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A Primer on Where to Find the Abortion Pill
By Rebecca Grant
As conservative states increasingly legislate away clinic-based channels for accessing abortion, unofficial sources for ordering abortion pills online and self-managing at home are becoming a critical lifeline. These online sources, which have grown in popularity, convenience, and sophistication over the past few years, now represent the future of abortion care for much of America. While there are no reliable projections on how many people will self-manage their abortions using pills, the numbers are sure to go up: Research from Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at the University of California, San Francisco, found that 7 percent of women will self-manage abortions in their lifetime, and this estimate was made with Roe still in place. “The barriers are going to increase tremendously for people living in one of the estimated 26 states likely to overturn abortion,” said Dr. Daniel Grossman, the director of ANSIRH. “We would anticipate that there will be increased demand for those services.”
The medication-abortion regimen consists of two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, and it already accounts for over half of all abortions done through legal channels in the U.S. The FDA approves medication abortion for people who are up to ten weeks pregnant (the World Health Organization says it can be used for pregnancies up to 12 weeks), and research shows a self-managed abortion with pills is safe and effective, with outcomes comparable to getting medication abortion in a clinic. Multiple organizations now provide abortions pills via the mail and ship nationwide for arrival in anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. There are even options if you live in a state that bans abortion, though self-managing may carry legal risks. Below, the rundown on the most trusted providers.
On the cover
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➼ The Future of Abortions in America
➼ Find an Abortion
➼ How to Protect Yourself When Seeking an Abortion
➼ The Crisis Pregnancy Center Trap
➼ How to Get Help for Your Abortion
➼ Don’t Trust the DIY Abortion Advice You...