Yes! Abortion is legal and available in parts of Mexico, but just like in the U.S., access depends on where you are.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, many people—especially those in states like Texas and Arizona—have been traveling to Mexico for abortion care. For a lot of abortion seekers, Mexico is faster, easier, and cheaper than traveling to other states in the U.S. But people have always traveled to Mexico for healthcare services, it’s often more affordable especially for U.S. residents who don’t have health insurance. Mexico also has strong feminist networks that have been helping people get abortions and fighting for better access for a long time.

Did you know that Ineedana.com lists some abortion providers in Mexico?

We want you to know all of your options—including when it might make sense to go to Mexico for care, and what to expect if you do.

We don’t have comprehensive coverage of Mexico yet but we are working on it. If you have a clinic you’d like to add please fill out this form.

Why are people traveling to Mexico for abortion services?

• For many in U.S. border states like Texas or Arizona, traveling to Mexico is closer and more affordable than flying or driving to a state where abortion is legal.
• The medications or procedures can be more affordable than in the U.S.
• You can usually get misoprostol at a pharmacy without a prescription.
  

What are the abortion laws in Mexico?

Mexico is a large country, and each state has its own laws. In 2021, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled that abortion could not be punished under federal law. However, that decision didn’t automatically change state laws — each state still has to make its own changes to the law. As a result, the rules vary across the country. In states where abortion has been decriminalized, it’s usually legal up to 12 weeks. Mexico City was the first to legalize abortion in 2007 and has since served as a model for other states.

Check out this map of Mexico with abortion laws by state.

Survivors of sexual violence are legally guaranteed access to a free abortion in public health facilities.

Under Mexico’s federal law and NOM-046, anyone who can get pregnant—including teens—has the right to access abortion in cases of rape. They don’t need to file a police report, just sign a form at the clinic. Teens who are 12 years and older can get care without a parents or legal guardians permission. Abortion in cases of sexual violence is a right, and the law recognizes it as a medical emergency—meaning care must be provided immediately in these cases.

How do I know if going to Mexico is the right choice for me?

The best way to decide is by comparing all of your options: getting pills by mail, traveling to a clinic in the U.S., or possibly traveling to Mexico. Each option comes with different costs, timelines and possibly some risks depending on your circumstances—so think about what feels most manageable and safest for you.

Consider your personal legal risks, your immigration status, and how easily you can leave and re-enter the U.S. If you’re able to travel internationally without issues, Mexico might be a good choice. But if you have any immigration concerns, it may be safer to stay in the U.S.—either by traveling to another state or getting pills by mail.

What do I need if I travel to Mexico?

• US citizens need a valid passport to enter Mexico and come back
• Most clinics will ask for proof of address, and it can help to bring your birth certificate just in case– call the clinic ahead of time to ask what documents they need.
• If you're a Mexican citizen, bring your birth certificate, government ID, Número de Seguridad Social (NSS), and proof of address.
• Some clinics may require you to bring a companion with you for an in-clinic procedure, check with the clinic to make sure
• Bring cash in Mexican pesos—some clinics don’t take credit cards, and U.S. dollars may not always be accepted.
• Save the clinic's address and phone number somewhere offline in case you lose service or Wi-Fi
• Make sure your phone works internationally or that you download maps or translation apps before your trip.
• Look for acompañantas, organizations, or collectives that can support you and provide more information.
• Ask about safety conditions for traveling within Mexico.

What are the typical costs and is there help to pay for them?

Costs can add up when traveling to Mexico for an abortion, especially when you include:

Need help? Use our cost estimator tool to get a breakdown of how much your abortion might cost — including travel, lodging, and other expenses. And you can always talk to your local abortion fund and reach out to Fondo Maria for help paying for the abortion and travel costs.

Tip: Don’t forget to convert Mexican pesos into U.S. dollars when looking at prices. Some clinics may list both, but it’s always good to double-check.

What can I do for aftercare when I get home?

Make sure to save the clinic information, most clinics will have a 24/7 helpline.

If you’re not experiencing a medical emergency and just want to get checked out after a miscarriage or abortion, you do not have to go to the emergency room. You’re already in the right place to find trusted medical providers who offer abortions.

Though uncommon, if you do experience a medical emergency review our guide on emergency rooms.

There’s no flat rate for an abortion – depending on where you live, how many weeks pregnant you are, and what kind of abortion you’re getting, the total cost can vary a lot. That’s why we built a new tool to help you understand what your abortion might cost and why.

Introducing the abortion cost estimator, a new feature that lets you explore abortion costs based on common scenarios and real-life examples. Costs are based on current national averages from the ineedana.com database, so you can get a realistic picture of what to expect. You can also filter your options based on your state to see what’s most relevant to you.

