Ecuador has prohibited any form of induced abortion since 1837, when the first Penal Code of Conduct was published. This code stated that abortions could not be requested by women for any economic, social or personal reason [1].
Furthermore, abortions were considered illegal regardless of fetal wellbeing. In January 2014, the Penal Code of Conduct was ratified and therapeutic abortion was approved under specific circumstances that were limited to mentally ill or incompetent women who had been raped or cases where the woman’s physical or mental health was in direct danger as a result of the pregnancy itself [1].
Recently, in a historical move that took place in April 2021, the high court decriminalized abortion in cases of rape with 7-2 in favour [6] .
Because of the restrictions, women and girls seek illegal and unsafe abortions, which can lead to health complications and death. Ecuador’s health ministry stated 15.6% of maternal deaths in 2014 were a result of clandestine terminations.
Is Abortion Legal in Ecuador?
Abortion is legal in cases where the woman’s physical or mental health was in direct danger as a result of the pregnancy itself, or if the pregnancy is a result of rape. [6]
What Types of Abortion are Available in Ecuador?
Medical: Misoprostol-only regimens. [2]
Surgical: Manual vacuum aspiration abortion (MVA) and Dilation & Curetage (D&C)
What is the abortion rate in Ecuador? How Many Women Have Abortions?
From 2004 to 2014, there was an annual average of 39,236 abortions. The average annual rate of abortion was 115 per 1,000 live births. [1]
Abortion with Pills (Medical Abortion) in Ecuador
Are the Abortion Pills (Mifepristone and Misoprostol) Available in Ecuador?
Mifepristone: NOT available.
Misoprostol: Yes.
How Late Into a Pregnancy Can the Abortion Pills Be Used?
Technically, medical regimens can be used at any gestational age, provided the recommended regimen is used for any specific indication/gestational age.
Do I Need a Prescription for Mifepristone? Misoprostol?
Mifepristone: NOT available.
Misoprostol: Yes, a prescription may be required.
What Brands of Abortion Pill Are Popular in Ecuador?
Cytotec, 200 µg. Pfizer [3]
How Much Do the Abortion Pills Cost in Ecuador?
$5.00 – $10.00 USD per pill [3]
Who Can I Contact for More Information on Abortion in Ecuador?
- Colectiva Salud Mujeres Ecuador, http://www.abortoseguroecuador.com
- Coordinadora Juvenil por la Equidad de Género
- Las Comadres, http://www.lascomadresecuador.wordpress.com
- La Tejerina, https://jovenesdespenalizacionaborto.org [4]
In-Clinic Abortion in Ecuador
What are the Different Types of in-Clinic Abortion Procedures Available in Ecuador?
Manual vacuum aspiration abortions (MVA) and Dilation & Curetage abortions (D&C) for the first trimester [5]
Where Can I get a Manual Vacum Aspiration (MVA) Abortion in Ecuador?
At public and private health facilities.
How Much Does Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) Cost in Ecuador?
Information not available.
How to get further information?
For additional information and support, you can get in touch with our trained multilingual female counselors.
[1] NCBI. Abortion, an increasing public health concern in Ecuador, a 10-year population-based analysis. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5516879/
[2] Salud Mujeres. Misoprostol. Retrieved from: http://saludmujeresecuador.org/misoprostol/#:~:text=El%20misoprostol%20es%20eficaz%20para,bajo%20la%20marca%20de%20Cytotec
[3] Cytotec Ecuador. Venta de Cytotec en Quito. Retrieved from: https://cytotec-ecuador.ec/venta-de-pastillas-abortivas-en-quito.html#:~:text=El%20precio%20de%20las%20pastillas,originales%20est%C3%A1n%20entre%20esos%20precios
[4] Cómo hacerse un aborto seguro. En Ecuador. Retrieved from: http://comohacerseunaborto.com/es/ecuador/
[5] Ministerio de Salud Pública del Ecuador. Atención del aborto terapéutico. Retrieved from: https://www.salud.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Aborto-terap%C3%A9utico.pdf
[6] BBC. Ecuador abortion: Terminations in cases of rape decriminalised. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-56913947