Self-managed abortion (SMA) with pills is very medically safe and effective throughout early pregnancy, but there is a significant risk of criminalization in many U.S. states. While it is impossible to fully eliminate the risk of criminalization when having or planning to have an abortion at home, t
Leave no online footprint of searches or purchases. Digital Defense Fund’s abortion privacy guide is your go-to resource for this. Using private browsers, two-factor authentication, encrypted messaging, strong passwords, etc. is critical. Google searches have been presented as evidence in an SMA trial before. Do not leave a digital trail.
Use the medications properly to prevent interactions with healthcare providers. The pills are very effective, but they have to be used right. Carefully follow the instructions provided on the How to Use Abortion Pill website. Note that misoprostol tablets should always be taken by dissolving them under the tongue. Do NOT insert misoprostol vaginally if you are self-managing an abortion. While this is medically safe, it can leave incriminating pill remnants that can be detected in the vagina during a pelvic exam if you end up needing to seek medical care.
If it’s not an emergency but you need expert health advice, use a free calling service like Google Voice to call or text the Miscarriage + Abortion Hotline at 1-833-246-2632. Medical complications are very uncommon with abortion pills, but they’re not impossible. The M+A Hotline is safe to use and is staffed by trustworthy clinicians who volunteer their time to help those who choose SMA. Do not use your own phone number to call as this will create a record that is visible to your cell service provider.
Don’t disclose any information about SMA to emergency room staff if you do need to seek medical care. This is how most people who are arrested for SMA are reported. Healthcare providers are almost always who calls the police in cases of SMA criminalization. Contrary to popular belief, HIPAA does not protect your private health information from being shared with police if you are suspected of doing something that could be considered a crime. If you believe you need to seek urgent medical care, do not hesitate to go. Say “I think I’m having a miscarriage” and provide your symptoms. Do not mention any use of or purchase of abortion pills. There is no widely available test to detect misoprostol in your bloodstream. If you do not disclose it, there is no way for a medical provider to tell the difference between a medication abortion and a spontaneous miscarriage.
Do not talk to the cops. Period. Do. Not. Talk. To. The. Cops. If you are questioned by police you should state, “I am exercising my right to remain silent, and I wish to speak with an attorney.” Do not speak again or nod in response to a question. Contact the Repro Legal Helpline as soon as possible for expert legal advice: 1-844-868-2812. Do not agree to questioning or speak to any law enforcement official without a lawyer present.
Wanted to add some resources as someone who works in repro (and is a lawyer!):
1. Carafem provides abortion pills to pregnant people in many different states. Look them up at carafem.org to see if they can provide abortion care services to you. They do in person and virtual visits for abortion care services!
carafem specializes in the abortion pill and abortion procedures for early term pregnancies with a focus on privacy, convenience, and afford
2. If/When/How is an organization that intends to shape policy and advocacy for people to be able to determine if, when, or how they want to parent. They are very supportive of abortion rights. They run a program called the Repro Legal Defense Fund. It covers bail and funds strong defenses for people who are targeted by police or prosecutors for self- managed abortions. You can reach out to them for help at reprolegaldefensefund.org!
The Repro Legal Defense Fund funds bail and strong defenses for people who are investigated, arrested, or prosecuted for self-managed aborti
3. If you are a person with a uterus and can become pregnant, know that emergency contraception such as Plan B has a weight limit. Plan B becomes less effective if you weigh more than 155 pounds. If you can’t use Plan B, consider getting a prescription for Ella and buying some in case of emergencies. Ella is effective to people who weigh less than 195 pounds. While Plan B can be purchased over the counter, Ella requires a prescription.
4. Ineedana.com is a great website to find abortion clinics in your state or area. The clinics have been vetted and will actually provide abortions.
I need an abortion
5. The National Network of Abortion Funds provides a list of abortion funds by state. They will help you find your abortion and the expenses that come along with it— childcare, transportation, time off work, the procedure itself etc. go to their website at abortionfunds.org
The National Network of Abortion Funds builds power with members to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access by centering
6. If you plan on discussing your abortion with others, consider downloading an encryption app like signal or being vague about it. Do not use Skype or Zoom.
7. There are organizations called Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCS) They do not provide abortions and are overall nuisances. They will pretend to provide abortion care but will try to discourage you from choosing abortion and will lie to you about the fetus. They are dangerous for a host of reasons but they will present themselves as medical centers when they are not and they tend to locate themselves in close proximity to actual abortion clinics. If you think you may be in a CPC, ask questions! Do you provide abortions here? Will y oh give me a referral to an abortion clinic? Are you medically licensed? Can I see your medical license? If you ask any of these questions and they seem hesitant or don’t give you a straightforward answer, get out! If you are already there, read the fine print on everything. You don’t have to sign anything. You can leave. To learn more about CPCS and how to avoid them, look at the link below.
Beware of crisis pregnancy centers. CPCs may appear to provide unbiased pregnancy support, but many are deceptive and misleading.
I hope what I included is helpful.
Good luck and stay safe!
