How people are getting abortion pills in advance

Most services that provide pills in advance also offer support later on, when pills are used. Resources and directions for self-managing an abortion can be found online, and free phone and text support is also available from M+A Hotline and Reprocare.

Check out these step-by-step instructions for using abortion pills, created with the M+A Hotline.

Yes, abortion pills can be ordered in advance from any state. Use the information above or refer to this state directory to find a provider.

Since the end of Roe v. Wade, tens of thousands of people across the US have ordered pills in advance, and those numbers continue to rise.

Getting pills in certain states or under specific circumstances may involve legal risks. The Repro Legal Helpline can answer specific questions.

After receiving the medications in the mail, they should be stored at room temperature in their original, unopened packaging.

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

Checking the expiration date is the best way to know if the pills are still viable. Expired mifepristone or misoprostol might not work as well. Medications should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from children and anyone who shouldn't have access to them.

Some providers recommend storing them in a bedroom drawer instead of a bathroom cabinet to keep them in good condition.

Here is more information about pills in advance.

• Research shows that hundreds of thousands of people have received and used pills by mail over the past few years with no legal problems.
• But, in rare cases (less than 1%), people have gotten in legal trouble, even though most states don’t have laws against doing your own abortion.
• Legal risk can depend on where someone lives, their identity and how far along they are in pregnancy. Also know that even if something isn’t a crime, people can still be targeted by law enforcement.

The Repro Legal Helpline provides free, confidential information that can help people better understand legal risk:

Ineedana.com also has a state legal directory.

How do people get into trouble?

Research by the legal organization If/When/How suggests these are the most common ways people have gotten into trouble:

• they told someone about their abortion and that person reported them.
• they got follow-up medical care and the provider reported them (many people say they are having a miscarriage to avoid this risk, which is medically what is happening in the body).
• they were later in pregnancy than they thought and didn’t know what to do with the fetal tissue (this calculator can help people understand how pregnant they are).

In the end, it is up to every individual to decide what level of legal risk they are willing to take. Read more about legal risk and find examples here.

What about online activity? Can that get someone in trouble?

People who have been criminalized for accessing or using pills have mostly been reported based on telling someone they know, or via a provider. That said, digital footprints (messages, browser history) also can be used as evidence against someone by authorities. Learn how to protect the privacy of your healthcare information and communications here.

• Frequently Asked Questions: Find answers to common questions about abortion pills.
• How to take Abortion pills: Step-by-Step Instructions: Learn about the two methods.
• Need pills now (and not for future use)? Visit the Guide to Pills to see options by state.