Safe Abortion Using Pills - National Network of Abortion Funds

Safe Abortion Using Pills

The contents of this webpage are for informational purposes only. This information is not, and is not intended to be a substitute for, medical or legal advice. Resources listed here do not imply endorsement of any content.

If you or someone you know is being investigated, detained, arrested, or concerned they might be questioned by law enforcement or other government agents for having an abortion or a pregnancy loss, contact the Repro Legal Helpline.

For financial support with posting bail and securing defense counsel, contact the Repro Legal Defense Fund.

For more information about abortion with pills, check out Self-Managed Abortion; Safe and Supported.

Everyone who wants or needs an abortion should be supported in deciding the abortion method that works best for them – whether that is care with a provider (in-person or telehealth) or by self-managing their own abortion.

At NNAF, we affirm the autonomy of all people to self-determine their reproductive lives, including whether to end or continue a pregnancy without fear of discrimination, harassment, violence, or criminalization.

Self-managed abortion (SMA) is when a person manages their own abortion; SMA may include the use of pills, herbs or other methods.

  • SMAs happen outside of a medical setting, without the involvement of a medical provider acting within their legal scope of practice.
  • SMAs happen in the setting decided on by the pregnant person, sometimes with the help of a caregiver, friend, or family member.

There are many reasons one might prefer to end their own pregnancy, and many people experience co-existing dynamics as they weigh their decisions. A person might want to exercise more control over the experience, the location, and the timing of their abortion for highly personal reasons. They might be grappling with immense financial and logistical barriers, or struggling to find an available appointment as the number of abortion providers and states with abortion protections shrinks across the US.

No one should face criminal charges or incarceration for making their own pregnancy decisions, including abortion.

There are several states that explicitly prohibit self-managing an abortion. But even in states where there are no laws against abortion, prosecutors have used and misused a wide variety of laws to punish people for self-managing– including laws that were never intended to be used against the pregnant person for their own pregnancy outcome.

Visit the Repro Legal Helpline to find more information about the laws and potential legal risk in your state.

Learn more

NNAF does not monitor or endorse the accuracy of any information contained at these links. Listing these resources does not imply endorsement of any content. The information contained at these links represents the views of the organizations linked, not NNAF.

If you or someone you know is being investigated, detained, arrested, or concerned they might be questioned by law enforcement or other government agents for having an abortion or a pregnancy loss, contact the Repro Legal Helpline.

For more information about abortion with pills, check out Self-Managed Abortion; Safe and Supported.

If you or someone you know is being investigated, detained, arrested, or concerned they might be questioned by law enforcement or other government agents for having an abortion or a pregnancy loss, contact the Repro Legal Helpline.

For financial support with posting bail and securing defense counsel, contact the Repro Legal Defense Fund.

For more information on criminalization of pregnancy outcomes, visit If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice.