A STEP BY STEP GUIDE FOR YOU & YOUR FRIENDS

GENERAL INFO

CONFIRM PREGNANCY

How do you know you're pregnant?

  • Besides a positive pregnancy test, some other indicators are: late period, pregnancy symptoms (that can include but is not limited to nausea, tender breasts, increased sense of smell), some people just “know” (especially if they've been pregnant before).
  • Most people, in my experience, realize they’re pregnant around 8 weeks. Obviously that's not the case for everyone, and it can be harder for people who have irregular periods to identify when they’re pregnant. There are other factors that can impact this, like birth control (some Intrauterine devices/IUDs cause folks to not have a period).
  • To definitely confirm that you are pregnant, take a pregnancy test. Here is info about how soon you can take one, via Hello Clue. Most drug stores have them, and I believe even the dollar store has some! The test itself doesn’t have to be fancy and it doesn’t have to be a blood test. If you can’t afford one, Planned Parenthood or local clinics often provide free ones available, but you may have to make an appointment and take it at the clinic. It just depends!

How do you date the pregnancy?

  • It's important to determine how far along the pregnancy is (in weeks and days). If you have regular periods, you can date it by counting from the first day of your last period. I know that seems weird because the pregnancy encounter happened afterwards (even up to a couple weeks after!) but that is how pregnancy dating works. Here’s a tool you can use to assist you in dating the pregnancy: pregnancy calculator.

DECIDE WHAT TO DO

What do you want to do?

  • It’s ok to know exactly what you want to do and it’s ok to be unsure! For every pregnancy, the options are abortion or continueing the pregnancy to either parent or place child for adoption (Choice Network is a pro-choice adoption organization).

    Taking your time to decide is ok. You’re the expert of your own life and only you can decide what is best for you.

    The best predictor of how someone is going to feel after an abortion is how they feel before hand. Statistics show that 95% of those who have had abortions do not regret their decision and the majority feel like abortion was the right decision for them. Here is a link to The Turnaway Study that explains this in much more detail. The main finding of The Turnaway Study is that receiving an abortion does not harm the health and wellbeing of the pregnant person, but in fact, being denied an abortion results in worse financial, health and family outcomes.
  • Would you like to talk to someone? There's lots of options!
    • First off, you decide who you want to tell (and not tell). You are in control of that. Also, if someone discloses to you that they’re pregnant, don’t assume either way what they want to do. It’s best to ask “how do you feel about that?” Being thoughtful with out words shows we care, and how we respond can go a long way in reducing or illimating stigma around reproductive decisions.
    • Need to talk to a caring, trained stranger? If you are pregnant and unsure how you feel or what to do next, or you want to talk about a past or current experience with abortion, adoption, parenting, infertility or pregnancy loss, All Options Talkline is a great option.
    • Seeking compassionate religious and spiritual support for abortion and pregnancy options? You can contact Faith Aloud to speak to a non judgemental member of your faith background about this. I also love Catholics for Choice.
    • If you’re under the age of 18 and need an abortion and can’t/don’t want to tell your parents, in some states you need to get what's called a "Judicial Bypass" (you need this in PA). Basically you have to go before a judge to get permission from them. More info (and assistance with this) at Women's Law Project.
    • There are many factors that can impact someone's decision (and access): cost, logistics (distance to clinic/time off from work/ housing/ childcare/etc.), stigma, etc. These can all be barriers to access. Let's look into ways to reduce those barriers:

      Cost & logistics: National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF) is where you can find both local and national abortion funds that can help with funding (and often logistics). There's also the option to just put a call out to friends to see if anyone can contribute. I have done this for folks before and every time I've been able to raise the necessary funds in either 1 or 2 days (once we raised $1000 in like 8 hours!). Making a post (you don't have to identify who the funding is for), sharing on social media, asking friends to share... that can go a long way. Sometimes insurance can offer coverage. There are also folks doing ABORTION SHOWERS, which is a genius idea created by Alejandra Pablos, an amazing activist and changemaker. Check her out on Instagram: @emotionalgangzter

      Stigma: Abortion stigma can be a powerful thing! We can combat this by talking positively about abortion (especially multiple abortions), sharing our own stories & uplifting the stories of others (with their consent), and remind folks that abortion is healthcare.
    • Sometimes, when faced with an unplanned pregnancy, folks will be upset with themselves or feel guilty that they're in that situation. Please try to be kind to yourself! People with a uterus are fertile for about 30 years. So if you’re sexually active, even a little bit, it’s totally a possibility that you'll have an unplanned pregnancy.

