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!
I want to clarify, but most importantly, to answer some questions you may have about legal abortion. This will be helpful to you or someone you know who needs them.
What is a safe abortion?
Abortion is a human right, listed in the section that talks about body autonomy, referring to the fact that people have the right to decide about their bodies.
Unfortunately, the laws of many governments still consider it a crime in their penal codes; this is a way to control the bodies of women, girls, teenagers, and childbearing people. For this reason, safe abortion is when the government decides to create clear and concise legislation for its free decision.1
For example, in Mexico City, abortion is legally allowed for the pregnant woman or childbearing person, within a deadline of 12 weeks of pregnancy; later it would be considered a crime. Did you know this?
The Legal Status of Abortion in Mexico: When Is It Permitted?
In Mexico, there are several grounds for abortion, situations in which voluntary and safe abortion is permitted.
We can summarize these causes as follows:2
1. Sexual violence. Endorsed by the Ley General de Víctimas and the NOM-046-SSA2-2005, in this case, abortion must be performed by public, associated, or private medical services providers that are part of the National Health System. With one requirement: a sworn written statement that clarifies pregnancy is the result of rape, and or sexual violence. Filing a complaint with the public prosecutor’s office is unnecessary, and the service should not be conditional.
2. At the request of the pregnant person. This abortion is known in legal terms as a Safe Abortion. Most states in Mexico allow it during 12 weeks of pregnancy
3. Considering exceptions in states where it is not yet legal. States that prohibit women or childbearing people from requesting an abortion allow it under certain exceptions. To find out what specifically these are, it will be necessary to review the Criminal Codes of each state. However, we list the most frequent ones below:
– Rape.
– Risks to physical or psychological health.
– Non-consensual artificial insemination.
– Danger of death to the pregnant person.
– Severe fetal malformations.
If you are seeking advice to carry out a Safe Abortion, at Telefem we connect you with specialists who can guide you. Contact us via WhatsApp.
What are the options for performing a safe abortion?
A safe abortion follows the protocols established by international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). It includes what is known as safe abortion.3
A safe abortion needs to meet two criteria:
– A qualified person to perform it.
– An appropriate and approved method.
Appropriate methods are medical abortion or surgical evacuation, through Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA). The choice between one or the other depends on the medical history of the woman or childbearing person, the weeks of pregnancy, and the wishes of the person terminating the pregnancy.
Medication is generally recommended for abortions up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, and this procedure can be performed remotely. For more advanced pregnancies, other alternatives are recommended, depending on each patient.
With these options, it is essential to emphasize that medicated abortion can also be performed at home, with constant contact with professionals who will answer your questions. That is why at Telefem we must connect you with specialists who can guide you through the entire process, and we also send you a kit with everything you need for the procedure. This way, you will live this process with certainty.
Are there any time restrictions for a safe abortion in Mexico?
In Mexico, there are some time restrictions for a safe abortion:2
No pregnancy week limit. If the pregnancy is the result of rape, abortion is permitted throughout Mexico. This type of abortion is known as Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy (VIP) to differentiate it from abortion on demand.
Up to 13 weeks. Abortion is permitted at the request of the pregnant person only in the state of Sinaloa.
Up to 12 weeks. Abortion is permitted at the request of the women or in Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Ciudad de México, Coahuila, Colima, Estado de México, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Zacatecas, and Campeche.
Up to 6 weeks. Abortion is permitted at the request of the woman or childbearing person in Aguascalientes. This is the only state in Mexico that has seen a setback in sexual and reproductive rights, because abortion was permitted up to 12 weeks in 2023, but on August 28, 2024, it was reduced to 6 weeks.
Where can I get a safe abortion?
You can access abortion services in these places:
Public health sector. In each state, there are hospitals where you can access this service. You must review the service directories by state.
Private healthcare sector. Some clinics provide safe abortion services for a fee in states where abortion is legal; unfortunately, in states where it is still restricted, their operations are limited. Be careful of clinics that try to change your mind and prevent you from accessing a safe abortion.
Remote assistants. These services offer you the abortion process with medication remotely, carried out through digital communication means such as chats and telephone. These types of services are safe.
If you are seeking some places with remote medical care, Telefem connects you with specialists who offer medical orientation in this process.
Suppose you know someone who is going through an unplanned pregnancy. In that case, it is essential to know about organizations that support women in their decisions and offer remote medical orientation throughout the country by connecting them with professionals, such as Telefem. If you need support, you can reach out through a WhatsApp message.
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 doubts. We’ll see you there!
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* This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.
References:
- SEGOB. Lineamiento Técnico para el aborto seguro en México. [Internet]. 2022. [Visit April 2025]. Available at: https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/779301/V2-FINAL_Interactivo_22NOV_22-Lineamiento_te_cnico_aborto.pdf
- Razo J. Mapa: el aborto en México, ¿dónde es legal y dónde está prohibido? CNN en español. [Internet]. 2024. [Visit April 2025]. Available at: https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2025/01/29/mexico/aborto-mexico-mapa-orix/
- Ipas Centroamérica y México, Ciudad de México. 10 public health facts to understand the importance of decriminalizing abortion. [Internet]. 2022. [Visit April 2025]. Available at: https://ipasmexico.org/pdf/IpasCAM2022-10DatosSaludPublicaDespenalizarAborto.pdf