Quito

Ecuador / Andean Highlands / Quito

OVERVIEW

Contraception

Laws & Social Stigmas

Birth control pills are readily available at pharmacies without a prescription. You will typically find generic pills, like Microgynon, or brand name pills like Yaz or Yasmin. It is estimated that over 70% of Ecuadorian women of reproductive age (who are married or in unions) use some form of contraception, and that about 19% of Ecuadorian women are using hormonal birth control, such as pills or injectables. However, the conservative government of President Correa has threatened many of the protections granted to women's health care. As reported by PRI, "...many of his critics argue that his policies toward women are among the most conservative in Latin America. Women’s groups in Ecuador say they’ve been losing a series of hard-won rights since Correa first came into office in 2007." For example, Correa's government reorganized a government agency responsible for reducing teen pregnancy (Estrategia Nacional Intersectorial de Planificación Familiar y Prevención del Embarazo en Adolescente), and he appointed an anti-abortion, pro-abstinence activist to manage it.

What to Get & Where to Get It

While you should be able to buy contraceptives in most pharmacies, here are some recommended pharmacies in Quito:

• Fybeca - This is a large chain of pharmacies that's considered reliable & is typically open 24/7. You can call Fybeca's toll-free line (tel. 1800/2392-322) 24 hours a day for home delivery.
  • North: Fybeca Plaza de Toros: Av. Amazonas N54-82 and Tomás de Berlanga (Tel: 593-2-245-9082 / 244-5175 / 246-1706)
  • Central: Fybeca Benalcazar: Av. 6 de Diciembre 4012 and Irlanda.
  • South: (Fybeca El Recreo, Centro Comercial El Recreo, Av. Maldonado 1era Etapa, Tel: 593-2-265-9427 / 261-3647).
• Ways - Open 24 hours with many branches
• Farmacia Vancouver - Owner speaks English and people have had positive experiences. Address: Alemania, Quito, Ecuador. Phone: +593 2-254-5887

Emergency Contraception

Important Notes: The earlier you take emergency contraception, the more effectively it works. After unprotected sex, take it as soon as possible. If you don't have access to EC, you can sometimes use regular oral contraceptives as EC. But there are three important things to remember: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC (so confirm they work as EC first) 2) Different oral contraceptives require different dosages to work as EC (so get the proper instructions) and 3) You must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs.

Laws & Social Stigmas

Emergency contraception is available in Ecuador. In public health clinics, you can typically get EC without a prescription (and free of charge). However, at pharmacies or private clinics, a prescription is required. There seems to be no age restrictions on acquiring EC. In 2006, the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court prohibited the sales of Postinor 2, a popular emergency contraceptive brand, and this ban remains in place today. However, there are may other brands (see details below), which are accessible in Ecuador. In 2013, it was ruled by National FP regulations that EC would be available to all women in public health clinics, free of charge.

What to Get & Where to Get It

You can call it "la píldora del día después" ("the morning after pill" in Spanish). For dedicated, progestin only EC, there's Escapel, Glanique 1 and Impreviat (take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex). Other dedicated, progestin-only brands are Glanique, PostDay, Pregnon and Tace (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex). If you don't have access to EC, you can use some oral contraceptives as EC. You can use Neogynon, Ovral or Primovlar (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). You can also use Lo-Femenal, Nordette or Norvetal (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later).

Since you can get free EC with no prescription at public hospitals, here's the list of public hospitals in Quito:

• Baca Ortiz (Children's Hosp.). Address: Av. Colón y Av. 6 de Diciembre. Phone: 2222097
• Eugenio Espejo (big and good medicians teams) . Address: Av. Gran Colombia near National Congress Building center. Phone: 2507907/ 2230212
• Pablo Arturo Suarez old and small one . Address: Angel Ludeña y Machala (San Carlos neighborhood). Phone: 2292642/ 2598101
• Enrique Garces or Hospital del Sur. Address: Chilibulo y Av. Enrique Garces. Phone: 2660252
• Maternidad Isidro Ayora. Address: Av. Gran Colombia y Sodiro. Phone: 2224502
• Carlos Andrade Marín. Address: 18 de Septiembre y Bogota. Phone: 2564939
• SOLCA (Sociedad De Lucha Contra Cáncer). Address: Av. Eloy Alfaro. Phone: 2419775
• San Juan de Dios Shelter. Address: Av. Occidental (El Tejar). Phone: 2280542

Costs

The price of EC should be about $7.

