What to Expect When Using Aid Access
Experiences with Aid Access vary from one woman to another because every woman's lived experience is unique. Still, there are several general factors to consider when contemplating using Aid Access:
🚪 At-Home Abortion — Is it for me? Quiz
Health Risks of Using Aid Access
The following risk factors are involved when utilizing Aid Access' services:
- Accidental late abortion: Aid Access customers confirm their week of pregnancy with a mouse click. Miscalculations are easily made, which could result in using the abortion medication beyond the 10-week limit. Aid Access confirms that, "The longer the pregnancy has developed, the heavier the bleeding and cramps will be." Later abortions have a greater chance of severe complications such as an incomplete abortion or hemorrhaging.
- Incomplete abortion: This would necessitate surgery, which is neither diagnosed, covered, nor offered by Aid Access. Left untreated, an incomplete abortion may lead to infection and sepsis.
- False Diagnosis: In case of complications, Aid Access users are encouraged to lie to medical professionals by telling them they think they have had a miscarriage. This places the patient at risk for not receiving accurate medical help in case of an allergic reaction.
- Ectopic pregnancies would be left undiagnosed and untreated since Aid Access neither provides nor stipulates a pre-abortion ultrasound. Since the side effects of the abortion pill mask the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, this could be life-threatening.
Aid Access, the US branch of Women on Web, takes no responsibility for its services, saying it is merely "referring your information to a licensed doctor" (located in Vienna, Austria) and "you ordered from a third-party pharmacy" (e.g., from India).
The FDA has sent a warning letter to Aid Access for its unapproved and misbranded abortion medications because "they are not generally recognized as safe and effective for their labeled use" and "not amenable to self-diagnosis and treatment by a layperson."
While Aid Access may be one of the cheapest options, it is not the safest.
Your life is too valuable to take great risks.
For more information, go to Risks and Side Effects of Abortion.
Privacy May Result in Isolation
If you are considering Aid Access, you probably value its accessibility without the need for any face-to-face contact. But enduring an abortion by yourself, perhaps even wanting to keep it a secret, can make you feel isolated. At-home abortions have been described as the loneliest decision one can make.
Being alone would likely lead to feelings of uncertainty and anxiety when symptoms differ from the norm — perhaps by being stronger or lasting longer. Feeling unsure whether to seek medical care would put you in a bind, especially when breaking the law by using illegal medications or disregarding your state's abortion limits.
In retrospect, it is a common regret not having confided in someone before making the choice. The desire for a neutral person who would compassionately listen and provide unbiased counsel is almost universal, regardless of which abortion method is pursued. Talking to someone would help you feel less alone and may even provide a new point of view from which additional options can be discerned. Who could take on that role in your life? Perhaps a medical doctor, a trusted friend, or a pregnancy counselor?
Efficient or Rushed Decisions?
Aid Access advertises delivery times of 1-5 days. The speed of an online service can make you feel rushed while you are still unsure about which route to choose. A decision as impactful as this deserves time to mature.
Of course, sometimes this time is provided when packages encounter unforeseen delays. This has been our experience when testing Women on Web's services: Our package took four weeks to arrive. While providing ample time to think things over, delays may push beyond the proscribed time limit.
Wait times, whether long or short, can feel excruciating for several reasons:
- Perhaps you are feeling pressured by someone to have an abortion? Remember that this choice is yours. Coercing someone to have an abortion is a criminal offense.
🧔🏻♂️ How do I react if he does not want the baby?
- Could it be that you are struggling because you are feeling torn between having an abortion and keeping the baby? Give yourself the time you need to reach a choice that aligns with your intuitions and values.
⚖️ Abortion: Yes or No? Take the Abortion Test
- Perhaps you are concerned about how you would feel after an abortion. If you are worried about emotional repercussions, it may be helpful to pause the process, giving yourself time to discern the path that is right for you.
🛤 Could an abortion affect me long term? — Take the test!
Perhaps your Aid Access Package has already arrived, but you feel uneasy about using it. If this describes your situation, set it aside for the moment. Use the remaining time within the legal limit to reassess what is best for you. Once your thoughts have quieted down, you will more likely discern which path matches your values and intuitions.
Is Aid Access Right for Me?
Maybe you just found out you are pregnant or are worried that you could be. An unexpected pregnancy can make you feel as if your world is falling apart. While you are still grappling with the news, your hormones are wreaking havoc on your emotions. You might feel torn as you consider your hopes and dreams and the unexpected challenge life has entrusted you with.
We consider it a privilege to navigate this time of uncertainty with you. As you discern your next steps in following your unique path, try one of our free counseling tests!
Are you ready to go even deeper? Sign up for our weeklong Decision Journey. What to expect: Seven emails on seven consecutive days with tips, food for thought, real-life experiences, and quizzes focused on making the decision that is right for you.
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Abortion or Keep the Baby?
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