How People Get Abortion Pills Online in Every State

Visit our Guide to Pills for information about where to find pills near you.

Abortion pills are available from:

In-person clinics: Have an in-person visit with a clinician. Get pills to take home. Take the pills at home. Phone/text follow up support, if needed. Some states ban clinic-based care.

Online clinics: Do a medical consultation using your phone or computer (online form or video visit). Receive the pills by mail. Take the pills at home. Phone/text follow up support, if needed. Some online clinics serve ALL states and territories, including in states with bans.

Websites that sell pills: Some international websites sell abortion pills. No prescription is needed. No medical screening or advice is given. Receive the pills by mail. Take the pills at home. Free phone/text follow up support available through MAhotline.org, if needed. Available in ALL states.

Community support networks: Some state-based abortion support groups, like Red State Access and others, provide free support to those looking for abortion options. Receive the pills in-person or by mail. Take the pills at home. Free phone/text follow up support available through MAhotline.org, if needed. Available in all states with restrictions on clinics.

Other countries: Some people find abortion pills in pharmacies in other countries (like Mexico). Take the pills at home. Free phone/text follow up support available through MAhotline.org, if needed.

Yes, there are several ways to get pills by mail, even in states that totally ban abortion care.

Options include:

• Online clinics operated by licensed clinicians who live in states that allow abortion by mail (learn more here)
• Websites that sell pills
• Community networks that mail pills for free

Find options available in your state using the Plan C Guide. Travel is also an option. Find your nearest clinic here.

Most people use a pregnancy test to confirm that they are pregnant. Most people do not need any other medical tests to get abortion pills. The clinic or telehealth service may ask you to get additional tests if:

• You are unsure of when you had your last period
• You have any history or symptoms of ectopic pregnancy (like pelvic pain)

Yes, you can buy pills now to use later. Some people like to do this so that they have pills on hand just in case their period is late. They can then take the pills right away without having to wait a long time for shipping.

Here is more information about services that offer pills in advance.

If you decide to use the pills later, the services will still help you with instructions and follow up support.

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‍How long do pills last? 

After receiving your medications in the mail, it is recommended to store your medications at room temperature and in their original, unopened packaging.  

Mifepristone has a shelf-life of about 5 years. Misoprostol tablets have a shelf-life of around 2 years.

Experts recommend you check your medicine’s expiration date before taking them. It is not recommended to take expired mifepristone or misoprostol because they may not work as well or (be less effective).

Some insurances and some Medicaid plans cover abortion pills. But not all providers accept insurance or Medicaid. Our Guide provides information about financial help available from individual providers. The best way to know if you can use your insurance or Medicaid is to contact the provider directly. They can help you figure it out.

No, you cannot buy abortion pills from Amazon online or from their physical locations.

There are many online services that sell abortion pills. Our Guide provides more information about these online services, which ship pills to all 50 states.

Many online services calling themselves "pharmacies" sell abortion pills. They do not do a medical consultation. They do not require a prescription. They ship to addresses in all US states.

Are these websites real? Yes, many are real commerce sites. But, they are not regulated by the US government. They sell generic abortion pills that have not been inspected by the US government.

Plan C regularly tests these websites by buying pills from them. The services we list in our Guide all shipped pills to a home address. The pills were real (based on laboratory testing). But, we do not operate these sites and cannot guarantee they will be reliable in the future.

Here is how online pill stores work:

• The buyer selects the desired product (often called an MTP Kit, for “medical termination of pregnancy”). Our test buyers looked to make sure there was one pill of mifepristone and four pills of misoprostol. Some services sold only three misoprostol pills, which is not the medical standard. [NOTE: People who are more than 9 weeks pregnant sometimes also buy 4-8 extra misoprostol pills to have on hand in case they need them to complete the abortion.]
• The buyer fills out their address and payment information.
• The buyer chooses the type of shipping they want. In our tests, “express” shipping was usually mailed from the United States and arrived in 4-6 days. “Regular” shipping was mailed from abroad and took several weeks.
• IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PAYMENT: It is very common for these websites to email or call soon after they get the order and request a different form of payment. They often say the credit card did not go through. They often ask the buyer to use a PayPal account in a person’s name or in the name of another business. These payment requests do seem unusual, but they worked every time we tested them.
• The pills usually arrive by US Postal Service. They usually do not require a signature.

Online pill stores may not follow strict digital security protocols. Many people use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) before visiting or ordering from these sites to protect their private information.

Learn more about potential legal risks of accessing pills through online pill stores by reading our FAQ. You can also contact the free, confidential Repro Legal Helpline (online or at 844-868-2812) to discuss your specific situation.

NOTE: If you have a problem with one of the online pill stores listed on our website, please contact them directly to request help. We do not operate these sites. We cannot help you with refunds or shipping issues.

Sometimes a clinic or telehealth service will advertise that they offer a “sliding scale” for fees.  But what does that mean?

In simple terms, this means that the provider offers some sort of financial discount to help make the service more affordable. Sliding scales are a patient-centered approach to making sure the cost of abortion doesn’t prevent you from getting care.

The specifics of how this works can vary from place to place. Some providers will ask you for proof that you need a discount, and only offer discounts to people who meet certain income requirements. But, some providers just trust you to tell them what you can afford.

On abortion telehealth websites, it can look a few ways:

• Either a slider tool or form, where the patient can enter what they are able to pay, or
• Patients need to actively ask for a discount if they can’t afford the full price. This is sometimes done through back and forth emails.

How much should you pay?

Everyone should decide for themselves how much they can pay, but sometimes it is helpful to put it in perspective. Questions you might ask yourself before deciding how much you can pay:

• Do I have access to financial resources?
• Am I making more money than I need to live?
• Do I come from family or inherited wealth?
• Have I been impacted by an economic crisis?

The more people who can pay the full or partial cost of the service, the more sustainable this model can be. Providers who offer sliding scales are often covering the rest of the cost from their own funds or sometimes get help from abortion funds or charitable contributions, if they are available.

Let’s pay as much as we can to help these providers continue to offer a sliding scale so that anyone who needs care can get it.

Abortion pills (also called medication abortion) is a combination of two pills: mifepristone and misoprostol.

First you take mifepristone, which blocks progesterone, a natural hormone in your body necessary for supporting a pregnancy. Without progesterone, the development of the embryo stops, and the lining of your uterus thins, which prevents the embryo from staying implanted in the uterus. When you take misoprostol, 24-48 hours after taking mifepristone, it makes your uterine muscles contract the same way they do during your period, miscarriage, or childbirth. These contractions cause your uterus to expel the pregnancy.

The “abortion pill" or "abortion with pills” is a modern option for ending an early pregnancy safely and effectively. It is also called "medication abortion." It uses two kinds of pills: mifepristone and misoprostol (or misoprostol only, if mifepristone is not available).

Method 1: Mifepristone + Misoprostol

This is the most common method of abortion with pills. You take a mifepristone pill first, followed by misoprostol pills 24 to 48 hours later. This is the most effective method of abortion with pills (95-98% of the abortions are successful). It has the fewest side effects. It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is the type of abortion with pills provided by clinics like Planned Parenthood and recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Method 2: Misoprostol Only

Abortion with pills can also be done using only misoprostol pills (click here to read our blog about it).  This is endorsed by the World Health Organization in places where mifepristone is not available.

• Both methods are effective and very safe. Both methods are also widely used by people around the world. We provide information about both methods on this website.
• Using abortion pills does not require the presence of a doctor. Some people find and take the medications safely on their own. This is called self-managed abortion.
  

Yes, and no. Abortion pills are prescription medications in the US. But, it is also possible to get them from some places without a prescription.

People can get a prescription for the pills from abortion clinics, telemedicine services, and some medical offices. Click on "find pills" to learn how to get pills in your state.

We also know that many people are buying abortion pills from online services without a prescription. Some people also find the pills in bodegas or across the border in Mexico. Finding and using pills without consulting a medical provider is often called "self-managed" abortion. Our Guide to finding pills provides information about how people are doing this. It is important for those considering this option to understand any legal risks (see below, Can I Get in Trouble?).

Abortion pills are most commonly used in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. Many providers follow a 12 week guideline, which is the World Health Organization's recommendation.

We know that some people safely use abortion pills later in pregnancy. Contact the MAHotline or Reprocare if you have questions about having an abortion after 12 weeks. Some community support networks provide information and support for abortion with pills past 13 weeks. You can also have an abortion procedure at a clinic after 13 weeks, and some groups can help with funding.

Things to know about using abortion pills after 12 weeks: 

• ‍How people use abortion pills after 12 weeks is different from how you use them before 12 weeks.
• Using pills later in pregnancy is more painful and less effective.
• The risk of complications also goes up as the pregnancy grows.
• Legal risk can also go up with later abortion. Contact the ReproLegal Helpline if you have legal questions.

This calculator can help you know how many weeks pregnant you are. It is based on the first day of your last normal period. People who don’t know the first day of their last period or who have periods that don’t come regularly may need to have an ultrasound or pelvic exam to find out how many weeks pregnant they are.

Abortion pills can cost anywhere from $40 to $600 or more:

• Online ordering services and new telehealth abortion services charge $150 and up.
• The in-clinic option costs $600 on average.
• The Misoprostol-only method can be found online, in bodegas, or in other countries. It costs between $40 to $300.

Many services accept insurance/Medicaid or offer discounts to those who can't pay. Just ask.

No. Plan B is emergency contraception. You can take it up to 5 days after having sex without using birth control. Plan B prevents pregnancy.

Plan C is our term for abortion pills. These are taken after a missed period (up to 77 days from the first day of your last normal period).

We believe that everyone should have access to all options: 

• Plan A is birth control to prevent pregnancy.
• Plan B is emergency contraception (also to prevent pregnancy)
• Plan C is abortion pills.

You can find great instructions for using pills here. If you need instructions in other languages, go to HowToUseAbortionPill.org. They have excellent instructions for mifepristone plus misoprostol abortion and misoprostol-only abortion. The instructions are available in 27 languages. The website also includes a live chat feature.

The Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline also has instructions for how to take the pills in English and Spanish. You can also text or to talk to a clinician if you have questions.

The Reprocare Healthline has peer counselors and doulas who can help walk you through the steps of finding pills, taking them, and follow up.

The website howtouseabortionpill.org has great information about what to expect when you take the pills and how to manage side effects. This fact sheet in English and Spanish provides a good summary of what to expect and when to seek additional care.

Common symptoms:

Abortion pills cause bleeding and cramping. This is part of the abortion process and shows that the pills are working. Many people do not have any symptoms after taking the first pill (mifepristone). The bleeding and cramping usually start soon after taking the second set of pills (misoprostol).

The bleeding may be heavier than a normal period. The cramping can be mild to severe. This can vary for each person. It also depends on how far along the pregnancy is.

Other common side effects are feeling sick to your stomach, throwing up, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, and fevers.

Severe symptoms that require immediate medical attention:

• bleeding that soaks through more than 2 maxi sanitary pads per hour for more than 2 hours in a row, OR
• fever of more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 24 hours, OR
• fever of more than 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit for any length of time

The Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline is a free service staffed by licensed clinicians. They can help answer medical questions about miscarriage and abortion.

How to prepare:

‍To prepare for taking abortion pills at home, abortionfinder.org recommends gathering the following supplies in advance:

• A heating pad
• Comfortable clothes, including comfy underwear
• Super absorbent maxi pads
• A blanket in case of chills
• Ice chips and/or popsicles to suck on in case of nausea or vomiting
• Easily digestible food like plain crackers, white rice, bananas, broth, and plain white bread
• Something distracting, like movies, tv, magazines, coloring books, or video games
• A friend or other support person to help, if needed

The two main ways to access abortion pills in the United States are through:

• A licensed medical provider. This means you get the pills after a consultation with a doctor or nurse practitioner. This can be in a clinic or through an online telehealth service. Telehealth services mail you the pills after an online medical consultation. You then use them at home.

• Alternative providers. This means you get the pills from a website that sells pills or a community network that provides pills. These access routes are not part of the regular medical system and don't involve consulting a medical professional. You then use the pills at home.

Examples of medically-supported access include: 

• Abortion on Demand
• carafem
• Just the Pill
• Hey Jane
• Forward Midwifery
• Full Circle Healthcare
• Metro Area Advance Practice Clinicians
• Pills by Post
• Planned Parenthood
• Your family doctor
• Aid Access

Examples of alternative ways to access pills include: 

• Buying and taking pills from a website that sells pills (online pharmacy)
• Getting pills through volunteer networks, like Las Libres or Red State Access
• Finding pills in a bodega
• Purchasing pills from a pharmacy in another country, without a prescription

Both ways to access pills are safe, but using alternative suppliers may have some legal risks. See our section "Can I get in trouble for using abortion pills?" for more information about the legal considerations for using alternative suppliers.

