A
Resource Guide for Abortion in a Post-Roe America
Abortion
would be easy to obtain in a perfect society. You'd be able to grab some
abortion pills from the drugstore or schedule an appointment with your usual
gynaecologist for a quick and painless vacuum aspiration the moment you
recognised you needed an abortion. However, we do not live in an ideal world.
Abortion availability in modern-day America can be difficult: even in
"safe" places like California and New York, abortion drugs are strictly
limited and can be quite expensive. Because few gynaecologists give abortion
services in their private practises, you'll need to find a specialised
facility, which can be a difficult task, especially since many anti-abortion
"crisis pregnancy centres" are easily confused with legitimate
abortion clinics.
And,
frighteningly, things are just going to become worse in the months ahead.
Expansive bans like Texas' Senate Bill 8 have effectively rendered abortion
inaccessible across the country, and with the US Supreme Court on the cusp of
overturning Roe v. Wade, access is poised to vanish in nearly half of the
country. Even if abortion rights are preserved legally in your home state, an
inflow of patients from other jurisdictions is likely to tax an already
overburdened system, making appointments difficult to come by.
All
of this is worsened by a common misconception about abortion: most people do
not consider how they will obtain one until they are faced with an unpleasant
pregnancy. However, this is something you can alter. Knowing your options ahead
of time and making an abortion access plan long before you need one is one of
the finest things you can do in a post-Roe world—and sharing that information
with others so they may be prepared as well—is one of the best things you can
do.
Which
Method of Abortion Is Best for Me?
Surgical
and medicinal abortions are the two most common methods of abortion (also known
as medication abortion or abortion with pills). A trained practitioner performs
a surgical abortion by emptying the contents of a uterus using methods such as
vacuum aspiration or dilation and curettage (D&C). A combination of pills
(either mifepristone plus misoprostol, or misoprostol on its own) is used to
cause a miscarriage in a medication abortion. Each strategy has advantages and
disadvantages. Surgical abortion necessitates a trip to a clinic, but it is
quick and painless. Medication abortion can be performed from any location, but
it usually takes a few days to complete. Furthermore, not everyone can have an
abortion with pills: A surgical abortion may be the safest option if you have a
bleeding disorder, an IUD, or need an abortion later in pregnancy.
Whether
you choose a surgical or pharmaceutical abortion, your abortion plan will be different,
so it's a good idea to read about both and decide early on which method feels
like the best fit for you. If you can have a medication abortion, it may be the
preferable option; as abortion clinics get more crowded, appointment wait times
grow. The longer you wait to have an abortion, the more difficult and costly it
will become. Even though a surgical abortion would be your first choice in an
ideal case, a medication abortion today may be a better alternative than
surgical abortion in a few weeks.
Where
Is My Closest Abortion Provider?
If
you decide to get a surgical abortion, the first place you should look is
Abortion Finder, a database of hundreds of reputable and verified abortion
clinics in the United States. Unlike Google, which may occasionally return
anti-abortion organisations when searching for an abortion clinic, Abortion
Finder will only show you legitimate abortion providers as well as the state's
appropriate abortion legislation. If you live in a state with strong abortion
laws, Abortion Finder's filters can help you identify the closest clinic that
matches your needs—a clinic that doesn't require a waiting period, one that can
perform an abortion after six weeks, or whatever else you need.
If
a pharmaceutical abortion is a viable choice for you, you have even more
options. While you can receive abortion pills at a physical clinic, research
has consistently proven that taking them at home, alone, is just as safe as
taking them in the company of a doctor. Plan C maintains a huge database of
verified abortion pill providers, which includes both telemedicine services
that provide support during the abortion process and online pharmacies that
will just mail you the pills without any more assistance.
What
If Abortion Is Illegal in My State?
Even
if abortion is prohibited where you live, you can still get an abortion with
pills. A telemedicine provider can mail you the pills if you can go to a place
where abortion is permitted. If you can't go, the European website Aid Access
can connect you with an Indian pharmacy that can provide abortion drugs to any
of the 50 US states, regardless of abortion legislation. Because abortion is a
time-sensitive procedure, and obtaining pills from India can take several
weeks, AidAccess is willing to prescribe abortion pills to persons who aren't
currently pregnant in the event that they need them in the future. That's
right: you can obtain abortion pills right now at AidAccess.
Anything
Else I Should Know?
While
a pill abortion is extremely safe, undertaking it alone can be frightening.
Fortunately, a number of websites have been established to guide patients
through the process of self-managing an abortion with tablets. How to Use the
Abortion Pill and Self-managed Abortion: Safe and Supported explains both
mifepristone-misoprostol and misoprostol-only abortions in detail. There's also
the Reprocare Healthline, which provides trauma-informed emotional support to
anyone having an abortion using pills at home. And, while self-managed abortion
with tablets is medically quite safe, it's vital to be aware that it can have
legal ramifications, especially if you reside in a place where abortion is
outlawed. The Repro Legal Helpline is a free, confidential resource for people
who want to self-manage their abortions. If you get caught, the Repro Legal
Defense Fund offers bail and legal representation to persons who have been
investigated, jailed, or convicted for self-managed abortion.
Whatever
type of abortion you choose, it will almost certainly cost you money—not only
for the procedure but also for travel expenditures. If you can save money for
an abortion in the future, that's fantastic! However, because many women choose
abortion due to financial concerns, this is not always a viable alternative.
Abortion funds may be able to assist. The National Network of Abortion Funds
will put you in touch with an organisation that will assist you in determining
your financial and logistical needs, as well as do everything possible to
remove any obstacles standing in the way of your abortion. (Are you looking for
a way to support abortion access? Donating to abortion funds, as well as to
independent clinics, is a fantastic idea.)
Everyone
has the right to safe and cheap abortion. There is no doubt that the United
States is on the wrong course, and that the loss of abortion rights would harm
many pregnant women unnecessarily. However, please know that you are not alone
if you require an abortion. Many people and services are willing and happy to
assist you in receiving the treatment you require. The most difficult part is
figuring out where to look for them, which you've already accomplished.