Legal Termination of Pregnancy (LTP)

The Sexual and Reproductive Health clinics provide comprehensive health services, besides the Legal Termination of Pregnancy (LTP) service:

• Counseling is provided by a social worker, who shall help you to make an informed decision.
• Contraceptive methods that are adequate for your age, lifestyle, and health status.

Both services are provided free of charge, safely, and confidentially.

Counseling

This is provided by a social worker, who will provide all the necessary help, so that you can make an informed decision.

The social worker will offer you three choices:

1. Coming to terms with your pregnancy
2. Adoption
3. A LTP procedure

 

They will also give you information about existing services offered by the Ministry of Health in Mexico City. If you decide to carry out a Legal Interruption of Pregnancy, the social worker will refer you to the medical personnel that will assist you safely and confidentially.

Counseling is a mandatory step given by health services. It provides objective, accurate, sufficient, timely, and easy-to-understand information about the procedure, risks, consequences, and potential effects, as well as the support and alternatives that exist for any woman who requests or requires a Legal Termination of Pregnancy. This procedure will be provided with discretion, confidentiality, privacy, respect, fairness, truthfulness, neutrality, and freedom, with no intention of delaying, hindering, or influencing a woman’s decision. (General Guidelines for a LTP. Official Gazette of the Federal District, July 2012).

Contraceptive Methods

Contraceptive methods are an option in the development of adequate sexual and reproductive health, allowing women and men to plan their family in a responsible way.

The doctor will help you to choose the one that is best for your age, lifestyle, and health status.

Contraceptive methods are classified as: temporary, barriers, or definitive.

Temporary Methods

Contraceptive Pills Known As Progestin-only or Minipills

They contain a very low dose of progestin that is similar to the progesterone that women produce naturally. They contain no estrogens and may be used by women who have just given birth.

They are taken every day without pause; at the end of a box of pills, you need to start a new box.

Injectable With Just Progestin

These injections have no estrogens and are appropriate for women who are lactating or for those who cannot be injected with estrogens.

They must be used within the first 7 days of the menstrual cycle, provided there is no possibility of the patient being pregnant.

Monthly Injectables

They contain both progestin and estrogens that are just like the ones naturally produced by women. It is an intra-muscular injection that needs to be applied on the first or second day of the menstrual cycle.

Combined Patches

This is a small flexible piece of plastic that is applied to the skin. It releases 2 hormones: progestin and estrogen. They can be applied on the outer upper arm, on the back, on the abdomen, or on the buttocks. They should never be applied on the breasts.

A patch is used every week for 3 continuous weeks; there is a pause on the fourth week, when a woman goes through her menstruation.

Sub-Dermal Implant

This is a small plastic cylinder the size of a match that releases progestin. It is placed on the inner part of the upper arm, under the skin. It lasts for three years.

Copper-T Intra-Uterine Device

This is a small, T-shaped device that is placed inside the uterus. It lasts for 5 years and may be removed at any time.

Medicated Device

This is a small device that releases small amounts of synthetic progestin and is placed inside the uterus. It lasts for 5 years and may be removed at any time. It is also used as treatment for women with abundant menstruations.

Barrier methods

Male Condoms

Latex lining placed on the erect penis. It prevents the sperm in a man’s semen to come into contact with the inner part of the vagina.

Female Condoms

Lining adapting to the woman’s vagina; they are made with thin, transparent plastic. It is lubricated with silicone both inside and out. They have flexible rings at both ends and the upper one closes upon contact with the uterine cervix.
It constitutes a barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the uterus.

Spermicides

Chemical substances introduced into the vagina and up to the cervix before beginning sexual intercourse. Their function is to rupture the sperm membranes, thus preventing them from uniting with the ovule.

Diaphragms

Soft latex cap that covers the cervix; it has a firm and flexible spring on its border that keeps it in its place. It is used with either gel or cream to improve its efficacy.
It works by preventing sperm from entering the cervix, thus preventing them from coming into contact with the ovule.

Combined Vaginal Ring

Flexible device placed inside the vagina. It contains progestin and estrogen, which are absorbed through the vaginal walls and go directly into the blood stream.
The ring works for three weeks. It must be removed in the fourth week when menstruation begins, and is discarded.

Definitive Methods

Bilateral Tube Occlusion (BTO) or Tubal Ligation

Definitive contraceptive method performed on women who do not wish to have any further pregnancies. It is achieved through a small incision carried out at the level where the pubic hair begins or under the umbilicus. It can be performed after a C-section.

Vasectomy

Definitive contraceptive method for males. It consists of the sectioning and ligation of the vas deferens through a small, half-centimeter long incision in the scrotum. Surgical time for the procedure is 10 to 15 minutes.
The patient requires a 4-hour recovery time and thereafter may almost immediately resume his habitual activities.

Emergency Pill

This is not a contraceptive method. As indicated by its name, it is only used after unprotected intercourse. It either contains a combination of etonogestrel and progestin or may be only progestin. It contains higher doses than oral hormonal contraceptives.

Emergency pills are used within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse.