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Pills in Advance

How people are getting abortion pills in advance

Medicine cabinet with abortion pills

What does it mean to get abortion pills in advance, in case of future need?  

Many providers will send abortion pills to patients before they’re pregnant, to have on hand just in case. Here's what to know:

    • Availability: Providers are mailing pills in advance to all US states and territories.
    • Cost: Pills typically cost between $70 and $150. Some providers offer discounts, but they ask that you pay what you can, to help cover the cost of medication and shipping.
    • Shelf life: Abortion pills last for about two years when stored in a cool, dry place. Check expiration dates before use.
    • Research shows that this practice has been happening for many years.
    Legal considerations: Depending on where someone lives and other factors, accessing pills in advance may come with legal risk. Read our FAQ or contact the ReproLegalHelpline.org with questions.

Where can people get pills in advance?

These telehealth services send abortion pills for future use:

  • Abuzz Health, $90-$150 (available in all states except TX and GA)
  • Aid Access, $150 (available in all states)
  • A Safe Choice, $150 (available in all states)
  • carafem, $299-$399 (available in CO, CT, DE, IL, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NV, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, VT, VA, WA, and Washington, DC)
  • The MAP, $250 (available in all states)
  • We Take Care of Us, $150+ (available in all states)
  • Women on Web, $120 (available in all states)

If you decide to use the pills later, these services will offer instructions and follow-up support.

Online vendors shipping pills in advance

Resources & Information:

Frequently asked questions

What support is available to someone who purchased pills in advance?

Most services that provide pills in advance also offer support later on, when pills are used.  Resources and directions for self-managing an abortion can be found online, and free phone and text support is also available from M+A Hotline and Reprocare.

Check out Plan C's step-by-step instructions for using abortion pills, created in collaboration with the M+A Hotline.

Are abortion pills available in advance in every state?

Yes, abortion pills can be ordered in advance from any state. Use the information above or refer to this state directory to find a provider. Since the end of Roe v. Wade, tens of thousands of people across the US have ordered pills in advance, and those numbers continue to rise.

Getting pills in certain states or under specific circumstances may involve legal risks. The Repro Legal Helpline can answer specific questions.

How long are abortion pills good for?

Abortion pills should be stored in a cool, dry place in their original, unopened packaging. Some providers recommend storing them in a bedroom drawer instead of a bathroom cabinet to keep them in good condition.

  • Mifepristone has a shelf life of about 5 years.
  • Misoprostol has a shelf life of about 2 years.

Checking the expiration date is the best way to know if the pills are still viable before using them. Expired mifepristone or misoprostol might not work as well.

Can someone get in trouble for using abortion pills?

  • Research shows that hundreds of thousands of people have received and used pills by mail over the past few years with no legal problems.
  • But, in rare cases (less than 1%), people have gotten in legal trouble, even though most states don’t have laws against doing your own abortion.
  • Legal risk can depend on where someone lives, their identity and how far along they are in pregnancy. Also know that even if something isn’t a crime, people can still be targeted by law enforcement. 

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:

  • they told someone about their abortion and that person reported them.
  • they got follow-up medical care and the provider reported them (many people say they are having a miscarriage to avoid this risk, which is medically what is happening in the body). 
  • they were later in pregnancy than they thought and didn’t know what to do with the fetal tissue (this calculator can help people understand how pregnant they are).

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. 

What other resources are available?