- Abortion legal status
- Legal
- Emergency number
- 112
Updated July 2026
Good to know
Good to Know
- The emergency contraceptive pill ('pilule du lendemain') is free at any French pharmacy, no prescription or ID needed to ask for it — including at Val Thorens' single resort pharmacy in Galerie Péclet.
- Regular prescription contraception (pill, IUD, implant) is fully free for anyone under 26 enrolled in French health insurance, but most visiting nomads won't have that coverage and should budget for a doctor's visit plus standard pharmacy pricing.
- Val Thorens is a small resort without its own dedicated sexual-assault support center — national hotlines (SOS Viols Femmes, Violence Femmes Info, France Victimes) and the Ma Sécurité online chat are the practical first points of contact, and can refer you to the nearest regional service.
- Outside the pharmacy's posted hours, call 15 (SAMU) to be directed to the on-duty pharmacy serving the area.
- There is no dedicated OBGYN or women's health clinic actually in Val Thorens itself — for anything beyond what a general practitioner can handle, expect to travel down the valley to Les Menuires or, more realistically, to the hospital in Moûtiers.
- Abortion care in France is free at the point of care through the social security system, and elective abortion is legal on request up to 14 weeks of pregnancy (about 16 weeks of pregnancy); medication abortion (the pill-based method) is only an option up to 9 weeks.
- In winter, road access down from Val Thorens to Moûtiers can be affected by snow/weather, so build in extra travel-time buffer if you need to reach the hospital for any time-sensitive women's health matter.
In Town Val Thorens
Dr Arnaud / Dr Buffaud
- Type
- General practitioners (traumatology and general medicine); open winter and summer seasons
- Address
- 51 rue du Slalom, Val Thorens
- Note
- Not gynecology specialists, but can provide basic care, prescriptions (e.g. emergency contraception), and referrals.
Médical Clinic (Val Thorens)
- Type
- General medical/dental practice, open in winter and by appointment the rest of the year
- Address
- 51 rue du Slalom, Val Thorens
- Note
- General practice, not a dedicated OBGYN clinic.
Nearby Valley Options
Centre Médical Du Pelvoux — Drs Girod and Henry
- Type
- General practitioners specialized in traumatology, gynecology, and general medicine; open year-round
- Address
- 169 rue des Flocons, La Croisette, Les Menuires
- Distance From Val Thorens
- Neighboring resort in the same Belleville valley, roughly a 15-20 minute drive
Centre Hospitalier Albertville-Moûtiers (CHAM), Moûtiers Site
- Type
- Public hospital with a gynecology-obstetrics department, plus specialist gynecology consultations
- Address
- 43 rue de l'École des Mines, 73600 Moûtiers
- Distance From Val Thorens
- About 21 km, roughly 30-40 minutes by road
- Note
- This is the main referral hospital for the Tarentaise valley and the most realistic option for abortion care, OBGYN consultations, or pregnancy-related emergencies for anyone staying in Val Thorens.
National Abortion Law
- Cost
- €0.00
Abortion care in France has been covered by the national social security system since 1982, meaning it is provided free of charge to the patient, including for non-residents accessing the public system, though a foreign visitor's exact reimbursement path can depend on their insurance/EHIC/travel-insurance status.
- Country
- France
- Legal Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Who Can Perform
- Abortions may be performed by a physician or, since 2016/2022 reforms, by a trained midwife; midwives may perform medical abortions and, since a 2022 law, surgical abortions within a health facility.
- Conscience Clause
- Individual physicians may refuse to perform an abortion via a legal 'conscience clause,' but they are legally required to immediately refer the patient to another practitioner or facility in the surrounding area that will provide the care.
- Consent And Process
- Since the 2022 reform, there is no mandatory reflection/waiting period for either adults or minors, and minors no longer need parental consent (a rule in place since 2001). A pre-abortion informational consultation on methods and contraception is offered and is optional for adults but mandatory for minors.
- Constitutional Status
- France became the first country to guarantee a constitutional right to abortion when President Macron signed the amendment into law on 8 March 2024, following a 780-72 vote in a joint session of Parliament on 4 March 2024.
