Plan C

Plan C was founded by public health researchers, social justice activists and digital strategists. We started with the belief that abortion pills belong in the hands of people who need them, and that this kind of care is a basic human right.

  Abortion Pills May Force States and the FDA Into a Standoff

Medication abortion accounts for more than half of abortions in the US each year, so a decision on preemption could determine the future of a substantial portion of them.

 Abortion Pills Stand to Become the Next Battleground in a Post-Roe America

Medication abortion allows patients to terminate early pregnancies at home. Some states are moving to limit it, while others are working to expand access.

 Abortion Pills Take the Spotlight as States Impose Abortion Bans

Demand for medication abortion is surging, setting the stage for new legal battles.

 How medication abortion works and what the end of Roe v. Wade could mean for it

In the states where abortion is expected to be banned if Roe is overturned, medication abortion will become illegal. But access to abortion pills will still be available for those who are able to travel to states with abortion protections. Some may attempt to acquire the medications from out-of-state providers through the mail. A growing number of states have moved to make this approach illegal, but experts say that in practice, it's difficult to police.

 The Abortion Backup Plan No One Is Talking About

Even in states with the strictest abortion laws, pregnant people have a safe, inexpensive option to terminate their pregnancies. But few know about it.

 What does the future of abortion look like?

Although many people still turn to surgical methods like vacuum aspiration or dilation and curettage (also known as a D&C), abortion with pills (also known as medical abortion or medication abortion) has become an incredibly popular method around the globe. In some European countries, over 90 percent of abortions are performed with pills; in the United States, over half of all abortions performed in 2020 were medication abortions.

 What to Know About Abortion Pills Post-Roe

It may become more difficult to obtain the pills, but there will be workarounds. People may still have access to medical abortions through telehealth services and mail-order pharmacies, which rely on overseas doctors and pharmacies in order to skirt U.S. regulations.

The medical abortion works — so why aren't more women using it?

And why aren't doctors more vocal about it?

I Ordered 20 Abortion Pill Packs from the Internet to Test If They're Real

Numerous online drug-sellers say they sell the abortion pill—but what are women actually getting when they order it? I decided to find out.

Misoprostol Is a Game-Changer for Safe Abortion and Maternal Health Care. Why Isn’t it More Widely Available?

If we have a cheap and readily available drug that can prevent and treat the two largest causes of maternal mortality worldwide—postpartum hemorrhage and unsafe abortion—why have we not taken more advantage of it?

Plan C: The Safe Strategy for a Missed Period When You Don’t Want To Be Pregnant

What is a woman to do if neither her plan A (birth control) nor her plan B (the morning-after pill) worked? Wouldn’t it be great if she had a plan C—a medicine similar to these other pills that would start her period and end her anxieties? Such a thing exists, and it should be available to all women.

With Access Under Threat, Advocates Want to Help Women Take Medication Abortion Into Their Own Hands

Recognizing that even women in a country with legal abortion might need help getting one, Women Help Women is introducing a U.S.-specific online counseling service for women who are trying to terminate their own pregnancies at home.

Abortions by mail are available now in the US. Here’s what you need to know

The medication used in self-managed abortions is safe for most women less than 10 weeks pregnant.

Mifepristone and misoprostol: Recommended regimen

Up to 10 weeks gestation (70 days since last menstrual period (LMP)): Mifepristone 200mg orally followed 1-2 days later by misoprostol 800mcg buccally, sublingually or vaginally. 10-13 weeks gestation: Following mifepristone, women typically require two doses of misoprostol for a successful abortion. Mifepristone 200mg orally followed 1-2 days later by either misoprostol 600mcg sublingually or 800mcg vaginally, then 400mcg sublingually or vaginally every three hours until expulsion. Alternatively, mifepristone 200mg orally followed 1-2 days later by misoprostol 800mcg buccally, sublingually or vaginally may be used; the dose of misoprostol may be repeated to achieve abortion success.

The Complicated Life of the Abortion Pill

A French doctor’s invention and post-Roe America.

The “Abortion Pill” Is Used for So Much More Than Abortions

Though misoprostol and mifepristone are best known as the two components of medication abortion (referred to by many as the “abortion pill”), what they actually do is help soften the cervix and cause contractions, making them vital for a variety of gynecological uses. Yet because they are involved in medication abortions, Gutman is worried about whether doctors like her will be able to continue offering them.

Advocates struggle with how much they can help with self-managed abortions

Organizations in states with abortion bans have their own risk to assess. They feel confident the First Amendment protects sharing medical information endorsed by the World Health Organization. But abortion rights advocates are torn between raising awareness and becoming a target for anti-abortion lawmakers — who are no longer limited by Roe v. Wade.

