General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: For those of you wondering why they didn't use Planned Parenthood for their abortion [View all]avebury
(10,953 posts)if countries (including the US) continue to take steps to prevent women from asserting their right to reproductive freedom.
http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-08-29/dutch-physician-making-abortion-drugs-more-accessible-women-around-world-mail
Almost 40 percent of the worlds population lives in countries where abortion is either banned or severely restricted.
Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, a physician and activist, is taking it upon herself to change that statistic by providing access to a combination of abortion drugs that women can administer themselves. Her Amsterdam-based organization is called Women on Web. Started almost a decade ago, its a telemedicine support service for women who are seeking medical abortions.
Women all over the world who live in countries where abortion is illegal or very restricted can write in to the help desk of her organization and get connected with a doctor who will write a prescription [for abortion drugs,] says Bazelon.
The medication prescribed by the doctors of Women on Web both terminates a fetus and causes a woman to expel a fetus. Bazelon says these prescriptions are filled by an Indian-based drug exporter, and Gomperts contends that the medication provided by the exporter is safe and has been verified for quality.
Research shows that [the medication] is very effective up to 98 percent effective in the first trimester, and that theyre safe relative to other types of procedures and relative to giving birth, Bazelon says.
According to Bazelon, the medication provided by Women on Web essentially induces a miscarriage.
For all of time, women have been naturally miscarrying by themselves, says Bazelon. If its really early in the pregnancy, sometimes it isnt physically difficult. Other times, it can be painful and take place over hours and be a hard thing to go through.
From India, the medication is shipped to women all over the world. In addition to the medication, Women on Web provides information to women on what they can expect to experience after the drugs are taken. Bazelon says that Gomperts has also done the research to make sure her organization is operating legally.