Unless you’ve been living under a rock or have been on another planet, you’ll have undoubtedly heard about the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the US in 2022.
What does this mean? In simple terms, it means that women can no longer have access to legal abortions in some states and, in others, they need to have the termination before they are six weeks pregnant. However, in some other states, access to abortion is legal up until the twenty-second week.
If you live in one of the states where abortion is prohibited and you find yourself with an unwanted pregnancy, don’t panic! If your pregnancy is early enough, there are still some options for you, such as traveling out of state to access one or having one at home. How do you do the latter? Read on to find out.
Termination in the US in 2023
As mentioned before, the overturning of Roe v. Wade came into effect in late 2022, with some states still trying to get these laws put into place.
So, how can you have a safe pregnancy termination at home? Well, the laws in the US, even in states where terminations are illegal, don’t have laws banning out-of-state doctors from sending medical termination medication through the mail to your home. As any website on abortions will tell you, such as gcaus.com.au, medical abortion is performed using two tablets taken over two days.
Therefore, as long as your pregnancy isn’t complicated, you’re in good health, and your pregnancy is under twelve weeks, having a medical termination following a teleconsultation with a doctor shouldn’t be a problem. More importantly, it’s also not illegal.
Medication
The most commonly used medical abortion medication in the US is misoprostol and mifepristone. When these are sent in the mail, they’ll come with instructions on how to use them, and, of course, your healthcare provider will have spoken to you about the process too. If you have any questions, be sure to check with a doctor or nurse before you proceed.
Process
Both medications work by causing the body to abort the pregnancy. This can take a few hours to occur after you take the medication. It’s advised that you take the day off work when you take this medication, as you’ll need to stay off your feet.
There will be some heavy bleeding and discomfort, so be sure to have some maxi pads at hand, as well as some pain relief. It’s advised that you don’t wear a tampon or a menstrual cup when having a termination, as the flow of blood can be extensive.
Potential Issues
Most medical terminations are safe and occur without any issues.
However, if you have very heavy bleeding, nausea, vomiting, weakness, extreme soreness, or unpleasant smelling discharge, you may have an infection or other complications. So, be sure to seek medical advice. Don’t worry; even if you live in a state where abortion isn’t legal, you can still seek help for complications after having one without any legal ramifications.
