BEFORE YOUR ABORTION:
SAFETY MEASURES

1. Check your state or country's abortion laws.

• World: Reproductive Rights Worlds Abortion Laws

• US States: State Policies, Guttmacher

  • For legal help & considerations, check our Rouge Resource Database for country-specific resources.

2. Based on your location's laws, it may be helpful to consider: 

• Digital Safety

  • Basic Guide: Digital Defense Fund Abortion Guide

  • Rouge Doulas will use Signal, a secure messaging app, to communicate. 

• Payment Safety: 

  • Use cash or pre-paid gift cards for pills & supplies.

3. Choose a safe space for your abortion: 

• A comfortable place to rest with water & toilet access. Access to a phone, computer, or in-person support is preferable.

• If you don't have the above or feel unsafe around others in your home:

  • Consider staying at a friend or family members home. 

  • Consider when you may have moments of privacy in your home and time your abortion accordingly.

  • Call a hotline for counseling support or resources and help with other options. Find one in our Rouge Resource Database.
     

GATHER A LIST OF CONTACT NUMBERS

1. Trusted friends or family:

• Someone who can be on-call during your abortion for support. Ask them to check in regularly or be with you in person.

2. A Doula (if you want additional support)

• Contact Rouge Pills - no matter where you live, we can connect you with a doula!

• Local abortion organizations will often have doulas on board.

3. In case of emergency (unlikely, but just in case and for peace of mind):

• Abortion-Specific Hotline:

  • US: M + A Hotline // Call 1-833-246-2632

  • World-wide: Check our Rouge Resource Database

• Nearest abortion clinic:

  • Check our Rouge Resource Database for resources to find your nearest abortion clinic.

  • An abortion clinic is preferable to an ER, especially where abortion is illegal. If an ER is the only accessible treatment center, please contact us or another hotline for tips on how to interact with doctors.

    • Look out for pro-life clinics posing as abortion clinics!
      What Are Crisis Pregnancy Centers?

• Transportation service:

  • Friend/Family, Taxi Service, Uber, Lyft, Public Transport, etc.

    • Consider safety in using any transportation services if you are in a restricted location.
       

ABORTION PILLS

1. Arm yourself with knowledge! 

• If you have a doula, they will guide you through the process. If you are doing it on your own or want additional information, here are a few sites with guides on taking the pills:

  • Rouge Pills

  • Plan C Pills Guide

  • M+A Hotline

  • Self Guided Abortion

2. Buy Abortion Pills

• Check our Rouge Resource Database for country-specific resources.

• You will need: 

  • 1 Mifepristone pill (if available in your country. If not, you can do without), AND

  • 12 Misoprostol pills (you must have at least 4 pills, however we advise having 12 pills on hand just in case you need them)

​3. Plan when you will take your abortion pills.

• If possible, take 1-3 days off of work and other obligations for your abortion, so you have ample time to rest and get through the heavy bleeding stage.

• Note: The first pill, Mifepristone, is taken 24-48 hours before the smaller Misoprostol pills. It rarely has side effects and you should be able to work and go about daily life. Side effects and bleeding usually only begin after you take the smaller Misoprostol pills. This is when you want time off. 
   

GATHER SUPPLIES

1. Have the following on hand:

• Pain-killers (Note: Do NOT take Aspirin - it is a blood thinner.)

  • Ibuprofen (ex. Advil or Motrin) // Naproxen (ex. Aleve) //Acetaminophen (ex. Tylenol)

• Anti-Nausea Medication

  • Dimenhydrinate (ex. Dramamine) // Diphenhydramine (ex. Benadryl) // Ondansetron (ex. Zofran)

  • Herbal remedies such as ginger chews and mint tea.

• Menstrual pads (note: you want the blood to move freely and the ability to see what is coming out. Do not use tampons, menstrual cups or disks, or anything else inserted into the vagina.)

  • If you need free supplies, many local organizations such as abortion mutual-aid groups, community pantries, or women's health non-profits offer menstrual kits & supplies. You can also check our Rouge Resource Database.

2. Other helpful items: 

• Heating Pad (you can also put rice or dried beans into a sock and warm it in the microwave)

• Entertainment:

  • Comforting playlists, podcasts, or movies

  • Books, crosswords, puzzles, cards, etc.

• Nourishment (staying hydrated and nourished during your abortion will help with nausea and pain!):

  • Drinks: Plenty of water. Tea, coconut water, and electrolyte drinks are also helpful.

  • Snacks: Comforting & easy on stomach (crackers, broth, fruit)

  • Meals: Buy ready-made meals or make food ahead of time so you can eat properly during your abortion. Things like soups, rice bowls, casseroles, etc. are great options.

• Items for a ritual or spiritual experience (find more on our Emotional & Supplemental Support pages)

  • Supportive herbs (tea, baths, oils, etc)

  • Candles & Scents

  • Altar items

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POST-ABORTION

YOUR BODY:

1. Contraception:

• If you want to avoid future pregnancy, you can start using contraception the day after you take your last dose of misoprostol. An abortion restarts the menstrual cycle. Regular condom use, copper IUDs, and the Fertility Awareness Method are non-hormonal forms of birth control you can also consider.

2. Confirm your abortion was successful:

• If safe and accessible, the best way to do this is to get an ultrasound at a clinic. Wait at least 10 days after you take the pills to get one.

• Take a home pregnancy test. Wait 3-6 weeks after you take the pills. Pregnancy hormones live in our body for a while after an abortion, so you may get a false positive if you take it before this time.

3. Resume activities:

• Listen to your body. You can resume having sex, using tampons, swimming, exercise, etc as soon as you feel able.

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EMOTIONAL SUPPORT:

1. Get support if needed. 

• Your mental health is important. An abortion can bring up many feelings, some that are difficult to process. Some places and people you can turn to if you need emotional support:

  • Your doula. Doulas are there for you even after your abortion is complete to help you process.

  • A hotline. Check out our Rouge Resource Databse to find one in your country or contact us for more resources. 

  • A therapist, counselor, or support group.

2. Some suggestions of things you can do at home to help you process:

• Journaling (written or visual)

• Walking, Somatic Movement, Yoga, & Exercise

• Breath-work, EFT Tapping, & Meditation

• Rouge Pills has guided meditations, journal prompts, and more on our Emotional Support page.

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LEGAL SUPPORT:

1. This is usually not an issue with self-managed abortions. However, if you are at risk of being criminalized, there are resources.

• US: Repro Legal Defense Fund

• World-wide: Check our Rouge Resource Database for country-specific resources.

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