Santiago

Chile / Central Chile / Santiago

OVERVIEW

Contraception (Birth Control)

General Note: There are many types of contraceptives, also known as "birth control," including IUDs, oral contraceptives, patches, shots, and condoms, etc. If you would like to view a full list, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Chile, you can purchase birth control without a prescription. It is estimated that about 65% of Chilean women use some form of contraception and that about 62% use a modern method. The most popular methods are birth control pills (24.8%), IUD (23.1%), the male condom (6.9%) and female sterilization (6.1%).

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can purchase birth control pills in pharmacies. Some brands you can expect to see are Microlut, Microval, Microgynon CD, Nordiol, Nordiol 21, Anovulatorios Microdosis, Anulette, Anulette CD, Innova CD, Lo-Femenal, Microfemin, Microgynon, Microsoft CD, Nordette, Norvetal, Rigevidon, Anulette 20 and Loette.

Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)

Important Notes: Emergency contraception may prevent pregnancy for three days (72 hours) and sometimes five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Take EC as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If you don't have access to dedicated EC, oral contraceptives can be used as replacement EC, but remember the following: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC 2) Different contraceptives require different dosages and time schedules to work as EC 3) You must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs and 4) They may be less effective than dedicated EC. For general information on emergency contraceptives, click here and here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Chile, emergency contraception (the morning after pill) is legal in Chile. As of 2015, no prescription is required to purchase EC. However, it is a hotly debated and political issue. In 2006, President Michelle Bachelet liberalized contraception policy and made emergency contraception available for free in state-run hospitals, which were available to women ages 14 and up (with no parental consent required). This change inflamed conservative critics. In 2008, the Constitutional Court of Chile banned free distribution of emergency contraception. Furthermore, the court ruled that the hormone levonorgestrel, which is found in EC pills, is “abortive”, and therefore against the right to life. In 2010, a new law allowed teenagers to purchase EC without parental consent.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can purchase dedicated emergency contraception in Chile at pharmacies or clinics. They are also offered for free at clinics. One brand you may find is Escapel-1 (take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex). You may also see Escapel-2, Poslov and Pregnon (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex).
• You can have an IUD inserted to prevent pregnancy. Please refer to the "Contraception" section for details.
• If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception, you can use regular oral contraceptives (birth control pills) as emergency contraception. For progestin-only pills, you can take Microlut or Microval (take 50 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex). For combined pills (progestin-estrogen), you'll need to remember that, in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used. You can take Microgynon CD (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later). You can take Nordiol or Nordiol 21 (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). You can take Anovulatorios Microdosis, Anulette, Anulette CD, Innova CD Lo-Femenal, Microfemin, Microgynon, Microsoft CD, Nordette, Norvetal or Rigevidon (for all of these, take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later). Finally, you can also take Anulette 20 or Loette (take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later).

For more details, visit the Princeton EC website.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)

Important Notes - Learn about PEP and PrEP: If you think that you've been recently exposed to HIV (i.e. within 72 hours), seek out PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a month-long treatment to prevent HIV infection after exposure, and it may be available in your city. Take PEP as soon as possible. For more information, click here. If you are at risk of HIV exposure, seek out PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a daily oral pill that can prevent HIV infection before exposure. To learn more about PrEP, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Chile, there are not travel or residency restrictions tied to HIV status. You can also legally carry antiretroviral medication for your personal use.

Regarding HPV, Chile has a national vaccination program. As the HPV Information Centre reports, "Current estimates indicate that every year 1441 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 734 die from the disease. Cervical cancer ranks as the 4th most frequent cancer among women in Chile and the 2nd most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. About 2.5% of women in the general population are estimated to harbour cervical HPV-16/18 infection at a given time, and 85.7% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18."

Testing Facilities

If you have Chilean health insurance, the most affordable option is your local CESFAM, which are public clinics. They can give you STI tests, and they can also offer check-ups and consultations. Midwives and reproductive health professionals also work at CESFAM facilities. If you're covered by Chilean health insurance, the services should be free. If you're not covered by Chilean health insurance, you will need to pay for the services. For example, here are some CESFAM locations:

• CESFAM Padre Orellana: Address: Padre Orellana 1708, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile, Phone:+56 2 2386 7743
• CESFAM Benjamín Vuel: Address: Calle San Ignacio de Loyola 1217, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
• CESFAM Ignacio Domeyko: Address: Cueto 543, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
• CESFAM Garín: Address: Calle Janequeo 5662, Quinta Normal, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile

If you don't have Chilean health insurance or if you would like a faster alternatives, then you go to a private clinic. These are more expensive than CESFAM, but they're usually not too expensive. Here are some recommended private clinics for STI tests:

• Clinica Alema de Santiago
• Clinica Santa Maria
• Clinica Las Condes

Support

• Asamblea de Organizaciones Sociales y ONG's con trabajo en VIH/SIDA - ASOSIDA: Address: San Ignacio N° 165, Santiago, Telephone: +5626720000, Fax: +5626720000. Email: asambleavih@gmail.com
• Corporación Caleta Sur: Address: Buenaventura 03906, Lo Espejo, Santiago. Telephone: +56 2 5640388. Email: caletasur@caletasur.cl
• Corporación Chilena de Prevención del SIDA - ACCIONGAY: Address: San Ignacio N° 165, Santiago, Telephone: +5626720000, Fax: +5626720000, Email: comunicaciones@acciongay.cl.
• Programa Nacional de Prevención y Control del VIH/SIDA e ITS - Centro de Documentación: Address: Mac-Iver 541, oficina 68, Santiago, Telephone: +5625740673, Fax: +5626395040.

Medications & Vaccines

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Chile has a national HPV vaccination program, which was launched in 2014. It targets to vaccinate girls at age 9.
• There are no known providers of PrEP in Chile.

Menstruation

Note: In addition to pads and tampons, you can also use menstrual cups and menstrual underwear for your period. To learn more about menstrual cups, click here. To learn more about menstrual underwear, click here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

In Chile, you will be able to find pads and tampons. Pads are definitely the most easy to find and the most popular. You'll be able to find some tampons, which are becoming more popular too. As for menstrual cups, you can buy LadyCup on the LadyCup Chile website. You can buy MoonCup online and have it delivered from the UK to Chile -- click here for details. There are no known sellers of DivaCup or Lunette in Chile, so those products may need be purchased online or bought through alternative channels.

Abortion

Important Note: There are two main types of abortions: medical (also known as the "abortion pill") and surgical (also known as "in-clinic"). For medical abortions, you take a pill to induce abortion. For surgical abortions, a procedure is performed to induce abortion. For general information about medical and surgical abortions, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

Abortion is illegal in Chile.

List of Additional Resources

• APROFA: "APROFA works to ensure access to sexual and reproductive health care as a fundamental human right. Founded in 1965, APROFA is a pioneer of family planning in Chile and was the first organization in the country to focus on underserved and impoverished areas. The majority of its clients receive free care, including contraception, gynecological exams, and sexual health counseling."