So far, we’ve talked about abortion stigma as it pertains to abortion providers, as well as the statement “No one wants to get an abortion.” My plan is to get back to taking apart statements soon, but this week, let’s look at the stigma surrounding abortion pills, also known as medication abortion, or self-managed abortion.
First, an extremely brief overview of self-managed abortion: Having an abortion outside a clinical setting may be an option if you’re less than 12 weeks pregnant, the pregnancy isn’t ectopic (that means the fetus is developing inside the uterus and not outside it - ectopics most commonly occur in a fallopian tube), you don’t have any serious medical conditions, or an IUD (you can use the pills if you have it removed), and you’re within 2 hours of a hospital or other medical care.
Self-managed abortion involves 2 kinds of pills - mifepristone, which stops the flow of the progesterone hormone to the fetus, and misoprostol, which causes the uterus to contract and expel the fetal tissue. Mifepristone is taken first, and then, 24 hours later, misoprostol. (Taking the pills correctly is super important.) After all the pills have been taken, it’s normal (and actually an indication that the pills are working) to experience nausea, diarrhea, cramping, bleeding (if you don’t bleed, or you have very little bleeding, it means the pills most likely didn’t work), and/or a low fever. The bleeding often stops by the next day, but it’s also normal if one spots/has light bleeding for up to 5 weeks after using the pills.
When taken correctly, and in the first 64 days (that’s about two months) of pregnancy, abortion pills work between 91.6% and 99.7% of the time.
There’s lots of stigma associated with using abortion pills, and most of it exists because of misinformation. Here are a few examples:
Abortion pills and emergency contraception (EC) are the same thing.
They’re not. Emergency contraception (EC, the Morning After Pill) prevents pregnancy by thickening the uterine lining to prevent sperm from taking root. You take EC after unprotected sex. Abortion pills only work if you’re pregnant. The difference between the two is obviously really important, and perpetuating the wrong information about either one can prevent people from getting the care they’re seeking. (Also, stop acting like abortion is a bad thing.)
Abortion pills are dangerous.
Anti-choicers love this one - claims that abortion pills cause cancer, infertility and mental illness are absolutely false. The fact that abortion pills (and the people who use them) are so regulated perpetuates the idea that the pills aren’t safe. It’s more important than ever that people can find accurate information about abortion pills, as laws become more treacherous and convoluted.
Abortions should only take place in a clinic setting.
Again, abortion pills are safe, more so than penicillin, Tylenol, and Viagra. They’re safe to use in a place where you feel safe. (Yes, there is the possibility of complications, which is the case with any medicine, and you should know what they are before you use the pills.) Abortions that happen in a clinic are also safe, and it’s often the case that people dismiss abortion pills as only being necessary in what they deem an emergency, which of course, only adds to the stigma around them.
There are advantages to having an abortion in a clinic. It’s faster, and a provider can quickly evaluate whether or not it worked. So provided they have access to an in-clinic abortion, which means they can successfully navigate transportation, child care, a few days off, insurance, a place to stay, food, and more, why would someone choose to use abortion pills?
Let’s consider. You can’t physically get to a clinic. You want to be in charge of your own medical procedure. You’re tired of being misgendered, or you don’t feel like contending with clinic protestors. It’s not safe for your partner or your family to know you’re getting an abortion.
Any reason for getting an abortion is the right reason for you, and that means you should also be able to have the kind of abortion you want, whether it’s in a clinic or in your own bathroom. Abortion stigma can stand in the way of that.
This week, take yourself over to the links I referenced in this piece, and learn more about abortion pills. If you feel comfortable, let someone in your life know about how the pills work, the difference between EC and abortion pills, or something else you learn. This is an opportunity to connect people to accurate information about abortion pills and help do some good damage to abortion stigma.
See you next week!