A 101 Guide to Abortion

created by the Education Team at Planned Parenthood of Michigan

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction

3

How Abortion Works

5

The Three Kinds of Abortion

6

What Happens in an Appointment

12

Self Managed Abortion

14

Common Questions and Answers

15

Barriers to Abortion Care

16

Legal Barriers

17

Logistical Barriers

22

Emotional Barriers

26

Being an Abortion Advocate

31

Check Your Language!

31

Abortion in the Media

32

Caring for Self and Others Accessing Abortion

34

Volunteering to Protect Abortion Access

35

Resources

38

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thank you, first and foremost, to all our Planned Parenthood of Michigan staff who provide exceptional, compassionate, and thoughtful abortion care. Thank you to all our PPMI education staff who deliver and ensure community access to comprehensive, intersectional, inclusive, and stigma-free abortion education.

Thank you to the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan (PPAM) staff who fight daily to protect, enshrine, and strengthen abortion rights in Michigan. Thank you also to the much wider community of supporters and funders who help reduce barriers to abortion care. This Abortion 101 Zine is informed by all of those efforts and is a result of true collaboration among several departments at PPMI. Special thanks also to the incredible individuals at PPMI who contributed to the production of this Abortion 101 Zine, including the project leader, co-writer, designer and illustrator: Bailey Krestakos; the writing team: Kennedy S., Angela Cardozo, Carrie Ullery-Smith, Ellie Grossman, and editing team: Kennedy, Kanyn, Cherie, C’Erra, Staci; the project planners: Alex, Ellie, Kanyn, Melissa, Renita, Staci, and the communications team for their help editing, printing, and distributing the zine: Susan, Kat, and Ashlea.

Thank you to the licensed medical experts at PPMI who were interviewed for this zine: Dr. Sarah Wallett, April Bowen, RN, BSN, MPH, Dr. Halley Crissman, Dr. Kate Starr. We also thank Martha Nokken and Kristen for their additional patient care expertise that informed this project.

Last but not least, this zine is dedicated to all those who seek abortion care and education. You are not alone. You are deserving of safe, nonjudgmental, and legal abortion care with respect, dignity, and compassion.

This Abortion 101 Zine was made possible by an Abortion Community Education grant by Planned Parenthood Federation of America in 2022. Planned Parenthood of Michigan (PPMI) is the author and owner of the Abortion 101 Zine and its contents are subject to copyright. © Planned Parenthood of Michigan, 2023.

What’s This?

Hey, thank you for picking up Planned Parenthood of Michigan’s Abortion 101 zine!

We made this zine (pronounced “zeen,” like “teen”) to talk about a common procedure that many people have heard of, many people have, and many people don’t understand very well: abortions. Abortions are common, safe, and important medical procedures that allow people to fully control their bodies.

Abortions become less stigmatized when more people are confident about what abortion is, how it works, and why access is important.

That is why Planned Parenthood of Michigan educators, medical experts, and abortion care advocates have teamed up to bring you an interactive guide that covers the basics about how abortion works, what barriers there are, and how you can be an advocate for abortion access!

This guide is split into three parts. Each part answers important questions about abortion: are the different types of abortions, and what makes 1. What them different from one another? We’ll explain: How the different kinds of abortion work What goes into deciding which abortion a person needs What a patient will experience when they access abortion care are some of the barriers to accessing abortion?

2. What How could a person seeking an abortion navigate them?

We’ll talk about some barriers to accessing abortion, and how they can be navigated. We put common barriers into three categories: Legal Logistical Emotional What concrete steps or resources can I use to advocate for

3. abortion access in my community? We will share some ideas

for how you can take the things you have learned and use them to be a strong advocate for abortion access in your community!

Who Is This For? Roughly one in four people who can become pregnant will have an abortion by the time they are 45 years old. Most of us know and love someone who has had an abortion. We made this zine because everybody deserves to have accurate information and resources about abortion. We hope you will find this guide useful if you want to know how to support a friend who needs an abortion, if you ever need an abortion, or if you simply want to learn more about abortion to be a better advocate.

Sounds Cool. But What’s a Zine?

Zines (shortened from the word “magazines”) are small, often handmade booklets used to share information with others. Zines can tell stories and share information not often seen in popular media. This zine is full of information, activities, and tools you can use to increase your own knowledge, and talk about abortion confidently to others!

HOW ABORTIONS WORK

PART 1

We have noticed that abortions are more often discussed than they are explained, so let’s start with an explanation of how abortions work to get on the same page. There are a few kinds of safe, effective abortions that a person can access through their health care provider. The type of abortion they need depends on factors like: How far into pregnancy a person is Their medical risks and needs The laws in their state And, when it’s possible, the patient’s preference for what kind of abortion works best for them Before we explain the different kinds of abortions, let’s talk about how pregnancy length is measured.

Gestational Age Pregnancy length is calculated by something called gestational age. Most full term pregnancies last around 40 weeks. Since it’s impossible to tell the exact time that fertilization happened, doctors use the first day of a person’s last menstrual period as the estimated “start date” of a pregnancy.

This may sound odd, but technically, fertilization (when a sperm and egg meet) is factored in about two weeks into a pregnancy when measured by gestational age. That means there is a period of time before intercourse and before the sperm and egg meet that “counts” toward the length of a pregnancy. Between 4 and 7 weeks is when many people discover they are pregnant. fertilization occurs

1ST TRIMESTER 0 weeks

2ND TRIMESTER

when most people discover they are pregnant

3RD TRIMESTER 40 weeks

It is helpful to understand gestational age when we talk about when different kinds of abortions can occur and how abortions are regulated by laws.

The Three Kinds of Abortions There are three types of abortions commonly accessed in the United States, which can be divided into two categories: medication abortions and procedural abortions.

Medication abortions are safe and effective ways of ending pregnancies at 11 weeks or less by using a pill or a combination of pills. Procedural abortions happen at a health care providing facility, like a Planned Parenthood health center, a doctor’s office, or a hospital.

Procedural abortions are safe and effective ways of ending pregnancies before or after 11 weeks. The gestational age of a pregnancy will help determine which kind of procedural abortion is needed.

About 99 % of abortions happen before 21 weeks gestational age.

Some people don’t like reading about medical procedures! We have described medication and procedural abortions using plain terms and general descriptions, and this section will not include pictures or imagery of abortions. Still, if you decide to skip this section, that is okay! There is plenty to learn, and you can join us again on page 12.