      Here’s some ways an unplanned pregnancy can happen:
      - birth control failure

      - birth control sabotage

      - sexual assault

      - being a HUMAN BEING! Mistakes (and life) happens and there’s no judgement here on unprotected sex. Sometimes it happens!

MEDICAL ABORTION @ CLINIC (MAB)

In this section, we'll go over the option of a medical abortion at the clinic with 2 pills: Mifepristone & Misoprostol. Sometimes they're called Mife & Miso for short.

To find a clinic, you can use this website: ineedana

  • As stated, a medical abortion from a clinic is just an abortion with pills. An MAB is 95% - 98% effective up to 9 weeks; 91% - 93% effective between 9-11 weeks. You do need to be seen in person to take the first pill (Mifepristone) in the office. Mifepristone blocks progesterone which chemically ends the pregnancy. The second set of pills is Misoprostol, which they will send home with you or you’ll have to pick them up from the pharmacy. It can vary, but usually 24 hours later you will take the 4 pills of Misoprostol buccally (between your cheeks). Misoprostol softens the cervix and causes contractions (there will be cramping) and induces the abortion.

    After taking Misoprostol, you may initially feel side effects, including a light fever, chills, diarrhea, and nausea. These are normal side effects and usually pass within a few hours or so of using the Misoprostol. The Misoprostol will cause cramping and bleeding as the uterus contracts and pushes out the pregnancy. If a person uses Mifepristone plus Misoprostol, the cramps and bleeding usually start within 1-5 hours afterwards, but some people will have cramps sooner and some later; everyone’s body is different.

    Bleeding is usually heavier than a period and often accompanied by clots. The heaviest bleeding typically occurs 2-5 hours after using Misoprostol and usually slows within 24 hours. Some people may pass clots days or even weeks later. This is common and is not dangerous. Ibuprofen is generally the most effective painkiller for cramps. You can also use other NSAID's like Naproxen and Diclofenac for the pain. For some, a hot water bottle or heating pad on the belly brings relief. Please read the instructions on the package of painkillers you obtained for the maximum doses you can use. Source: SASS

    For some clinics, you have to have a followup visit to confirm the abortion was successful. That is usually done with an ultrasound. This followup visit isn't always necessary, and you will pretty much know if the abortion was successful very soon after taking the pills. If there was very little or no cramping/bleeding, that is an indication that it did not work.
  • This is an option before 9-11 weeks (it depends on the clinic). Sometimes clinics will not see you if the pregnancy is too early (like before 4-5 weeks). You can access this option at an independent clinic, most Planned Parenthoods, or some hospitals.
  • People choose this option for many reasons, including that they can be in the comfort and privacy of their own home while they pass the pregnancy. Other reasons include: there are no shots, anesthesia, or instruments used, unless there is a complication Some people may feel like the process is a more natural way to end a pregnancy.
  • Insurance may cover an MAB. In PA and other states, Medicaid does not cover abortion, except in the case of rape or incest. There are folks working to change that and repeal the Hyde amendment , which is the reason Medicaid doesn't cover all abortions.

    An average first trimester abortion is around $400, but that can vary based off of many factors. There is funding available! In Pittsburgh, at Planned Parenthood ask about the Vivian Campbell fund. At Allegheny Reproductive Health Center (ARHC) in East Liberty, ask about the Western PA Fund for Choice. If you are outside of Pittsburgh, you can find a local or national abortion fund through the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF) to assist.

SURGICAL / ASPIRATION ABORTION @ CLINIC

In this section we'll go over the option of an abortion that happens at the clinic. This is often referred to as a surgical abortion, but it is not surgery. These days, there is a push to use the term aspiration abortion, which is a more accurate description. You may also hear it referred to as a D & C, which stands for Dilation & Curettage, but that term is outdated since curettes are not used anymore.

To find a clinic, you can use this website: ineedana

  • An in clinic abortion is essentially aspirating/removing the lining of the uterus, thus removing the pregnancy. Most surgical abortions are done within 5-7 minutes (sometimes in even less time!). There is always general (local) anesthetic used and there are normally other options for sedation. More info HERE.

    This option is normally available done up to 23 weeks and 6 days, but some clinics stop at 18 weeks and state laws can dictate gestational limit. Very few clinics go further than 24 weeks (like 3 in the whole country), but fortunately they exist. You can obtain a surgical abortion at an independent clinic, most Planned Parenthoods, or some hospitals.

    People choose this option for many reasons, including wanting to get it over in one visit, they are past 11 weeks, or there are contraindications for a medical abortion.
  • For funding, it's the same as an MAB: insurance may be an option, but in PA and other states, Medicaid does not cover abortion except in cases of rape or incest. There are folks working to change that and repeal the Hyde amendment , which is the reason Medicaid doesn't cover all abortions.

    Cost of 2nd trimester abortions can be up to thousands of dollars. After 12 weeks, the cost just goes up from $400. The more weeks into the pregnancy, the more involved the procedure is and the more expensive it will be. Past 18 weeks, some visit may need to be a 2 day procedure. There is funding available! In Pittsburgh, at Planned Parenthood ask about the Vivian Campbell fund. At Allegheny Reproductive Health Center (ARHC) in East Liberty, ask about the Western PA Fund for Choice. If you are outside of Pittsburgh, you can find a local or national abortion fund through the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF) to assist.
  • General notes on in-clinic abortions: There may be protestors outside, but often there are pro-choice clinic escorts who will walk with you past them. Look for their vests that indicate who they are (often their vests say "pro-choice").

    It will most likely be a long day. Please know the clinic staff are doing their very best to get you seen as quickly as possible, while also providing compassionate & professional care.

    You may or may not be able to have a support person with you.

    You generally need to have someone pick you up and take you home for surgical abortions (but this can depend).

    You will probably have an ultrasound before your abortion, and this may be internal or external.

    It depends on the state, but you may need to have a consultation with the doctor 24 hours before your actual appointment. Sometimes they are required by law to tell you patronizing things.

SELF MANAGED ABORTION @ HOME

In this section, we'll go over the option of managing your own abortion at home with pills (SMA) and how to easily obtain these pills for current or future use. There are two at home options, either Mifepristone + Misoprostol or Misoprostol alone. Self-managed abortion is ending a pregnancy on your own outside of the formal medical system.

There are many reasons why someone would choose to manage their own abortion, including distance from clinic, immigration status, it's easier for them to obtain pills than go to a clinic, abortion restrictions in their state, etc.

  • Important to note: if someone obtains or uses abortion pills on their own, without a prescription or supervision of a health professional, the legal risk is unclear. Even though abortion is legal in the U.S., people who have abortions with pills ordered online through non-clinical channels may face unwarranted risk of arrest. The best resource for any/all questions regarding risk and legality is the Repro Legal Helpline. I have extensive experience supporting folks through this process. Please reach out if you have questions or need assistance in this area. - Alecia
  • A self managed abortion is an abortion at home with pills. One option is with just Misoprostol pills, but it can also be done exactly the same way as an in-clinic medical abortion (with combination of Mifepristone & Misoprostol. An SMA is safe and effective.

    For an abortion using only Misoprostol, you need 12 pills (200mg each). This is the protocol for up to 12 weeks: You put 4 pills under your tongue for 30 minutes while it dissolves. After 30 minutes, swallow the rest. 3 hours later, do the same thing. And then 3 hours later, do the same thing. So if someone starts at noon, the second dose is at 3 and the last dose is at 6. It is important to complete all 3 doses. The side effects are similar to an in-clinic medical abortion. More info on the protocol and what to expect here.

    An abortion with Misoprostol alone is effective in 8.5-9 out of every 10 abortions. It is important to confirm the abortion worked with either a pregnancy test after 21 days or an ultrasound after 2 weeks.
  • Contraindications (reasons why someone should not choose SMA):
    - you are being forced by someone to have an abortion

    - you are more than 12 weeks pregnant

    - you’re allergic to Mifepristone or Misoprostol

    - you have an IUD (intrauterine device – this isn't a dealbreaker, but it should be removed before using the medication)

    - you have any of the following conditions: chronic adrenal failure, hemorrhagic disorders or bleeding disorders/diseases, porphyries

    - you have an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus)

    - you cannot get to a hospital or doctor within two hours

    - you are alone
  • Signs of complications (very rare): - Severe bleeding (more than 2 maxi pads soaked every hour for more than 2 hours in a row).

