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Argentina: Difference between revisions

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In Argentina, you will find many health care resources, especially in [[Buenos Aires]]. Contraception (birth control) is fully legal, and you can find birth control pills, IUDs, shots and patches in Buenos Aires. There are some recommended gynecologists that are known to be foreigner-friendly and especially hospitable (see details in "Gynecological Exams" section). You can also obtain emergency contraception ("the morning after pill") at pharmacies, public hospitals or health centers. You can purchase pads and tampons in grocery stores, and there is one known seller of menstrual cups in the country. There is no PrEP access but there are many STI testing sites, and there is a national HPV vaccination program in place. For pregnancy, there are some recommended ob/gyns that we have listed in the "Pregnancy" section. Finally, abortion is generally illegal and is only permitted in very specific circumstances, some of which have grey-area legal status. For this reason, there is a large underground economy of clandestine abortions. Some of these are performed in unsafe conditions, so caution should be exercised. General public opinion toward abortion has liberalized in the last decade, yet the country still remains a difficult place for women with unwanted pregnancies.
In Argentina, you will find many health care resources, especially in [[Buenos Aires]]. Contraception (birth control) is fully legal, and you can find birth control pills, IUDs, shots and patches in Argentine cities. There are some recommended gynecologists that are known to be foreigner-friendly and especially hospitable (see details in "Gynecological Exams" section). You can also obtain emergency contraception ("the morning after pill") at pharmacies, public hospitals or health centers. You can purchase pads and tampons in grocery stores, and there is one known seller of menstrual cups in the country. There is no PrEP access but there are many STI testing sites, and there is a national HPV vaccination program in place. For pregnancy, there are some recommended ob/gyns that we have listed in the "Pregnancy" section. Finally, abortion is generally illegal and is only permitted in very specific circumstances, some of which have grey-area legal status. For this reason, there is a large underground economy of clandestine abortions. Some of these are performed in unsafe conditions, so caution should be exercised. General public opinion toward abortion has liberalized in the last decade, yet the country still remains a difficult place for women with unwanted pregnancies.


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In Argentina, contraception is legal and widely available. You can purchase birth control pills without a prescription.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraception Availability]</ref> <ref>[http://freethepill.org/where-on-earth/ Free the Pill - Where on Earth? Map]</ref> According to a 2015 study,  61.6% of Argentine women (who are married/in unions and of reproductive age) use any form of contraception, including traditional methods, and 15.3% have unmet family planning needs. The most common forms of contraception birth control pills (27.7%), condoms (17%), IUDs (6.9%) and female sterilization (3.5%). There are especially low rates of usage for contraceptive injectables (2.6%) and traditional methods, such as rhythm (1.1%) and withdrawal (0.5%). Meanwhile, it was found that practically no women were using contraceptive implants (0.0%) or vaginal barrier methods (0.0%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref>
In Argentina, contraception is legal and widely available. You can purchase condoms and birth control pills without a prescription.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraception Availability]</ref> <ref>[http://freethepill.org/where-on-earth/ Free the Pill - Where on Earth? Map]</ref> According to a 2015 study,  61.6% of Argentine women (who are married/in unions and of reproductive age) use any form of contraception, including traditional methods, and 15.3% have unmet family planning needs. The most common forms of contraception are birth control pills (27.7%), condoms (17%), IUDs (6.9%), and female sterilization (3.5%). There are especially low rates of usage for contraceptive injectables (2.6%) and traditional methods, such as rhythm (1.1%) and withdrawal (0.5%). Meanwhile, it was found that practically no women were using contraceptive implants (0.0%) or vaginal barrier methods (0.0%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref>


However, some Argentine women face barriers when they try to access contraception. From a historical perspective, the Argentine government formerly opposed the sale or use of contraceptives and, during the military dictatorship (1976-83), even condoms were illegal. In 2003, the government began to freely distribute contraceptives, such as IUDS, for free, but this did not automatically translate into free choice for all. In fact, in 2005, a Human Rights Watch report detailed "how judges, doctors and health workers prevent women from making independent reproductive decisions in violation of women's internationally recognized human rights." The report also analyzed how the impact of spousal pressure and domestic violence limited women's abilities to choose contraception, and discrimination in many hospitals, such as requiring spousal approval for sterilization procedures, further limited women's autonomy.<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/news/2005/06/15/argentina-limits-birth-control-threaten-human-rights Argentina: Limits on Birth Control Threaten Human Rights]</ref>  
However, some Argentine women face barriers when they try to access contraception. From a historical perspective, the Argentine government formerly opposed the sale or use of contraceptives and, during the military dictatorship (1976-83), even condoms were illegal. In 2003, the government began to freely distribute contraceptives, such as IUDS, for free, but this did not automatically translate into free choice for all. In fact, in 2005, a Human Rights Watch report detailed "how judges, doctors and health workers prevent women from making independent reproductive decisions in violation of women's internationally recognized human rights." The report also analyzed how the impact of spousal pressure and domestic violence limited women's abilities to choose contraception, and discrimination in many hospitals, such as requiring spousal approval for sterilization procedures, further limited women's autonomy.<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/news/2005/06/15/argentina-limits-birth-control-threaten-human-rights Argentina: Limits on Birth Control Threaten Human Rights]</ref>  
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* [https://www.argentina.gob.ar/salud Argentine Ministry of Health and Social Development]
* [https://www.ippf.org/countries/argentina International Planned Parenthood Foundation - Argentina]
* [https://www.reproductiverights.org/our-regions/latin-america-caribbean/argentina Center for Reproductive Rights - Argentina]
* [https://www.equaldex.com/region/argentina Equaldex Argentina]: This website provides information about LGBTQ rights and laws in Argentina. Homosexuality and same-sex marriage are legal in Argentina. It is also legal to change gender. In some regions, there are laws that protect people against employment and housing discrimination. Conversion therapy is banned.
* [https://www.equaldex.com/region/argentina Equaldex Argentina]: This website provides information about LGBTQ rights and laws in Argentina. Homosexuality and same-sex marriage are legal in Argentina. It is also legal to change gender. In some regions, there are laws that protect people against employment and housing discrimination. Conversion therapy is banned.
* [http://www.ela.org.ar/ ELA - Equipo Latinoamericano de Justicia y Genero ]: "Our mission is to achieve gender equity through advocacy, networking and capacity development of political and social actors, in order to improve the social, political and economic situation of women. Founded in May 2003 in the City of Buenos Aires, ELA is integrated by an interdisciplinary team of specialists with a background in the State, Universities and Research Centers, International Organizations, legal practice and NGOs." Address: Tucumán 1581 - Floor 5 Dept. 10B . Telephones: 011-4371-2696 and 4371-2920.  City of Buenos Aires Argentina. e-mail: ela@ela.org.ar
* [http://www.ela.org.ar/ ELA - Equipo Latinoamericano de Justicia y Genero ]: "Our mission is to achieve gender equity through advocacy, networking and capacity development of political and social actors, in order to improve the social, political and economic situation of women. Founded in May 2003 in the City of Buenos Aires, ELA is integrated by an interdisciplinary team of specialists with a background in the State, Universities and Research Centers, International Organizations, legal practice and NGOs." Address: Tucumán 1581 - Floor 5 Dept. 10B . Telephones: 011-4371-2696 and 4371-2920.  City of Buenos Aires Argentina. e-mail: ela@ela.org.ar

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