You’ve Got Mail! - Get Your Abortion Pills Delivered

Okay! Here’s the sitch on medication abortion pills…

Also called a Self-Managed Abortion (SMA), it’s a great alternative to surgery for those who are seeking a private setting during this experience, or if traveling to the clinic isn’t possible. During the pandemic, opting for the abortion pills became a popular choice considering the traveling restrictions and the ongoing risk of exposure to COVID-19. Due to the high demands, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lifted the restrictions on medication abortion, and made it so you can have them delivered or called into a nearby pharmacy (which wasn’t the case pre-pandemic). 

Ok, so the medication has been delivered, now what? The process of aborting with medication consists of only 5 pills. The first pill, called Mifepristone, is taken on Day One by simply swallowing it with a glass of water. Then after 24 hours, you administer the next four pills, called Misoprostol. Now, when it comes to Misoprostol there are two ways to take them (and you should always take all four, at the same time!). The first option is to administer them buccally, which essentially means putting all four pills in between your cheek and gums. This stays in your mouth for 30 minutes and then you wash down the residue with a glass of water. The second option is to insert all four pills vaginally, inserting each one into the vagina until they’re all inside. You would then lay on your back for one hour. Short, sweet and to the point. 

Here’s a Fact Sheet on how the process should go–from finding out you’re pregnant to taking the pills and the common side effects. This resource provided by Aid Access is completely free and downloadable using the links above. 

Unfortunately, obtaining an abortion in certain states, particularly for marginalized people, has become outright criminal. These states are where you’d find abortion bans and/or the most restrictive laws in abortion care. For example, in Oklahoma the use of telemedicine to administer medication abortion is prohibited, regardless of the FDA decision. If you’re seeking abortion services and if you choose to self-manage, Here’s a fact page on your rights. Laws may vary, depending on the state you live in, so knowing your rights is always a good idea. Also, find out the restrictions your state has on self-managed abortions so you can plan out your next course of action.

The best way to plan ahead is to stay informed. Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up-to-date on all things in abortion care!

1. Research shows that the second set of abortion pills (misoprostol) can be taken less than 24 hours from when Mifeprex was taken, depending on whether you take them buccally or vaginally. From my clinical experience in 2021, our protocol was to encourage 24 hours to go by, but certainly do your research and ask the abortion clinicians in your local area.