Managua

Nicaragua / Capital Region / Managua

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.

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 to prevent pregnancy. 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 Nicaragua, emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) are available, and they can be purchased over-the-counter at pharmacies. No prescription is necessary. According to official laws in Nicaragua, a prescription may be technically required., but when we talked to pharmacists in Nicaragua, they confirmed that a prescription is not required. This means that emergency contraceptive pills can be considered informally available over-the-counter. Furthermore, there are no age restrictions on purchasing emergency contraceptive pills, so teens and young people should be legally entitled to do so.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can obtain emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) at pharmacies and women's clinics, and a prescription is typically not required by pharmacists (despite the fact that official laws may require a prescription). Some brands you may find are Anlitin (.75mg), Anlitin (1.5mg), PPMS, Pregnon 1.5, and Prikul.
• Note: The longest-lasting EC is currently ellaOne. It lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Check to see if your country carries ellaOne. If your country doesn't carry ellaOne, copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If none of these options are available, and it's been over 3 days since you had unprotected sex, you can still take EC, which may work up to 5 days. Note that EC pills are not 100% effective and should be taken as soon as possible.

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

If you are visiting Nicaragua as a short-term traveler or tourist, there are no restrictions related to HIV status. You will not be asked for a medical certificate or proof of your status upon entering the country. However, if you want to stay for longer than 90 days (i.e. extend tourist visa or obtain a work/student/residency permit), you may be required to provide a medical certificate that verifies that you are HIV-negative. There are no specific requirements related to deportation or residence status, but your application may be rejected if you are found to be HIV-positive.

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.

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.

List of Additional Resources

• Ministry of Health
• Family Planning 2020 - Nicaragua
• Equaldex - Nicaragua: Click here to learn about LGBTQ rights and laws in Nicaragua.
• PSI - Nicaragua: "In Nicaragua, PSI’s network member is the Pan American Social Marketing Organization (PASMO). Founded in 1998, PASMO Nicaragua began activities as part of a regional HIV prevention program. Their scope subsequently expanded to other health areas such as reproductive health, including family planning and post-abortion care, as well as prevention and management of gestational diabetes, and Zika prevention."