Rio de Janeiro

Brazil / Rio de Janeiro (state) / Rio de Janeiro

OVERVIEW

Contraception

General Note: There are many types of contraceptives, including IUDs, oral contraceptives, patches, shots, and condoms, etc. If you would like to view a full list, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

Contraceptives are legal in Brazil. You can purchase condoms or birth control pills in pharmacies without a prescription. Other contraceptives, like shots or patches, may be found at local hospitals. Generally speaking, most Brazilians do not wear condoms and, in the 1990s, the most commonly practiced form of contraceptive was found to be female sterilization ("laqueadura tubária" in Portuguese), which remains very popular today In 2001, it was estimates that 1 in 2 Brazilian women have been sterilized, according to a government survey.

The first birth control pill introduced to Brazil, ENOVID, came in 1962. Many of these early pills had very high hormonal dosages, leading to health issues, though the pills today are generally healthier and lower-dosage. In 1996, Brazil passed a law ("Lei Nº 9.263, De 12 De Janeiro De 1996") that legalized female sterilization This law requires spousal consent prior to sterilization. In addition, it applies to any "man or woman with full citizen’s rights and older than 25 years of age, or who has at least two living children, such that s/he observe at minimum a 60-day period between the request and surgery, in which the person must have access to fertility regulation services, including counseling by a multidisciplinary team, in order to discourage premature sterilization."

In 2007, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced a plan to provide cheap birth control ($2.40 for a one year supply) to over 10,000 Brazilian pharmacies. While birth control was already available for free at government-run pharmacies, many of the country's poor did not visit the public pharmacies. For this reason, the plan aimed to reach private pharmacies, thereby allowing the poor to have "the same right that the wealthy have to plan the number of children they want."

What to Get & Where to Get It

If you are interested in female sterilization/tubal litigation, it is called "laqueadura tubária" in Portuguese.

Emergency Contraception

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.

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.

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.

Menstruation

Note: Aside from pads and tampons, you can use menstrual cups or 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.