Mérida (Yucatan)

Mexico / Mérida (Yucatan)

OVERVIEW

In Mexico, you can access many forms of contraception (birth control), including condoms, pills, injectables, shots and IUDs. Emergency contraception (the morning after pill) is available at pharmacies without a prescription, and there are no age restrictions. As the only city in Mexico with legal abortion, Mexico City is a unique and necessary place for women's health care.

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

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.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• For a list of contraceptive options available in Mexico, click here.
• Condoms can also be found in most pharmacies.
• If you want birth control pills, 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.
• If you want the contraceptive injectable, 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, you can find Implanon, Jadelle and Norplant in Mexico
• If you want an IUD, you can find Mirena in Mexico.

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

Emergency contraception is available without a prescription, and there is no age restriction.

What to Get & Where to Get It

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.

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).

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

There are no restrictions based on HIV status if you want to enter Mexico or live in Mexico. 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."

Medications & Vaccines

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 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.
• There is currently no national PrEP program in Mexico.

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

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 Alternatives Ecologicas. There are no local sellers of DivaCup, Mooncup or LadyCup in Mexico, so those brands should be purchased online.

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 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.

What to Get & Where to Get It

You can get Misoprostol (one part of the abortion pill), which is registered as Cytotec, Artrotec and Cyrux. They tend to be expensive but can be found in most pharmacies in Mexico City. If you are interested in private abortion clinics, there are many options available in Mexico City. Please review this list website to find clinics based on area: http://www.clinicas-aborto.com.mx/mexico/

• Marie Stopes Mexico - This is a great international organization with locations around the world, providing clean and efficient facilities for abortions (http://www.mariestopes.org.mx/)

Costs

Misoprostol (28 tabletas): MXN$ 490 (Farmacias similares), Misoprostol (28 tabletas) MXN $ 440 (Farmacias Wal-Mart), Cytotec (28 tabletas) MXN $ 2, 176.50 (Farmacias San Pablo), Cytotec México.com MXN $ 649 - $1249 Compra online, Cytotec (28 pills) 1,420 pesos (Farmacias Benavides, a national chain of pharmacies), Cytotec (28 pills) 1,710.50 pesos (Farmacias Fenix, "discount pharmacies"), Artrotec (10 tabletas) MXN $ 366.0 (Farmacias San Pablo), Artrotec (20 tabletas) MXN $ 657.50 (Farmacias San Pablo) Artrotec (10 pills) $233.00 pesos (Farmacias VH, regional pharmacy), Artrotec (20 pills)$470.00 pesos (Farmacias VH), Mifepristone is available as Zacafemyl in Mexico City. Source: Women on Waves - Mexico Clinics and Associations).

If you live outside Mexico City, Fondo Maria (http://fondomaria.org/) helps women travel to Mexico City in order to get a safe abortion. They provide funds, shelter, clinic escort, and they will help you set up an appointment.

Advocacy & Counseling

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Grupo de Información en Reproducción Elegida - GIRE 
- https://www.gire.org.mx/