You’ll get a breakdown of expected costs for:

Each scenario includes:

• Baseline costs
• Little explainers for extras like travel (gas or flights), overnight stays, meals, pain management, and post-abortion meds
• Links to organizations that might be able to help cover the costs
• Real stories from people who had abortions — including how much they paid for care, and what they spent on travel

You can also build a custom estimate based on your unique situation. Add how far you’re traveling, how many nights you’ll need a hotel, meals, and any other costs — then edit everything to match your actual plans. The tool uses the most comprehensive abortion clinic pricing database out there (yep, ours!) to help you prepare before you travel.

We know navigating abortion access is already hard enough. We hope this helps you get the answers you need, feel more prepared, and know you’re not alone.

Try it out and share it with someone who might need it. 💜

Abortion is legal in Illinois and since the Dobbs decision in 2022, the state has introduced a lot of laws to protect abortion access including ways to make it much more affordable.

Private insurance

In 2019, Illinois passed a law called the Reproductive Health Act. This law says that everyone has the right to make their own choices about reproductive health, including abortion. It also means that private health insurance in Illinois must cover abortion just like they cover other types of pregnancy care.

So, if your insurance is regulated by the state of Illinois—like if you or your family got your insurance plan through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace or through your employer—and it covers pregnancy care, it must also cover abortion.

But this law doesn’t apply to Medicare, other federal insurance plans, or private employers that use “self-funded” health plans.

Illinois Medicaid abortion coverage

In Illinois, there are two Medicaid programs that must cover both abortion pills and in-clinic abortions:

• Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility (MPE): Gives temporary, same-day coverage for pregnancy-related outpatient care.
• Moms & Babies: Covers care during pregnancy and for 12 months after, no matter how the pregnancy ends—whether by birth, miscarriage, or abortion.

To qualify, you must live in Illinois. Eligibility depends on your income and how many people are in your household. If you're pregnant, Medicaid will count your pregnancy as an extra person in your household. And some clinics can even accept your Medicaid application while it’s still being processed.

Below is a list of abortion clinics and telehealth providers in Illinois that take Illinois Medicaid. If you're eligible, some of them can help you apply for Medicaid during your visit.

People who are undocumented can still get services through Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility (MPE). If you have any trouble because of your immigration status, the Chicago Abortion Fund can help you get care no matter your status.

If you have more questions about immigration and abortion access, check out this article.

People under the age of 18 can also apply for Illinois Medicaid, even if their parents have private insurance. If you’re a minor and need help with applying for Medicaid or need help paying for your abortion, you can call the Chicago Abortion Fund. Be sure to mention this in your voicemail or in the online form.

Additional support

If you aren’t eligible for Illinois Medicaid or if you are traveling to Illinois for abortion care and need support, there are abortion funds that can help!

Chicago Abortion Fund can help pay for your appointment and travel if you’re getting an abortion in Illinois.

Midwest Access Coalition helps with travel, like paying for a place to stay, transportation, food, and childcare if you’re coming to or traveling within Illinois for an abortion.

Just like with other kinds of medical care, the doctor, nurse, or midwife prescribing the medication may do things a little differently when it comes to abortion. Some telehealth providers listed on Ineedana.com may use a slightly different misoprostol regimen based on their professional preference. Misoprostol is safe and effective, knowing how it works may help you feel more prepared and informed so let’s get into it.

I was given the combination of mifepristone and misoprostol from a telehealth provider, but the misoprostol instructions are different from what I previously used or read about. What should I do?

Some telehealth providers recommend taking more doses of misoprostol to help ensure the uterus fully empties out. Some people only have a small amount of bleeding after the first set of misoprostol so taking more misoprostol may help people feel more sure the process worked. Taking extra doses of misoprostol is not dangerous and it is safe to follow the instructions that your provider recommends. Misoprostol can have side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, fever, shaking.

One thing that will always stay the same is when mifepristone is used, it’s always taken as a single pill that’s swallowed 24-48 hours before the misoprostol.

A common regimen that is safe and effective and recommended by the World Health Organization:

• For someone less than 12 weeks from their last menstrual period (LMP) swallow one 200mg mifepristone pill, then 24 hours later let 4 misoprostol tablets (800mcg) sit under the tongue, in the cheek, or in the vagina for 30 minutes.
• For someone between 9-12 weeks from their LMP and has more misoprostol, they should then take 4 more misoprostol the same way 3 hours later. Learn more about the medications and what to expect when someone is over 12 weeks pregnant.

You can see the regimen for taking pills based on how many weeks someone is on the Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline.

Misoprostol is safe and all of the slightly different regimens from trusted providers listed on Ineedana.com are effective over 90% of the time. Bleeding and passing clots are normal side effects, but it’s a good idea to take all doses of misoprostol your provider recommends even if you start bleeding after the first dose or taking the mifepristone!

Everyone’s body reacts differently to abortion medication—some people bleed more, some less; some pass one large clot, others pass several smaller ones. All of that is normal. It is recommended to take a urine pregnancy test 4-5 weeks after taking the medication to make sure it’s negative.

• Learn more about what to expect and how to know if the pills worked.
• Miscarriages and medication abortions look the same, learn about what's normal and what’s a potential emergency.

Have more questions?

Call, text, or Signal message Reprocare at (833) 226-7821.

Call or text the Miscarriage + Abortion Hotline at (833) 246-2632 to talk to a clinician.

Get the Aya Contigo app and talk with an expert.

If you’re a parent considering an abortion, you may be wondering if that choice could put you at risk of a Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation. I Need An A and If/When/How want you to know that many parents decide to have an abortion because it is the best decision for them and their family. We want you to have all the information you need to feel supported, no matter what you decide to do.

Can CPS get involved if I have an abortion?

Having an abortion—whether at a clinic or self managing with pills—is not a reason to be reported to CPS. It is not a crime. But, in rare cases, especially when someone self manages or goes to the emergency room afterward, abortion has led to CPS involvement.

Let's be clear - healthcare providers do not have to report someone to the police or CPS for having an abortion, including a self-managed abortion. But what the law says and what happens in real life can be different.

Here are some ways CPS involvement can happen due to an abortion:

🚩 If a parent is reported to the police for self-managing their abortion, research shows that CPS will be called.

🚩 If a healthcare provider or clinic staff believe they need to make a call based on something shared during an appointment.

Healthcare providers and clinic staff are mandated reporters. This means they are legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. What is considered child abuse and neglect depends on the laws in each state. Though unlikely, this means there is a chance they might report you to CPS. The risk is higher if you talk about:

• struggling with housing, food or other basic needs
• Mental health or disability
• Drug use during pregnancy

🚩 People experiencing intimate partner violence can face a higher risk of being reported to CPS.

Sometimes, the abusive partner can make the report. Other times, hospital staff report that there are kids at home because they may believe the violence is putting your child at risk or that calling CPS will help get you resources to leave. But CPS getting involved often causes more harm than help.

If you are experiencing intimate partner violence and need help, call or chat with the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

🚩 If the person getting the abortion is a minor, particularly if they’re under 15 and going to a clinic.

Every state has statutory rape laws. These laws say people can only consent to sex after a certain age, no matter the age of the other person. Healthcare providers, including clinic workers, are mandated reporters and may be required to ask about how your teenager got pregnant. You or your teen don’t have to share any information about the other person involved if you’re not comfortable.

What rights do I have as a parent when CPS is involved?

You do not have to share any information to CPS about your abortion and/or medical history that you don’t want to share.

Do not sign any paperwork (“release” or “HIPAA form”) without talking to a lawyer first. You can tell them that this is private medical information that is protected by HIPAA and you don’t want to speak about it without talking to your lawyer first. If CPS contacts you and is asking you questions about your abortion, you can contact the Repro Legal Helpline at 844-868-2812.

You do not have to speak to CPS if you do not want to.

You also do not have to let them into your home without a warrant or court order signed by a judge. But that does not mean the investigation will stop or the case will end.

CPS may contact other people in your and your children’s lives, like family, neighbors, or teachers, for more information. They might also decide to get a court order saying that you must meet with them or let them see your children. Everyone’s situation is different, and only you know what is best for you and your family.

You do not have to let CPS talk to your child(ren).

If they are old enough to speak, CPS will probably try to talk to them alone. CPS may do this when they first come to your home, or they may go to their school. You can tell the school that you do not want CPS talking to your children without you. Or that they notify you if CPS contacts the school. But many schools have agreements with CPS that they will let CPS interview children at school without a parent. CPS may also decide to bring you to court so they can get an order from a judge that lets them talk to your child(ren) without your permission.

If you decide to talk to CPS, remember that everything you say and do will be documented by CPS and can be used against you in court later.

That means how you say something can be just as important as what you say to CPS. If CPS believes you’re being rude or defensive, that can impact their decision making in your case. Try to stay as calm as possible when talking to CPS.

How can I reduce my risk?

Be mindful of who you talk to about your abortion and how you communicate about it.

You do NOT have to tell anyone about your abortion.

• If you’re worried about going to the emergency room or hospital after an abortion or miscarriage, read this article.
• To learn about your rights when talking to any healthcare provider about your abortion or miscarriage, read this article.
• Learn more about how to keep your information private.
• To learn more about how immigration status can affect abortion access, read here.

Find free legal, medical and emotional support.

• Repro Legal Helpline: get all of your legal questions answered, including questions about CPS.
• M+A Hotline: get your medical questions answered by a volunteer doctor.
• Reprocare: Peer support hotline for people using abortion pills.
• Aya Contigo: A digital companion for sexual and reproductive health care with a live chat.

FAQ

Abortions are safe and common—and you shouldn’t have to fear legal consequences or losing your children because of decisions about your body and your family. We hope this article helped you feel more prepared and supported. You always have options, and you’re never alone.

Find your abortion options at ineedana.com, and get your legal questions answered by the Repro Legal Helpline 💜 Want to hear from people who were already parents? Check out this collection of their stories.

Maybe! It really depends on a few things:

• If you have a negative blood type
• If you’re having an abortion or miscarriage after 12 weeks of pregnancy
• If you want to have children in the future

If you answered YES to all of the above, it is recommended to get an injection called Rh-immunoglobulin (commonly known as brand name RhoGAM).

What is RhoGAM and why is it so important?

(Here’s where it gets a little medical—read on if you're curious, or you can skip to the part how to find out if you're Rh-negative.)

If your blood type is Rh-negative and you're pregnant with a fetus who has an Rh-positive blood type, this is called Rh incompatibility. When this happens, there’s a chance for something called Rh sensitization.

Rh sensitization means that if Rh-positive blood from the fetus mixes with your Rh-negative blood, your body can have an immune reaction by creating antibodies that may attack Rh-positive blood cells and cause harm to a future desired pregnancy.

When someone with Rh-negative blood is exposed to Rh-positive blood, their immune system can become “sensitized.” That means it starts making antibodies against the Rh-positive blood, treating it like an invader and trying to destroy it.

This immune response usually doesn’t cause problems during the first pregnancy because the pregnant person’s blood usually doesn’t mix with the fetus’s blood until delivery, therefore antibodies don’t form until after delivery. But in future pregnancies, if the fetus has Rh-positive blood, those antibodies could attack the fetus’s red blood cells leading to a condition called hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) or miscarriage.

During routine prenatal care pregnant people with Rh-negative blood types will receive an injection from their provider called RhoGAM to stop these antibodies from forming. This injection is given around 28 weeks of pregnancy and then again within 72 hours after the delivery to make sure future pregnancies are safe.

For people having an abortion or miscarriage and who plan to have kids in the future, the RhoGAM shot will protect those future pregnancies. New research shows that if you’re under 12 weeks, there's no reason to get RhoGAM before or after taking the pills or having an abortion procedure, since there's no evidence that Rh sensitization can occur this early in pregnancy. After 12 weeks, however, the pregnant person should get a RhoGAM shot within 3 days of taking mifepristone or misoprostol or within 3 days of having an abortion procedure to help avoid Rh sensitization in the future.

How can I find out if I’m Rh negative?

If you’ve given birth before, had a blood transfusion or donated blood you may already know this! Your blood type doesn’t change so it's not something that needs to be done over and over again.

If you don’t already know your Rh status before your appointment, that is ok. For people above 12 weeks pregnant you will be able to have a blood test to find out your Rh status during your appointment. If you would like to know your Rh status before your appointment there are a few options:

• Ask your parents or your doctor, they may already know!
• Next time you get your blood drawn you can ask if they will check your Rh status
• At-home blood test or self-order lab visit
• Blood donation

If you know your Rh status or are planning to bring a copy of your blood work results with you to your abortion appointment, just verify before your appointment that they will accept self-reported results or results from elsewhere.

Do I need to know my blood type before traveling to my appointment?

You only need RhoGAM if you’re Rh-negative and over 12 weeks pregnant. If you would like to try to find out your Rh status before you travel to your appointment you can use one of the options discussed above. If that is not possible when you arrive at your appointment your Rh status will be checked or you may be offered RhoGAM even if you don’t know your blood type as it is generally not dangerous to receive RhoGAM if you are Rh positive. 

Does the doctor need to know my partner’s blood type?

If you are Rh negative and 100% certain your partner is also Rh negative, then the pregnancy’s blood type would also be negative and there’s no need for the RhoGAM injection.

How soon after an abortion or miscarriage should I get a RhoGAM shot?

Within 3 days of taking mifepristone or misoprostol or within 3 days of having an abortion procedure or miscarriage. But, if you aren’t able to get RhoGAM within 3 days of recommended time, talk to a medical provider. Or call or text the Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline at (833) 246-2632

I’m having an abortion or miscarriage at home, how do I get RhoGAM?

If you're under 12 weeks pregnant (that's 11 weeks and 6 days or less to be exact), you do not need it.

If you’re over 12 weeks pregnant some options include calling your obgyn, midwife, primary care provider or going to the ER. You do not need to say that you had an abortion, some people say they had miscarriage and need the RhoGAM shot. Remember it’s recommended to get the shot within 3 days of the abortion or miscarriage.

It’s also not harmful to get a RhoGAM injection if you’re unable to get a blood test or are unsure what your blood type is.

Have questions before, during or after an abortion?
Reach out to the Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline to talk with a volunteer doctor. Call or text (833) 246-2632

Figuring out your abortion options may feel overwhelming, and sometimes you just want to talk to a real human who understands how to navigate it all. While I Need An A has tools, guides, and blogs to help you explore all of your options in any state, we know there are moments when clicking through a website isn’t enough. So, we teamed up with the amazing folks at the Miscarriage + Abortion Hotline to launch something new: now you can chat directly with a trained, nonjudgmental volunteer right on our site.

