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Facing an Unplanned Pregnancy? Explore These 5 Important Steps

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 are here to support you in case you have found out that you are pregnant and do not want to continue with the pregnancy. The decision to terminate the pregnancy may be swirling in your mind, so we invite you to review these 5 points to help you consider the necessary perspectives in your decision.

1.- Confirm Your Pregnancy and Determine How Far Along You Are

Sometimes, taking a test too early can give false results, so it is crucial to confirm your pregnancy. 

Home urine tests are reliable if taken in the first few days of a menstrual delay, but if you want more certainty, you can opt for a blood test or an ultrasound. Blood tests are usually more sensitive to the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin hormone (hCG). They can detect pregnancy up to 10 days after fertilization or 15 to 20 days after sexual intercourse. On the other hand, an ultrasound will reveal the contents of the uterus,1 which will confirm the pregnancy with accuracy. 

A digital test or ultrasound will give you the approximate number of weeks of pregnancy to determine the pregnancy weeks. You can also calculate them by considering the time elapsed since your last period’s first day of bleeding. 

2.- Review your alternatives 

No one has the right to tell you what is best for your life. You can listen to different opinions, but each person is free and responsible for their choices.2 When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, there are your options:

  • Continue with the pregnancy: You should be comfortable with this decision for your own sake and not others (partner, family, culture). Also, consider the changes that may occur in your daily life. Motherhood should be planned, and it is recommended that it be exercised with collective care for the mother or childbearing person. 
  • Give up for adoption: so many conflicting opinions about whether this is a good solution for an unplanned pregnancy, but your decision should always be based on what are the possibilities in your context.2 
  • Safe abortion: when there are doubts, it may seem complicated, but this decision is an example of autonomy by women and childbearing people. Many people in Mexico decide to have a safe abortion because they are deeply convinced that it is the best choice for their lives and those around them. However, other people may say that terminating a pregnancy is “against life.” But the truth is that many women choose abortion because they are firmly committed to their own lives and those of others, and they hope that their decision will allow them to continue living in peace with themselves and the rest of the world.2

We must emphasize the importance of deciding as quickly as possible because if you choose to continue the pregnancy, you need to start prenatal care as soon as possible, or if you do not want to continue with it, you can terminate your pregnancy up to 12 weeks, as this is the maximum time for safe abortion in most states in Mexico.2

Nobody can predict the future. But what you can do is carefully consider your plans, your ideas, and your feelings and make the best choice for this moment.2

If you do not plan to continue with a pregnancy, Telefem is a nonprofit organization that connects you with specialists who can advise you. 

3.- Learn about safe abortion 

Safe abortion is a reproductive right based on human rights, but it is still a subject that has legal repercussions. In many countries, abortion is illegal regardless of the reason, but in others, it depends on the state of the republic in which you live. In Mexico, there are currently 23 states where abortion is legal up to 12 pregnancy weeks (except Aguascalientes, who are decriminalized up to 6 weeks). The rest of the states do not prohibit it, but it is allowed for different reasons depending on their criminal code.3 

If you decide to have a safe abortion, you should be aware that there are many myths on the internet promoted by anti-rights activists on this subject. We´ll try to clarify the most important ones. Safe abortion is a medical procedure, as it follows the protocols of international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO).4

There are two main methods:1

  1. Medication. A combination of medicines that produces in the body the closest to a natural abortion. The uterus softens, contractions occur, and the cervix dilates to empty its contents. This method can be self-administered at home for up to 10 pregnancy weeks or performed in a clinic for up to 12 weeks. It is between 95% and 98% effective.1
  1. Vacuum aspiration (VA). This method requires specialized equipment and trained personnel, so it can’t be done at home. It consists of suctioning the contents of the uterus with a cannula that creates a vacuum, either manually or electrically. This method is NOT curettage, and this is a scraping of the uterus that can damage or perforate it. The vacuum aspiration is safer, and the possibility of damage is extremely low. It can be performed on pregnancies less than 13 pregnancy weeks. It is 98% effective, and only 1 in 100 cases have complications.1

Go to a place that doesn’t judge you for making decisions like having a safe abortion, which is part of looking at reproductive decisions with well-being and health. At Telefem, you have remote medical orientation from specialists who don’t question your choices and respect your autonomy.