Access Routes
- Public or private hospitals with a gynecology-obstetrics department
- Sexual health centers / family planning centers ("centres de planification et d'éducation familiale") and EVARS (Espaces Vie Affective, Relationnelle et Sexuelle)
- Telemedicine consultation for early medication abortion
- A national abortion information line/portal (ivg.gouv.fr) that lists approved local providers
Abortion Time Limits
- Beyond 14 Weeks
- Termination beyond the on-request limit ("IMG" / termination for medical reasons) remains possible without a strict upper abortion time limit in cases of serious fetal abnormality or danger to the mother's life or health, decided by a multidisciplinary medical team together with the patient.
- Surgical Abortion
- Used from roughly 9 weeks up to the 14-week legal limit.
- Medication Abortion
- Available up to 9 weeks of pregnancy (this was extended from 7 weeks during the Covid period); it can be done at home without hospitalization and can be initiated via a remote/telemedicine appointment.
- Elective Abortion On Request
- Up to the end of the 14th week of pregnancy (equivalent to about 16 weeks of pregnancy counted from the last menstrual period).
Emergency Numbers
Police (National Emergency Line)
- Number
- 17
- Notes
- Free, 24/7.
European Emergency Number (Police / Fire / Ambulance)
- Number
- 112
- Notes
- Free, 24/7.
SMS-only Emergency Line
- Number
- 114
- Notes
- For use when you cannot safely make a voice call, or if you are deaf/hard of hearing.
SAMU (Medical Emergency Dispatch)
- Number
- 15
- Notes
- Used locally to reach the on-duty pharmacy or medical help outside normal hours (posted on the door of Val Thorens' pharmacy).
National Hotlines
SOS Viols Femmes Informations
- Number
- 0800 05 95 95
- Operator
- Collectif Féministe Contre le Viol (CFCV)
- Notes
- Free rape and sexual assault crisis helpline.
Violence Femmes Info
- Number
- 3919
- Notes
- Widely used official French national number for women facing violence, including sexual violence; usable from anywhere in France.
National Victim Support Helpline (France Victimes Network)
- Number
- 116 006
- Hours
- 7 days a week, 9am–8pm
- Notes
- EU-wide number; connects to a network of local victim-support associations.
Ma Sécurité — Sexual/Gender-Based Violence Reporting Portal
- Access
- Online chat (masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr)
- Notes
- Run by French national police/gendarmerie; anonymous live chat with an officer trained in gendered violence, available 24/7.
Contraception Access
- Scope Note
- Female-method contraception only (pill, IUD/implant, emergency contraception) per category scope.
Local Pharmacy
- Name
- Pharmacie "Les 3 Vallées"
- Location
- Galerie Péclet, Quartier Grande Rue, centre of Val Thorens resort
- Notes
- The resort's on-site pharmacy; outside opening hours, call 15 for the on-duty pharmacy.
Pill IUD Implant
- Access
- Requires a prescription from a doctor or midwife (sage-femme); once prescribed, dispensed at any pharmacy, including Val Thorens' pharmacy.
- Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Prescription Required
- Yes
- Cost For Residents Under 26
- Fully covered (no upfront cost) under France's Assurance Maladie for anyone under 26 enrolled in French health insurance — includes the annual consultation, the pill (1st/2nd generation formulations), IUD, and implant.
- Cost For Residents 26 And Over
- Reimbursed at 65% by Assurance Maladie under normal conditions; the remainder is typically covered by private supplementary insurance (mutuelle) or paid out of pocket.
- Cost For Visitors Without French Insurance
- Nomads/tourists without French Assurance Maladie coverage generally do not qualify for the free/reduced-cost scheme and should expect to pay the pharmacy's standard retail price plus a doctor's consultation fee out of pocket.
Emergency Contraception
- Cost
- €0.00
- Access
- Available directly over the counter at any French pharmacy, no prescription required.
- Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Efficacy Window
- Best taken as soon as possible; the emergency pill can be used up to several days after unprotected sex depending on the type used, but effectiveness drops with delay.
- Notes
- Free of charge in pharmacies for anyone, and can be given anonymously to minors.
Val Thorens is a small, high-altitude ski resort with no resident OBGYN/gynecologist and no hospital of its own; the nearest dedicated gynecology-obstetrics care and abortion-providing facilities are down in the valley, roughly 30-45 minutes away by road depending on season and snow conditions.
Local Context
Val Thorens is a small high-altitude ski resort (year-round population is tiny outside winter season) with a small on-site medical center (Centre Médical) but no dedicated local rape crisis center, women's shelter, or specialized victim-support office. Support relies on France's national hotlines and reporting systems below, plus the local medical center/pharmacy and police for immediate needs.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.