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Mexico: Difference between revisions

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'''OVERVIEW'''  
'''OVERVIEW'''  


In Mexico, laws and social stigmas vary depending on the city. For example, Mexico City is the only Mexican city that legally permits abortion. You can purchase contraception, including contraception, at pharmacies without a prescription, as well as many medications in Mexico.  
In Mexico, laws and social stigmas vary, depending on the state and city. You can purchase contraception, including contraception, at pharmacies without a prescription, as well as many medications in Mexico. There are also a variety of hospitals and clinics available, both in the public and private sector. As of 2019, abortion is legal in Mexico City and the state of Oaxaca.<ref name="oaxaca_abortion">[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/26/we-have-made-history-mexicos-oaxaca-state-decriminalises-abortion 'We have made history': Mexico's Oaxaca state decriminalises abortion]</ref>


==Contraception (Birth Control)==
==Contraception (Birth Control)==
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===Laws & Social Stigmas===
===Laws & Social Stigmas===


You can obtain birth control over the counter (no prescription) needed in Mexico. However, oral contraceptives are not the most popular form of contraception in Mexico. It is estimated that 70%-78% of women of fertility age in Mexico use some form of modern contraception with sterilization being the most common, followed by IUD and then oral contraceptives. In rural areas, it is estimated that 44% of Mexican women use some form of modern birth control.  
You can obtain many forms of birth control, such as pills and condoms, over the counter (no prescription needed) in Mexico. For other forms of contraception, such as IUDs, you will need to visit a health care provider.
 
In 2015, it was estimated that about 73% of women in Mexico (who were married/in unions and between ages 15 to 49) used any form of birth control, including traditional methods, and about 11% of women had unmet family planning needs. The most common forms of contraception were female sterilization (about 36% of women) and IUDs (about 12% of women). This was followed by male condoms (about 7%) and contraceptive injectables (about 5%). Some women used traditional methods, such as the rhythm method (about 2%) and withdrawal (about 2%) as their primary form of contraception. There were relatively low rates of usage for male sterilization (about 2%) and practically no users of contraceptive implants (0.0%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref>


===What to Get & Where to Get It===
===What to Get & Where to Get It===


You can find oral contraception in most pharmacies. In Mexico, people say that there is a "farmacia" on almost every corner. Some recommended pharmacies include Benavides (though it is a bit expensive) or Jessica's (which is less expensive).
* In Mexico, you can find '''condoms''' ("condónes” in Spanish ) in most pharmacies.
 
* If you want '''birth control pills''' ("píldoras anticonceptivas” in Spanish), they can be found in most pharmacies. In Mexico, people say that there is a "farmacia" on almost every corner. Some recommended pharmacies include Benavides (though it is a bit expensive) or Jessica's (which is less expensive). Some pills you can expect to see are Belara, Cerazette, Cilest, Diana, Exluton, Femexin, Ginelea MD, Gynovin, Gynovin 20, Gynovin CD, Marveon, Mercilon, Microgynon CD, Microlut, Minesse, Minulet, Noraace, Nordette, Nordiol, Yasmin, etc.
Condoms can also be found in most pharmacies.
* If you want the '''contraceptive injectable''' ("anticonceptivo inyectable” in Spanish), you can find many brands in Mexico, including Anafertin, Cyclofem, Cyclofemina, Depo-Provera, Lutal 30, Lutalmin, Megestron, Megigyna, Noretisterona-Estradiol, Noristerat, Patector, Patector NF, Perlutal and Yectames.
* If you want a '''contraceptive implant''' ("implante anticonceptivo” in Spanish), you can find Implanon, Jadelle and Norplant in Mexico
* If you want an '''IUD''' ("DIU” in Spanish), you can find Mirena in Mexico.


===Costs===
===Costs===
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===What to Get & Where to Get It===
===What to Get & Where to Get It===


There are many emergency contraception pills available at Mexican pharmacies. For dedicated EC pills (take one pill within 120 hours), you can buy Ladiades 1.5, Postinor-2 Unidosis or Silogin 1.5mg. There are also other dedicated EC pills in which you take 2 in 120 hours, which include Alterna, Dreams, Glanique, Ladiades 0.75, Opportuna, PostDay, Postinor-2, Silogin 0.75mg and Vika. There are also many oral contraceptives available that women have used in place of birth control pills, such as Eugynon CD, Neogynon, Neogynon CD, Nordiol and Ovral (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). As an another alternative, there's Lorsax, Microgynon-30, Mithuri, Nordet, Nordette and Rigevidon (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later). There's also Femexin (take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later).
There are many emergency contraception pills available at Mexican pharmacies. For dedicated EC pills (take one pill within 120 hours), you can buy Ladiades 1.5, Postinor-2 Unidosis or Silogin 1.5mg. There are also other dedicated EC pills in which you take 2 in 120 hours, which include Alterna, Dreams, Glanique, Ladiades 0.75, Opportuna, PostDay, Postinor-2, Silogin 0.75mg and Vika. There are also many oral contraceptives available that women have used in place of birth control pills, such as Eugynon CD, Neogynon, Neogynon CD, Nordiol and Ovral (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). As an another alternative, there's Lorsax, Microgynon-30, Mithuri, Nordet, Nordette and Rigevidon (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later). There's also Femexin (take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later).<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/worldwide/ Princeton EC Website]</ref>


===Costs===
===Costs===
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===Laws & Social Stigmas===
===Laws & Social Stigmas===


Before couples get married in Mexico, they are required to be tested for STDs. If an STD is found, the partner must sign a waiver saying that they are aware that their partner has an STD.
There are no restrictions based on HIV status if you want to enter Mexico or live in Mexico.<ref>[http://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=121 MEXICO - REGULATIONS ON ENTRY, STAY AND RESIDENCE FOR PLHIV]</ref> However, before couples get married in Mexico, they are required to be tested for STDs. If an STD is found, the partner must sign a waiver saying that they are aware that their partner has an STD.
 
