Self-managed abortion is not a new phenomenon, but many long-standing biases and assumptions about it are worth challenging and updating. Phrases such as “coat-hanger,” “back-alley” or “clandestine” abortion harken back to the era before Roe v. Wade established a constitutional right to abortion and haunt contemporary discussions by referencing a range of unsafe abortion practices. In particular, these phrases reflect fear about returning to an age in which abortion care was often unsafe in the United States.
“People should have affordable access to the full range of safe and effective options for abortion care, including self-management with medication. In addition to existing barriers that limit access to abortion care overall, there are unique obstacles that must be overcome before self-managed medication abortion can be available to all in a meaningful way. It is essential that individuals seeking to self-manage an abortion have a source of accurate information and access to medical care if necessary.”
- Megan K. Donovan, Guttmacher Institute