We're starting small: for now, it's available only in certain states and volunteers are online Monday through Friday, 11 AM–3 PM CT on ineedana.com. More to come soon!

How do I chat?

Use our search feature and scroll down to “What are your biggest questions?”. If chat is available in your state you’ll see it under “I need help. Who can I talk to?”.

What the chat can help with:

While volunteers cannot make abortion appointments directly, they can answer logistical questions like:

• What are my abortion options?
• How can I get help paying for my abortion?
• What are the differences between pill providers?

How it works:

• It’s free to use, and works from your phone or desktop
• Available in Spanish and English
• Volunteers can send you direct links to clinics, funds and other resources
• The chat will delete automatically after one hour of inactivity or if you close the ineedana.com window completely.
• If you get disconnected, just start a new chat!

Big BONUS - Privacy by design:

By chatting directly on ineedana.com, there won’t be a record of your conversation in texts or your call history, further keeping your abortion as private as you want it to be.

Learn more about how we protect your data in our Privacy Guide

Learn more about I Need An A

Again, we’re starting small - this is an experiment! If you have questions that need a person to speak with and our chat isn’t online, we highly recommend:

• M+A Hotline: get medical questions answered
• Repro Legal Helpline: get legal questions answered
• Reprocare: peer support hotline for people using pills
• All-Options: peer support hotline for people who are still exploring all of their pregnancy options.
• Aya Contigo: A spanish-language first abortion digital companion with trained abortion accompaniment

For other resources that can help explain your abortion options, we recommend:

• Chat with Charley: a chatbot that can help you understand your options
• Plan C Pills: an up to date guide specific to how to get pills by mail in all 50 states

As always, if you have feedback, questions, or ideas - don’t hesitate to let us know! team@ineedana.com

Period pills are the same medication as abortion pills—whether that’s using the mifepristone + misoprostol combo or misoprostol on its own. The main difference is not knowing if you’re pregnant or not. Period pills embrace uncertainty.

The medications (we call them mife and miso for short) are so safe that you can take them without taking a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant, the pills will cause an abortion. And if you aren't pregnant, the pills will start your period. When people take them within a week or two of a missed period, they will likely have bleeding similar to their regular period or slightly heavier.

“Period pills” or “menstrual regulation” is a practice used in many countries early in potential pregnancy when someone has missed their period. We think that a shift in language and framing, like using “menstrual regulation” was helpful in countries where abortion has long been banned. In Bangladesh, for example, menstrual regulation is legal and widely available through government supported clinics, even though abortion is illegal (yes! These are still the exact same pills!). In some places, “bringing down a period,” is culturally and legally more accepted than ending a confirmed pregnancy – even if the results are exactly the same: not being pregnant.

Let’s get into the history a little bit..

Before pregnancy tests, most people didn’t know right away if they were pregnant—they relied on a missed period as the first sign, but often didn’t know for sure until the “quickening,” around 14–20 weeks, when fetal movement could be felt. Throughout history and into the U.S. colonial era, if someone’s period was late, midwives would often try different methods to “bring down” a menstrual period. But how we thought about pregnancy started to change in the 1920s, when scientists discovered the pregnancy hormone hCG, which is what tests detect. Then, in the 1970s, at-home pregnancy tests became available, which allowed people to know a lot earlier (learn more about the history of the pregnancy test).

But pregnancy isn’t always black and white—it’s not like one day you’re not pregnant and the next you fully are. Early pregnancy is more of a process, starting with small hormonal changes. This is where period pills come in—they create space for a different way of thinking. Instead of needing to confirm a pregnancy, some people use these medications at the first sign of a missed period, without taking a test. For a long time, doctors required a positive pregnancy test before prescribing mifepristone or misoprostol, but we now know these medications are safe and can be used even earlier.

Now abortion pills have a really cool beginning in our opinion. Misoprostol (also known as Cytotec) was first made in the 1970s by a U.S. pharmaceutical company to treat stomach problems and ulcers. The bottle warned not to use it if you were pregnant, but in Brazil (where abortion was illegal), activists believed it could help women avoid unwanted pregnancies. And it worked! In the late 80’s, misoprostol began to be used widely for abortions across Latin America through activist networks where they shared safe ways to use it.

Misoprostol works by softening and dilating the cervix (the opening to the uterus) and causing the uterus to contract. These contractions are similar—though usually more intense—to cramps during a period. So, when there is a pregnancy in the uterus, misoprostol causes the uterus to expel it (which is exactly how a miscarriage happens, too). When there isn’t a pregnancy, the misoprostol can cause the uterine lining to shed, which triggers a period.

Image by Arwen Donahue, originally shared by We Testify.

Mifepristone (RU-486) on the other hand, was developed in 1980 by French scientists to specifically block the pregnancy hormone progesterone and end early pregnancies. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, clinical studies showed that using mifepristone followed by misoprostol was more effective than mifepristone alone. And in the 2000s this protocol was the standard of care globally.

