Mexico City

Mexico / Central Mexico / Mexico City

OVERVIEW

As the only city in Mexico with legal abortion, Mexico City is a unique and necessary place for women's health care. You can purchase contraception, including contraception, at pharmacies without a prescription, as well as many medications. Regarding abortion, there are publicly managed hospitals as well as private clinics.

Contraception

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

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).

Condoms can also be found in most pharmacies.

Emergency Contraception

Important Notes: The earlier you take emergency contraception, the more effectively it works. After unprotected sex, take EC as soon as possible. If you don't have access to EC, you can use oral contraceptives as EC, but remember the following: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC (so confirm they work as EC) 2) Different contraceptives require different dosages to work as EC (so get the proper instructions) 3) You must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs and 4) You must take the pills as soon as possible.

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 most effective emergency contraceptive is currently ellaOne. It lasts up to 5 days after unprotected sex. Other EC brands are generally effective up to 3 days with occasional protection up to 5 days. So check to see if your country carries ellaOne. If your country doesn't carry ellaOne, copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy for up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If none of these options are available, look for regular EC, which may sometimes protect you for up to 5 days. Note that EC pills are not 100% effective, and they 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 Note: 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 that may prevent HIV infection, and it may be available in your city. Take PEP as soon as possible.

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.

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.

Menstruation

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.

Gynecological Exams

Pregnancy

Abortion

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 (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.

Public Clinics

If you are interested in public abortion clinics, there are 13 clinics run by the Mexican Ministry of Health in the Mexico City area. Check out the Ministry's website for details: http://ile.salud.df.gob.mx/directorio-clinicas-interrupcion-legal-del-embarazo/. Note that the website is Spanish but can be translated into English in the Google Chrome browser. Below, here is the public clinic list as of July 2016:

• Health Center T-III Cuajimalpa - Av., And Cda. Juarez s / n Col. Cuajimalpa, Del. Cuajimalpa. CP. 5000
• Community Clinic - Santa Catarina Street Nuevo Leon Mz. 38, Lt. Col. 9. Miguel de la Madrid. Of Iztapalapa. CP. 09698
• Integral Health Clinic for Reproductive Health Center T-III Mexico Spain - Mariano Escobedo no. 148. Col. Anahuac. Del. Miguel Hidalgo. CP.11320. Entrance Lake Iseo.
• Sexual Health Clinic and Reproductive Health Center T-III Dr. Juan Duque de Estrada 170 East not. 154, Col. Moctezuma 2da. Section. Del. Venustiano Carranza. CP. 15500
• Health Clinical Center T-III Beatriz Velasco German Avenida Ing. Eduardo Molina esq. Barbers, Col. Michoacana, Del. Venustiano Carranza. CP 15300
• General Hospital - Dr. Ajusco. Obdulia Rodríguez Rodríguez Encinos No. 41, Col. Miguel Hidalgo Extension 4A. Section, Del. Tlalpan, CP 14250
• Dr. Enrique Cabrera General Hospital - Prolongation May 5, no. 3170. Esq. Centenario. Col. Ex Hacienda de Tarango. Del. Alvaro Obregon. CP.11800
• General Hospital Milpa Alta - Prolongation Nuevo Leon Blvd., no. 360. Col. Villa Milpa Alta. Del. Milpa Alta. CP. 12000
• General Hospital Ticomán - Plan of San Luis s / n between Miguel Bernard and Bandera. Col. Ticomán. Del. Gustavo A. Madero. CP. 07330
• Maternity Hospital Cuautepec - Av. Emiliano Zapata. 17. Col. Cuautepec Barrio Bajo. Del. Gustavo A. Madero. CP. 07210
• Maternity Hospital Dr. Nicholas M. Cedillo - Gustavo J. s / n Esq. Victor Hernandez Covarrubias. Unit Col. Francisco Villa. Del. Azcapotzalco. CP. 02400
• Maternity Hospital Inguarán - Tin Street no. 307. Col. Felipe Angeles. Del. Venustiano Carranza. CP. 15310.
• Maternal Pediatric Hospital Xochimilco - Calz. Nativitas and September 16 s / n. Col. Barrio Xaltocan. CP. 16090. Del Xochimilco.

Private Clinics

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/