Self-managed abortion is the term commonly used to describe when a person chooses to induce their own abortion outside of a medical setting. Anyone who decides to end a pregnancy should be able to choose to have an abortion at home, in a clinic, or somewhere they feel safe—with the control in their hands, surrounded by the people they love, and with the support they want.
Self-managed abortion is not new; people have been having abortions for centuries, in many cases supported by community providers, doulas, partners, and lay people. When Roe v. Wade made abortion legal in the U.S., abortions have also been available to people in clinics and other medical settings. When Roe was overturned in 2022, some states still have access to abortions and other states have banned abortion. We see more people turning to self-managed abortion, especially in communities where politicians have closed clinics and banned abortion care from being offered with formal medical support.
Research shows that with access to safe, effective methods and accurate information, people may safely self-manage an abortion on their own. Self-managed abortion may look different for different people. Safe and effective ways of self-managing an abortion can include:
No matter the method you may choose, we know that access to abortion care makes communities healthier and that care delivered without delay, judgment, or bias is what everyone deserves. Here’s what you need to know about self-managed abortion.
Since it was first approved by the FDA in 2000, medication abortion, also referred to as the abortion pill, has transformed the practice of abortion care. It’s extremely safe and effective for pregnancies less than 12 weeks. In 2016, the FDA confirmed that medication abortion’s “efficacy and safety have become well-established by both research and experience, and serious complications have proven to be extremely rare.” In a 2015 guideline, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified three individual components of self-managing a medication abortion during the first trimester: self-assessing eligibility, managing the mifepristone and misoprostol medication without direct supervision of a health care provider, and self-assessing completeness of the abortion process using pregnancy tests and checklists.
The FDA-approved regimen for medication abortion consists of two medications currently available by prescription through a provider (not at a pharmacy): mifepristone, which works by blocking progesterone, a hormone needed for a pregnancy to continue; and misoprostol, taken 24-48 hours later, which induces contractions and ends the pregnancy. A person’s ability to self-administer mifepristone and misoprostol after receiving instructions from a provider is well established, and there is evidence that it is safe and effective for someone to do so without the direct supervision of a provider.
Medication abortion care is effective more than 95% of the time. In cases where the recommended dosage does not end the pregnancy, additional medication or aspiration (suction) abortion care may be needed to complete the abortion. Expected side effects are typically minor and similar to the symptoms of a miscarriage: bleeding, uterine cramping and pain.
Some providers in the U.S. and many internationally use a misoprostol-only protocol to complete an abortion. Many people self-managing their own abortion care also follow these protocols. While not approved by the FDA, this regimen is common and is also very effective. You can find more information on misoprostol-only protocols from the WHO at www.who.int/health-topics/abortion.
Anti-abortion politicians are standing in the way of all types of safe, effective, affordable methods of abortion care, but abortion is needed now more than ever without the federal protections of Roe v. Wade. In many states, politicians have imposed regulations that specifically create legal barriers to the use of medication abortion. Our allies at If/When/How recommend deleting period-tracking apps and telling as few people as possible about your self-managed abortion. Here are digital privacy tips from the Digital Defense Fund. There is no role for the criminal punishment system or law enforcement in managing a person’s reproductive healthcare needs. Ending the criminalization of pregnancy, abortion, and all aspects of reproduction is essential to affirming the right to reproductive autonomy. Whole Woman’s Health stands firmly against criminalizing anyone for ending their own pregnancy. We believe all people should receive compassionate, medically-sound advice and support when seeking to end a pregnancy.
Whole Woman’s Health is a Group of Abortion Clinics and Nationwide Virtual Abortion Pill Provider. We provide abortion procedures, birth control, medication abortion and more. If you’ve asked yourself “how much does an abortion cost?” or “is there an abortion clinic near me?”, then look no further. Whole Woman’s Health has everything you need.
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