You’ve Been Denied Abortion Access. What Can You Do?
Last updated: April 30, 2026
In Mexico, abortion is considered a health service; therefore, access must be guaranteed without barriers and with full respect for human rights. Termination of pregnancy may be requested at public health institution when the pregnancy resulted from sexual violence or when continuing it affects the health of the pregnant person, among other grounds.
If the pregnancy resulted from rape
In accordance with the General Law on Victims (LGV, for its Spanish initials) and Official Mexican Standard NOM-046-SSA2-2005, Family, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence: Criteria for Prevention and Care (NOM-046), all hospitals are required to provide immediate care to victims of sexual violence without imposing any conditions for admission. Under both legal instruments, rape is classified as a medical emergency, which guarantees victims access to:
- Emergency contraception services and voluntary termination of pregnancy.
- Periodic medical examinations and specialized treatment for as long as is necessary to ensure full recovery.
- Follow-up for potential sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as post-exposure treatment when deemed necessary.
If a person decides to terminate their pregnancy, the only requirement is that they submit a written statement to a health institution—under penalty of perjury—declaring that the pregnancy resulted from rape. It is not necessary to file a criminal complaint or obtain authorization from any prosecuting authority. In addition, girls and adolescents aged 12 and older may request the service without being accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (NOM-046, section 6.4.2.7).
If continuing the pregnancy affects your health
The rights to health protection and to make free, informed, and responsible decisions about reproduction are recognized in Articles 1 and 4 of the Constitution, as well as in the General Health Law. Accordingly, health institutions must assess the medical situation of the pregnant person and provide the option to terminate the pregnancy when continuing it poses a risk to their health.
This risk includes both physical harm and impacts on the pregnant person’s well-being and life project, as Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN, for its Spanish initials) has established that health must be understood broadly, as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being.
How can you submit a request to terminate a pregnancy?
1. Check whether you are entitled to care through IMSS, ISSSTE, IMSS-Bienestar, or your entity’s
public health services. You can verify this in your health card, policy, enrollment form, or medical record.
2. Identify the hospital or medical unit where you must submit your request.
3. Complete the request form with your full name, means of contact (email or phone), and the reason for requesting termination of pregnancy.
4. Make a copy of your request before submitting it. This copy will serve as acknowledgment and proof of submission.
5. Submit the request at the hospital’s administrative office or the document reception area and ask them to stamp both the original and the copy to confirm receipt.
6. Keep the stamped copy. This document will serve as proof of submission.
7. If you have an ultrasound or other medical tests, bring a copy to submit along with your request. If you do not have them, this does not prevent you from filing the request.
At which hospital can you request the service?
To locate hospitals that provide abortion services, you can consult then Safe Abortion Care Directory on this
site. You may also seek support from GIRE or consult our Allies and Collectives Directory, which can
provide guidance and medical, emotional, psychological, legal, financial, and/or logistical support.
If access to the service is denied
If your request is not received, not stamped, or if the service is denied, note the date, time, name of the hospital, the area where it occurred, and, if possible, the name and position of the person who handled your request. Ask that the denial be provided in writing and that it include the reasons.
In the face of any of these obstacles, you can contact GIRE for guidance and accompaniment at: [email protected]
Request Forms for Termination of Pregnancy
We share the following forms, which you can submit at the hospital where you request the service:
