When seeking an abortion, over 1 in 20 women cite concerns about their personal health as a deciding factor. As states move to limit access to the procedure, more and more women’s fears may be realized. Proponents of the restrictive policies argue that abortions pose more danger to women than carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term, but the research simply doesn’t back these claims. In a new study by UC San Francisco researchers, women who were denied abortions reported higher rates of joint pain, persistent headaches and migraines, and poorer overall health five years later, compared to women able to obtain abortions.

Women on Web is a digital community of women who have had abortions and individuals and organizations that support abortion rights. It’s an online abortion help service for countries where there is no access to a safe abortion service. The abortion is carried out with medication at home before the 9th week of pregnancy. The medicines are sent by mail under the supervision of a doctor. Women on Web’s goal is to prevent unsafe abortion and reduce mortality rates from unsafe abortions by supporting access to a safe telemedicine service. Once the app has been downloaded it can be used without internet access.

1. https://www.socialtech.org.uk/projects/women-on-web/

2. Women On Waves- https://www.womenonwaves.org/

3. Women Denied Abortions May Endure Long-term Health Consequences- https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2019/06/414706/women-denied-abortions-may-endure-long-term-health-consequences

4. Induced Abortion in the United States- https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states

Sierra Briscoe - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sierrabriscoe/