A Note on Language The language we use to talk about abortion has changed over time, and still sometimes people use different words to describe the same kinds of abortions. Medication abortions are sometimes called the “abortion pill.” We’ve chosen to use the term medication abortions to be more accurate because they often require multiple pills. You may hear the kinds of abortions that take place in a provider’s office called a number of things. We call them procedural abortions because they are just that: medical procedures. Sometimes procedural abortions are referred to as “surgical” or “in-clinic” abortions. Since these kinds of abortions do not require anesthesia or tools we usually think of when we think of surgeries, and medication abortions can happen in-clinic too, we call them procedural abortions to be accurate and clear.

MEDICATION ABORTION Medication abortion, sometimes called the “abortion pill,” is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy at or before 11 weeks gestational age with medicine. When a person has a medication abortion, they will either take a mifepristone pill and then take a misoprostol pill shortly after, or they will take misoprostol only. These medications are usually prescribed by a medical provider after the collection of basic medical information. Sometimes this happens in person. In other places, like Michigan, this can be done through a telehealth appointment.

How do you pronounce those

So how do these medications medications? work? Mifepristone blocks the Misoprostol: My-so-PRAH-stole production of a hormone called Mifepristone: Mih-fuh-PRIH-stone progesterone, which stops a pregnancy from growing.

Misoprostol is taken either right after mifepristone or within two days of taking mifepristone. Within 24 hours, misoprostol causes heavy cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus. When a person has a misoprostol-only medication abortion, they may take a larger dose of misoprostol.

How It Happens All bodies are different, and the time it takes for a medication abortion to happen varies between people. A medication abortion is very similar to a miscarriage early in pregnancy.

During the 24 hours after taking medication abortion pills, a person can expect heavy cramping that feels similar to intense menstrual cramps and heavy bleeding through the vagina. Some people notice flu-like side effects, like a light fever or upset stomach.

Unless misoprostol medication has not fully dissolved yet, a medical provider will not be able to distinguish a medication abortion from a miscarriage.

Misoprostol usually starts causing bleeding out of the vagina and cramping in the uterus within a few hours of taking the medicine. It takes about 24 hours for the heaviest bleeding and cramping to pass. It is normal to pass small blood clots (anywhere from the size of a pea to the size of a lemon).

During those 24 hours, over-the-counter pain and antinausea medicines can help with medication abortion

symptoms. Snacks, stomach-settling drinks, heating pads, and comfortable clothes can help too!

It may take a few days for cramping to pass, and one to four weeks for irregular bleeding to resolve after a medication abortion.

Medication abortions require some sort of follow-up to make sure the abortion is complete. People who have a medication abortion will be given the option to decide what works best for them. After three to four weeks, a negative pregnancy test will confirm a successful medication abortion.

How Common are Medication Abortions?

Medication abortions were first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000. Since then, they have become the most common abortion method. Over half of all abortions are medication abortions. 1

How Safe and Effective are Medication Abortions?

Medication abortion is a very safe and effective procedure.

Depending on how long a person has been pregnant, medication abortions with both mifepristone and misoprostol are anywhere from 87–99% effective, and misoprostol-only abortions are 85–95% effective. In the rare event that a medication abortion is not complete or successful, a person may need additional medications or a procedural abortion, as described in the next few pages.

PROCEDURAL ABORTION There are two different types of procedural abortions: suction abortions and dilation and evacuation abortions. Both of them are performed by a medical provider in their office (like a typical doctor’s office, Planned Parenthood health center, or a clinic that only provides abortions) or at a hospital. When a person’s pregnancy is at 11 weeks or less, they can decide with their medical provider whether a medication abortion or procedural abortion is best for them. After 11 weeks, a medical provider will determine whether a suction abortion or a dilation and evacuation abortion is the safest option for a person.

Suction Abortion Suction abortion is the most common type of procedural abortion.

During a suction abortion, a provider will use a suctioning tool to gently empty the uterus of pregnancy tissue. Suction abortions are an effective and safe way to end pregnancies up to 16 weeks.

How It Happens When a person has a suction abortion, they lay on a medical table with footrests and the provider gives them a vaginal exam. Since everyone’s body is a little different, this helps the provider determine how to navigate their tools.

Before the suctioning tool (called a vacuum aspirator) was used to perform suction abortions, the procedures were called “dilation and curettage” abortions, or D&Cs

The provider uses a speculum, a hard plastic or metal tool that looks a bit like a duck bill, to stretch the vagina open.

They may use medicine to numb the cervix before using thin, soft tools called dilating rods to stretch the cervix open.

After the cervix is dilated, the provider inserts a straw connected to something called a vacuum aspirator—this is the suctioning tool that will gently remove all of the pregnancy tissue from the uterus.

When the provider has checked that all pregnancy tissue was removed, they will remove their tools from the patient’s vagina and help them move to a recovery room.

A suction abortion is a short procedure, it takes anywhere from five to 15 minutes. Since a person’s visit also requires preparation and recovery time, the whole appointment can take a few hours. We’ll explain some of the things that can happen before, during, and after an appointment on page 12.

How Common are Suction Abortions?

Most procedural abortions are suction abortions. Almost 90% of procedural abortions happen before 13 weeks of pregnancy. 2

How Safe and Effective are Suction Abortions?

Suction abortions are common, safe, and effective procedures.

They are effective more than 99% of the time. Suction abortions have similar risks to other gynecology procedures, and the risks are rare and usually easy to treat. 3

Dilation and Evacuation Dilation and evacuation abortions (or D&Es) are the other kind of procedural abortion. They are very similar to suction abortions but can take a bit longer and require some extra tools. Dilation and evacuation abortions are used for pregnancies later than 16 weeks.

How It Happens The steps for a dilation and evacuation abortion are almost the same as a suction abortion.

The abortion patient has their uterus examined, and if sedation is used, the provider will give it to them before the procedure starts.

The provider inserts a speculum and may inject the cervix with a numbing medicine before dilation rods are used to stretch the cervix. The cervix may need to be stretched more depending on the gestational age of the pregnancy.

As with a suction abortion, the provider will then use the same straw and suctioning tool to gently remove pregnancy tissue from the uterus.

What makes a dilation and evacuation abortion unique is that the provider may also use a combination of tools to help remove pregnancy tissue, like forceps, which are small grasping tools.

After a dilation and evacuation abortion, which takes anywhere from 10–20 minutes, the patient will spend some time in a recovery room to rest before leaving their appointment.

How Common are D&E Abortions?

Dilation and evacuation abortions are less common than suction abortions but are the most common procedure for abortions in the second trimester.

How Safe and Effective are D&Es? Dilation and evacuation abortions are over 99% effective, which means it is super rare to need to repeat the procedure. Similar to suction abortions, risks and complications are rare and usually easy to treat.

HOW TO DECIDE Using what you have learned about the three kinds of abortions, take a moment to think about which kind of abortion a person might need in a few different scenarios.

Scenario 1: Chris Chris is an 18-year-old high school student who is 9 weeks pregnant and has decided to have an abortion. They were sick earlier in the year and can’t miss too much school. They’ve heard about medication abortions, but are worried about managing heavy bleeding during school.

Scenario 2: Sandy Sandy is 14 weeks pregnant and has decided to have an abortion.

She lives in a state where abortions after 6 weeks gestational age are illegal. She works full-time at a restaurant and doesn’t have a day off until next week. She has a car and thinks she can cover gas to travel out of state with tips she earns this week, but she doesn’t have extra cash for a hotel stay overnight.

Scenario 3: Taylor Taylor is 8 weeks pregnant and has decided to have an abortion. She recently left her unsupportive partner and doesn’t have many friends who know about her pregnancy. She has read about medication abortions and likes the idea of having her abortion at home. However, Taylor does not have a car and lives in a rural area, so she is not sure she would be able to borrow a car if her medication abortion required her to travel to a pharmacy or follow-up appointment if needed.

What did you decide? As you can likely see, deciding to have an abortion requires planning around multiple considerations beyond the simple medical qualifications for each kind of abortion. Factors like time off of work, cost, transportation, legal requirements, and unsupportive friends or partners, can all present barriers that are difficult to navigate. Read on to the second and third sections of this zine, where we lay out some of the common barriers to abortion access, and how you might advocate for increased abortion access in your community.

WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER AN APPOINTMENT The steps for each kind of abortion are mostly the same, no matter where a person has their abortion in the United States. Like with any other medical procedure, though, appointments for abortions include other steps like signing consent forms, learning about the procedure, and recovering afterward. Because of laws and other differences between abortion providers and their facilities, what happens before, during, and after an abortion appointment might depend a little bit on where a person is having their abortion.

We wrote this general outline of abortion appointments based on what is true in Michigan and at Planned Parenthood of Michigan.

Some of the steps might change depending on where a person is having their abortion, and because laws about abortion can change fast, it also depends on when.

Before an Abortion Appointment

Websites like abortionfinder.org and ineedana.com help people find the closest abortion provider to them and understand the laws and resources available to them in their area.

It starts with finding an abortion provider. This can be trickier than it sounds, especially for people living in a state that has banned all or some kinds of abortions.

Sometimes, an abortion provider can be the same provider a person sees regularly for their health care. Often though, people search for abortion providers online. A person searching for a provider online will need to be careful to avoid crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), which often pose as abortion providers in order to convince people out of their decision to have an abortion.

Learn more about CPCs and how to spot them on page 22.

Determining insurance coverage, or how to pay.

Sometimes abortions are covered by a person’s regular health insurance. The insurance company or the provider where a person has the abortion can help figure out what insurance will cover. If a person’s insurance doesn’t cover abortions or if they do not currently have insurance, there are other options for financial support, like abortion funds, which we talk about on pages 24 and 35.

Scheduling an appointment. An abortion provider will help patients figure out which kind of abortion they need by determining the first day of

their most recent menstrual period and asking other questions about their medical history. When a person’s pregnancy is 11 weeks or less, they may be able to choose what they prefer between a medication or suction abortion. Some abortion providers, like Planned Parenthood of Michigan, allow their patients to schedule abortion appointments online without having to call. A provider will confirm before the appointment if changes are needed or if they have questions.

Informed consent and waiting periods. Any medical procedure will require the person who is having it, or their guardian, to read forms that explain what will happen and make sure the person agrees to it. This happens for abortions too, and it usually happens during the abortion appointment. Sometimes, depending on the state where a person is having their abortion, there are additional, unnecessary forms a person must fill out before their appointment —often trying to discourage them from having an abortion.

Some medication abortion appointments can happen through telehealth! This means that the person seeking an abortion will talk to their medical provider through a video call and will pick up their medication from a provider or pharmacy.

In some cases, it can even be mailed directly to the person!

Even for virtual appointments, it is important to make sure the abortion is complete and to use a follow-up option that will be discussed between the provider and patient.

During an Abortion Appointment On the day of an abortion appointment, medication or procedural, a patient will meet with a nurse, doctor, or health center counselor to explain the procedure, confirm the patient’s decision with consent forms, and explain what exams and lab tests might be needed ahead of time. In some cases, an ultrasound might be needed.

Abortion patients may usually bring a supportive person with them to their appointment, but unless they are being fully sedated, it is not necessary, and most patients can drive themselves home. Guests likely will not be able to be with the patient for parts of the appointment, but can keep them company while they wait and recover!

While abortion procedures are short, appointments can take up to a few hours.

Most abortion patients with an in-clinic

Procedural abortion patients can choose to have an IUD (intrauterine device) inserted during their abortion appointment. That way they do not need another appointment for birth control!

procedure will want to take a day off from work or school. After a procedural abortion, patients rest in a recovery room for about a half an hour. Unless an abortion patient was fully sedated, they may drive themselves home.

After an Abortion Appointment After an abortion, the abortion patient should plan on taking it easy for the rest of the day. Many people can go back to their normal activities the next day. It is expected to have some bleeding after an abortion. Pads, tampons, or menstrual cups can be used to help with this. Patients will get written information of what they can expect and will have a phone number they can call for questions or help after an abortion any time, day or night.

SELF-MANAGED ABORTION Self-managed abortion is a term we use to talk about when a person chooses or needs to have an abortion outside of a medical setting. This type of abortion allows the person to decide if, when, and how to end a pregnancy using safe and effective methods. Any person considering a self-managed abortion should know these four essential things: Their rights. The right to have a self-managed abortion varies across the country. In places where all abortions or self-managed abortions are illegal, people who access them can be arrested. It is important to research the state laws and resources anywhere a self-managed abortion is being considered.

Their body. Self-managed abortions are not for everyone. A person who chooses self-managed abortion needs accurate knowledge of the date of their last menstrual period, the gestational age of their pregnancy, and an understanding of their medical needs and risks.

The process. Anyone considering a self-managed abortion should have a good understanding of how medication abortion pills should be taken, what to expect, and Check out who to contact if they need help.

Their resources. Access to quality medication is important, and a person accessing a self-managed abortion should know for certain their medicine came from

plancpills.org, a website that helps people find abortion pills online.

a reputable place. They also need to know where to access urgent medical care if it is needed or a medical provider who can answer questions.

COMMON ABORTION Q&As What do abortions feel like?

Not all abortions feel the same. Most medical and self-managed abortions feel like a heavy period with cramps. Sedation changes what people feel during their abortion procedure depending on how light or heavy the sedation is. Some people will feel pressure; others might not remember much about their procedure.

Do abortions hurt?

Everybody feels, thinks of, and tolerates pain differently. Abortions, medication and procedural, cause cramps that can be painful or uncomfortable.

How is abortion different from emergency contraception?

