FAQs

  • Medical: Two medications (mifepristone and misoprostol) are taken 24-48 hours apart. The first medication, mifepristone, causes the lining of the uterus to thin which prevents the embryo from staying implanted and growing. The second medication, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and expel the embryo through the vagina. Mifepristone is taken first, followed by misoprostol. After taking misoprostol, patients experience cramping and bleeding in 4 - 5 hours but sometimes longer. Some people experience other mild side effects like continued spotting, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or dizziness. Medication abortion is an option for most people up to 10 or 11 weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period.

    Vacuum aspiration: The cervix is gently stretched so that a suction device can be used to remove pregnancy tissue from the uterus. This is an outpatient procedure which usually takes less than 15 minutes.

    Both types of abortion are effective and safe.

  • For patients who need to find a verified abortion provider, they can use:

    https://www.abortionfinder.org/

    or

    https://www.ineedana.com/

  • PLAN C , Hey Jane and Aid Access help people with an unwanted pregnancy get abortion pills.

  • Some private health insurance plans cover the cost of an abortion. Coverage for plans offered under the Affordable Care Act or state insurance exchange marketplace vary but often do not cover the cost of abortion except for cases of life endangerment, rape or incest.

    The national network of abortion funds provides step by step instructions for people to determine their insurance coverage and their financial need.

  • The Brigid Alliance provides help with travel expenses. You can make an appointment at one of their partner clinics to access their services.

    Local abortion funds often also has resources to help with travel logistics.

    Haven Coalition provides help with overnight lodging for those who need to travel to New York City for an abortion. You can make an appointment at one of their partner clinics.

  • After the Supreme Court decision, patients have a lot less time to realize they are pregnant and decide whether they want to continue their pregnancy or have an abortion.

    Many patients will have to travel to access abortion care outside of the state where they live. Patients can look up gestational age limits by state here.

    In some states medical providers will provide abortion after 24 weeks when there is a threat to the health of the pregnant person, or for cases where a fetus will not survive. These are very rare scenarios. The Later Abortion Initiative has resources that might help. If a patient needs an abortion after 24 weeks, a provider can be found here.

  • Some states require patients under 18 to have parental consent or undergo a judicial bypass if parental consent cannot be obtained. Patients can determine if their state falls into that category here.

  • Yes! There are many:

    Exhale pro-voice

    All-Options Talkline offers free peer counseling to callers from anywhere in the US

    National Abortion Federation Hotline (phone and chat)

    NYC Doula Project

    People share experiences on reddit and on facebook.

  • Talking about an abortion experience reduces stigma surrounding abortion. Patients and providers can share stories using the resources below:

    For patients:

    Shout Your Abortion

    Share Your Story - National Abortion Federation

    Abortion Out Loud - Advocates for Youth

    Share your Abortion Story - ACLU

    For Providers:

    #SmashAbortionStigma

    The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is also collecting anonymous stories about the impact of laws that restrict reproductive healthcare, including abortion.

  • Many people seeking abortion are worried about their digital footprint. Some digital security tips from https://digitaldefensefund.org/ddf-guides/abortion-privacy are below:

    1. If you want to avoid advertisements related to pregnancy/abortion:

      • turn off location sharing

      • disable your mobile ad ID (settings > privacy > advertising > limit ad tracking)

      • use firefox focus instead of your phones default browser

    2. If you want to shield your browsing history or text history:

      • use and end to end encrypted chat like wire, matrix or signal

      • turn on disappearing messages in a secure messaging app like signal

      • use TOR or a no-logs VPN to browse privately

      • browse in an incognito window

      • clear your browsing history

      • use a strong PIN on your device