Barriers to accessing contraception remain for older and marginalised women

Published: Tuesday, April 21, 2026

“I said, this is my second baby, and the nurse said to me, oh my God you’re not like the rest of them, at least you have got yourself on contraception” Patricia, Traveller women focus group

“I couldn’t read the leaflets” Alice, disabled women focus group 

“... because my GP knew I was queer, it was a question of, […] ‘Sure you’re gay, why would you need it?” Mia, LGBTIQ+ focus group

Nearly one in three women may experience barriers to access the Free Contraception Scheme according to new research published today (22nd April) by the National Women’s Council (NWC) and Trinity College Dublin (TCD). 

The ground-breaking Free Contraception Scheme has been in operation since 2022. In the interest of improving the service for all, the Department of Health commissioned this research to investigate the experiences of women accessing the scheme. In particular, it sought to understand marginalised groups’ awareness and knowledge of the Free Contraception Scheme (FCS) and their experiences of accessing contraception more broadly.

The research by NWC and Trinity College found that 31% of women experience barriers to the government’s Free Contraception Scheme. The researchers surveyed a sample of 500 women and ran four focus groups with: migrant women, LGBTIQ+ people, Traveller women, and disabled women. 36% of those who responded to the survey said they thought there were barriers to the scheme, with 31% of respondents having experienced barriers. 

The main barriers identified included being ineligible for the scheme, difficulties in accessing a GP, and not having access to information in a suitable format. Marginalised women identified a number of additional barriers:

• Migrant women had low awareness of the scheme, despite good awareness in the population overall. Disabled women highlighted that information was not readily available in accessible formats, or that access to services was limited. 
• There may be cultural beliefs shaping attitudes to contraception, which create barriers to access particularly in Traveller and migrant communities. Traveller women discussed the dynamics of coercive control and abuse when it comes to reproductive autonomy. These communities, alongside disabled women, also expressed discomfort at discussing contraception with male GPs
• Some Traveller women were reluctant to access the scheme due to previous experiences with the health system and resulting low trust. Past medical traumas around disabled women’s impairments and migrant women’s experiences of FGM were among reported impediments to accessing the FCS through healthcare providers. Intrusive questioning also featured for the LGBTIQ+ community. 

Dr Leigh-Ann Sweeney, Principal Investigator at Trinity College Dublin, said: 
“This research found that, despite many women now having access to free contraception, significant gaps remain. Lack of eligibility is the main barrier. Women over 35 are ineligible for the scheme as are asylum seekers and undocumented women. In addition, there are many barriers that concern access to the healthcare system in general. This particularly applies to marginalised women. For example, migrant women are less aware the scheme exists. Disabled women are not all finding the information in accessible formats. LGBTIQ+ people are encountering intrusive questions from medical professionals.” 

Corrinne Hasson, Executive Director of NWC, said: 
“Access to contraception is recognised internationally as a fundamental human right, essential for gender equality, bodily autonomy, and health. It empowers individuals to decide the number and spacing of their children and prevents unintended pregnancies. The Free Contraception Scheme has been a gamechanger for women’s reproductive health in Ireland. But too many women still face barriers in accessing this essential service. NWC is calling for all eligibility requirements to be removed so that everyone who needs contraception can access it. In addition, information should be produced in multiple languages and accessible formats to reach migrant and disabled women. We are also calling for gender sensitivity training that would include anti-racism, anti-bias, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, and cultural competency training should be rolled out across our health services. We look forward to working with the Department of Health and the HSE to ensure this ground-breaking scheme reaches everyone who needs it.”

Find the full report here: https://www.nwci.ie/learn/publication/an_investigation_into_womens_experiences_of_the_free_contraception_sch