Regarding HPV, according to the HPV Information Centre, "Cervical cancer ranks as the 2nd most frequent cancer among women in Mexico and the 1st most frequent
cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. About 5.1% of women in the general population are estimated to harbour cervical HPV-16/18 infection at a given time, and 65.1% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18."<ref>[http://www.hpvcentre.net/statistics/reports/MEX_FS.pdf Mexico
Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers, Fact Sheet 2016]</ref>


===What to Get & Where to Get It===
===What to Get & Where to Get It===
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===What to Get & Where to Get It===
===What to Get & Where to Get It===


For yeast infections ("infección vaginal por levaduras" in Spanish), you can buy Alfumet, Afungil or Dofi, which are all versions of Fluconazole, at local pharmacies. No prescription is needed. The HPV vaccine is available in Mexico, and in 2011 the government issued a nationwide program to vaccinate all 9 year old girls. There is no currently no PreP in Mexico. However, for people with HIV/AIDS, if they cannot pay for their care, the Mexican government provides complete access to antiretroviral therapy. For those who can pay for their care, there are specialist centers, organizations and other options.
* For yeast infections ("infección vaginal por levaduras" in Spanish), you can buy Alfumet, Afungil or Dofi, which are all versions of Fluconazole, at local pharmacies. No prescription is needed. The HPV vaccine is available in Mexico, and in 2011 the government issued a nationwide program to vaccinate all 9 year old girls. There is no currently no PreP in Mexico. However, for people with HIV/AIDS, if they cannot pay for their care, the Mexican government provides complete access to antiretroviral therapy. For those who can pay for their care, there are specialist centers, organizations and other options.
 
* For treatment of gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis, you'll need to first visit a doctor.
For treatment of gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis, you'll need to first visit a doctor.
* There has been an HPV vaccination program in Mexico since 2008. It targets girls at at age 10.<ref>[http://www.hpvcentre.net/statistics/reports/MEX_FS.pdf Mexico
Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers, Fact Sheet 2016]</ref>
* There is currently no national PrEP program in Mexico.<ref>[http://www.prepwatch.org/ PrEPWatch World Map]</ref>


===Costs===
===Costs===
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===What to Get & Where to Get It===
===What to Get & Where to Get It===


While pads are easier to find, you should be able to find tampons at most major supermarkets (with and without applicators). It's supposed to be more difficult to "Super Plus" tampons, but they may be available at Mega supermarkets. There are no local sellers of DivaCup or Mooncup, so those products should be purchased online.
While pads are easier to find, you should be able to find tampons at most major supermarkets (with and without applicators). It's supposed to be more difficult to "Super Plus" tampons, but they may be available at Mega supermarkets. As for menstrual cups, you can purchase Lunette from [http://www.alternativasecologicas.mx/index.php Alternatives Ecologicas]. There are no local sellers of DivaCup, Mooncup or LadyCup in Mexico, so those brands should be purchased online.


===Costs===
===Costs===
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===Laws & Social Stigmas===
===Laws & Social Stigmas===


Abortion law in Mexico City is the most liberal in all of Mexico. In [[Mexico City]], you can get an abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (i.e. first trimester). However, in all other 31 states of Mexico, abortion is only permitted for rape victims. Some states also allow abortion in cases of genetic malformation of the baby, but exact laws vary.
As of September 2019, abortion is legal in two places in Mexico: Mexico City and the state of Oaxaca. In [[Mexico City]], you can get an abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (i.e. first trimester). Meanwhile, Oaxaca decriminalized abortion in September 2019,<ref name="oaxaca_abortion" /> but the resources and regulations around this legal change are still to be determined. However, in many states of Mexico, abortion is only permitted for rape victims. Some states also allow abortion in cases of genetic malformation of the baby, but exact laws vary.


===What to Get & Where to Get It===
===What to Get & Where to Get It===
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==List of Additional Resources==
==List of Additional Resources==
* [https://www.gob.mx/salud/en Secretaría de Salud (Secretary of Health)]: The government department in charge of all social health services in Mexico.
* [https://mexfam.org.mx/ MEXFAM - Fundación Mexicana para la Planeación Familiar]: "MEXFAM works in 25 of the 32 Mexican states. It runs 85 service points, including 19 permanent clinics, 63 mobile facilities and through partnerships with 3 associate clinics. MEXFAM covers the full gamut of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs and issues, including contraception, antenatal/post-natal care, maternal and child health, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS, and information and education programmes. There is a particular bias towards serving those communities not reached by the government’s programme, including the economically disadvantaged, the rural poor, young people and men."
* [https://www.dkt.com.mx/index.php DKT International - Mexico]: "DKT Mexico offers an increasingly wide range of contraceptives and works with distributors that stock supermarkets, drugstores and wholesalers to ensure that people from rural areas have easy access to contraceptives. Its condom brand Prudence is the top-selling condom brand in Mexico." Address: Miguel Ángel de Quevedo #696, Col. Villa Coyoacán, CDMX , C.P. 04000. Teléfono: 5245 1211. Email: contacto@dkt.com.mx
* [http://www.equaldex.com/region/mexico Equaldex Mexico]: Click here to learn about LGBTQ rights and laws in Mexico. Note that homosexuality is legal in Mexico and it is legal to change gender (but surgery is required).


==References==
==References==

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