Mexico City: Difference between revisions

Generally speaking, Mexico City has the most progressive health care policies and resources in the country of Mexico. However, there are still social and economic barriers for many people, depending on their lives and circumstances. You can access many forms of contraception (birth control), including condoms, pills, injectables, shots and IUDs. Emergency contraception (the morning after pill) is available at pharmacies without a prescription, and there are no age restrictions. Regarding abortion, Mexico City was the first place in Mexico to legalize abortion. Additionally, Mexico City was the only place to permit abortion in the country for many years, until the state of Oaxaca decriminalized abortion in 2019.<ref name="oaxaca_abortion">[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/26/we-have-made-history-mexicos-oaxaca-state-decriminalises-abortion 'We have made history': Mexico's Oaxaca state decriminalises abortion]</ref>

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%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref>

* In Mexico, you can find '''condoms''' ("condónes” in Spanish ) in most pharmacies. They are also available from social marketing programs, such as [https://www.dkt.com.mx/index.php DKT International].

* 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 or the copper IUD in Mexico.

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).<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/worldwide/ Princeton EC Website]</ref>

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 [https://www.facebook.com/Angelcupmexico/ Angelcup], which is a Mexican menstrual cup company ("100% mexicana"). They sell the Crystal menstrual cup for 625 pesos and the Colors menstrual cup for 700 pesos (as of February 2017). You can also purchase Lunette from [http://www.alternativasecologicas.mx/index.php Alternatives Ecologicas]. There are no local sellers of DivaCup, Mooncup or LadyCup in Mexico, so those brands should be purchased online.

Abortion law in Mexico City is the most liberal in all of Mexico. In Mexico City, you can get an abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (i.e. first trimester). 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.

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 and you don´t need a prescription! If they don´t want to sell it to you, go to another pharmacy. It is prescription free in the whole country and costs normally between 400 and 500 pesos a box (28 pills and you´ll need 12 if you use only misoprostol, or 4 if you use it in combination with Mifepristona which is MUCH more effective. But that pill is not available for people in general, only for health providers so if you go to any clinic where abortion is available, they will provide it for you).

 

 

* [http://www.mariestopes.org.mx/ Marie Stopes Mexico]: This is a great international organization with locations around the world, providing clean and efficient facilities for abortions. You can visit the website to find a clinic near you in Mexico.  

* 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/

* [https://www.profem.com.mx Clinica Profem]: This is the 1st clinic to offer the legal abortion service in Mexico City since 2007