Frequently Asked Questions
Options for at-home abortion pill access will vary by location. Click below to find options by state or territory.
Abortion pills are available from:
1. In-person clinics.
The process:
Note: Some states limit clinic care.
2. Online clinics.
The process:
Note: Online clinics serve all states, even those with bans.
3. Websites that sell pills.
Some websites sell abortion pills without requiring a prescription or doing a medical screening. The process:
Note: These websites serve all states.
4. Community support networks.
Abortion support groups offer free help for anyone seeking abortion options. The process:
Note: Services are available in states with clinic restrictions.
5. Other countries.
Some people find abortion pills in pharmacies in other countries, like Mexico. The process:
Take the pills at home. Free phone/text follow up support available through MAhotline.org.
Access free follow-up support via phone or text from M+A Hotline or Reprocare, if needed.
Depending on where you live and other factors, accessing pills in the US may come with legal risk. Contact the Repro Legal Helpline with questions.
There are several ways people get pills sent by mail, even in states that have total bans on abortion care. These include:
Check out Plan C's state-by-state directory to learn about options in a specific state. Depending on where someone lives and other factors, accessing pills in the US may come with legal risk. Read our FAQ and contact the ReproLegalHelpline.org with questions.
Most people start by taking a pregnancy test to confirm their pregnancy, but this is not required. Generally, no additional medical tests are needed to get abortion pills. However, a clinic or telehealth service may request further tests if:
Yes, people buy abortion pills in advance, to have on hand in case of future need. This allows them to take the pills right away without waiting for shipping.
Here is more information about services that offer pills in advance. For people who decide to use the pills later, these services will give instructions and provide support.
After receiving the medications in the mail, they should be stored at room temperature in their original, unopened packaging.
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.
Learn more about pills in advance here.
Some insurance plans and some Medicaid programs do cover abortion pills, but not all providers accept them. You can filter for providers who accept Medicaid on the Guide. To find out if you can use your insurance or Medicaid, it’s best to reach out to the provider directly and ask them.
Our FAQs offer information on financial support from different providers.
No, people cannot buy abortion pills from Amazon, whether online or at their physical stores. However, there are many online services that sell abortion pills and ship them to all 50 states. Check our state-by-state directory for more information about these services.
Many websites that claim to be "pharmacies" sell abortion pills without medical consultations or prescriptions. They ship to all US states.
Yes, these are real commerce sites. However, they are not regulated by the US government, and they sell generic abortion pills that have not been inspected by US authorities.
Plan C periodically checks these websites by buying pills from them and testing the pills in a laboratory. Our Guide lists services that reliably ship real pills. But we don’t run these sites, and we can’t promise they will always be reliable.
How do online pill stores work?
Most clinicians recommend getting some extra misoprostol to have on hand in case you need it. Most online pill stores offer the option to get an MTP Kit plus extra misoprostol or two MTP kits. Our Guide links to options that include extra misoprostol.
Are these websites legitimate? Sometimes these sites will contact someone after they place an order to ask for a different payment method. They might say the credit card didn’t go through, or send a PayPal payment link. Even if it seems unusual, this is quite common, and it worked in our tests.
The pills usually come by US Postal Service and don’t need a signature.
Be aware that some online stores might not have good security practices. To keep personal information safe, some people use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) before visiting these sites. Learn more about digital security here.
Read our FAQ to learn more about legal risks of buying pills from online stores, or call the free confidential Repro Legal Helpline at 844-868-2812 for help.
Important Note:
If you have issues with any online pill store listed on our site, contact them directly. Plan C does not run these sites and cannot help with refunds or shipping problems.
When a clinic or telehealth service advertises "sliding scale" pricing, they’re offering a way to make their services more affordable. But what exactly does that mean?
In simple terms, sliding scale means that the provider adjusts fees based on a person’s financial situation. This patient-centered approach ensures that the cost of abortion doesn’t prevent them from accessing care.
How sliding scales work can vary from one provider to another. Some may ask for proof of income to qualify for a discount, while others trust people to share what they can afford without additional proof.
On abortion telehealth websites, sliding scales may be shown in a few different ways:
How much should a person pay?
Determining how much to pay is a personal decision. Here are some questions to consider:
When more people pay what they can—whether it’s the full fee or a lower amount—the sliding scale model can keep going. Providers often depend on help from abortion funds and donations to cover the rest.
By paying what you can, you help make sure that providers can keep offering sliding scale options, making care accessible for everyone who needs it.
The “abortion pill” or "abortion with pills" is a modern and safe option for ending an early pregnancy. It’s also known as "medication abortion." It uses two types of pills: mifepristone and misoprostol, or just misoprostol if mifepristone isn’t available.
This is the most common method.
To use these medications to end a pregnancy, mifepristone is taken first (swallowed with water). This pill blocks progesterone, a hormone the body needs to keep a pregnancy going. Without it, the embryo stops growing, and the lining of the uterus thins, making it hard for the embryo to stay.
Then, misoprostol is taken 24-48 hours later (usually it is dissolved under the tongue or inside the cheeks). This pill makes the uterus contract, like it does during a period, miscarriage, or childbirth. These contractions help the body expel the pregnancy.