Yes. There are many free services that can help support you during your abortion. The Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline provides free, confidential medical information and support by phone and text. Other services, like the Reprocare Healthline, can provide emotional support and practical information about what to expect by phone or text during your home abortion. There are even some chatbots and apps (like Euki and Safe Abortion App) that can help guide you.

Visit the support section below for more information.

Using abortion pills is very safe. Abortion pills are safest and most effective for pregnancies of less than 13 weeks. This means less than 91 days counting from the first day of the last regular period. The World Health Organization provides guidelines for safely self-managing abortion up to 12 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period.

The rate of major complications during an early abortion is very low. Having an abortion is safer than continuing a pregnancy and having a baby.

One risk is that abortion pills may not work (they may not end the pregnancy). The pills are less effective when taken later in pregnancy. You can take a pregnancy test 3-4 weeks after taking the pills to make sure they worked:

• If the test is positive, it is important to get follow-up care.
• A pregnancy test done earlier than 3-4 weeks after an abortion may show a false positive. This is because it takes time for the pregnancy hormones to leave the body.
• Most people can tell they are no longer pregnant soon after the abortion because their symptoms of pregnancy go away.

Another risk is if the pregnancy is outside the womb. This is called an ectopic or tubal pregnancy. This is very rare (only about 2 of every 100 pregnancies). Because ectopic pregnancy can lead to serious health consequences, it is important to:

• Always do a pregnancy test 3-4 weeks after taking the pills
• Immediately seek follow up care at any medical facility if the test is positive
• Seek care if you have any continued signs or symptoms of pregnancy after the abortion. Common signs of ectopic pregnancy are severe and increasing abdominal pain, particularly if it is one sided.
  

Some states require that parents be notified or give consent for a  minor to get an abortion. Your provider can help you understand what the law is in your state and how parental notification or consent works. If you do not feel comfortable or safe involving a parent or guardian in the decision to have an abortion, you have two options: 

• request service from a provider (like Aid Access) who does telehealth from a state with special laws, called “shield laws” 
• obtain a judicial bypass (permission from a judge)

Both options are explained below.

‍36 states require parental consent or notification for minors seeking abortion care.  Parental consent means one or both of your parents or  legal guardian(s) has to sign paperwork saying that it is OK for you to have an abortion. Parental notification means that the abortion provider must tell your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) about the abortion before it is done. Abortion providers must comply with these laws if they are serving a minor who lives in a state,  travels to a state, or uses a telehealth provider in a state that requires parental consent or parental notification for abortion.  In these states, providers cannot help you if you do not have parental notification or consent. 

If you do not feel able to involve your parent(s) in your decision, there are two options you can use: 

• If you are less than 13 weeks pregnant (counting from the first day of your last period), you can get abortion pills mailed to you from Aid Access. They serve minors in all states and territories. They are able to serve minors without parental consent or notification because they operate from states with special laws that do not require them to do this.

• You can get a judicial bypass (permission from a judge). Obtaining a judicial bypass is free, but can be complicated and requires going through a court process that may take between 1-3 weeks. This usually involves going to a court to fill out forms before setting up a meeting to talk to the judge. The Judicial Bypass Wiki can help you learn how to get a judicial bypass. Organizations like If/When/How, the ACLU, and Jane’s Due Process, and other local organizations can also help you.

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Misinformation on the internet is common. Misinformation is false, inaccurate, or misleading guidance shared with the purpose of confusing someone.

To avoid false information and abortion scams, beware of these two common tactics used to trick people looking for abortion information.

Abortion pill “reversal”

Abortion reversal claims are false: you can not “reverse” an abortion. People who share this information claim that taking progesterone after taking the first abortion pill can make the pregnancy continue. There is no scientific evidence that progesterone will reverse the abortion process.

If you’d like to learn more, we recommend this resource created by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.  

Fake abortion clinics

Fake abortion clinics are another method of tricking people looking for abortion information. Fake clinics are usually called "pregnancy centers" or "crisis pregnancy centers." They often use the same language and information-sharing techniques as real abortion clinics and resources. These sites trick people into thinking they are making an appointment for an abortion. This is harmful because it delays access to care.

The online Clinic Checker will help you check if a clinic is legitimate.