Women’s Health FAQs
Publication Date: June 24, 2022
By: Adele Scheiber
If you or someone you know is pregnant and does not want to be, there are resources available to you – even if you live in a state where abortion is virtually illegal or face significant economic, transportation, or social barriers to abortion care. Read on for The Network’s go-to list of trusted providers and resources on abortion.
The NWHN’s Consumer Health Information on Abortion Methods and Access
Medication abortion is the method of safely and effectively inducing a miscarriage using FDA-approved abortion pills. Medication abortion can be used to end a pregnancy up to 10 weeks from the first day of your last period. Check out our consumer health information to learn everything you need to know about the risks and benefits of medication abortion and related topics.
Featured resources:
A group of veteran public health advocates, researchers, social justice activists, and digital strategists work to make the abortion pill, (AKA safe, legal medication abortion) accessible to all women. They also offer accurate, up-to-date, state-specific information on topics like:
Aid Access supports people who are less than 10 weeks pregnant to access abortion treatment by providing online consultation for abortion pills by mail. They offer sliding scale pricing, complete confidentiality, and rapid services. Aid Access is the private initiative of Dr Rebecca Gomperts, and consists of a committed team of doctors, activists, and advocates for abortion rights. The purpose of the website and the service is to create social justice and improve the health status and human rights of women who do not have the possibility of accessing local abortion services.
For confidential 1:1 abortion advice
Run by pro-choice doctors with years of experience caring for miscarriage and abortion. These doctors volunteer their time to provide expert advice on self-managing abortion, accessing resources, and more. The hotline can be accessed by either phone or text message, and the website has reputable, downloadable resources from partner organizations on how to access abortion services.
AbortionFinder.org provides clear, up-to-date information about the availability of abortion care across the country. Their directory houses information on over 750 trusted and verified health centers. You can locate the best one for you by searching by your age, location, and the first day of your last period.
If/When/How runs a Repro Legal Helpline to offer direct information about your legal rights and protection regarding self-managed abortion. They provide clear, understandable answers about the law and its applicability to your case.
The National Network of Abortion funds connects pregnant people with organizations that offer financial and logistical assistance when abortion is needed.
For abortion activism opportunities
For by-the-minute updates on abortion access demonstrations and educational events near you, bookmark Planned Parenthood’s Bans Off Our Bodies campaign home page. Their interactive map alone is an incredible resource.
The Network understands that deciding whether, when, or how to become a parent is one of the most important life decisions a person can make. We strongly believe that every person should be able to make decisions about pregnancy, including the decision to have an abortion, free from fear and restrictions that politicians use to shame and control them. We also know that restrictions on abortion fall hardest on Black and Indigenous people, other people of color, immigrants, low-income people, and LGBTQ people. Ensuring that all people have access to the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion care, is an essential part of addressing racial injustice and other inequities in our health care system and building a more just and equitable society.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, nearly one in four pregnant people in the United States (23.7%) will have an abortion by age 45. This virtually guarantees that someone you know – a sister, a cousin, a friend, a coworker – has had or will have an abortion. It also means that if you are ever in a position where you are seeking an abortion, you are one of thousands of people needing normal, routine health care.
We hope this information has been helpful as you navigate the new restrictions on abortion in your states. If, like us, you believe these restrictions are unconscionable and a clear attack on women’s health, we hope you’ll consider joining the fight for choice by becoming a National Women’s Health Network Member today. Your annual contribution of just $15 makes it possible for us to create timely content like this.
The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information contained on or available through this website, are for general public information purposes only.
