Asunción: Difference between revisions

In Paraguay, you can obtain condoms and birth control pills without a prescription.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraceptive Availability World Map]</ref> According to a 2015 report, 77.4% of Paraguayan women (who are of reproductive age and married/in unions) use some form of contraception, including traditional methods. The most common contraceptive methods were birth control pills (17.4%), injectables (16%), male condoms (12.8%) and female sterilization (9.6%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use 2015]</ref> Furthermore, according to WHO data, Paraguay ranks in the list of top 10 countries in terms of the prevalence of condom use.<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1CHn6J3MIZbMD2fHhX-gt3n9wOA4&hl=en_US&ll=-23.402764999999988%2C-58.88671899999997&z=8 Most Prevalent Condom Use Around the World]</ref> Some Paraguayan women do not have adequate access to family planning resources (it was estimated that 6.4% had unmet family planning needs), yet the rate of unmet needs is lower than many neighboring countries.

* In Paraguay, you will find that the pharmaceutical products available come from many countries, including Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, USA, UK and Germany.

* In Paraguay, you can find '''condoms''' ("condón” in Spanish) in many stores. If you're a low-income Paraguayan, especially if you're an adolescent or young adult, you can get Pantera condoms from [http://www.psi.org/country/paraguay/#solutions Population Service International (PSI) Paraguay]. They have been providing these condoms since 1998.

* In Paraguay, you can purchase '''birth control pills''' ("píldoras anticonceptivas” in Spanish) without a prescription. If you go to a pharmacy, you can find many brands, produced both inside and outside of Paraguay, including Anulette 20, Anulette CD, Anuit, Cilest, Dal, Diane-35, Exluton, Femiane, Gynovin, Harmonet, Lerogin, Lerogin 20, Linosun, Marvelon, Microgen, Microgynon, Minulet, Neolette, Nordette, Norgeal, Norvetal, Norvetal 20, Qlaira, Selene, Triciclomex, Triquilar, Yasmin and Yaz.  

* If you would like a '''contraceptive shot/injection''' ("anticonceptivo inyectable” in Spanish), you can find Acefil, Ciclomes, Clinomin, Cycloven, Ginestest, Gynogen, Mesigyna, Neogestar, Neolutin N, Oterol, Ovoginal, Perlutal, Perlutin-Unifarma, Permisil, Segura, Unigalen, Vagital and Yectuna in Paraguay.

* If you would like a '''contraceptive implant''' ("implante anticonceptivo” in Spanish), we're not sure which options are available in Paraguay (being researched).

* If you would like an '''IUD''' ("DIU” in Spanish), you can find Mirena in Paraguay.

* In Paraguay, you should be able to purchase emergency contraception (the morning after pill) at public sector clinics, pharmacies, IPPF-affiliated systems and social marketing programs (e.g. PSI, DKT, MSI and PSIA). For progestin-only pills, you can find Imediat N, Postinor-2, Pregnon and Pronta (for these, take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex).<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/worldwide/ Princeton EC Website]</ref>

* If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception, you can use regular birth control pills as replacement EC. To do this, you can take Control NF (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). You can also take Anulit (take 8 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex). You can take Norgeal (take 40 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex). You can also take combined progestin-estrogen pills as replacement EC but you should remember that, in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used. To do this, you can take Control or Neogynon (for these brands, take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). You can take Microgynon (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later). You can also take Norvetal 20 (take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later).<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/worldwide/ Princeton EC Website]</ref>

If you are visiting Paraguay as a short-term visitor tourist, you do not need take an HIV test or show any medical records. However, if you're a foreigner and plan to apply for permanent residency, you will need to take an HIV test. If you are found to be HIV positive, you will only be granted residency if you pay for your own medication. As reported by HIVTravel, "The Migration Department informed us by telephone that the presence of foreigners with infectious diseases is not tolerated. In reality, people with HIV/AIDS get a residency permit if they can prove that they can bear the cost of treatment themselves, without the support of public funds. They do this in order not to discriminate against people with HIV/AIDS, but it is not a legal entitlement."<ref>[http://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=142 PARAGUAY - REGULATIONS ON ENTRY, STAY AND RESIDENCE FOR PLHIV]</ref>

 

 

Regarding HPV, according to the HPV Information Centre, "Cervical cancer ranks as the 2nd most frequent cancer among women in Paraguay and the 1st most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. About 4.8% of women in the general population are estimated to harbour cervical HPV-16/18 infection at a given time, and 59.1% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18."<ref>[http://www.hpvcentre.net/statistics/reports/PRY_FS.pdf Paraguay Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers, Fact Sheet 2016]</ref>

 

===Testing Facilities===

 

===Support===

In Paraguay, pads are the most common menstrual product. Tampons are found in pharmacies and supermarkets in cities, like Asunción. As for menstrual cups, you can buy Maggacup, an Argentine menstrual cup brand, from [https://www.facebook.com/maggacuppy?fref=ts Maggacup Paraguay] for 165,000 PYG (price includes delivery to Asunción). Here's a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9pgoXwO6D0 video] (in Spanish) about how to use Maggacup. You can send them a message online or email them: ivygarcia1@hotmail.com. We don't know about any other sellers of menstrual cups in Paraguay. However, you may be able to purchase some brands, like DivaCup and MoonCup, online and then have them mailed to your address in Paraguay.