Emergency contraception, sometimes called EC or the morningafter pill, is used to prevent a pregnancy from occurring. EC must be taken within a few days of unprotected sex before a pregnancy begins. Since emergency contraception does not end an existing pregnancy, it is not an abortion.

What about all of the misinformation anti-abortion protesters spread about abortion? Is any of that true?

Medication and procedural abortions are safe, effective, and legal ways to end a pregnancy. People who do not support abortion access often intentionally share incorrect information to discourage people from supporting or seeking an abortion.

It is important to find information that comes from sources you trust and decide what is important to you. Anyone who needs an abortion deserves to make their decision with accurate, unbiased information. At the end of this zine, we included a list of trusted resources you can check out!

REFLECT Now that you’ve read through this section about how abortion works, consider these reflection questions: How does the information you read about how abortion works compare to what you already knew? What did you learn? Are there myths you once believed about abortion that you now know are not true? Are there any questions you still have?

Check out the resources section at the back of this zine for more sources of accurate information about how abortion works!

BARRIERS TO ABORTION PART 2 CARE Abortions are common, and most likely you know someone who has had an abortion. Even though most people in the United States support abortion access, abortion stigma still gets in the way of many people accessing them. Abortion stigma describes the negative attitudes that some people have about abortion. Many of those attitudes are connected to different systems of oppression, like racism, sexism, ableism, or ageism, to name a few, that create barriers to all people being treated fairly and with respect.

Abortion stigma has created many barriers that make it harder for people to access abortion. We have grouped them into three categories: Legal barriers: Laws and policies in a country, state, or community that make it harder for some people to access abortion.

Logistical barriers: Practical needs that are hard to meet when trying to access an abortion, like cost, transportation, or childcare.

Emotional barriers: The feelings and beliefs that cultures, families, and individuals can have about abortion that negatively impact people who need abortions.

Abortion History Just because abortion is a safe and essential part of health care does not mean it is easy to access. Interestingly, abortion was legal throughout US history and did not become outlawed until the mid1880s. Abortion was a regular part of life for many people, and there was much less stigma about this common medical procedure.

Midwives, nurses, and other professionals often performed abortions during this time, along with tribal leaders in Native populations. The first abortion bans were closely tied to racism and patriarchy in this country, as enslaved Black women were some of the first to face

abortion bans and other restrictions that denied them control of their own bodies. After the Civil War, a group of male doctors led a push to ban abortion nationwide. The Catholic Church condemned abortion in 1869, and abortion stigma began to grow. By 1910, abortion was illegal across the US (though wealthy white women still had access).

Major reforms to abortion law did not come until the 1960s.4, 5, 6 In the 1960s, eleven states had begun to loosen abortion restrictions. Then, due to the work of abortion advocates, the Supreme Court heard the case Roe v. Wade. The Court decided that people had the right to abortion under the Constitution. This meant that abortion was protected for the entire country.

However, anti-abortion politicians had pushed back against this ruling for many years and promised to appoint anti-abortion judges that would eventually overturn Roe v. Wade. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case that challenged Mississippi’s state ban on abortion at 15 weeks in pregnancy. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade, which ended the federal constitutional right to an abortion in the United States. When Roe was overturned, 18 states banned abortion immediately.5 Now, each state is allowed to make its own laws on abortion, leaving a complex web of laws that widely vary across states.

LEGAL BARRIERS Laws from state to state look very different. In some states, a pregnant person can get an abortion anytime, for any reason. In other states, there are limits on when in a pregnancy someone can have an abortion. Some laws can make it more difficult to get an abortion, so understanding what these barriers are is key to taking charge of one’s health and advocating for abortion rights.

Age Restrictions When someone is under 18 (a minor), laws sometimes apply differently to them. One of the ways laws about abortion can differ for minors is through parental notification or consent

laws. So, in states with these laws, minors need permission from their parents to get an abortion, or their parents need to know about it. This is not the case with other types of reproductive health care, like birth control or STI testing, and is specific to abortion.

Parental notification or consent laws sometimes apply differently to people who are emancipated, incarcerated, or in foster care or the military. In some states, like Michigan, young people can get a judicial bypass to work around this law.

What’s a Judicial Bypass, You Ask? Great question! If a minor’s parent refuses to give permission for an abortion, a minor does not have access to their legal parent or guardian, or they do not want to involve their parents, judicial bypass is an option for them. Judicial bypass looks something like this: A minor files a “Waiver of Parental Consent” and a confidential information sheet with a circuit court, then completes the petition. A clerk can help with this for free!

The minor then needs a “next friend” to sign the petition. This could be any responsible and competent adult they know, but they cannot be a person who performs abortions or works with an organization that does.

Once the petition is filed, there will be a court hearing within 72 hours. This is closed to the public, so only the minor, the judge, an attorney, and the minor’s “next friend” can be present.

After attending the hearing, the minor will know if their petition was allowed or denied within 48 hours. If it is allowed, the minor can obtain an abortion. If it is denied, the minor can appeal to another court.

As you can see, accessing judicial bypass can take some time. That is why it is important to start the process as soon as possible. The ruling often depends on whether the judge supports abortion access, so it can be hard to know if it will be approved ahead of time. However, a person does not necessarily need to have their case heard in the place they live. This process can present a huge barrier for young people, but it does not mean an abortion is impossible for someone under 18 in a state with parental notification or consent laws.

Time Restrictions There are other legal barriers that apply to people of any age. In many states, time is the most important factor that decides when a pregnant person can get an abortion and what procedure is used.

Waiting Periods In most states, there is a waiting period. This means that before a pregnant person can get an abortion, they are required to wait a certain amount of time, often 24 hours, before their appointment.

Under laws like these, anyone seeking an abortion is given informational materials to read the required amount of hours before an abortion procedure. The patient must sign an informed consent form and bring a printed copy to their appointment before they can access their abortion.

Making sure these forms are filled out, printed, and turned in on time can be a barrier for some people. In some states, the information abortion patients are required to read is written with the intent to convince them not to have the procedure they decided on. An abortion patient has the right to view or not view the materials. However, the materials must be signed prior to an abortion.

Many public libraries have printers available if home printing is not an option!

Gestational Age A common restriction on abortion is based on gestational age, which we explained on page 5. Gestational age calculates pregnancy from the first day of a pregnant person’s last menstrual period, and in basic terms it measures how long a pregnancy is. Most states have restrictions about what type of abortion a pregnant person can have and when.

In Michigan, abortion is legal until “viability,” which is the stage of pregnancy when a fetus has developed enough that it is able to survive outside of the uterus without medical help. It is important to know that viability is not a medical term with one specific definition, and it depends on complex factors that are different for every person. For most people, viability is around 24–26 weeks of pregnancy.

