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Though well intentioned, a lot of messaging around safe abortions implies that safe abortions cannot and do not happen outside of traditional medical settings.
Self-managed abortions can be and often are safe abortions. Self-managed abortions are also worth fighting for.
Self-managed abortions can be and often are safe abortions. Self-managed abortions are also worth fighting for.
General content + trigger warnings. This is a thread about self-managed abortions, specifically medication abortions. I mention feticide laws. I also briefly mention sexual assault toward the end of the section on criminalization.
I. The Basics.
Self-managed abortion (SMA) is a broad category referring to abortions performed outside of traditional medical settings, like clinics.
SMA methods include medication abortion and herbal abortion.
(source: @reproaction)
Self-managed abortion (SMA) is a broad category referring to abortions performed outside of traditional medical settings, like clinics.
SMA methods include medication abortion and herbal abortion.
(source: @reproaction)
II. Medication Abortion
When some people reference "medical abortion", they are mistakenly referencing emergency contraceptives like Plan B.
PLAN B is NOT an abortion pill. Plan B prevents pregnancy. Plan B does not end a pregnancy.
When some people reference "medical abortion", they are mistakenly referencing emergency contraceptives like Plan B.
PLAN B is NOT an abortion pill. Plan B prevents pregnancy. Plan B does not end a pregnancy.
The *actual* abortion pills are mifepristone and misoprostol.
During the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy, misoprostol is medically safe and 85% effective in ending a pregnancy.
An EC v. Medication Abortion Chart: https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/is-plan-b-abortion#quick-comparison-chart
During the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy, misoprostol is medically safe and 85% effective in ending a pregnancy.
An EC v. Medication Abortion Chart: https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/is-plan-b-abortion#quick-comparison-chart
Misoprostol is featured on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines. The WHO also created a protocol for people looking to use misoprostol to manage their abortion without medical supervision.
WHO Protocol: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/97415/9789241548717_eng.pdf;jsessionid=E68248A8CB072B872FAA3700E34636E9?sequence=1
(Source: @reproaction)
WHO Protocol: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/97415/9789241548717_eng.pdf;jsessionid=E68248A8CB072B872FAA3700E34636E9?sequence=1
(Source: @reproaction)
If you want a doctor to supervise your medication abortion:
You will be instructed to take mifepristone in the presence of a doctor. You will also be given misoprostol with further instructions about when to take it and how often.
This procedure is 95% effective.
You will be instructed to take mifepristone in the presence of a doctor. You will also be given misoprostol with further instructions about when to take it and how often.
This procedure is 95% effective.
Even though medication abortion is medically safe and VERY effective, you should still take a pregnancy test a few weeks after taking the pills. Just to be sure!
Planned Parenthood has a great resource on medication abortions: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill
Planned Parenthood has a great resource on medication abortions: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill
III. Criminalization of SMA
I wanted to flag that despite being medically safe, there are several states with explicit criminal prohibitions on self-managed abortions. These states are Arizona, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Delaware, and Nevada.
I wanted to flag that despite being medically safe, there are several states with explicit criminal prohibitions on self-managed abortions. These states are Arizona, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Delaware, and Nevada.
Even in states without these explicit criminal prohibitions, existing feticide laws have been manipulated to prosecute persons who terminate their own pregnancies.
Many feticide laws actually exclude pregnant people from criminal penalties, but prosecutors are overzealous.
Many feticide laws actually exclude pregnant people from criminal penalties, but prosecutors are overzealous.
Some prosecutors will also stretch criminal prohibitions on child neglect, practicing medicine on oneself, and possession of a dangerous substance to achieve this end.
People who have abortions with pills ordered online through non-clinical channels also risk prosecution.
People who have abortions with pills ordered online through non-clinical channels also risk prosecution.
In 2019, NY fully decriminalized SMA. NY is also among 13 states in which abortion pills can be obtained by mail through TelAbortion. The other states are WA, OR, NM, CO, GA, ME, IA, MN, IL, MD, MT, and HI.
See if you qualify for TelAbortion: https://telabortion.org/do-i-qualify
See if you qualify for TelAbortion: https://telabortion.org/do-i-qualify
@ifwhenhow operates a free, confidential helpline where they provide legal info, support, and attorney referrals to people fearing arrest or prosecution for self-managing an abortion. You can also call if you already have been questioned or arrested! http://www.reprolegalhelpline.org/
I also wanted to highlight Roe’s Unfinished Promise: Decriminalizing Abortion Once and For All from @ifwhenhow! Roe's Unfinished Promise includes statutes, case summaries, as well as charts and maps depicting SMA criminalization state by state. https://www.ifwhenhow.org/resources/roes-unfinished-promise/
In addition to If/When/how, @reproaction, @PlanCPills, Aid Access, Women Helping Women (through SASS), and the M+A Hotline all offer resources on how to obtain abortion pills, how to self-manage an abortion, and what the legal implications may be in your state.
ReproAction: https://reproaction.org/campaign/self-managed-abortion/
Plan C Pills: https://plancpills.org/
Aid Access: https://aidaccess.org/
WHW: https://womenhelp.org/
M+A Hotline: https://www.mahotline.org/
Plan C Pills: https://plancpills.org/
Aid Access: https://aidaccess.org/
WHW: https://womenhelp.org/
M+A Hotline: https://www.mahotline.org/
IV. Herbal Abortions
I'm not as knowledgeable on herbal abortions.
Herbal abortions are cultural and have always existed. If you don't have the experiences or knowledge to perform one, I don't recommend just using whatever info you find on Google.
I'm not as knowledgeable on herbal abortions.
Herbal abortions are cultural and have always existed. If you don't have the experiences or knowledge to perform one, I don't recommend just using whatever info you find on Google.
IV. Just Ranting
This thread is not to discourage anyone from getting abortions at a clinic. It's just to AGAIN highlight the way reproductive rights groups will use and reuse harmful, fear-mongering language. Please do not create stigma around SMA in the name of defending Roe.
This thread is not to discourage anyone from getting abortions at a clinic. It's just to AGAIN highlight the way reproductive rights groups will use and reuse harmful, fear-mongering language. Please do not create stigma around SMA in the name of defending Roe.
We should also abandon "pro-choice" feminism, which has historically been anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, and trans-antagonistic in favor of unabashedly pro-abortion sentiment that prioritizes self-determination around pregnancy and parenting.
A lot of pro-choice groups intentionally omit SMA from their advocacy and education because they do not want to encourage abortions. They, like many conservatives, actually favor limits on abortion access and would be fine w/ only rape survivors being able to have abortions.
The reason I say that I am pro-abortion and that I am committed to practicing reproductive justice is because I *genuinely* believe in safeguarding existing legal protections while acknowledging that legality should not be conflated with accessibility.
The repro rights movement fails to acknowledge that the legal right to abortion is not something disabled people, poor people, trans people, and poc can exercise as autonomously as wealthy, nondisabled, cis, white women.
Exs: The Hyde Amendment, Selective Abortion Bans.
Exs: The Hyde Amendment, Selective Abortion Bans.
Unsurprisingly, prosecutors overwhelmingly target poor people, immigrants, and people of color with criminal penalties for exercising reproductive autonomy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3518325/
I love abortion and everyone should have the education and resources to get one if it's right for them. If I could, I would accompany everyone to their abortion and buy them some bbq wings after. This shit is so important to me!!! I'll go to jail for it!!! Idc!!! End of thread.
Ok here's some recs on herbal abortions I just got from a friend: Wild Seed, The Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, & Herbal Abortion (a woman's diy guide). Unfortunately these are v gendered!