Image by Arwen Donahue, originally shared by We Testify.

Mifepristone and misoprostol have been proven to be safe for people using them and effective for ending pregnancies. Normal side effects of the pills are cramping, bleeding and nausea whether you are pregnant or not and there are no long term health effects to taking these medications.

So now that we have a better understanding of the badass roots and the activists who helped shape abortion care today, why period pills?

Abortion has become more and more regulated in the U.S., and some states have banned doctors from performing them completely. The idea of "period pills" or "menstrual regulation" isn’t widely used here, mostly because abortion is still technically accessible—whether it’s at a clinic in protected states or sent by mail—so, people still have options. In countries like Bangladesh, though, menstrual regulation is legal even though abortion is banned. The U.S. doesn’t have specific laws about menstrual regulation (yet). And while most abortion bans here say the pregnant person can’t be criminally charged, self managing an abortion can still have legal risks. Taking these pills earlier can offer a way for people to avoid having to navigate the laws, logistics, expenses and stress of abortion access, especially in states where it’s banned.

That said, there is growing interest in this approach among people in the U.S. Between 2015 and 2017, the Gynuity Health Project surveyed people to understand why they might be interested in period pills. 70% of the participants who stated they would be unhappy if they found out they were pregnant expressed interest in taking period pills. Their reasons were to prevent and avoid being pregnant, as well as the potential emotional stress of finding out they were pregnant. 

If your period is late, it’s okay to not want to confirm a pregnancy.

There are many providers who will send you pills—no positive pregnancy test required. You can find a list of these providers on The Period Pills Project website.

Most of these providers will allow you to order pills in advance (sometimes referred to as “advanced provision") to make it even easier to take if you miss a period and don’t want to take a pregnancy test.

How to take period pills:

Follow the protocol outlined by the M+A Hotline.

If you follow the instructions and your period is late because you’re pregnant, these pills are 85-99% effective. You can find more information on how to be sure they worked or steps to take if you’re worried they didn’t in our guide on taking abortion pills before 6 weeks.

Here’s our take..

Our bodies are more beautiful and complex than words can perfectly describe or what any law should control. What matters most is that you get to decide if and when you carry a pregnancy and the more tools you have available to help you do that, the better.

And the lines get blurry with the words we use to describe pregnancy prevention. A miscarriage is a spontaneous abortion. An IUD is both preventative birth control and can be used as an emergency contraceptive. Ella is another type of emergency contraceptive pill, and new studies suggest it could be even more effective when used with misoprostol. And then there are abortion pills—which can be used for abortion, menstrual regulation, or even as a kind of emergency contraception if they are taken early enough.

You get to decide what your experience is called and what it means to you. With the safe and trusted options of mifepristone and misoprostol, you also get to choose when it makes the most sense for you—whether that’s after confirming a pregnancy or before, simply at the sign of a missed period. Ineedana.com is here to help you get the care you need—however you frame it, and whatever name you give it 💜

When we’re expansive in how we talk about abortion, we don’t just expand access, we expand safety and dignity for everyone.

A lot of abortion funds and practical support organizations have been distributing emergency contraceptives in their communities for years—just another reason why we love abortion funds so much! Funds distribute emergency contraceptive pills like Plan B or Julie—also known as “EC”—and usually other products like pregnancy tests, condoms and lube by volunteer delivery, pick up location or mailing them.

You can find free plan b in your community by going to www.ineedplanb.com

What is Plan B?

Emergency contraceptives like the “morning after pill” or the name brand Plan B, is a pill that’s taken after unprotected sex that slows down ovulation, which can help stop a pregnancy. Its active ingredient is the synthetic hormone levonorgestrel that delays ovulation or delays the egg from being released from the ovary.

Levonorgestrel tablets (or Plan B, Julie, My Choice, and many other generic brands) are most effective within 72 hours after sex without a condom or birth control or if the condom breaks. But, the sooner you take it the better!

Can I take Plan B to terminate a pregnancy?

Plan B or other emergency contraceptive tablets that have levonorgestrel are not abortion pills. If you need an abortion and want to take medications, you’ll need mifepristone and misoprostol or just misoprostol. You can learn more about the medication abortion process here. And if you need an abortion, go to ineedana.com to find the best option for you based on your location!

How can I get Ella?

Ella is another type of emergency contraceptive, or morning-after pill, but you must have a prescription from a nurse or doctor. It can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex and is as effective on day 5 as it is on day 1.

Mọi người có thắc mắc về quyền phá thai hợp pháp của họ. Điều này có thể gây ra sự bối rối vì luật phá thai và luật nhập cư đang thay đổi rất nhiều. Đó là lý do tại sao I Need An A và các luật sư tại If/When/How đã viết hướng dẫn này.

Vui lòng biết:

• Bạn không cần phải nói cho bất kỳ ai biết tình trạng nhập cư của mình để được phá thai.
  
