Let’s Talk About Medication Abortion

Abortion care has come a long way in the last 40 years. Today, medication abortion is a safe and effective option for ending a pregnancy both inside and outside of a clinic setting. Whether it’s a preference or a necessity, everyone should be able to manage their abortion with dignity and autonomy.

Did you know?

Medication abortion has been around since the 1980s and works through the first ten weeks of pregnancy.
It’s a safe and effective treatment that consists of taking two types of pills.
In the states with the least restrictions, the pills are provided or prescribed at the clinic by a medical practitioner. They can be taken at home or at any preferred location.
In the most restrictive states, the first set of pills must be taken in a clinic under the supervision of a doctor. The second set of pills can be taken at home the next day.
Despite the overwhelming evidence and data proving medication abortion’s safety and reliability, politicians have imposed dozens of medically unnecessary regulations that serve to hinder access, including telemedicine bans, mandatory counseling, and waiting periods.
Medication abortion costs anywhere from $300 to $800 and up.
This method is widely used in many countries around the world and is often accessible over-the-counter without a doctor’s prescription.
Since over 90% of counties in the United States do not have an abortion provider, medication abortion can help people access the care they need in their own communities without being forced to travel long distances and incur additional costs like hotel rooms, flights, and bus tickets.
Medication abortion accounts for more than 30% of abortions in the United States, with rates increasing.
Medication is just one of several ways to have an abortion. We believe that everyone should have access to the abortion method of their choice, whether that’s at home or in a clinic. We will continue to work for the expansion of abortion access in all areas so that people have the options they need to make the decisions best for them.

We hope you join us in busting myths online! #abortionoutloud

What the Network is Doing

We’re making sure that abortion funds and the people who call them have the information and resources they need to understand and access medication abortion, while also working to shift culture and policy to protect the practice of self-managed abortion from legal risk.

Policy

Increasing access to medication abortion is one of NNAF’s core policy issues. This fall, we’re launching our first abortion fund policy training program, bringing together a cohort of 6-8 funds to shape policy at the state and federal level with a goal of increasing access to medication abortion, including taking on bans on telemedicine for accessing abortion and laws that criminalize using abortion pills.

Culture Change

You may have seen our Facebook ads illustrating what it could look like to manage your own abortion at home. With these ads and by highlighting the stories of people who have had medication abortion in recent articles in Teen Vogue, Bustle, and more, we’re shifting the narrative towards a vision for safely managing your abortion.

Supporting Callers

Abortion funds will be essential resources for people looking for abortion pills, especially if brick and mortar clinics continue to become more scarce. We’re lucky to have the opportunity to learn alongside some of our international member funds who are already doing this work, like Fondo MARIA. Fondo MARIA supports callers from all over Mexico, including those who aren’t able to travel to Mexico City for a surgical procedure. Another group, Women Help Women, is made up of international activists and trained counselors who use an “e-service” to ensure people have access to medication abortion globally. Both members funds have comprehensive online guides that are accessible from our website. Together with these member funds and with guidance from other experts in medicine, law, and policy, we’re supporting abortion funds in providing the best assistance to callers and making sure that no one is arrested or criminalized for ending their own pregnancy or helping someone get the care they need.