    - Severe abdominal pain that isn’t relieved with painkillers or continues for 2-3 days.

    - A fever that reaches 102 F at any point or a fever of over 100 F for more than 24 hours.

    - Abnormal vaginal discharge (unusual greenish or yellowish color, and/or strong unpleasant odor).

    - If there is no bleeding within 24-48 hours, the abortion did not work and you can repeat the protocol.

    If there are any complications, you should go to the hospital. You don’t have to (and should not) tell anyone at the hospital that you took the medicine. No one will know unless you tell them. You can say you’re having a miscarriage (because you technically are, and your symptoms present the same way as a miscarriage).
  • HOW TO GET THE PILLS: You can get this medicine from friends (maybe), the internet, or other countries while traveling (or if you live close to the border of Mexico). In Mexico and some other countries you don’t need a prescription for Misoprostol and you can just buy it over the counter and bring it home for future use.

    Important information if you purchase Misoprostol in Mexico :

    - A box usually contains 28 pills and is around 500 pesos. This makes an abortion about $13 USD.

    - Sometimes the pharmacy will say you need a prescription, but you don't. Just go to a different pharmacy.

    - Ask for pills that expire the furthest in the future, as Misoprostol can last for around 2 years.

    - Many friends have brought Misoprostol back with them to the USA multiple times and have had zero problems. I reached out to the Repro Legal Helpline to specifically askabout the risk, and this is what they said:

    "Thank you for reaching out to the Repro Legal Helpline, which provides free and confidential legal information to questions about reproductive justice, including self-managed abortion. And while our organization believes everyone should be able to access the care they want or need, we do not sell or provide abortion pills, and we cannot give medical advice because we are not health care providers.

    You asked about the legality of bringing Misoprostol from other countries back into the USA. I've shared some information below about the legal risks of obtaining abortion pills from another country, including purchasing them online. If this doesn't answer your question or you want more information about the legal risks of using the abortion pills to end a pregnancy, please let me know by either replying directly to this email or calling and leaving a message at 844-868-2812.

    When we say legal risk, we are talking about the risk of someone facing criminal consequences, like being investigated or arrested. We want to be clear that saying that something has legal risks is not the same as saying you will definitely (or even probably) get into legal trouble. It is just an explanation of what could possibly happen, so that you have the information you need to make the best decision for yourself.

    Abortion pills are prescription drugs in the U.S., which means the only way to completely avoid legal risk is to have a doctor or healthcare provider licensed in your state give them to you. Under federal law, individuals are allowed to have medications for their personal use that they bought in a foreign country, but only under limited circumstances. If those circumstances do not apply, the law says people cannot do it. But it is important to know that the U.S. is not currently enforcing that law against individuals who buy medication from foreign pharmacies for their own use. Through our research, we are not aware of any person who has been punished by the federal government for ordering abortion pills for themselves. We are aware that one person was prosecuted for allegedly ordering abortion pills from abroad to sell to other people. For additional information about bringing medication purchased in another country back into the U.S., you can read the FDA's guidelines here.

    Please keep in mind that using abortion pills to self-manage an abortion presents different legal risks. We do know that some people have been arrested for ending their own pregnancies, and in some of those cases, the fact that they ordered abortion pills online was used against them. If you want more information about the legal risk of self-managed abortion, please let me know by replying directly to this email or calling us at 844-868-2812."



    Other ways to get pills (both Mifepristone + Misoprostol): Aid Access (sliding scale cost, up to $100 I believe), Women on Web, other telemedicine orgs like Hey Jane. Plan C has tons of information and also they've conducted a "Secret shopper" experiment, in which they purchased the pills from various online pharmacies (some on the dark web), tested the medicine, and reviewed them.


  • For support and information during the process, you can reach out to Women Help Women or Miscarriage & Abortion Hotline.

FAQs

  1. “Why do later abortions happen?"