Many abortion restrictions based on gestational age are supported with false claims about fetal development that are not based on science. More restrictive states have passed laws that limit abortions after six weeks gestational age (which is about two weeks after a person’s first missed period). Less restrictive states may not have a gestational limit and instead allow abortions throughout pregnancy.

No matter where someone lives, if they are considering an abortion, it is a good idea to seek out a health care provider as soon as possible so they can have the most choices available to them.

Site Restrictions: Oh No, It’s a TRAP In addition to laws that restrict people who want to have an abortion, there are also laws that are targeted at abortion providers. Targeted restrictions on abortion providers, or TRAP laws, are limits placed on abortion providers aimed at closing them down rather than actually making abortions safer. 7 Anti-abortion advocates claim that these laws are in the name of “women’s health,” but what they actually want is to close abortion-providing facilities.

Meeting unnecessary site restrictions required by TRAP laws is often expensive and time-consuming and does not improve patient care.

Here are some common restrictions enforced by TRAP laws in different states: 7 Building requirements: Of course, it is important to make sure medical facilities are safe for patients. However, anti-abortion legislators will often propose medically unnecessary standards for buildings in order to close them, like mandating hallway width, requiring complex heating and cooling systems, janitor closet specifications, and more.

Hospital relationships: Abortions are incredibly safe procedures with over a 99% safety record. Still, abortion providers always have a plan in the rare case something goes wrong to ensure a patient can get emergency care at a hospital. Since needing emergency care is so rare, many hospitals (especially anti-abortion hospitals) will not give privileges to providers, nor is it necessary for a patient to access care from a hospital if they need it. If a provider cannot obtain these privileges where this is a law, the provider is often forced to close.

Location requirements: Another sneaky way lawmakers will attempt to harm safe and legal abortion access is by restricting where a clinic can be. For example, they will mandate that an abortion provider must be within 30 minutes of a hospital or a certain distance from a school. In rural areas or places where abortion is under attack, this can be impossible. Neither of these restrictions keeps people safe.

Reporting requirements: Reporting restrictions force providers to share private information about their patients to the state government, including what they look like, what type of abortion they had, and even ultrasound photos.

Jumping through unnecessary hoops puts a strain on abortion providers and makes safe, legal abortion harder to access in states with TRAP laws. Keep an eye out for bills that include TRAP laws in your state, and let your representative know that you do not support these unnecessary restrictions!

UNDERSTAND THE LAWS IN YOUR STATE! Laws are always changing, which is why it is important to stay up to date on abortion restrictions in your state. Let’s do an activity to figure out what your state’s laws are!

Use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code.

We’ll use Planned Parenthood’s interactive map to answer these questions: STATE If you visit another state often (for example, if you go to school in another state) write that state down too!

IS ABORTION LEGAL IN THIS STATE?

YES

IF ABORTION IS LEGAL...

Check off the boxes below if these restrictions apply to your state: Parental consent required (under 18) Parental notification required (under 18)

NO Even if abortion is legal, there can still be restrictions on how and when a person can have an abortion.

Waiting period Ban after

weeks

Other restriction IF ABORTION IS BANNED OR NOT LEGAL...

Look at the restrictions in your neighboring states or a state where you have a supportive friend or family member.

DOUBLE CHECK! It is always a good idea to double-check information from any website. Visit abortionfinder.org’s state-by-state guide of abortion laws.

SUMMARIZE. Now that you’ve researched the laws near you, use another piece of paper (or the inside covers of this zine) to summarize how a person in your state can access abortion.

LOGISTICAL BARRIERS State laws that restrict abortion access make it harder for everyone who lives there to access an abortion when they need one. Even where abortions are legally protected, not everyone can access them equally. Considerations like access to transportation, how far the nearest abortion provider is, childcare, time off work, the cost of abortion care, and other factors all weigh on a person’s ability to access an abortion as soon as they need it.

We’ll outline some of the common barriers to accessing abortion care so you can better understand how abortion access looks in your community.

Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Yuck Let’s start with a common but not well-understood obstacle to abortion access. Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are organizations funded by anti-abortion groups and are used to misinform and discourage pregnant people from seeking abortion care. They are often advertised as reproductive health care providers, even strategically locating themselves close to actual abortion providers and using vague advertising to, in some cases, intentionally appear to be an abortion-providing facility.

The American Medical Association Journal of Ethics says that CPCs are unethical by misleading the public into thinking they are actual medical clinics, even having their staff wear white lab coats and offer ultrasounds. 9 CPCs are not licensed medical facilities; more often than not, their staff are not licensed medical professionals.

CPCs attempt to attract pregnant people with free or low-cost services, like ultrasounds and pregnancy tests. However, since crisis pregnancy centers are not licensed medical facilities, there is no expectation they will be truthful about ultrasound readings.

Sometimes this means intentionally giving pregnant people incorrect information about the gestational age of their pregnancy to prevent them from accessing abortion within the legal window period in their state.

So, how can you spot them? We’re glad you asked.

SPOT YOUR LOCAL CPC The best way to avoid a crisis pregnancy center is to know what to look for. In many communities, you can simply enter “crisis pregnancy center in my city” in a search engine and find these anti-abortion organizations. Here are some things to look for if you think you’ve spotted a CPC: How they are listed on map applications. Crisis pregnancy centers might also be listed as pregnancy resource centers, pregnancy help centers, pregnancy care centers, or abortion alternatives.

Their list of services is vague or obviously excludes abortion. If they advertise free pregnancy tests, abortion counseling, pre-abortion screenings, or abortion education but not abortion services, it is likely a crisis pregnancy center.

They specifically offer “abortion pill reversal.” While many antiabortion advocates claim there are treatments for medication abortion “reversal,” medication abortion reversals are not supported by science. This is not a service a licensed medical provider would offer.

They lie about the safety and effectiveness of abortion. Crisis pregnancy centers have no obligation to provide accurate information and often lie to say abortion, and even other reproductive health care like birth control and emergency contraception, are ineffective, unsafe, cause cancer, or lead to infertility or mental health problems.

They offer free resources or services to people who decide to continue their pregnancy. Support for pregnant and birthing people should never require them to make a specific decision, live a particular way, or adhere to specific religious beliefs.

Transportation and Rural Health Care All kinds of abortions require transportation in some way: travel to an appointment, a trip to a pharmacy for medication abortion pills, or travel for a follow-up visit after a medication abortion. When people don’t have access to affordable, reliable transportation they can use, traveling for appointments or medication presents a barrier. This is true no matter how far they live from their health care provider or pharmacy.

