Buenos Aires

Argentina / Pampas / Buenos Aires

OVERVIEW

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.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can buy condoms at pharmacies for AR$10-$30 (three-pack) or up to AR$67 (12-pack).
• If you would like to get birth control pills ("pastillas anticonceptivas" in Spanish), they can be purchased in pharmacies without a prescription. Farmacity is a popular pharmacy chain. Some brands you can expect to see are Ovrette, Microlut, Microval, Duoluton, Eugynon, Neogynon, Nordiol, Ovral, Microgynon, Microvlar, Nordette, Miranova. You can expect to pay between AR$30-$120. To see which pills are available in Argentina, check out Alfabeta or Kairos.
  • Note: Argentina has strict importation laws, so be careful to NOT bring in any birth control pills or other medications that aren't permitted in Argentina.
• If you're interested in the ring (like Nuvaring), you can get it at Farmacity for AR$240.
• If you want an IUD, you can get the IUD insertion at a hospital or health center. While you can get it done at a public hospital, you'll find that only non-hormonal IUDs are available. The last for 10 years. if you want the hormonal IUDs, which last for 5 years, you'll need to go to a private hospital.
  • Recommendation: "Dr. Claudia María Battista is a gynecologist based in Recoleta (3rd floor, Arenales 1611, 4811 6127) who can administer both hormonal and non-hormonal IUDs, after a medical consultation. The best option for each patient and the price of the IUD must be discussed with the doctor, and Dr. Battista speaks English, if your Spanish is not up to par to discuss your reproductive system."
• If you want a birth control shot ("inyección" in Spanish), you can probably get it for free at public hospitals and health centers, like Hospital General de Agudos A. Zubizarreta or Hospital General de Agudos B. Rivadavia. If you would like to get it Farmacity, you can get it for around AR$40. Remember that you need to get injections on the same day every month. Since some pharmacies in Buenos Aires don't carry the shot, you should confirm a stable place to get a weekly injection before you commit to shots.
• If you want the implant ("implante" or "anticonceptivo subcutáneo" in Spanish), this has been available in Argentina since 2012.
• If you're interested in the patch ("parche" in Spanish), you can get it a pharmacies, like Farmacity. It's not covered by the public health system, so expect to pay around AR$150-$200.

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.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Note: Copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If you can't get an IUD, 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.

• In Buenos Aires, you can obtain emergency contraception (also known as "the morning after pill"). In Spanish, it's called "anticoncepción hormonal de emergencia." You can get EC at public hospitals or health centers for free (for 24 hours/day) after a medical consultation. You can also visit a pharmacy, like Farmacity, and purchase EC. There are no age restrictions.
• If you need a 24-hour pharmacy, here are some 24-hour pharmacies in Buenos Aires:
  • Farmacity on Florida

Here are the EC options you can expect to see in Buenos Aires, provided by the Princeton EC Website:

Dedicated Products / Progestin Only Take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• Norgestrel Max Unidosis
• Postinor 1
• Segurite UD

Take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• Norgestrel-Max
• Ovulol
• Postinor-2

Oral Contraceptives used for EC / Progestin Only Take 40 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• Ovrette

Take 50 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• Microlut
• Microva

Oral Contraceptives used for EC / Progestin-Estrogen Combined Note: in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used Take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later:

• Duoluton
• Eugynon
• Neogynon
• Nordiol
• Ovral

Take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later:

• Microgynon
• Microvlar
• Nordette

Take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later:

• Miranova

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

You can enter the country if you're HIV+. There are no travel restrictions applied to anyone with STIs. However, according to the National AIDS Law No 23.798, all immigrants are required to take HIV tests.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Testing Facilities

• You can get tested at tons of public hospitals in Buenos Aires. For the full list, click here.
• If you would like to get tested at a private facility, you'll pay more money -- but results will be fast and extremely confidential. Here are some private facilities to consider:
  • Hospital Aleman: Address: Tests were about $130p in 2011. Av Pueyrredón 1640, C1118AAT CABA, Argentina, Phone: +54 11 4827-7000.
  • Ceusa Leah: Address: Pueyrredón 768 1º Piso CP 1032 - Capital Federal Tel / Fax: 4961-8348 / 4962-3505 email: info@ceusa-laeh.com.ar
  • Nexo Asociación Civil: Does HIV rapid test. Address: Avda. Callao 339 6 A y B, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina -0800 345 6396, info@nexo.org, Monday to Friday, 15:30-21:00
  • Hospital Fernandez: Address: Cerviño 3356, C1425AGP CABA, Argentina, Phone: +54 11 4808-2600.
  • Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires: Address: Perdriel 74, C1280AEB Buenos Aires, Argentina. Phone: +54 11 4309-6400

Support

• Fundación Huesped: Focuses on sexual and reproductive rights and helping people with HIV. Operating since 1989.
• Fundación para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer: Focuses on helping women and health programs; organizes conferences.
• FUNDAMIND: Offers job assistance, education, etc. Helps kids with HIV.
• UNAIDS Argentina: "The goal of UNAIDS is to lead and inspire the world in Getting to zero: zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-deaths." Alberto Stella, UNAIDS Country Director, Telephone: + 54 11 4328 4365. Fax: + 54 11 4328 2253, Email: STELLAA@UNAIDS.ORG.

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.

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.