How Medication Abortion Access Has Changed Over 20 Years

Article originally appeared in Bustle on September 28th, 2020.

A few years after my first abortion, I realized I was pregnant again. I was living in North Carolina and working for an abortion provider; I asked my boss how I could get an abortion from her. I had to receive an ultrasound even though I knew exactly when I conceived the pregnancy, and I knew I had no signs of an ectopic pregnancy. I had to hear the state-mandated script about the risks, even though I worked with a provider and regularly provided options counseling. Then I had to wait an additional three days before getting my medication abortion because the state said so. The whole process was sobering, insulting, and really drove home how demeaning and demoralizing these added barriers are.