This method is very effective, with 95-98% success. It is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is the method offered by clinics like Planned Parenthood and recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
People can also have an abortion using only misoprostol pills. This option is supported by the World Health Organization in places where mifepristone isn’t available.
Misoprostol is taken in repeated doses over several hours. Usually it is dissolved under the tongue or inside the cheeks, but sometimes it is inserted in the vagina. Misoprostol makes the uterus contract, like it does during a period, miscarriage, or childbirth. These contractions help the body expel the pregnancy.
Using the misoprosol only method may be less effective and cause more side effects than using mifepristone plus misoprostol.
Both methods are safe and effective, and many people use them around the world. We provide information about both methods on this website (plancpills.org/protocol).
Yes and no. Abortion pills are prescription medications in the US. But, it is possible to get them from some places without a prescription.
People can get a prescription for the pills from abortion clinics, telemedicine services, and some doctors' offices. Visit the state-by-state directory for more information.
Many people are also buying abortion pills online without a prescription. Some also find them in local shops or across the border in Mexico. When people get and use pills without talking to a medical provider, it's called "self-managed" abortion.
It’s important to understand any legal risks involved (see below, Can I get in trouble?).
Abortion pills are usually taken in the first 13-14 weeks of pregnancy. Many providers stick to a 12-week guideline, which is what the World Health Organization recommends.
We know people safely take abortion pills later in pregnancy. For questions about having an abortion after 13 or 14 weeks, contact the M+A Hotline or Reprocare. Community support networks can also help with information and support for taking pills after 13 weeks. You can also have an abortion procedure at a clinic after 13 weeks, and some groups can help with funding.
Here is some important information for people taking abortion pills after 12 weeks:
A pregnancy calculator can help someone determine how many weeks pregnant they are, based on the first day of their last regular period. If they don’t know that date or if their periods are irregular, they might need an ultrasound or pelvic exam to find out how far along they are.
Abortion pills can cost anywhere from $40 to $600 or more, depending on where someone gets them.
Many services accept insurance or Medicaid, and some offer discounts (even free) for people who can't pay: just ask.
No, it’s not the same. Plan B is emergency contraception that can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex if birth control fails or isn’t available. It prevents pregnancy.
Plan C refers to abortion pills (Mifepristone + Misoprostol) that can be taken after a missed period, recommended up to 13 weeks of pregnancy.
We believe everyone should have access to all their options:
Read more about the difference between Plan B and Plan C on our blog.
There are also many reliable resources for support:
Our instructions in English and Spanish include information about what to expect after taking abortion pills and when to seek additional care.
These are some common symptoms:
When taking abortion pills, common side effects include bleeding and cramping. This is normal and indicates that the pills are working. After taking the first pill (mifepristone), many people do not feel any symptoms. However, bleeding and cramping usually begin after taking the second set of pills (misoprostol).
Other common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, and fever.
These are severe symptoms that require immediate medical attention:
The M+A Hotline is a free confidential service with licensed clinicians who can answer medical questions about miscarriage and abortion.
How to prepare for taking the abortion pills:
To get ready for taking abortion pills at home, abortionfinder.org recommends gathering these supplies beforehand.
In the United States, there are two main ways people access abortion pills:
Here are some examples of medically-supported access:
Here are some examples of alternative access:
Both methods are medically safe, but using alternative suppliers may carry some legal risks. For more information on legal considerations when using alternative suppliers or accessing pills in a state that restricts care, see section: "Can people get in trouble for using abortion pills?”
There are many free services that support people during their abortions.
Visit our support section below for more information.
The Repro Legal Helpline provides free, confidential information that can help people better understand legal risk: reprolegalhelpline.org or 844-868-2812. Ineedana.com also has a state legal directory here.
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:
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.
The Repro Legal Helpline provides free, confidential information that can help people better understand possible legal risk: reprolegalhelpline.org or 844-868-2812.
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.
Abortion pills are very safe.
The chance of serious complications from an early abortion is very low. In fact, having an abortion is generally safer than continuing a pregnancy to term.
One of the potential risks is that the pills might not work and may not end the pregnancy, especially if taken later in the pregnancy. You can take a pregnancy test 3-4 weeks after taking the pills to check if it worked:
After taking the pills, most people notice that their pregnancy symptoms go away, which is a sign they are no longer pregnant.
Abortion pills also are not effective if someone has anectopic or tubal pregnancy, which is rare (about 2 out of every 100 pregnancies). Ectopic pregnancies can lead to serious health problems, so it’s important to:
Some states require that parents be notified or give consent for a minor to get an abortion. Abortion providers can help people understand the law in their state and how parental notification or consent works.
Minors who do not feel comfortable or safe involving a parent or guardian in the decision to have an abortion have two options:
Misinformation about abortion is common online, and it can be confusing. Here are two tactics to watch out for:
Claims about reversing an abortion are false. You cannot “reverse” an abortion. Learn more from this resource created by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
These are often called "pregnancy centers" or "crisis pregnancy centers." They may look like real clinics but can mislead people who are seeking abortion care, delaying access to real care.
The online Clinic Checker will help you check if a clinic is legitimate.
ReproAction also manages a database of Anti-Abortion clinics.
What was the first day of your last menstrual period?
How pregnant you are may affect which abortion options are available to you.