    Many reasons! Someone might not know they’re pregnant until many weeks along. Or they wanted to continue the pregnancy but something suddenly changed in their life (loss of job, loss of partner or support of partner, they just changed their mind). Or perhaps they could not get the money together in time for an earlier abortion (costs increase as time goes on).
  2. “Will having an abortion impact future fertility?"

    If there are no complications, no. And the risks of complications are extremely low. Abortions are safer than carrying a pregnancy to term. Medical abortions are safer than Viagra. It doesn’t matter how many abortions you have either, that doesn’t change.
  3. “What is the difference between reproductive rights vs. reproductive justice? What’s the matter with just saying you’re pro-choice?"

    Read this article and make sure you follow SisterSong Women of Color for Reproductive Justice
  4. “Safe, legal, rare? Why is this a problematic saying?"

    Abortions can be safe and illegal, legal and unsafe, and it is stigmatizing to wish for them to be rare. Which leads me to this question:
  5. “Why does someone get multiple abortions?"

    Abortion is a totally viable form of birth control. People have multiple abortions for the same reason they have one. There are many reproductive events that can/will occur over a lifetime (childbirth, miscarriage, birth control, abortion, etc) and abortion is just one of them. People who menstruate are fertile for about 30 years, so if they are sexually active, there is a high possibility that at least one (probably more) unplanned/unwanted pregnancy can occur. I often find it more surprising when someone has NOT had an abortion than when they have…
  6. “How can I support a friend during their abortion process?"

    Assess whether you actually can support them at this time. I’m assuming that if you’re reading this, you are probably pro-choice, but you may have your own feelings surrounding abortion at that time which could impact how you support a friend. You might be extremely busy or stressed or a million other things. It’s ok to state how you can or can’t help, and maybe even sharing this document with them is an option if you’re low on energy. Support can be many things, like: listening, driving them to the clinic, buying them a meal/cooking for them, picking up their Rx afterwards, watching their children or pets, sending silly memes, sitting with them in silence, helping to fundraise, respecting their wishes on who to tell about the abortion and who not to tell. Use the language that they use about the pregnancy: if they say fetus, say fetus. Baby? Say baby. Clump of cells? Say clump of cells. It’s up to them.

RESOURCES

*Pittsburgh specific resources listed at the bottom*

Finding a clinic, funding, logistical support:

Self Managed Abortion (get pills/ legal info/ protocol/ support during the process/ etc):

  • Repro Legal Helpline : reach a free, confidential helpline where you can get information about your legal rights regarding self-managed abortion. They can give you clear, understandable answers about legal rights, what the law is, and how it has been used.
  • Plan C Pills: At Plan C, we envision a world in which the ability to end an early pregnancy is in the hands of the person who needs it most.
  • SASSSelf-managed Abortion; Safe and Supported (SASS): The primary goal of SASS is to provide information and support to women in the USA around self managed abortion, to reduce any negative health impact associated with unsafe abortion methods, and to ensure that self-managed abortions are medically and legally as safe as possible.
  • Aid Access: you can purchase Mifepristone + Misoprostol to use either now or in the future.

Share / read abortion stories:

Talk to someone / emotional support:

  • All Options Talkline is a great option if you are pregnant and unsure how you feel or what to do next, or you want to talk about a past or current experience with abortion, adoption, parenting, infertility or pregnancy loss.
  • Faith Aloud is where you can speak to a non judgemental member of your faith background about abortion.

Books, zines, podcasts:

Birth Control /Plan B/ Period Tracking:

  • Choosing/comparing birth control options: Besider.
  • Information about plan b: There is sometimes confusion about the difference between abortion and emergency contraception. If a condom breaks, there’s a mess up in birth control, or a sexual assault occurs and there’s the possibility that a pregnancy could happen, you can get EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION (also known as Plan B or the morning after pill). It’s not an abortion, so it won’t work if you’re already pregnant. There are multiple brands and you can almost always get it for discount or free. You can purchase over the counter (OTC). If you have Medicaid or insurance that will cover it, and it’s a good idea to just get a Rx for it at your next appointment so you have it around (for yourself or a friend). Medicaid it’s free. Many brands decrease in effectiveness as time goes by, but in general you have up to 5 days after the “incident” to take it (the sooner the better). Ella is a brand that does not decrease in effectiveness over time. For those who weigh over 176, Plan B may not be as effective. The copper IUD (Paragard) is an emergency contraception option for all sizes of bodies, up to 5 days after the possible pregnancy encounter.
  • Period tracking: Euki: Euki takes privacy seriously. They do not store any of the information you enter into the app in the cloud or anywhere else—only YOU have access to it. You can even set up a personal pin that is not tied to your email or phone number as an additional level of security.

