Hi, and welcome to Telefem! It’s so nice to meet you! If this is your first time here, we want to tell you that you’re in a safe space, full of trust. We are here to answer all your questions and provide you with trustworthy information regarding safe abortion in Mexico. Let me introduce you to one of our articles, and if you still have questions, feel free to contact us through WhatsApp!
This time, we will discuss alternatives for safe abortion when there are 20 pregnancy weeks or if you are in the second trimester of pregnancy.
What Is the Safe Abortion Limit (in Weeks) in Mexico?
In Mexico City and other states of the Mexican Republic, abortion by free will can be legally performed for up to 12 weeks. Still, you need to know that women and childbearing people can decide to interrupt their pregnancy at the time they wish; the complexity comes in terms of the legality of each locality, the procedures that are needed, and the professional care that may be required as the number of weeks advances.
Is a Safe Abortion Possible After 12 Weeks of Pregnancy?
The criminal codes of Mexico City, Oaxaca, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Coahuila, Baja California, Colima, Sinaloa, Guerrero, Baja California Sur, Quintana Roo, Aguascalientes, Puebla, Jalisco, and those being added establish 12 weeks (13 in Sinaloa) as the limit for accessing to safe abortion by free will. Still, other causes indicate a higher number of weeks depending on cases and contexts. For example, in Mexico City, an abortion beyond 12 weeks can be accessed for the following causes:
- Non-consensual artificial insemination.
- The woman’s life is at risk.
- The fetus presents genetic or congenital malformations that may put its survival at risk.
It is necessary to review your state’s criminal codes to determine if any of these causes apply.
However, the cause that applies throughout Mexico is rape. The General Victims Law and NOM-046-SSA2-2005 establish that there are no gestational limits for victims of sexual violence to have this right guaranteed by health services. It is not necessary to file a complaint to exercise this right. So even if you are more than 12 weeks pregnant, abortion can be carried out according to this cause.2
Which abortion procedures are used for pregnancies beyond 12 weeks, including at 20 weeks?
The method to be used for induced and voluntary abortion it depends on individual preference, pregnancy weeks, and availability of specialists trained in the surgical technique.
For abortions over 12 weeks, two types of procedures are recommended:
- Abortion with medications based on misoprostol and combined with mifepristone.3
- Uterine Dilation and Evacuation (D and E).4
The medication abortion method uses medication regimens with mifepristone combined with misoprostol to prepare the cervix and induce uterine contractions and expulsion of the pregnancy product.3 This method can be carried out under the guidance of specialists who indicate the appropriate doses according to the number of pregnancy weeks and follow-up to confirm that the abortion was successful. Generally, after uterine evacuation with medications in pregnancies over 12 weeks, an intrauterine aspiration or cavity review is performed to confirm the complete expulsion of placental tissues. Interrupting a pregnancy over 12 weeks always requires monitoring in a clinical unit.
Uterine Dilation and Evacuation (D and E) consists of preparing the cervix and evacuating the uterus with a combination of vacuum aspiration and forceps. It requires qualified health professionals, specialized instruments, and more intensive clinical care than aspiration in the early stages of pregnancy. The provision of D and E services is suitable for places with higher demand, as the level of experience of health personnel needs to be related to possible complications in this procedure.4
When both abortion methods are available, women should have the option to choose their preferred method. Medication abortion requires fewer technical skills and fewer resources and can be offered in health units where D and E cannot be performed.
Generally, medication abortion in the second trimester can be offered wherever obstetric services are available.3
If you need to undergo an abortion with combined medications (mifepristone and misoprostol), at Telefem, we connect you with specialists who guide you through this procedure to have a safe abortion up to the 10th pregnancy weeks.
What are the risks of having an abortion at 20 weeks?
The risk of abortion complications increases as gestational age advances. However, first-trimester abortion carries less risk than second-trimester abortion, the use of evidence-based technology, in addition to the guidance and follow-up of a specialist, minimizes risks.3
The symptoms that indicate a risk associated with a second-trimester abortion are the same as those in a first-trimester abortion:3
- Heavy bleeding (two or more large sanitary pads per hour).
- Intense pain/cramps that cannot be managed with oral analgesics.
- Signs of infection (e.g., fever, pain, discharge with foul odor).
- Any other significant concern (e.g., respiratory difficulty, chest pain).
If you experience these symptoms, you must receive medical care to address any possible risk.
In a medication abortion, Telefem directs you to professionals who accompany your procedure and provide follow-up to confirm that it was successful. Ask us your doubts.
As you can see, medication abortion can be an option in pregnancies over 12 weeks, according to the legality of each State. If you have doubts about carrying out a safe abortion, we at Telefem will gladly resolve them.
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* This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice and applies only to Mexico’s law and context.
References:
- Secretaría de Salud. Preguntas frecuentes sobre la ILE en Ciudad de México. [Internet]. [Visit October 2024]. Available at: http://ile.salud.cdmx.gob.mx/preguntas-frecuentes-interrupcion-legal-embarazo-df/
- SEGOB. 2022. Lineamiento Tecnico para el aborto seguro en México. [Internet]. 2022. [Visit October 2024]. Available at: V2-FINAL_Interactivo_22NOV_22-Lineamiento_te_cnico_aborto.pdf (www.gob.mx)
- Red Jurídica de CLACAI/Consorcio Latinoamericano contra el aborto inseguro. Los tiempos del aborto. Términos y otros asuntos clave. [Internet]. 2023. [Visit October 2024]. Available at: Los Tiempos del Aborto 25.10.23.pdf (clacaidigital.info)
- Edelman A. y N. Kapp. Guía de referencia sobre dilatación y evacuación: aborto inducido y atención postaborto a las 13 semanas o más de gestación (‘segundo trimestre’). Chapel Hill, Carolina del Norte: Ipas. [Internet]. 2018. [Visit October 2024]. Available at: GuiadeReferenciaSobreDilatacionyEvacuacion.pdf (ipas.org)