Increasing Awareness of Self-managed Abortions: A Clinical Case

The political climate after the overturning of Roe V. Wade in 2022 has made abortion care difficult to obtain in some regions, causing concern for a potential uprising of self-managed abortions. Most visits to emergency departments for complications related to induced abortions occurred in southern states where abortion bans are the strictest. Following the overturning of Roe V. Wade internet searches for abortion medications notably increased. To increase access to care, telehealth has expanded to include medication abortion services. This has contributed to an observable trend toward greater utilization of medication abortion. As medication abortions increase in availability, emergency providers should prepare themselves to manage potential complications. A case is presented about an adult female who obtained misoprostol from an online pharmacy to terminate a pregnancy at home.