Additional resources

  • Reproaction: they have amazing, informational free webinars on their website examining aspects of reproductive justice.
  • Women on Waves
  • Instagram pages to follow (I will add more, link them, & add descriptions as soon as I get time):
    • - @thankgodforabortion
    - @callinginchristians
    - @repromemes
    - @janesdueprocess
    - @reneebracysherman
    - @forwardmidwifery
    - @bayareadoulaproject
    - @liberaljane
    - @abortionconversationproject
    - @ameliamaris
    - @abortioncarenetwork
    - @dirtylola
    - @hollerhealthjustice
    - @thedoulaproject
    - @abortion_is_normal
    - @shishi.rose
    - @clinicvestproject
    - @sistersong_woc
    - @eukiapp
    - @iharterika
    - @shiftchangenursing
    - @napawf
    - @feministcenter
    - @abortionfront
    - @plancpills
    - @abortionpostcardproject
    - @ma_hotline
    - @ifwhenhow
    - @catholicsforchoice
    - @we.are.arhc
    - @abobobravado

Pittsburgh Specific Resources: If you'd like to suggest an edit or addition, please get in touch!

  • Western PA Fund for Choice ensures that money is not a barrier to accessing abortion care.
  • Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) has been serving the Pittsburgh community for 50 years through advocacy, counseling, prevention and education.
  • New Voices for Reproductive Justice is "building a social change movement dedicated to the health and well-being of Black women and girls through leadership development, Human Rights and Reproductive Justice".
  • Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh is more than an emergency shelter for adults experiencing domestic violence and their children. We are a safe harbor that provides specialized care and support for survivors who have experienced all types of intimate partner violence from physical to emotional through Support Groups, Legal Advocacy, Hotline Services, a Children’s Advocacy Program, and more.
  • Planned Parenthood of Western PA
  • Expose Fake Clinics works to educate and take action against Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) posing as abortion clinics.
  • SisTers PGH is a BLACK and TRANS led non-profit organization that serves QTBIPOC (Queer Trans Black Indigenous People of Color) trans, and nonbinary people within Southwestern PA.
  • Prototype Pgh Our mission is to build gender and racial equity in tech and entrepreneurship by providing affordable access to high tech tools and equipment, offering workshops that center the experiences of women and underestimated communities, and cultivating a professional support network.
  • Allies Health + Wellbeing provides integrated medical care, supportive human services, and community-based education for members of the Pittsburgh community.
  • The Midwife Center is western PA's only freestanding birth center offering primary gynecological, prenatal, and childbirth care.
  • Allegheny Reproductive Health Center ARHC’s mission is to deliver fearless, judgment-free healthcare that is imbued with empathy and respect. We offer specialized obstetric and gynecological care, abortion care, in-office and in-hospital surgical procedures, options counseling, services specialized to the LGBTQIA+ community, and the option for sedation for any services you need. Our approach to healthcare centers our patients’ choices and autonomy, and we take time to provide each patient the support they need to reach their health goals safely.
  • Prevention Point Pittsburgh is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing health empowerment services to people who use drugs.
  • Amethyst Community Health is a comprehensive alternative holistic healthcare practice, which serves families & individuals living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While we are open to serving clients from any community, we have a special interest in serving individuals & families in the following communities: Queer, Transgender, Nonbinary, Gender Non-Conforming, BIPOC, Teen, and Financially-Deprived. Our practice believes in Full Spectrum Midwifery: support & midwifery care should be available to anyone expecting any pregnancy outcome, be it birth, adoption, surrogacy, miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion.
  • The Big Idea Bookstore is an anarchist collective that provides space for exploring radical ideas and putting them into action. We practice anticapitalist, nonbinary, antioppressive, and intersectional values and promote them through books, events, and conversations. We aim to foster a culture of resistance and mutual aid that celebrates individual and collective autonomy. We carry new & used books, pins, patches, posters, stickers, notebooks, greeting cards, pstyles, moon cups, games, and zines. We also offer a small café and free Wi-Fi.
  • Margo Van Hoy is a full spectrum doula with specific certifications in abortion support and loss and grief companionship. She has been using her skills as a doula since 2013 to support her community and continues to learn to better help pregnant and birthing people find information and make informed choices about their bodies. Contact her at margo.vanhoy@gmail.com