When people live in rural communities or in states where abortion is not legal and they must travel to access it, transportation barriers can get even trickier to overcome as the trip to the nearest abortion-providing facility might be several hundred miles away. In Michigan in 2017, 35% of people

who can become pregnant lived in a county with no abortion providers. 8 As legal restrictions on abortion have tightened across the country, many abortion providers have been forced to close or stop providing abortion services, which further impacts people living in rural areas by leaving fewer options for abortion care.

Some abortion funds offer transportation support: either financial support to cover transportation or a network of volunteers who will help people travel to their abortion appointments.

Childcare Over half of all people who access abortions are already a parent. 11 Most health care providers, including abortion providers, do not offer childcare for parents or guardians while they access their health care. Abortion appointments, especially in states with excessive restrictions on abortion, can take several hours, often requiring parents and guardians of small children to find childcare while attending their appointments. Without staff or resources dedicated to supervising children for patients, many abortion providers will not allow small children to attend appointments.

Offering free childcare is one way friends or family can support a person in their life who needs an abortion. Childcare is also another way that some abortion support organizations may be able to help coordinate. Especially for people who wish to keep their decision to have an abortion private, arranging childcare can be a difficult, sometimes impossible barrier.

Money Like any medical procedure, abortion care costs money. Unlike other necessary medical procedures, many people with medical insurance do not have coverage for abortion care. This means that many people must pay for the full cost of their abortion or seek help from abortion funds. Abortion funds provide financial and sometimes logistical assistance to people who need abortions.

The cost of an abortion depends on many factors, like where the abortion is being performed, what kind of procedure is needed, and the gestational age of the pregnancy, to name a few. Most

people can expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more than a thousand just for the abortion itself. That cost does not reflect other expenses often associated with abortion care, like arranging childcare or transportation, taking time off work, or buying aftercare supplies.

Federal restrictions on government-funded insurance, like Medicaid (which provides health care coverage to people with low-incomes), prevent people on those insurance plans from having their abortion care paid for. This, combined with many private insurance companies refusing to cover abortion care, means that abortion care is most accessible to wealthy people. As abortion has become increasingly more difficult to access after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it has also become more expensive to navigate access.

These new obstacles impact people with low-incomes the most.

The Gender Binary While many people frequently associate abortion rights with women’s rights, it is essential to understand that anyone who can become pregnant deserves access to abortion, and not all people who can become pregnant are women. People across the gender spectrum (transgender, nonbinary, agender, genderqueer, genderfluid, and more) can and do have abortions.

Trans and gender-expansive people often face barriers to accessing affirming, compassionate medical care, and this surfaces for transgender people who need abortion care too. Trans and genderexpansive people are less likely to access their abortion care through a health care provider compared to their cisgender peers. 9 Some abortion providers, like Planned Parenthood of Michigan, also provide gender-affirming care, including hormone replacement therapy, and have staff who are trained to provide respectful and comprehensive care to trans and gender-expansive people. Still, it is crucial that genderinclusive language and practices are mirrored everywhere and that services for people who need abortions are accessible to people of all genders.

It’s All Connected There are many possible logistical barriers to abortion access, including many more that we didn’t name here. When a person

faces barriers to accessing abortion care, it is important to understand that it is rarely just one barrier.

People of all abilities, genders, races, migration statuses, and income statuses access abortion. Yet, it is generally white, wealthy women who can access abortion most readily. Work to remove barriers to abortion access must center on people impacted by those barriers the most. We’ll talk about ways you can advocate for abortion access in your community in part three of this zine.

EMOTIONAL BARRIERS Abortions are common, and the experience of having an abortion is as unique as the many individuals who access them. Many factors weigh on the emotional experience of having an abortion, like stigma, cultural and religious beliefs, unsupportive relationships, and more.

We’ll discuss some of these emotional barriers that can make accessing abortion more difficult.

Stigma Even if a person knows getting an abortion is the best decision for them, it still can be hard. Something that can make this decision extra difficult is stigma. Planned Parenthood Keystone says, “Abortion stigma is the set of attitudes and beliefs, conscious or unconscious, that abortion is bad, shameful, or wrong.” 10 While we know that abortion is health care, living in a world where others may think otherwise can make getting an abortion feel wrong, even when it is not.

People believe a lot of things about abortion that are not true. Here are some things you may have heard that worsen abortion stigma: MYTH Abortion is uncommon.

Actually, abortion is really common. In fact, about 1 in 4 people who can get pregnant will have an abortion before age 45.

MYTH Abortion is linked to mental health problems.

Research has shown that people who are denied abortions have worse physical and mental health than people who have access to abortion.11 The most common emotion felt after an abortion is relief. 16

MYTH People who get abortions do not want children.

According to the CDC, 6 out of 10 people who get abortions already have children.11 Also, pregnancy complications can lead to a person needing an abortion, even if the pregnancy was planned.

MYTH Only teenagers get abortions.

The majority of people who get abortions are in their 20s, but people of many ages have abortions.11 MYTH Only Democrats get abortions.

While abortion can be harder to access in red states, 32% of people who had an abortion in 2019 voted for Donald Trump.11 Myths like these harm people who need abortions. There is not one type of person who gets an abortion. People of many different ages, races, classes, education levels, and genders might have an abortion for any reason. No matter what the reason, abortion is a personal decision that only the pregnant person can make.

While abortion stigma is everywhere, there are unique factors in a person’s life that can make this stigma worse.

Cultural and Religious Factors Sometimes where we are from can make having an abortion feel not so great. Other times, our culture and religion may support abortion. Either way, the way we grow up impacts how we feel about the decisions we make.

Culture impacts attitudes and stigma about abortion. In the past, Black Americans were less likely to support abortion than white Americans. Today, Black Americans are just as likely as white Americans to say abortion is morally acceptable.12 Few religions agree on when life begins or when a person should get an abortion. Even within religions, there is a variety of views. For example, the Pew Research Center found that the majority of American Catholics believe that abortion should be allowed in all or most cases. In addition, more than half of American Muslims support abortion access.13 Others in these religions do not support abortion at all. While some religious views have changed over time, some have remained consistent. Either way, if your religion does not support your decision, it can be hard.

Still, the majority of people in the United States support abortion in many cases. Further, many abortion rights organizations and resources exist within religious and cultural groups to support people within those religions and cultures who need to access abortions. At the end of the day, the decision is up to the pregnant person, and them alone. While culture and religion play a unique role in each of our lives, each of us knows what is best for us.

Consent

Content warning: This section discusses intimate partner violence. A new subject starts at the bottom of this page

Only the person who is pregnant can decide if an abortion is right for them. Sometimes it is not that simple.

The beliefs and attitudes that others have about abortion can create pressure for the person who is considering abortion, whether people express those beliefs and attitudes explicitly or not.