• Nhưng cách bạn phá thai và nơi bạn phá thai có thể có sự quan trọng. Nếu bạn có luật sư di trú, hãy trao đổi với họ. Hỏi họ xem điều gì có thể khiến bạn gặp rủi ro pháp lý nếu bạn phá thai. Nếu bạn không có luật sư di trú hoặc không chắc mình có cần luật sư hay không, Đường dây trợ giúp pháp lý Repro có thể giúp bạn. Gọi (844) 868-2812.
  
• Chúng tôi muốn mọi người đều cảm thấy an toàn. Nếu bạn lo lắng về quyền riêng tư của mình, hãy đọc hướng dẫn về quyền riêng tư của chúng tôi.
  
• Nếu bạn là luật sư di trú và có thắc mắc về luật phá thai hoặc muốn tìm hiểu thêm về cách hỗ trợ những người tìm kiếm tới dịch vụ phá thai, hãy liên hệ với If/When/How.

Tôi có thể phá thai ở đâu?

Luật phá thai khác nhau ở mỗi tiểu bang. Nhưng nhìn chung, mọi người:

• Đi đến phòng khám phá thai
• Uống thuốc phá thai tại nhà

Mọi người đều có quyền đi phá thai. Sử dụng Ineedana.com để tìm phòng khám gần nhất và hỗ trợ đi lại.

Một số người chọn thuốc qua đường bưu điện. Đôi khi họ chọn cách này vì phá thai bị cấm ở nơi họ sống. Hoặc vì họ không thể đi lại. Và đôi khi họ muốn làm điều đó ở nhà. Đây được gọi là phá thai tự quản (SMA).

SMA có nghĩa là tự chấm dứt thai kỳ mà không cần sự hỗ trợ của bác sĩ. Nhiều người tự quản lý tình trạng của họ. Điều này rất phổ biến. Về mặt y khoa, điều này rất an toàn. Và SMA không phải là tội phạm ở bất kỳ tiểu bang nào (trừ khi thai kỳ được 24 tuần ở Nevada).

Nhưng đôi khi, những người tự quản lý phá thai bị cảnh sát, dịch vụ bảo vệ trẻ em hoặc cơ quan di trú điều tra hoặc thậm chí bị buộc tội. Đó là vì những gì luật pháp quy định và những gì xảy ra trong thực tế có thể khác nhau.

Để được tư vấn pháp lý về quyền và rủi ro có thể xảy ra, hãy liên hệ với Đường dây trợ giúp pháp lý Repro theo số 844-868-2812.

Tôi có thể đi nơi khác để phá thai không?

Có thể. Mọi người đều có quyền hiến định được đi du lịch. Nhưng nếu bạn không phải là công dân, bạn có thể có rủi ro pháp lý. Có khả năng bạn bị cảnh sát địa phương, ICE hoặc Hải quan và Biên phòng (CBP) chặn lại khi đang đi du lịch. Bạn hiểu rõ nhu cầu của mình hơn bất kỳ ai.

Nếu bạn quyết định đi du lịch để đi phá thai, hãy tìm hiểu thêm về:

• Quyết định đi du lịch để phá thai
• Tìm kiếm các tổ chức hỗ trợ có thể giúp bạn điều phối và thanh toán chi phí đi lại
• Phá thai cho người dưới 18 tuổi

Nếu bạn không muốn hoặc không thể đi du lịch, một số người tự quản lý tại nhà. Nhưng cũng có thể có rủi ro pháp lý với việc này. Sau đây là thêm thông tin về việc tự quản lý việc phá thai.

• Nhiều cách khác nhau để nhận được thuốc phá thai
• Thuốc qua đường bưu điện sau khi mang thai 12 tuần
• Phá thai tự quản
• Quyền riêng tư và an toàn kỹ thuật số

Nếu tôi quyết định đi du lịch, tôi nên cân nhắc điều gì?

Nếu bạn không phải là công dân Hoa Kỳ, bạn có thể cảm thấy sợ hãi khi đi du lịch, đặc biệt là qua các tiểu bang khác, trong thời gian này. Sau đây là thông tin về việc đi du lịch khi không có giấy tờ. Và sau đây là một số câu hỏi để bạn suy nghĩ tới:

Phòng khám có bắt tôi xuất trình giấy tờ tùy thân không?

Các phòng khám sẽ yêu cầu xuất trình giấy tờ tùy thân có ảnh. Bạn có thể sử dụng giấy phép lái xe, hộ chiếu hoặc thẻ học sinh. Nếu bạn không có giấy tờ tùy thân có ảnh, hãy hỏi phòng khám xem bạn có thể làm gì.

Phòng khám hoặc quỹ phá thai có hỏi về tình trạng nhập cư của tôi không?

Không. Các phòng khám không được hỏi về tình trạng nhập cư. Nhưng nếu họ hỏi, bạn không phải trả lời. Và phòng khám không thể từ chối bạn vì không trả lời.