  • Instagram pages to follow:
    • - @1hoodmedia : the vanguard of arts and activism
    - @swop_pgh Sex Worker Outreach Project Pgh chapter
    - @baccpgh Black Anarchist Community Council
    - @abortiondefense.pgh
    - @filler_pgh is an informal DIY collective that runs a zine distro, label, & anarchist news site in PGH.
    - @black_swpa Black Liberation Autonomous Collective in Southwest PA
    - @jailbreakpgh is an abolitionist jail support collective
    - @transYOUniting offers crisis housing, food help, youth mentorship, & more. They are lead by and center black trans lives
    - @truetpgh celebrates Queer People of Color through creative art, wellness, & activism

HOW CAN I HELP INCREASE ABORTION ACCESS?

There's many ways you can get involved! Here's some ideas below:

  • Obtain abortion pills to have on hand for yourself or others: by planning ahead, you can be a resource for folks to manage their own abortions in a safe, effective, and low cost way. Look under the section "Self Managed Abortion @ home" for more details, including avenues for purchase/legal risks/etc. Many people have been buying and replenishing their supplies at home for years... you can do this too.
  • Donate/redistribute wealth: abortions are expensive and there is only going to be a greater need for monetary support as laws get more restrictive. These laws will have the most negative impact on southerners, lower income people, people in rural areas, immigrants, and BIPOC. Get creative, have a party to fundraise, do a bake sale, go wild!
  • Provide logistical support: many clinics have volunteer opportunities for folks to be escorts, drivers for patient to/from their appointment, perhaps provide childcare, etc. Look into it!
  • Destigmatize abortion: abortion stigma can be a powerful thing! We can combat this by talking positively about abortion (especially multiple abortions), sharing our own stories & uplifting the stories of others (with their consent), and remind folks that abortion is healthcare.
  • Learn about & expose Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCS aka fake abortion clinics). CPCs “are anti-abortion counseling centers with an agenda. They often use advertisements to trick pregnant people into making an appointment, promising free ultrasounds or free pregnancy tests with the goal of pressuring people to carry a pregnancy to term. Generally they do not use the ultrasound as a diagnostic tool, but as another means of shame and coercion. Their goal is to dissuade individuals from exercising their right to choose. Many CPCs intentionally misinform and mislead those seeking pregnancy-related information. Once inside, people are often lied to, shamed, and pressured about their reproductive health decisions, potentially delaying and increasing the cost of their procedure or pushing them past a deadline for legal abortion altogether. CPCs often look like medical facilities, yet they do not practice medicine. Though they may offer services like STI and pregnancy testing, they very rarely, if ever, offer STI treatment, access to contraceptives, or prenatal care.”
  • Think about your own skills/talents/resources & plug in where you can! You don't have to "be an activist" or involved in reproductive healthcare to have an impact. I believe in you!

ABORTION MYTHS

These were compiled years ago by my friend Davi Lopez with support from me.

  1. “People who have abortions are careless and irresponsible.”

    Studies find that 40% of pregnancies worldwide are unplanned. Deciding that you are not ready to parent a child is one of the most responsible and selfless decisions one can make. Calling women + pregnant people careless and irresponsible is not only sexist, but an oversimplification of various factors such as lack of resources and access to sexual education, reproductive health care and birth control as well as oppressive structures such as machismo and patriarchy that limit and prevent women + pregnant people from making choices over their own bodies. Source: Guttmacher
  2. “You should only have sex if you are ready for the consequences.”

    Parenthood should be a choice, not a punishment for having sex. Children are not “consequences”. Sex is not only for reproducing and having sex can not be compared to pregnancy, childbirth and/or raising a child, as they are all very different things. We all have the right to fulfill and express our sexuality and experience pleasure, just as we all have the right to decide when and if we want to have children. Source: Declaration of Sexual Rights
  3. “There are so many of us who want children but cannot have them, meanwhile women + people who can get pregnant are having abortions all the time.”

