Society of Family Planning Interim Clinical Recommendations: Self-managed abortion
Society of Family Planning2022
Society of Family Planning — 2022
SMFM endorses this document.
As access to legal abortion in the formal healthcare system becomes more restricted across the United States (U.S.), there has been increased focus on understanding the ways that individuals may seek care outside of the healthcare system, including through self-managed abortion (SMA). SMA refers to any action taken to end a pregnancy outside of the formal healthcare system, and includes self-sourcing mifepristone and/or misoprostol, consuming herbs or botanicals, ingesting toxic substances, and using physical methods [1, 2]. SMA can also involve a range of interactions with community support, the formal healthcare system, and clinicians. While some people who are self-managing their abortions may never interact with the formal healthcare system during their process, others may interact with clinicians before, during, or after their abortion. Similarly, some people may be supported by abortion doulas, herbalists, or other individuals working within or outside of the formal healthcare system to facilitate abortion access. Therefore, it is essential that clinicians are aware of the expected course of SMA with medications and its rare complications, complications of other potentially less safe or effective methods, and other nonmedical risks involved in SMA [3].
SMFM endorses this document.
As access to legal abortion in the formal healthcare system becomes more restricted across the United States (U.S.), there has been increased focus on understanding the ways that individuals may seek care outside of the healthcare system, including through self-managed abortion (SMA). SMA refers to any action taken to end a pregnancy outside of the formal healthcare system, and includes self-sourcing mifepristone and/or misoprostol, consuming herbs or botanicals, ingesting toxic substances, and using physical methods [1, 2]. SMA can also involve a range of interactions with community support, the formal healthcare system, and clinicians. While some people who are self-managing their abortions may never interact with the formal healthcare system during their process, others may interact with clinicians before, during, or after their abortion. Similarly, some people may be supported by abortion doulas, herbalists, or other individuals working within or outside of the formal healthcare system to facilitate abortion access. Therefore, it is essential that clinicians are aware of the expected course of SMA with medications and its rare complications, complications of other potentially less safe or effective methods, and other nonmedical risks involved in SMA [3].