Oh No, My Period Is Late! What Can I Do? Expert Consultation

February 10th, New York City

Gynuity convened 15 experts in the reproductive health and rights field to discuss two modifications to current medical abortion practice that would enhance women’s autonomy in deciding when and where to take the drugs and even how to define the procedure in her own mind.

1. Eliminate the need for women to present in person to an abortion provider immediately prior to using the abortifacient drugs. This change would allow several new models for service provision, including (a) prescription of the drugs by telephone or over the internet and (b) advance provision of the drugs for use later when needed.

2. Eliminate the requirement for confirmation of pregnancy before ingestion of the drugs. Drug use could be triggered by missed menses, as in menstrual regulation or a “missed period pill”, or women could take the drugs on a regular schedule, as in a “once-a-month pill”. These options may be desirable to women who for personal or legal reasons, do not wish to acknowledge to themselves or others that they may be having abortions.

The discussion ranged over feasibility of these modifications, challenges that would arise in their implementation, and foundational research and other activities that would be needed to forge ahead.