring that releases estrogen and progestogen to prevent ovulation and is used on a monthly cycle. Around 44,500 women accessed similar contraceptives under the PBS last year.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the move aims to remove both financial and practical barriers to contraception.

Medicare Changes to Cut Costs

There will also be changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), making long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)—such as IUDs and birth control implants—more affordable.

The reforms are expected to help around 300,000 women each year, saving up to $400 annually in out-of-pocket expenses.

A 40 percent bulk-billing incentive will be offered to encourage doctors to provide these services, particularly in regional and remote areas.

The government will also fund free training programs for health professionals in IUD insertion and removal to address shortages in qualified practitioners.

Australia’s LARC uptake remains among the lowest in the developed world, for reasons often linked to limited access, higher costs, and lack of practitioner availability.

Knowledge Gaps Persist

Affordability is only part of the problem. A 2024 national survey of women aged 18 to 45 found 70 percent of respondents felt under-informed about contraception options, and 32 percent of young women said they often felt anxious about their current method.

The survey also found 35 percent had experienced a pregnancy scare and 38 percent had used emergency contraception.

Dr. Lara Roeske, chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said GPs were central to improving women’s contraceptive confidence.

“GPs play a vital role in contraception and sexual healthcare, including advising patients on which contraceptive methods might be best for them, and performing intrauterine device (IUD) insertions and removals,” Roeske said.

RACGP and Bayer ANZ are calling for a national education campaign to tackle misinformation, with one in five young women now relying on social media for contraception information.

Bayer ANZ CEO Manoj Saxena argued more investment was needed to address inequities in access to LARCs.

“By investing in LARC, we have the opportunity to generate health savings and limit the far-reaching impact of unplanned pregnancies for women, their families and the health system.”