As the Supreme Court continues to contemplate a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade, there is finally a bit of good news. This week, the FDA announced that it will allow people across the country to get abortion pills by mail, a move that could facilitate the procedure for people living in states keen on banning abortion.
Before the pandemic, obtaining this medication was challenging in several regions, especially where abortion clinics were few and far between. You had to see a doctor in person just to get a prescription that consists of two pills: The first is mifepristone, which blocks the production of progesterone, the hormone that helps maintain pregnancy. The second pill, misoprostol, can be taken up to 48 hours later and causes cramping and bleeding, according to Planned Parenthood. In the U.S., 42% of people safely end an early pregnancy this way.
