Despite safe access buffer zones being enforced around abortion clinics in the UK from the 31st of October 2024 in order to safeguard women who are accessing abortions services, protestors are often a concern for women who are looking to terminate their pregnancy. The last thing anybody needs when making such a personal and emotionally challenging decision is to worry about their privacy. For years, the only way to access a medical abortion would be to attend an in-person consultation at a clinic and be seen face-to-face by a medical professional in order to be assessed and approved for the procedure. Women who want to go ahead would then be given the first of two medications to be taken at the clinic. They would then be required to return home and take the second medication at a pre-approved time in order to trigger the abortion.
But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit back in 2020 and lockdowns were enforced, the UK government needed to revise their laws around abortion care to ensure that women were still able to access this essential health care service. As such they introduced changes to the law to allow women to access medical abortion pills at home – pills by post.
What is pills by post?
Pills by post is a service that enables women to receive abortion pills in the mail, delivered directly from your chosen abortion clinic straight to your front door. This service does not require a face-to-face appointment. It can be carried out over the phone or via a video call with your medical professional at your chosen clinic.
How is abortion pills by post different from medical abortion?
Medical abortion is for 4-10 weeks of pregnancy. Many people are confused about the difference between medical abortion and pills by post. Let’s take the opportunity to clear that up. Medical abortion and pills by post are essentially the same service; the key difference is that a classic medical abortion involves going into a clinic and having a face-to-face assessment (where additional screening such haemoglobin checks can be carried out).
Pills by post is essentially the same service without the capacity for additional screening. The main difference is that there is no face-to-face consultation required and the assessment can be completed virtually. Many clinics now offer abortion pills by post in the UK, making it more accessible for women across different regions.
What actually happens when you buy abortion pills by post?
After booking your consultation, you’ll have your appointment via telephone or video. Your healthcare provider will ask you questions and provide you with information about the types of procedures available, what to expect during and after, the risks, side effects, complications, symptoms you are likely to experience, how long the abortion will take, pain management, follow-up care, contraception advice, and the emotional aspects. To read more details about the clinical guidelines for medical abortion, you can check the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) website. The pills will be dispatched and sent directly to your home. Both medications can be taken from the comfort of your own home.
Who can’t have a medical abortion at home?
Unfortunately, abortion pills by post may not be suitable for everyone. You may not be eligible for abortion pills by post if you have taken the morning after pill, are uncertain of your conception date, have irregular periods, have been on contraception for the last three months or have previously had three caesareans. Additional measures or tests such as ultrasound scans may need to be carried out, which requires physically attending a clinic. This is for your own safety and is to ensure that there is no ectopic pregnancy and to confirm the gestation of pregnancy.
Is abortion at home safe?
Medical abortion pills are very safe. When medication is used as directed and assessment is carried out with a registered clinic abortion, medical abortion pills by post are one of the safest methods of terminating a pregnancy. The earlier this can be done, the lower the risk associated with the procedure. As with all medical procedures, there is always a risk of complications.
Heavy bleeding is a complication of pregnancy termination using the abortion pill. Although some bleeding is to be expected, if you lose enough blood to soak through nine sanitary towels in under six hours, you should see urgent medical care. Ectopic pregnancy is a serious, yet very rare, complication which can lead to bleeding inside the abdomen and needs urgent treatment as it can be fatal. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms (stabbing pain in the abdomen, shoulder pain, and dizziness). You should seek help from the emergency services if you believe you are experiencing these symptoms of ectopic pregnancy.
This being said, major complications at all gestations of pregnancy are rare and abortion is very low risk. Abortion is not known to result in any lasting side effects nor impact future fertility.
What criteria have to be met to get an abortion?
Making the decision to abort a pregnancy can be emotionally charged and many women find it a very difficult time. If you are considering an abortion you should be provided with the information you need in a non-judgmental manner and informed about your choices by your chosen clinic.
To ensure the termination is lawful you will need to provide your clinic a reason for wanting to terminate your pregnancy but you can rest easy knowing that this reason will not impact whether or not you are eligible for treatment. Clinics are required by law to provide this information. Although you will see one doctor during your assessment or consultation, a second doctor will need to check that all the requirements of the Abortion Act have been met and also sign off on the relevant certificate before treatment can be provided.
Finding the right clinic – where to buy abortion pills online
When it comes to buying abortion pills online, there are essentially two ways: through public healthcare or privately funded abortion clinics. With public healthcare, although services are free, you may find yourself on a waiting list and not given much choice around appointments. With a private abortion clinic you can often get same day appointments (and they usually have a wider range of times available) which can give you a peace of mind considering terminating a pregnancy is such a time-sensitive procedure. You can also have control over which clinic you choose, and can opt for a consultant-led service.
