Abortion, referring to an induced abortion or voluntary interruption of pregnancy, is a controversial issue in Mexico. Since 2007, abortion procedures are legal and decriminalized in Mexico City for the first 12 weeks into a pregnancy - on request by any woman - but forbidden in 18 out of 31 Mexican states.[1] As of 19 January 2011, 52,484 interruptions have been carried out in the capital city since its decriminalization (2007)[1] and more than a dozen women haven been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison in conservative-leaning states such as Guanajuato.[2]