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Very glad to see @people publish an article about medication abortion, yet perplexed & disappointed to see so much misinformation and stigma in it!
https://people.com/health/abortion-pill-what-to-know/
A thread.
https://people.com/health/abortion-pill-what-to-know/
A thread.
Dr. Mary Jane Minkin says "medication abortions can only happen through 10 weeks." Ok, that may be what the FDA says, but they actually can be effective beyond that.
See research here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1016/S0968-8080%2808%2931371-8
And from @WHO: https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/medical-management-abortion/en/
See research here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1016/S0968-8080%2808%2931371-8
And from @WHO: https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/medical-management-abortion/en/
Dr. Minkin also says, "it’s never easy to have an abortion."
I * think* what Dr. Minkin is suggesting is that the decision to have an abortion isn't easy, which is just not true - for some people, as soon as they take a pregnancy test, they know they want an abortion.
I * think* what Dr. Minkin is suggesting is that the decision to have an abortion isn't easy, which is just not true - for some people, as soon as they take a pregnancy test, they know they want an abortion.
For others, of course, the decision to have an abortion can be difficult. But why repeat this stigmatizing comment in the context of explaining medication abortion? A very odd choice.
She also suggests that medication abortion is safer than surgical abortion. @NASEM found that abortion, surgical or medication, are very safe -- why throw surgical abortion under the bus like that? https://www.nap.edu/resource/24950/03162018AbortionCarehighlights.pdf
The average cost of a medication abortion is $500 (according to @Guttmacher: https://www.guttmacher.org/news-release/2014/cost-abortion-when-providers-offer-services-and-harassment-abortion-providers-all), but she says it's $1000.
She doesn't mention @abortionfunds, where people can get help paying for abortions, and doesn't mention how abortion laws often increase the cost.
She doesn't mention @abortionfunds, where people can get help paying for abortions, and doesn't mention how abortion laws often increase the cost.
She also says abortion pills are only available from a doctor and not online. This is blatant misinformation. You can order abortion pills from @aidaccess. @Plancpills has a report card of websites to find reputable abortion pills. @WomenHelpOrg can provide you with support.
The combination of this misinformation is especially dangerous since it suggests that medication abortion is expensive & there's no help (false) and that you can't turn to the internet to access abortion pills (false). This is irresponsible journalism.
She ends the article repeating the stigmatizing phrase, "no woman wants to get an abortion." First of all, not everyone who gets pregnant is a woman. Second, many people *want* abortions once they find out they're pregnant. Please don't make moral judgments about your patients.
She also only names Planned Parenthood as a provider. Independent clinics before the vast majority of abortions in the US - worth it to call them for care, too!
Hi @people, I'd be happy to write a better article for you about medication abortion!
