Young people in Ireland aged between 17 and 35 can access prescribed contraception free of charge under a national health scheme, according to the Health Services Executive.
Users need a Personal Public Service Number and a GP appointment to determine the correct medication, as individual physiological responses vary.
Ireland ranks sixth in the Contraception Policy Atlas Europe 2026, which highlights stark differences in availability across the continent. While Western European nations offer broader subsidies, Eastern European countries often lack national health system coverage for contraceptives, particularly for young populations and minority groups.
Observational research from Yale University indicates that oral contraception users face an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders compared to non-users. Researchers Julia Ciarcia and Laura M. Huckins said that because many users report stable moods—such as individuals managing conditions like endometriosis—overall statistical averages often mask the severe impact on vulnerable minorities.
“[O]bservational studies comparing OC users to non-users have reported increases in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders,” Julia Ciarcia and Laura M, Huckins said, adding that “for the individuals who are affected by negative side effects, the impact is not insignificant.”
A separate study conducted in Sweden linked the first two years of oral contraceptive use with a 71 percent higher risk of developing depression, with teenagers facing an even greater vulnerability.
Maia Kelly Murphy, a Junior Sophister Film student, told The University Times that she started the pill because of its accessibility and immediate effects, but unexpected mood swings soon disrupted her daily life. “[M]ood swings hit her unexpectedly, debilitating her in everyday life,” The University Times reported of Murphy’s experience before she switched to a different prescription.
Dearbhail Loughran, a Junior Fresher Ancient History & Archaeology student, used the pill to treat acne rather than for contraception. “[W]omen’s health is not researched and resourced enough, and [the pill] is kind of the go-to for multiple conditions (period, contraception, skin) maybe too quickly,” Loughran told The University Times.
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