Medication & Vaccines

What to Get & Where to Get It

For HPV, there is a vaccination program in place, which targets 9 year old girls.

Menstruation

What to Get & Where to Get It

You will mostly find pads and panty-liners in Quito. You may be able to find tampons with no applicators, like OB, in larger stores. As for menstrual cups, there are no known sellers of DivaCup, Mooncup or LadyCup in Ecuador, so you'll want to buy them online.

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

Recommended Gynecologists and Obstetricians from Viva Travel Guides:

• Dr. David Cabezas, Torre Medica 2 (behind the Hospital Metroplitano), Tel: 02-245-9808 / House phone: 02-246-6732
• Dr. Alfredo Jijon, Centro Meditropoli, Mariana de Jesus and Calle B, Office 215, 593-2-246-6314 ext. 205, E-mail: ajijon@hmetro.med.ec

Recommended Hospitals from Viva Travel Guides:

• Hospital Metropolitano, Av. Mariana de Jesus and Nicolas Arteta, Tel: 02- 399-8000, ext. 2153
• Hospital de Clinicas Pichincha, Paéz N°22 - 160 between Ramirez Davalos and Ventimilla, Tel: 02-299-8700/256-2296, E-mail: info@hcp.com.ec
• Hospital Voz Andes, Villalengua 267 and 10 de Agosto, Tel: 02-225-2164
• Hospital Militar, Queseras del Medio 521 and Av. Gran Colombia, Tel: 02-256-8020/256-8024
• Clinica de la Mujer, Av. Amazonas and Gaspar de Villarroel, Tel: 02-245-8000/8372, E-mail: admisiones@clinicadelamujer.com.ec

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)

Important Note: If you're not Ecuadorian and you're applying for long-term residency, the government will require that you take an HIV test. If you test positive, it's not clear whether you will/will not be deported. However, if you test positive for HIV/AIDS after you have acquired residency, you will not be deported.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Testing Facilities

To say STD in Spanish, say "enfermedades de transmisión sexual."

• Nueva Clinica Internacional - "On the corner of Mariana de Jesus and 10 de Agosto, has an English-speaking staff and they have their own laboratory where test results are made available in a matter of hours as opposed to days in most other places."
• Fybeca (the branch located on 6 de Diciembre y Irlanda, across from Colegio Benalcazar) - Has a very professional consultoria that can provide the services you desire, or direct you to the appropriate clinic. They're on the second floor, above the pharmacy; very nice facilities, staffed with docs and nurses.

Support

• Hospital VOZANDES - Provides HIV treatment. Address: Villalengua 267 y Avenida 10 de Agosto. QUITO/ Ecuador. Phone: +593 2 262 142.
• COMUNIDEC, Programa de Iniciativas frente al SIDA - HIV information / HIV NGO in Ecuador. Address: Avenida Eloy Alfaro 1824 y Belgica. QUITO/ Ecuador. Phone: +593 2 546 362 / Fax: +593 2 238 375 . E-mail: comunide@ecuanex.net.ec/
• Coalición ecuatoriana de personas que viven con VIH/sida (CEPVVS): Sede Central. Address: Bello Horizonte E10-90 y Manuel Iturrey, entre 6 de Diciembre y Coruña, Quito. Telephone: +593 2 3238 474. Email: info@coalicionecuatoriana.org
• Corporación Kimirina: Address: Bosmediano E14-38 y González Suárez, Conjunto Rodríguez Jaramillo, Casa N-5, Quito. Telephone: +593 2 2449585. Email: kimirina@kimirina.org
• Fundación Ecuatoriana Equidad: Address: Baquerizo Moreno E7-86 y Diego de Almagro, Piso 3, Quito. Telephone: +593 99 561 7883. Email: fundacionecuatorianaequidad@hotmail.com
• Fundación VIHDA: Address: Luis Urdaneta 208 y Córdova, Guayaquil. Telephone: +593 4 2568863. Email: info@vihda.org.ec
• [www.salud.gob.ec/?p=2747/programa-nacional-de-prevencion-y-control-de-vihsida-its Ministerio de Salud Pública]: Estrategia Nacional de Salud Pública para VIH/SIDA. Address: Av. República del Salvador 36-64 y Suecia, Edificio del Ministerio de Salud Pública, Quito. Telephone: +593 2 381 4400. Email: maria.yerovi@msp.gob.ec