Mexico

OVERVIEW

In Mexico, laws and social stigmas vary, depending on the state and city. You can purchase contraception, including contraception, at pharmacies without a prescription, as well as many medications in Mexico. There are also a variety of hospitals and clinics available, both in the public and private sector. As of 2019, abortion is legal in Mexico City and the state of Oaxaca.

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 many forms of birth control, such as pills and condoms, over the counter (no prescription needed) in Mexico. For other forms of contraception, such as IUDs, you will need to visit a health care provider.

In 2015, it was estimated that about 73% of women in Mexico (who were married/in unions and between ages 15 to 49) used any form of birth control, including traditional methods, and about 11% of women had unmet family planning needs. The most common forms of contraception were female sterilization (about 36% of women) and IUDs (about 12% of women). This was followed by male condoms (about 7%) and contraceptive injectables (about 5%). Some women used traditional methods, such as the rhythm method (about 2%) and withdrawal (about 2%) as their primary form of contraception. There were relatively low rates of usage for male sterilization (about 2%) and practically no users of contraceptive implants (0.0%).

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Mexico, you can find condoms ("condónes” in Spanish ) in most pharmacies.
• If you want birth control pills ("píldoras anticonceptivas” in Spanish), 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 ("anticonceptivo inyectable” in Spanish), 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 ("implante anticonceptivo” in Spanish), you can find Implanon, Jadelle and Norplant in Mexico
• If you want an IUD ("DIU” in Spanish), 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

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.

Gynecological Exams

Pregnancy

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

As of September 2019, abortion is legal in two places in Mexico: Mexico City and the state of Oaxaca. In Mexico City, you can get an abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (i.e. first trimester). Meanwhile, Oaxaca decriminalized abortion in September 2019, but the resources and regulations around this legal change are still to be determined. However, in many 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/

List of Additional Resources

• Secretaría de Salud (Secretary of Health): The government department in charge of all social health services in Mexico.
• MEXFAM - Fundación Mexicana para la Planeación Familiar: "MEXFAM works in 25 of the 32 Mexican states. It runs 85 service points, including 19 permanent clinics, 63 mobile facilities and through partnerships with 3 associate clinics. MEXFAM covers the full gamut of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs and issues, including contraception, antenatal/post-natal care, maternal and child health, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS, and information and education programmes. There is a particular bias towards serving those communities not reached by the government’s programme, including the economically disadvantaged, the rural poor, young people and men."
• DKT International - Mexico: "DKT Mexico offers an increasingly wide range of contraceptives and works with distributors that stock supermarkets, drugstores and wholesalers to ensure that people from rural areas have easy access to contraceptives. Its condom brand Prudence is the top-selling condom brand in Mexico." Address: Miguel Ángel de Quevedo #696, Col. Villa Coyoacán, CDMX , C.P. 04000. Teléfono: 5245 1211. Email: contacto@dkt.com.mx
• Equaldex Mexico: Click here to learn about LGBTQ rights and laws in Mexico. Note that homosexuality is legal in Mexico and it is legal to change gender (but surgery is required).