4.- Can you have a safe abortion at home?

Of course. Medical abortion can be performed at home. There are two types of protocols:

  • Mixed. The process begins at a health clinic and ends at home. The pregnancy is confirmed, a medical history is taken, and the process is explained to answer all your questions. This process usually takes between 24 and 48 hours, so you will only experience the beginning at a clinic (at least in Mexico). You will then be sent home to finish the process and return weeks later, as the protocol requires that you be given advice on contraception and fitted with a contraceptive device if you wish.
  • Remotely and from your home. Teleconsultation options and non-profit organizations like Telefem provide information to carry out the entire protocol remotely. You don’t need to visit a clinic; it is equally safe.

Creating a medical record, as you provide a complete explanation and answer questions, is done remotely. If you want to continue with the process, they’ll send you everything you need and guide you every step of the way. This protocol was designated as an essential health service by the WHO during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to women and childbearing people who wanted to terminate their pregnancies but were unable to leave their homes.5

5.- Will I be able to get pregnant after a safe abortion?

Yes, the protocols are so safe that ovulation may occur two weeks after the abortion, and menstruation may return within a month.6 This is why the safe abortion protocol includes advice on contraceptive methods, as you can regain your fertility immediately. After a medication abortion, you can have sex as soon as you feel ready. We are also telling you this because we want you to feel confident that if you choose to have an abortion, it will not affect your ability to become pregnant in the future. Remember that your decisions are valid.

Finding a safe space where your decisions are respected and not questioned is essential to having a safe abortion. At Telefem, we are a nonprofit organization that supports your choice not to become a mother. We offer remote medical orientation, connect you with specialists, and provide you with a Telefem kit with everything you need to exercise your rights and autonomy.

We hope this information will be helpful to you. To know all you need to know about safe abortion, and reproductive health, you’re more than welcome to visit our blog. We help you find answers to all your questions. We’ll see you there!

* This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.

References:

  1. Ipas Latinoamérica y el Caribe (Ipas LAC). Material de apoyo para el acompañamiento del aborto. 1. Antes de un aborto. 1era ed. 2022. [Internet]. [Visit in January 2025]. Available at: https://ipaslac.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IpasLAC2022-AcompanamientoAborto1.pdf 
  2. GIRE. Con la conciencia tranquila, guía para enfrentar un embarazo no deseado. 2001. [Internet]. [Visit in January 2025]. Available at: https://gire.org.mx/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/conlaconciencia.pdf 
  3. Razo J. Mapa: el aborto en México, ¿dónde es legal y dónde está prohibido? CNN en español. 2024. [Internet]. [Consulted in January 2025]. Available at: https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2025/01/29/mexico/aborto-mexico-mapa-orix/ 
  4. Ipas México. Métodos de aborto seguro. Blog. 2018. [Internet].  [Visit in January 2025]. Available at: Available at: https://ipasmexico.org/2018/12/22/metodos-de-aborto-seguro/ 
  5. Deza S. Teleatención de abortos. Caleidoscopica. Libro digital. 2022. [Internet]. [Consulted in January 2025]. Available at: https://clacaidigital.info/bitstream/handle/123456789/1642/Teleatenci%c3%b3n%20de%20abortos.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y 
  6. Ipas Latinoamérica y el Caribe (Ipas LAC). Material de apoyo para el acompañamiento del aborto. 3. Después de un aborto inducido con medicamentos. 1era ed. 2022. [Visit in January 2025]. Available at: https://ipaslac.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IpasLAC2022-AcompanamientoAborto3.pdf