Everything You Need To Know About The Abortion Pill

For Nicole, taking the abortion pill was like getting through "an extremely painful poop." It hurt, a lot, and then it was done. She was bartending at the time, lightyears away from thinking about motherhood, and decided on medication abortion.

Medical Abortions: The Science Behind How Abortion Pills Work

Following the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, attention has turned to abortion pills. WSJ’s Daniela Hernandez explains how misoprostol and mifepristone work together to terminate a pregnancy, as well as the potential side effects of a medical abortion.

The Science Behind the “Abortion Pill”

“Overall [a medication abortion] is extremely safe,” says Thaxton, who is also a member of Physicians for Reproductive Health. Common symptoms include nausea, cramping and heavy bleeding, similar to what women experience during a miscarriage. Thaxton generally tells her patients that if they soak through four maxi pads in two hours, that's too much bleeding, and they should consult their physician.

What Happens to Your Body in the Hours and Days After an Abortion

But if you're going for a medical abortion, here's a rough idea of what you can expect to happen during the 72 hours afterwards.

Abortion After the Clinic

We still have no idea how many people are ordering pills from other websites — like the one Purvi Patel used in Indiana in 2013. We know about women like Patel only when things go wrong.

Abortion Pills Should Be Everywhere

I bought them online. They’re easy to get, and they’ll change everything.

America’s first generic abortion pill, explained

The introduction of a generic abortion medication could mean lower costs for patients, but barriers to access remain.

Are abortion medications delivered by mail illegal?

It is still legal in most states to receive abortion medication by mail, which has been allowed since December 2021, when the Food and Drug Administration lifted a restriction that required patients to obtain the pills from a certified provider.

Buying Abortion Pills Online Is Overwhelmingly Safe, But Maybe Illegal

There's plenty of evidence that most online retailers are selling the real thing.

Is the future of abortion online?

While the abortion debate continues worldwide, even in countries where it has long been legal, new drugs and online telemedicine services could provide access to safe abortion beyond borders and laws.

Medication Abortion Now Accounts for More Than Half of All US Abortions

Currently, medication abortion is approved for use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. The FDA approved that limit based on research the agency reviewed at the time. However, additional research shows provision beyond 10 weeks is safe and effective and some providers administer medication abortion “off label” after that point in pregnancy.

Spreading Plan C to End Pregnancy

In 2014, Ms. Coeytaux, Ms. Wells and Victoria Nichols started the Plan C campaign to raise awareness among women in the United States that early in normal pregnancies women have safely used the pills to miscarry at home (ectopic pregnancy, a rare condition in which the fetus develops outside the uterus, cannot be treated with pills). They also campaigned to make the pills available over the counter.

The Abortion Pill Can Be Used Later Than the FDA Says

The medication is approved until week 10 of pregnancy in the U.S. But the WHO says it can be safely used until 12 weeks, and activists have used it even later.

The FDA Is Restricting Access to the Easiest, Safest Form of Abortion

There's a growing consensus that the FDA's regulations on abortion pills aren't medically necessary.

The Science Behind the “Abortion Pill”

The World Health Organization recommends misoprostol as a safe alternative when mifepristone isn't available, and Grossman says he would use the misoprostol-only method if he didn't have access to mifepristone as well.

What Are Abortion Pills and How Widely Are They Used?

Medication abortion accounts for more than half of procedures nationwide.

What Happens When an Abortion Doesn't Fully Work

Last year, I had an abortion. My reasons for doing so are deeply personal, painful, and nobody’s business but mine. Once I'd decided to terminate the pregnancy, a woman from British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) asked me over the phone if I wanted a medical abortion—which was still possible at my stage of pregnancy (nine weeks)—or a surgical one. I had no idea.

What is a medication, or medical, abortion? 5 questions answered by 3 doctors

People have been self-managing their abortions for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. The difference now is that people have the option of using these same medications which they may obtain online or from pharmacies in some countries or from a variety of sources. And all of the evidence that we have so far indicates that self-managed abortion using these medications is very safe.

When Brazil Banned Abortion Pills, Women Turned to Drug Traffickers

With Roe v. Wade overturned, states banning abortion are looking to prevent the distribution of abortion medication. Brazil shows the possible consequences.

With Reproductive Rights in Great Jeopardy, ‘Plan C’ Is More Important Than Ever

Plan C—making "missed period pills" widely available—would give users the power to decide whether or not they wished to test for or confirm pregnancy before taking pills to bring on their period.