Nếu bạn lo lắng, bạn có thể gọi điện đến phòng khám để hỏi về chính sách của họ đối với ICE.

Những câu hỏi bạn có thể hỏi phòng khám:

• Bạn có cho phép ICE vào tòa nhà không?
• ICE đã từng đến phòng khám chưa?
• Nếu ICE xuất hiện, phòng khám sẽ làm gì?

Bạn cũng có thể hỏi những câu hỏi khác về sự an toàn của mình. Ví dụ, bạn có thể hỏi cách phòng khám xử lý người biểu tình. Hoặc bạn có thể hỏi về quy tắc của họ khi gọi cảnh sát.

Quỹ phá thai địa phương cũng có thể có thông tin về ICE. Quỹ phá thai sẽ không bao giờ hỏi về tình trạng nhập cư của bạn. Và một số, như Quỹ Frontera ở Texas, có hỗ trợ đặc biệt cho những người không có giấy tờ.

Nếu tôi cần đến bệnh viện thì sao? Họ có thể từ chối điều trị cho tôi vì tình trạng nhập cư của tôi không?

Không. Bệnh viện không thể từ chối bạn vì tình trạng nhập cư của bạn. Họ không thể chia sẻ thông tin của bạn trừ khi bạn nói rằng điều đó ổn hoặc nếu có lệnh của thẩm phán. Nhấp vào đây để tìm hiểu thêm về lệnh của thẩm phán.

Vào năm 2024, Florida và Texas đã ban hành quy định rằng các bệnh viện phải hỏi về tình trạng nhập cư. Các tiểu bang cho biết điều này là để thống kê. Nhưng bạn không phải trả lời. Và bất kể bạn nói gì, bệnh viện vẫn phải điều trị cho bạn.

Tìm hiểu thêm về những việc cần làm nếu bạn cần đến phòng cấp cứu trong hoặc sau khi phá thai.

Nếu bạn là phòng khám hoặc nhà cung cấp dịch vụ phá thai và muốn tìm hiểu thêm về cách bảo vệ bệnh nhân của mình, hãy xem hướng dẫn Biết quyền của bạn này của Trung tâm Luật Di trú Quốc gia.

Làm thế nào tôi có thể tự bảo vệ mình nếu tôi đi ra khỏi tiểu bang để phá thai?

Bất kể bạn quyết định đi bằng cách nào:

Di chuyển bằng đường bộ:

Nếu bạn đi xe buýt Greyhound, bạn không cần ID. Ngoài ra, Greyhound cho biết họ không cho phép ICE trên xe buýt hoặc bến xe buýt của mình.

Nếu bạn đi tàu Amtrak, bạn không cần ID để mua vé. Amtrak có thể kiểm tra vé ngẫu nhiên trên tàu.

Đi bằng máy bay:

Bạn có thể bay ở Hoa Kỳ (bao gồm tất cả 50 tiểu bang và vùng lãnh thổ của Hoa Kỳ) bằng hộ chiếu nước ngoài.

Nếu bạn đang đi du lịch đến hoặc đi từ Puerto Rico, Guam, Quần đảo Virgin thuộc Hoa Kỳ, Samoa thuộc Hoa Kỳ hoặc Quần đảo Bắc Mariana, CBP có thể sẽ tiến hành kiểm tra thêm. Hãy trao đổi với luật sư di trú trước khi đi đến bất kỳ vùng lãnh thổ nào của Hoa Kỳ.

Làm thế nào để tôi có thể giữ an toàn cho mọi người trong cộng đồng của mình?

Giữ an toàn cho cộng đồng của bạn có nghĩa là biết nơi nào và cách nào để phá thai. Chia sẻ các nguồn thông tin đáng tin cậy chưa bao giờ quan trọng hơn thế - mọi người đều có quyền hợp pháp để chia sẻ thông tin về việc phá thai, bất kể họ sống ở đâu.

Nếu bạn làm việc tại một quỹ phá thai hoặc phòng khám phá thai, hãy đảm bảo rằng tài liệu của bạn được dịch sang các ngôn ngữ được sử dụng phổ biến nhất trong cộng đồng của bạn và có phiên dịch viên trực tiếp hoặc qua điện thoại.

Nếu bạn là nhà cung cấp dịch vụ chăm sóc sức khỏe, hãy nhớ rằng bạn không bắt buộc phải cung cấp hoặc tạo điều kiện cho cảnh sát tiếp cận bất kỳ bệnh nhân nào của mình, đặc biệt là nếu điều đó sẽ gây nguy hiểm cho tình trạng của bệnh nhân.

Bạn nên luôn luôn:

• Yêu cầu xem lệnh
• Nói với bệnh nhân của bạn rằng họ có quyền giữ im lặng và nói chuyện với luật sư trước
• Ở lại với bệnh nhân của bạn nếu cảnh sát khăng khăng thẩm vấn họ

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