    It is unfair to demand that people use their body against their will just because some cannot have children. Pregnancy is a biological possibility, not a social obligation. There are many ways to become a parent, and one person’s decision to forego parenthood has no bearing on another’s decision to adopt, foster, seek a surrogate, etc. Forced adoption is not an alternative to abortion because if people do not want to carry a pregnancy to term, they should not have to.

  4. “Even if the pregnancy is the result of rape, it’s not the baby’s fault.”

    Shaming or blaming survivors of sexual violence for having an abortion is another form of violence. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that no one should be subjected to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment, including carrying a pregnancy to term as a result of rape. Rape is the problem, not abortion. Source: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
  5. “We should be promoting sexual education, not encouraging abortions.”

    According to the WHO, 12% of women from ages 15-49 married or in a relationship did not have access to or were not using an effective method of birth control in 2012. Despite the global and local efforts to promote the use of contraception, there is still a great unmet need for family planning. Information and access to safe abortion is not a replacement for sexual education, it’s an essential part of it. Unplanned pregnancies will always be a reality, and people who can pregnant need safe options. Source: World Health Organization
  6. “Abortion should only be allowed under special circumstances.”

    We’re not interested in investigating the reasons why someone wants an abortion. All circumstances are valid when it comes to a personal choice about your body and your future. No one reason is more valid than another. Everyone has the right to freely make decisions about their pregnancy, and they don’t need permission or approval from anybody to make these choices.
  7. “Your rights end where they interfere with the rights of others. Abortion takes away the rights of the unborn.”

    People who are pregnant are whole and complete human beings that are entitled to fundamental reproductive and sexual rights. All pregnancies carry risk and are life changing. This is why humans, as autonomous beings, should have the right to continue with a pregnancy or not. The fetus, on the other hand, is entirely dependent on the pregnant person’s body and therefore when they decide to terminate a pregnancy, they are not interfering with another person’s right.
  8. “Being a parent is a beautiful thing, those who have not yet had a child don’t understand how beautiful it really is.”

    About 61% of abortions are obtained by women who have one or more children. Nevertheless, the word “woman” is not synonymous with “mother,” (as human is not synonymous with parent) and no one is obligated to be a parent or to enjoy parenthood. It is a social construct that all women/ people look forward to motherhood /parenthood and possess an innate motherly/parental instinct. Some people are happy to experience parenthood, and others are not. Source: Guttmacher
  9. “There are other options, like adoption.”

    Adoption, abortion, and parenting are all options when faced with a pregnancy. Adoption can be a good choice for those who do not want to raise a child. For many others, including those who simply don’t want to be pregnant or cannot remain pregnant for medical, social, or financial reasons, adoption may not be the best decision for them. No one can decide what is the right choice for another person. Additionally, according to the UN, only 12 in 100,000 infants are adopted each year, and therefore to think that adoption is the answer to unwanted children is erroneous. Source: United Nations
  10. “If you have an abortion, you’ll regret it and feel guilt for the rest of your life.”

    95% of those who have had abortions do not regret their decision and the majority feel like abortion was the right decision for them. Studies have shown that they are happier and healthier when they are in control of their reproductive health and can decide when and if they want to be parents. Many individuals, because of their abortion(s), are able to continue with school, work, or better care for the children that they already have. Abortion is a very positive decision for many women. Source: Longitudinal Study
  11. “Abortion is a sin.”

    Abortion, like religious beliefs, is a private and personal matter. The Declaration of Universal Human Rights states that every human being has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, therefore no person or group has the right to make laws based off faith, nor impose their faith on others. Additionally, many religions see abortion as moral and normal, rather than a sin. Many clergy from different religions explicitly support a person’s right to choose to have an abortion. Source: Universal Declaration of Human Rights

CONTACT

Please feel free to reach out, especially if you want to help provide logistical support for folks seeking abortions in Pittsburgh.

Email: how2getanabortion @ protonmail.com

Questions/ concerns/ suggestions/ corrections? Please reach out: how2getanabortion @ protonmail.com Updated 5/18/22.