Everything You Need to Know About Abortion Pills
The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last summer sent shockwaves around the country. Today, at least 13 states completely ban abortion, and the Guttmacher Institute estimates the number of states with bans is likely to jump up to 24 in the coming months. At the same time, demand for abortion pills is on the rise, growing more and more urgent: Requests for pills that allow pregnant women to have their abortions at home increased 33 percent in the 30 most restrictive states.
What Are Abortion Pills?
Medication abortion uses two FDA-approved oral medications to end a pregnancy: mifepristone and misoprostol, commonly referred to as “abortion pills.”
The following medications are used in the process:
- Mifepristone: Interrupts the flow of the hormone progesterone that sustains the pregnancy.
- Misoprostol: Causes contractions to expel the contents of the uterus.
The FDA has approved a regimen of one mifepristone pill and four misoprostol pills through 10 weeks of pregnancy. You can use these pills in combination or use misoprostol alone.
Access and Telemedicine Abortion
The Postal Service Can Deliver Abortion Pills by Mail—Even in States Banning Abortion. Access is expanding through telehealth clinics founded by experienced family planning clinicians with a vision of using technology to expand access to abortion care. Organizations like Plan C Pills operate as a public health campaign that normalizes the self-directed option of abortion pills by mail.
Key Experts and Advocates
- Lauren Dubey, MS, FNP-C: The co-founder and chief nursing officer of Choix, a telehealth clinic, and a nurse practitioner in Los Angeles.
- Melissa Madera, Ph.D.: An expert on abortion story-sharing and a researcher on Project SANA (Self-Managed Abortion Needs Assessment) at the University of Texas at Austin.
- Carrie Baker, Ph.D., J.D.: A Ms. contributing editor and the Sylvia Dlugasch Bauman professor in the Program for the Study of Women and Gender at Smith College.