Sometimes, the person who is pressuring them is a partner. People experiencing intimate partner violence are more likely to experience an unintended pregnancy.14 This can be because their partner is sabotaging their birth control or being sexually violent.

No matter the reason, this behavior is not okay.

Some people in this situation may want an abortion. Know that someone does not need permission from their partner to decide on an abortion. There is help available in these situations.

Another form of abuse is forcing someone else to get an abortion.

In Michigan, this is illegal. Partners, providers, and others in a person’s life cannot coerce someone to get an abortion. If someone is being threatened, controlled, or physically or emotionally harmed, they may be experiencing coercion. Being pregnant can make someone even more vulnerable to these behaviors.

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE Michigan Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-855-VOICES4 National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE

Remember, consent plays a huge role in abortion access. Only the pregnant person has the right to end or not end a pregnancy. If you or someone you know are afraid for any reason, help is available.

Pod Mapping for Abortion Support We all need support sometimes, and pod mapping is a way to figure out how you can find support in your community when you need it most. Pod mapping, coined by Bay Area Transformative

Justice Collective, refers to the “pod” of people you would call if you needed support.15 Your “pod” may not be the same people for every situation, but usually people have other people they can call on for help.

It is useful for anyone to map out who is in their pod, but it can be especially helpful for people seeking an abortion. Since you may be in someone’s pod, it is helpful to understand what that would look like too! The exercise at the end of this section can help you identify who is in your pod and how to support someone else who is seeking an abortion. This support could look like: Someone you can talk to Someone who always picks up when you call A shoulder to cry on Someone with reliable transportation Someone who could help with childcare Someone who supports your decisions Someone who can bring you food or self-care items

LET’S MAKE A POD MAP! Use the pod worksheet on the following page, inspired by the Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective, to map out your pod.

Write your name in the middle of the map.

The pods closest to you, the ones with thick borders, are your “pod.” Write the names of people that you feel will support you in tough situations. Instead of writing “friends” or “family,” write the actual names of people you can count on.

The pods with dotted lines are “movable” people. These people could be in your pod in the future if you build your relationship more.

This might look like taking them out for coffee, or sitting with them at lunch!

The large pods on the outside of the diagram are for networks, communities, and groups. This could be the abortion fund in your area, Planned Parenthood, a local shelter, a youth group, or another organization you could turn to, depending on your situation.

People’s pods grow and change over time, and that is okay! Using this mapping concept for yourself can make seeking an abortion less daunting and helps coordinate community support when the decision to have an abortion comes with tricky obstacles or complex feelings.

PART 3

BEING AN ABORTION ADVOCATE

A core piece of advocating for abortion is understanding how it works and addressing abortion stigma and misinformation when you see it. Reading this zine is a great start! With inconsistent abortion laws and access across the country, being an effective advocate for abortion also involves getting to know your community's access needs and resources. In part two of this zine, we named some of the barriers to abortion access to help you think about how they show up in your community.

Now we’ll outline some ways you can advocate for abortion access in your community and among your friends and family with your language and actions.

CHECK YOUR LANGUAGE! An easy thing you can do to become a better advocate for abortion care is to change some of the language you use to talk about abortion. Many people who support and have abortions use language from the anti-abortion movement without even realizing it!

Check out this chart of stigmatizing language, what you can use instead, and why it is important: SAY THIS!

INSTEAD OF THIS

abortion care

reproductive health care

When you mean abortion, say abortion! Saying abortion helps all of us talk about it with less stigma.

pro-abortion, anti-abortion

pro-choice, pro-life

It helps the conversation to be specific about what people support or don’t support. There is nothing shameful about supporting abortion access!

BECAUSE...

SAY THIS!

INSTEAD OF THIS

unintended pregnancy

unwanted or unplanned pregnancy

Do not use language that shames people for becoming pregnant or assumes how a person feels about their pregnancy.

reduce unintended pregnancy, keep abortions safe and legal

keep abortion rare

This phrase can communicate that abortions are undesirable and show judgment toward the person who needs one. Abortions are normal, and there is nothing wrong about having an abortion.

abortion later in pregnancy

late-term abortion

“Late-term abortion” is not a medical term. It comes from the anti-abortion movement to stigmatize certain kinds of abortion.

choice

“Choice” has been a popular term in the reproductive rights movement.

However, it implies that people who plan to have an abortion are still weighing their options. Saying that someone has made a “decision” to have an abortion communicates that the choice is final.

heartbreaking; tragic

We might hear this when people describe abortions later in pregnancy.

This incorrectly assumes that some kinds of abortions are more justified than others. Reasons to have an abortion are personal and unique and should not be compared to one another or labeled as “good” or “bad.”

decision

complex; personal decision

BECAUSE...

Language matters, and it changes over time. Using correct, current, and compassionate language about abortion makes it easier for people to talk about their abortions. It also prevents the anti-abortion movement from shaping our language to talk about normal, essential health care.

ABORTION IN THE MEDIA Think about the abortions you have seen or read about in fictional media: TV shows, movies, books, etc. How do those stories compare

to what you know about abortion or what you’ve learned since you picked up this zine?

When we talked to medical providers at Planned Parenthood of Michigan about how they felt fictional abortions compared to real life, many told us that abortions are often portrayed as dramatic and intense experiences that don’t match the usually straightforward and unexciting process of obtaining an abortion. Even in factual media, like news articles and TV shows, abortions are often portrayed as dramatic, intense, and heart-wrenchingly emotional experiences to persuade the viewer or reader to feel a certain way (good or bad) about them.

It is important to understand that abortions are common, and every person’s abortion story is unique. There is no single set of emotions a person is supposed to feel about their abortion, and it is okay if people feel differently about their own experiences.

As abortions become more commonly discussed and understood, media representations of abortion should become more accurate in portraying the various experiences and feelings that come with them! When you see abortions discussed or represented in the media, ask yourself some questions about what message the people who created the media are trying to send and whether those messages are accurate.

AN ABORTION MEDIA DISCUSSION GUIDE Use these questions for your own reflection or in conversation with a friend!

What is this media trying to make me feel? Is it intended to make me feel positively or negatively about abortion?

What facts are being presented, if any? Where do the facts come from? Was the source created recently, or is it outdated?

Do the facts in this story match what I have learned about abortion?

What information is new? Is it accurate, and can I find other sources of credible information that say the same thing?

Does this media support the idea that all abortions are different and people can feel many different ways about their abortion?

How not, or how so?

CARING FOR YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE AFTER AN ABORTION Given how common abortion is, it’s possible that someone in your life, or even you, will one day need an abortion. There are many ways to be an advocate for abortion access in your community.

Being a supportive, reliable resource for the people in your life if they ever need an abortion is important! So how can you use what you’ve learned in this zine to support someone before, during, and after their abortion? Check out these tips.

