Bolivia: Difference between revisions

[[File:Flag of Bolivia (state).svg.png|300px | thumb|right|]]

In Bolivia, you can purchase birth control without a prescription. While you technically need a prescription to purchase EC, this does not seem to be widely enforced and locals report you can buy it without a prescription at pharmacies. There are no travel or residency restrictions attached to HIV status. If you can afford it, the best gynecologists are generally found at private hospitals. There is no PrEP program, but Bolivia does have a nationwide HPV vaccination program. There is a maternity leave policy but not paternity leave policy. Abortion is only permitted under very specific circumstances.

In Bolivia, contraception (birth control) is available without a prescription. It is estimated that about 62% of Bolivian women (who are married or in unions between the ages of 15 and 49) use some form of contraception and that 40% use a modern contraceptive method. Furthermore, it's estimated that 18% have unmet family planning needs. The most popular methods of contraception are the rhythm method (17.1%), injectables (13.6%), IUDs (10.1%), female sterilization (7.8%) and male condom (4.8%). Other methods include the pill and withdrawal, but they were used by only 4% of women on average.<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref>

* You can purchase '''birth control pills ("píldoras anticonceptivas")''' in Bolivia without a prescription. Some brands you can expect to see are Microgynon, Microgynon-30, Minigynon, Nordette and Norvetal. For birth control pill information from Marie Stopes Bolivia, click [http://www.mariestopes.org.bo/pildoras-anticonceptivas here].

* If you want the '''contraceptive implant ("implante")''', you can get the FEMPLANT at [http://www.mariestopes.org.bo/femplant-implante Marie Stopes].  

* If you want a contraceptive injectable ("inyectables"), you can get monthly or quarterly injectables at [http://www.mariestopes.org.bo/inyectables-hormonales Marie Stopes].

There are no travel restrictions tied to HIV status. This means that you can enter the country without a medical certificate. You can also import antiretroviral drugs.<ref>[http://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=30 BOLIVIA - REGULATIONS ON ENTRY, STAY AND RESIDENCE FOR PLHIV]</ref> However, if you want to apply for residency in Bolivia, you will probably be asked to take an HIV test as part of your application process. If you have a positive test result, we don't know if this will disqualify you.

Visit the city pages, like the [[La Paz]] page, for local recommendations.

In Bolivia, you can easily find pads. You'll find some tampons in certain supermarkets (especially in more urban areas, like La Paz), but they will typically be non-applicator tampons (like OB) and you won't find much variety. As for menstrual cups, you can probably buy them from [https://www.facebook.com/warmiyasi13/ Warmi Yasi], which is a Bolivian company that sells alternative and eco-conscious menstrual products. They can be reached through their [https://www.facebook.com/warmiyasi13/ Facebook page], phone (Call +591 72558332) or email (warmiyasi@gmail.com). There appears to be no official there appears to be no official sellers of major brands, like DivaCup, LadyCup or Lunette, so you should try to buy them online or find a small-scale boutique seller.

Visit the city pages, like the [[La Paz]] page, for local recommendations.

* [http://www.cies.org.bo/ CIES]: "We are a private non-profit social development organization that contributes to the exercise of the DSDR to improve the quality of life of Bolivian urban and rural population, with an emphasis on the one that lives in situations of vulnerability. We develop the CIES sexual and reproductive health promotion and assistance model, which has a comprehensive and innovative approach, with a gender, generational and intercultural approach."