Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 7, 2026

Auricular Point Acupressure Therapy: A Safe and Effective Treatment for Postsurgical Abortion Recovery
Published on: February 3, 2026
Pills in the Post: Analysis of Australia-Based Requests to the Online Abortion Service Women on Web
A Noonan1,2, M Belfrage2, E Millar3
1School of Rural Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Introduction:
Medication abortion has transformed accessibility of abortion services. Telemedicine models-including asynchronous services where a clinician reviews a person's information without a live consultation-enable access to abortion care outside in-person health settings. This study analyzes the frequency, distribution, and motivations of Australia-based requests to Women on Web (WoW), an online referral platform that facilitates access to abortion pills and their self-management with a physician-supported email-based support team.
Methods:
We analyzed anonymized consultation forms submitted to WoW by people in Australia between 2015 and 2023. We summarized descriptive statistics on individuals' ages and location by state and remoteness. We classified reasons for contacting WoW (recorded from 2018 onwards) thematically and analyzed associations between these themes.
Results:
Over 8 years, WoW received 1573 requests from Australia-based abortion-seekers. Most requests included multiple reasons for accessing WoW's service, but cost, privacy, and preference for home-based care were the most frequently selected. When thematically analyzed, empowerment and consumer-centered care were the dominant themes, regardless of the person's age or location, alongside barriers to accessing local abortion care through Australia's formal health care system, including through including telemedicine.
Conclusion:
The small demand for care from WoW suggests that provision within the formal healthcare system is inaccessible to some, and that some abortion-seekers prefer models of care-such as asynchronous, clinician-reviewed telemedicine-with reduced medical oversight. Attention to how abortion is made available, including deregulating pills by post alongside public service provision, is needed to guarantee autonomy, freedom, and sexual and reproductive health and rights for all Australians.
Related Concept Videos
Intrauterine Drug Delivery Systems
Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs through the...
Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...
Methods for Studying Drug Absorption: In situ
The Doluisio method involves perfusing a prepared segment of a rat's small intestine with a solution of radiolabeled drug and a non-absorbable marker. This helps to differentiate between absorbed and non-absorbed drug concentrations. The intestinal segment is connected at both ends using tubing and syringes,...