More Difficult Isn’t the Same as Impossible

We’re not going to lie: this is a difficult time to be planning a self-managed abortion in the US. The links for several of the online pharmacies known to sell abortion pills are currently inactive, while others are in countries under lockdown orders that would prevent anything from being mailed. And both the US-Canada and US-Mexico borders are closed for tourists and other non-essential travel.

But that doesn’t mean a self-managed abortion is entirely out of reach during this global health crisis. It means that people trying to get misoprostol, with or without mifepristone, are going to have to be more stubborn, persistent, and resourceful.

Think of it this way: if you’re trying to track down toilet paper, eggs, or flour right now, do you check one supermarket, throw up your hands, and decide to do without? No! You go to another supermarket, pop into the corner store, see if a shop in another neighborhood has some, maybe ask a friend for help. And maybe you end up having to find another way to solve your problem, but maybe you find exactly what you need.

That’s where we are right now. It’s frustrating and time-consuming, and that’s scary. But there are still people out there trying to help, from clinics doing telemedicine to abortion funds providing financial assistance. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of every resource you can find.