Advance Provision of Mifepristone and Misoprostol via Online Telemedicine in the US
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Key Findings
- We observed substantial demand for advance provision of abortion medications.
- Requests peaked following the Dobbs leak and after conflicting legal rulings regarding FDA mifepristone approval created confusion and uncertainty.
- States considering future abortion bans had the highest rates of requests, and requestors were motivated by a desire to preserve reproductive autonomy.
- The demographic differences in requestors of advance provision vs self-management likely reflect structural barriers.
Advance provision of abortion medications is the prescription of mifepristone and misoprostol before pregnancy occurs. Physicians in the US do not routinely engage in advance provision, yet there is considerable interest among US populations. Following recent abortion bans, advance provision could allow people to have abortion medications immediately available if needed. Using data from Aid Access, an online telemedicine service that has offered advance provision since September 2021, we examined trends in the demand and characteristics and motivations of requestors.
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