New Mexico
Wondering what’s going on in the Land of Enchantment? We have been, too! So we put together this info for you. Click on a question below to see how your state stacks up on sexuality issues for teens. And don’t forget to find out how you can Take Action on these issues!
What are my rights to HIV and STD testing, including confidentiality in New Mexico?
Can I buy condoms in New Mexico? How?
What are my rights to birth control in New Mexico?
Can I get emergency contraception (aka, "EC" or the "morning-after pill") in New Mexico?
How can I get a pregnancy test in New Mexico?
What are my rights to abortion in New Mexico?
Do I have the right to learn about sexuality, HIV/AIDS and other STDs at my school in New Mexico?
- New Mexico state law requires sexuality education.
- Abstinence must be covered as the only completely effective protection against unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS when transmitted sexually.
- Teaching about contraceptives, such as condoms, the Pill, or the Patch, is also required, but does not need to be stressed.
- New Mexico received $1,349,883 in federal funds for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2008. Think that money could be put to better use? Want to see comprehensive sexuality education classes in your school? You can make a difference! Learn more about your state at SIECUS.org, get in touch with a local organization like the New Mexico Teen Pregnancy Coalition and be sure to check out the film Abstinence Comes To Albuquerque.
- New Mexico state law requires STDs and HIV/AIDS education.
- Abstinence must be covered and stressed as the only completely effective protection against unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS when transmitted sexually.
- Teaching about contraceptives, such as condoms, the Pill, or the Patch, is also required, but does not need to be stressed.
- You do not need your parents’ permission to participate in sexuality education or HIV/AIDS education classes. Your parents can take you out of class if they object to what is being taught.
What is the age of a minor in New Mexico?
Keep in mind that these laws may be different for you if you are legally considered an emancipated minor, pregnant minor, minor living apart or married minor. You can learn more by talking to a legal representative at various agencies.
What is the age of consent in New Mexico?
In the eyes of the law, teenagers of certain ages cannot consent or agree to sex until they reach a specific age. This is called the “age of consent.” These laws are meant to protect minors from being manipulated or forced into sex with older people. Get familiar with these laws, so you and your partner know what is or isn’t legal in your state. Keep in mind that the laws may be different depending on the type of sexual behavior—vaginal, anal or oral—and the gender of your partner.
In New Mexico, you can legally consent to sexual intercourse when you become 16 years old.
Get more information about the laws in your state.
What are my rights as a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (GLBTQ) teen in New Mexico?
- Public schools in your state have no Safe Schools Law in effect, which is a statewide anti-harassment and/or nondiscrimination law that includes the categories of sexual orientation and gender identity. But some school districts have decided to adopt their own Safe Schools policies.
- There are statewide Non-gender identity. State hate crimes laws also include sexual orientation and gender identity.
- If discrimination, harassment, or a hate crime happens to you or someone you know, please call the Gay and Lesbian National Hotline at 1-888-THE-GLNH (843-4564) for help and support, or click here. No one deserves harassment or should have to put up with it.
What are my rights to HIV and STD testing, including confidentiality in New Mexico?
- You don’t need permission from your parent or guardian to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV in your state. But if you test positive for HIV or another STD and receive treatment, the health care provider may legally discuss this with your parents.
- If you are a minor, it is very important for you to ask questions about confidentiality when you call to make your appointment. Specifically ask, “If I make an appointment and receive any kind of services at your clinic, will you tell my parents or anyone else?” This applies to all services, including testing for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
- To make sure your visit is confidential, tell the clinic staff how to contact you about test results and future appointments without your parents knowing.
- Your state offers both anonymous and confidential HIV testing. This means that if you get tested for HIV, you can choose to either have your results confidentially reported to the health department using your name, or have your results anonymously reported to the health department using a number code, not your name.
- To find an HIV testing site in your area, call the Centers for Disease Control’s 24-hour National AIDS Hotline at 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636) or click here.
Can I buy condoms in New Mexico? How?
- Yes, you can buy condoms, and you do not have to be a certain age to buy them. Teens of any age can buy condoms from a drugstore, pharmacy, grocery store, or even online. They are relatively inexpensive. A pack of twelve condoms costs about $12.
- You can get condoms for free or at a reduced cost from health clinics (like Planned Parenthood), HIV testing centers, and local health departments. (Call 1-800-230-PLAN (7526) for the nearest Planned Parenthood Health Center.)
- If you buy condoms, check the expiration date on the box or the package to make sure that the condoms haven’t expired yet. For info on how to use a condom correctly, click here. To find out how to use or buy female condoms, click here.
What are my rights to birth control in New Mexico?
To make sure your visit is confidential, tell the clinic staff how to contact you about test results and future appointments without your parents knowing.
To find a Title X clinic near you, click here or call 1-800-230-PLAN (7526) for the nearest Planned Parenthood Health Center.
If you go to a private doctor or physician, then you need to ask them about their confidentiality rules when you are making the appointment. Ask them when you call:
- Can I get services at your office without my parents’ permission?
- Can my parent/s have access to my records?
- Will my parent/s see the bill?
It is your right to get sexual and reproductive health care where you feel safe and comfortable, so don’t worry about asking these questions if these questions are important to you.
Can I get emergency contraception (aka, "EC" or the "morning-after pill") in New Mexico?
How can I get a pregnancy test in New Mexico?
- You do not need a prescription from a doctor or health care provider to get a pregnancy test. You can purchase a pregnancy test from a pharmacy, grocery store, or online. They cost between $10 and $18. You can also take a pregnancy test at a doctor’s office or clinic, like Planned Parenthood. Many clinics offer free or reduced-fee pregnancy tests.
- All visits to Title X clinics are confidential for teens and adults. They will not share your records with your parents or your family doctor (or anyone else) without your permission.
- To find a Title X clinic, click here or call 1-800-230-PLAN (7526) for the nearest Planned Parenthood Health Center.
- If you pay for your visit by using your family’s health insurance, then your parents are likely to see the bill when it arrives in the mail. Almost all clinics provide free or sliding-scale fee services to teens in order to make it easier for teens to pay with cash.
- To make sure your visit is confidential, tell the clinic staff how to contact you about test results and future appointments without your parents knowing.
- Beware of crisis pregnancy centers. These centers claim to give you complete and accurate information about your pregnancy options when, in reality, their agenda is to discourage you from getting an abortion. They offer misleading and medically inaccurate information about abortion. Common names of these centers are “Crisis Pregnancy Center,” “Pregnancy Aid,” “Birth Right,” “Open Door" or “Pregnancy Counseling Center.”
What are my rights to abortion in New Mexico?
- If you are under or over 18 years old and want an abortion, you are not required to ask your parent/s or guardian for permission, or tell them. A law that would have required parental consent has been permanently blocked by the courts.
- There is no mandatory waiting period in your state before a teen can get an abortion.
- Your state provides Medicaid coverage for medically necessary abortions. If you need help paying for an abortion, call the National Abortion Federation Hotline at 1-800-772-9100, Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) or click here. The hotline can tell you where and how to get financial help for an abortion in the U.S.
- To learn about the process of adoption and the services available, visit the National Council for Adoption and the Independent Adoption Center. You can also call the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse at 1-888-251-0075 for more information.
Sources
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