Plan C’s fight for equal abortion access
Non-profit organization provides information about the abortion pill
OLIVIA SYNEK / ASSOCIATE EDITOR / THE USD VISTA
Two major events interfered with the ongoing effort to provide equal access to abortion in the United States: the pandemic and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. With these events, it became increasingly difficult for Americans assigned with female anatomy at birth to end their pregnancies.
Abortion is not always synonymous with a procedure that terminates a pregnancy. It can also be synonymous with a pill: the abortion pill.
This type of abortion comes in the form of medication, either Mifepristone or Misoprostol. Some people refer to the abortion pill as one that simply brings back a period, while others recognize that its primary use is to end an early-stage pregnancy.
The pill can be taken most safely within the first 11 weeks of pregnancy. If taken after the recommended time, then there can be complications threatening a pregnant person’s health. This alternate way to receive an abortion is not new, considering the pill has been around since 1980, when a French pharmaceutical company created the first Mifepristone pill.
The creation of the abortion pill began its long trek of approval from the FDA, which first banned its distribution in 1989, under the elder Bush Administration. After years of back and forth and clinical trials, the pill was officially FDA-approved in 2000.
Although approved, the distribution of the abortion pill was restricted by outside factors leading to unequal opportunity for abortion. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, people all over America had trouble receiving procedural abortions because of the lack of in-person doctor visits. Then in 2022, when Roe v. Wade was overturned in June, access to abortion was increasingly limited in certain states.
USD senior Ramona Tellez explained the importance of access to abortion, post-Supreme Court decision.
“Access to abortion has always been a critical piece of healthcare. In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, it is more important than ever. Even if you don’t understand bodily autonomy, the person with an unwanted pregnancy does, and will do anything they can to terminate said pregnancy.”
Sometimes, the only way to terminate a pregnancy within a state with legal bans is to take a pill. Plan C, an abortion pill informational resource, was founded in 2015. The non-profit’s main goal is to provide everyone access to an abortion pill, even when it is illegal in their state.
Many people around the U.S. are unaware of abortion via medication, and Plan C’s aim is to spread the word with campaigns both online and in-person. Their website, plancpills.org, provides information on where to find abortion pills, medical advice and emotional support.
The organization screened their new documentary called “Plan C,” which premiered at both the 2023 Sundance and South by Southwest Film Festivals. This powerful documentary both introduces and recognizes the efforts of the several women behind the domestic distribution of the pill.
According to NPR, consequences of illegally sending abortion pills to certain states could have legal implications such as jail or prison time and fines of up to tens of thousands of dollars. These providers put their lives in danger every single day to illegally send pills to strangers who wish nothing more but to terminate their pregnancies safely.
On the other hand, there are some comments regarding the safety and accessibility of the pill. Students For Life America refer to abortion pills as “chemical abortions” because they believe that the pill is made up of “powerful drugs.” All drugs are technically chemicals, as they all have chemical structures. There is no research to suggest that abortion pills have any added unnecessary “chemicals” that are bad for humans.
USD junior Alyssa Jackson shared her reservations regarding the abortion pill, which she referred to as a “chemical abortion.”
“Chemical abortion is not safe for the lives of mothers nor their babies,” Jackson stated. “In terms of increased availability, chemical abortions have become increasingly accessible through mail, at local pharmacies and public universities in California, which makes them that much more harmful. Women can order it without even proof of pregnancy or consulting her doctor.”
Plan C makes sure to spread awareness regarding the safety of the pill. In the documentary, one Plan C representative takes the pill on camera, even though she was not pregnant, just to prove a point that it is “safer than Advil.”
Although proven safe by the FDA and further extensive research, everyone seeking an abortion pill can consult a doctor through telehealth or in-person before going through with the abortion through Plan C’s website. Proof of pregnancy is also not needed in order for the pill to be safe for one’s body.
Invisibilia, an NPR podcast, released an episode in September titled “A Little Bit Pregnant.” In this episode, the abortion pill is discussed as a reliable and safe option for people who have both confirmed and unconfirmed pregnancies. It talks about de-stigmatizing the abortion pill and calling it a “period pill” instead.
Being pregnant can be a terrifying realization, and those who have missed periods may never want to find out if they are pregnant.
People can take this “period pill” which will bring back their period, making the possibility of being pregnant ambiguous. Pregnant or not, period pill or abortion pill, the pill is safe and FDA approved.
Separate from questioning the pill’s safety and accessibility, Students For Life of America and some anti-abortion citizens believe the abortion pill has negative environmental implications. USD sophomore Sabrina Richards explained why she believes abortion pills are harmful to the environment.
“My worry about having chemical abortion pills sent to your doorstep is how detrimental to the environment and our water system it will be. Since chemical abortion pills can be taken up to 12 weeks into the pregnancy, human remains of the growing baby will infiltrate our sewage system. In places where sanitation and filtering infrastructure is lacking and/or broken, it could lead to a real problem in the cleanliness of the water we drink.”
According to a Politico article about the abortion pill and wastewater regulation, pharmaceuticals pose negative impacts on the environment. However, this pertains to pharmaceuticals as a whole, not just one drug.
Nathan Donley, the Environmental Health Science director for the Center for Biological Diversity, told Politico that abortion pills and “fetal remains” are far from the issue.
“Of all the drugs and synthetic chemicals we shed that can potentially contaminate water, abortifacients are a fraction of a fraction of a percent. It’s nothing.”
Even though many are confused as to how Students For Life of America believes that abortion pills make a significant environmental impact, the organization petitioned in December that the FDA reconsider the implications of the abortion pill on wastewater and regulate the use of the pill as a whole.
The FDA denied the organization’s request not even a month later, saying that the petition did not present any new evidence.
Though saddened about the various opinions surrounding abortion in the U.S., USD junior Lindy Hickman appreciates what Plan C has done to make abortion more accessible.
“Plan C helps not only to give abortion education, but allows for all individuals to have equal access to necessary medical resources. I personally find it absolutely ridiculous that there have been laws passed that prohibit basic bodily autonomy, and put people at severe health risks.” Hickman explained. “It truly saddens me that we have to resort to the abortion pill, because of our current political state, but am grateful there is still a push for safe and accessible healthcare for everyone.”
Safe and accessible healthcare for everyone, and especially those who are pregnant, is necessary for basic human-rights.
But, if the U.S. and state governments cannot provide the information and resources necessary to terminate pregnancies, then Plan C will.
For more information on the abortion pill and how to manage an abortion, below are some supportive resources.
Plan C https://www.plancpills.org/
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline https://www.mahotline.org/
Reprocare Healthline https://abortionhotline.org/.