Physical Care Having an abortion can have some uncomfortable symptoms.

Here are some ways to help yourself or someone cope: Heating pad for extra comfort Over-the counterpain relievers, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen Massaging the stomach or lower back gently

Emotional Care Everyone has their own unique feelings about their abortions. Also, having an abortion can cause hormonal shifts that cause mood swings.16 Abortions can also be emotionally difficult for some people, and we all find comfort in different ways. Here are some general tips for caring for your or someone else’s emotions after an abortion.

SELF CARE Take time off work if you’re able Watch your favorite show Take a warm bath Drink a fancy beverage Snuggle up in some pajamas Do a restorative yoga exercise Journal your thoughts and feelings

Spend time in nature Reach out to a doctor, therapist, abortion doula, or other helping professional to talk about hard feelings BEING A BUDDY Be an active listener Cook a nice meal Go on an adventure! Take them on a walk, to a movie, or to a new spot you’ve been meaning to check out

Abortion stories are powerful, and reading stories from people who have similar experiences can feel empowering. You can read hundreds and hundreds of abortion stories at shoutyourabortion.com

Bring them their favorite snacks Write them a supportive, affirming letter Gift them a new book to read Make a hot cup of coffee or tea Offer to care for their children or pets Offer to help find resources they might need Be okay if your friend just wants space or doesn’t want to talk about it right now

VOLUNTEERING TO PROTECT ABORTION ACCESS One of the key lessons we hope you take away from this zine is that, for most people, abortions are way harder to access than they need to be. As a member of your community, there are plenty of ways you can be a strong advocate for abortion access and contribute to making abortions less stigmatized and more accessible. We have outlined a few of them here. The best way to decide where your help is needed most is to talk with other community members already working to remove barriers to abortion access.

Financial Support One of the best ways to directly support abortion access in your community is to donate to an abortion fund or an abortion-providing organization. The National Network of Abortion Funds website lists abortion funds by state,

so you can find an abortion fund near you to donate to. If abortion access is not protected in your state, you can donate to abortion funds in nearby communities.

Donating directly to abortion-providing organizations, like Planned Parenthood affiliates and independent clinics, is also helpful. TRAP laws and increasing legal barriers after the overturning of Roe v.

Wade have put financial strain on many abortion providers across the country, and donating to them directly helps sustain their work.

Access Support Some abortion funds or other practical support organizations also coordinate logistical support for abortion access and rely on a network of volunteers to assist with transportation, lodging, child care, or other needs. Apiary for Practical Support has a list of organizations like these on their website.

Many abortion providers rely on the support of volunteers to escort patients into their health care facilities safely. It is unfortunately common for anti-abortion protesters to stand outside of abortion provider offices in an attempt to intimidate patients. Volunteers may also help abortion patients rest in the recovery room after their procedure. These opportunities are usually posted online or organized through abortion advocacy groups like Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan (PPAM). Managing and training volunteers requires extra work, so be sure to follow the organization’s lead and trust what they say will be most helpful.

Another way people can lend their skills to support abortion access is by becoming an abortion doula. When most people think of a doula, they think of birthing. However, one of the services that full-spectrum doula care can provide is support through the experience of having an abortion. Abortion doulas provide emotional and physical care to abortion patients. You can usually find opportunities for full-spectrum or abortion doula training online.

Abortion Rights Advocacy With abortion rights under frequent attack, there is always room to support political work to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortions for everyone. Abortion rights organizations, like Planned Parenthood or Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly known as NARAL), frequently coordinate volunteer opportunities to write letters to

elected officials, organize against anti-abortion legislation or political candidates, phone, text bank, or canvass in your community to champion pro-abortion policies and candidates.

IN CONCLUSION We’re glad you chose to pick up this zine and dedicate some time to learning about how abortion works, what barriers prevent people from accessing them equally, and how you can be an abortion advocate in your community. Abortions are common, safe, and important medical procedures that allow people control of their bodies. Abortions become less stigmatized when more people learn about them, talk about them, and protect access to them.

On the following pages, we list some resources you can explore if you need support or more information about abortion or want to find opportunities to get involved in ensuring abortion access in your community. The work to make abortion safe, accessible, and stigma-free for everyone is essential, and we appreciate you for being here alongside us. We are in this together.

Before you go, take a few moments to reflect on this last activity:

WHAT WILL YOU DO NEXT? You are a unique person with tons of individual strengths, skills, and knowledge. Being a community member who supports and defends abortion access can look so many different ways, some of which we have outlined in this zine. You know yourself best.

What are 3 things you could do next to support and advocate for abortion access in your community? Write them out!

RESOURCES For as long as there have been abortions, there have been networks and organizations of people providing resources to help people access them.

This list is not comprehensive but includes many well-known and trusted resources for abortion access, information, support, funding, and advocacy.

ACCESSING ABORTION Abortion Finder abortionfinder.org features a comprehensive directory of trusted abortion providers, up-to-date state laws and FAQs, funding and logistical resources, and more.

Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. On plannedparenthood.org, you can find a Planned Parenthood location near you, schedule an appointment for health care (including abortion), get education resources, chat with an educator, and more.

Find an Abortion Provider: plannedparenthood.org/abortion-access Get Educational Resources: plannedparenthood.org/learn Chat With a Health Educator: plannedparenthood.org/online-tools/chat

FINANCIAL SUPPORT Apiary Collective This network of resources aims to connect people who need abortions with organizations that provide practical, logistical help.

Visit apiaryps.org/pso-list for a full library of abortion funds and other practical support organizations across the United States.

National Network of Abortion Funds Find a state-by-state list of abortion funds across the United States to access or donate to at abortionfunds.org

LEGAL SUPPORT Repro Legal Helpline A free legal service that helps people understand abortion rights in their communities can be found at reprolegalhelpline.org.

Reproductive Rights.Gov Find updated information about reproductive health care rights, including abortion rights, in the United States at reproductiverights.gov

HELPLINES All-Options Talkline Pregnant people who want a supportive, nonjudgmental person to talk to about their pregnancy options can visit all-options.org or call 1-888-493-0092

Exhale A free textline provided by trained counselors for people who need emotional support after abortion is available at exhaleprovoice.org, or text 617-749-2948.

M + A Hotline Find free support any day of the week from medical providers over phone or text for miscarriage and abortion care at mahotline.org.

Repro Care In addition to funding resources, Repro Care’s healthline can be called or texted for accurate abortion information and emotional support any day of the week. Find them at reprocare.com.

STORYTELLING + ADVOCACY Shout Your Abortion Shout Your Abortion catalogs thousands of abortion stories to normalize abortion with the goal of elevating safe paths to access for everyone. SYA makes resources you can share, too, at shoutyourabortion.com.

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