Since President Donald Trump took office, information on access to abortion pills has become harder to find online.Yet telehealth providers are continuing to prescribe and ship these pills. Despite legal risks, some are mailing medications to states with strict abortion regulations or bans. (AbortionFinder provides an up-to-date guide to the legal landscape.)The abortion pill — really a two-drug regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol, taken 24 to 48 hours apart — allows people to self-manage abortion at home. Numerous studies have found this to be a safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy.
If you’re wondering how to get the abortion pill online, here’s a guide to each step.
If you suspect you’re pregnant, get confirmation by taking a home pregnancy test. In most cases, this is the only test you’ll need to get abortion medication online. (Generally, an in-person clinic visit for a pelvic exam or an ultrasound isn’t medically necessary.)
If you live in a state where abortion is currently criminalized, or you simply want to minimize who can view your online activity, it’s best to open a “private” window (also called an “incognito” window) on your computer.
From here you’ll want to use the privacy-protective search engine DuckDuckGo or the Tor web browser, which doesn’t save your search history. This enables anonymous activity on the internet that can’t be traced back to you.
It's a good idea to secure your online activity, because depending on where you live, your digital footprint could be used as criminal evidence against you.
Here are a few organizations that provide info on telehealth abortion providers or ship abortion pills directly.
Aid Access This Austria-based nonprofit can help Americans find U.S. providers and pharmacies that ship abortion pills to all 50 states. Customers can expect to get answers to any email within hours, Aid Access says. The cost for an abortion medication via Aid Access is $150 or less; financial assistance is available.I Need an A This small, independent nonprofit has a searchable database of telehealth providers that will send you the abortion pill by mail depending on where you live, how long you’ve been pregnant, and your age. I Need an A also provides details about any legal risks you may be facing.Plan C This nonprofit is a clearinghouse for information on abortion pill providers both inside and outside the United States, with details on pricing, speed of delivery, eligible ages, cost, and potential legal risks.Hey Jane This provider sends abortion pills to 20 states (plus Washington, DC). Hey Jane accepts insurance and offers sliding-scale pricing based on income for those paying out of pocket.Planned Parenthood Direct The national reproductive-health nonprofit offers a service through which people in certain states (Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington) can get abortion pills shipped overnight. There is also a dedicated support line. The cost is $200; self-pay only.
U.S. telehealth abortion providers will ask you to fill out a consultation form before they prescribe the abortion pill.
To see if you are eligible for this medication, you will need to answer questions about your age and how long you’ve been pregnant. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the abortion pill for up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. The World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. hospitals like Cleveland Clinic say medication abortion at home is safe and effective through 12 weeks.You may need to complete screening questions to ensure you’re a good candidate for a medication abortion.Here are some questions you'll be asked to assess your risk of an ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus, which can be life-threatening):
Have you had vaginal bleeding or spotting in the past week?
Have you had pelvic pain in the past week?
Have you previously had an ectopic pregnancy?
Have you had your tubes tied or other procedures that provide permanent contraception?
Do you currently have an IUD or did you have one in place at the time of conception?
Questions they'll ask about other medical conditions that may mean a medication abortion isn’t the right choice for you include:
Do you have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners?
Do you have chronic adrenal failure?
Are you taking systemic corticosteroids?
Do you have an allergy to the abortion medications mifepristone or misoprostol?
The cost of abortion pills will vary. Some telehealth providers accept insurance, others don’t. If you live in a state where abortion is restricted or banned, you will have to pay out of pocket.
Many providers and online pharmacies accept major credit cards, Venmo, or PayPal. It’s important to note that these methods of payment are not anonymous, and some reproductive rights activists are making a case for other methods, such as the cryptocurrencies Monero or Zcash, which may provide an added layer of protection.Some providers like Hey Jane offer financial assistance or adjust the fee on a sliding scale based on your income.Residents in states with legal restrictions can get free abortion pills through the nonprofit Red State Access.
Some telehealth providers will ship overnight or express. Aid Access says to expect delivery from a U.S. licensed pharmacy in 1 to 5 days in all 50 states.
Some medication providers including Aid Access and Plan C encourage “advance provision,” which means acquiring abortion medication for future use. Because access to abortion is at risk in many states and these medicines remain effective for up to two years, you can eliminate wait time and reduce stress by purchasing pills to have on hand in case you need them. Aid Access can help with advanced provision, and Plan C recommends several other providers.
It’s important to note that there could be legal consequences for self-managed abortion if the procedure is illegal in your state, according to Plan C.Since abortion is a hotly contested issue, your best bet is to get up-to-date information on the potential legal risks in your state — especially if you live in a state that has banned or restricted abortions. Repro Legal Helpline provides free and up-to-date advice online or by phone or text at 844-868-2812.
While states may not outright ban abortion medications — drug approvals are overseen by the FDA — state laws making abortion illegal could still put you at risk.
A self-managed medication abortion can be safe even when you get pills online and never see a doctor for a pelvic exam or ultrasound.
A study published in 2024 of more than 6,000 people who underwent abortions using pills from a telehealth provider found that 97.7 percent successfully ended their pregnancy without the need for additional medical intervention. The data revealed that 0.25 percent experienced serious complications requiring medical treatment, including ectopic pregnancy.
“Telehealth medication abortion is effective, safe, and comparable to published rates of in-person medication abortion care,” the researchers concluded.
If you have questions about a planned, ongoing, or recent medication abortion and are wondering if what you are experiencing is normal, the free Miscarriage and Abortion (M+A) Hotline can provide answers so you don’t have to go to the hospital unnecessarily. Call or text 833-246-2632 to reach medically trained volunteers, including physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), and midwives.
Additional reporting by Lisa Rapaport.
Self-managed medication abortion with pills purchased online is a safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy.
If you live in a state that restricts abortion, find out your legal risk and take precautions, such as a private web browser.
The Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline is a free resource if you have questions or concerns before, during, or after a medication abortion at home.
