We hope the ancient woman, Corinna, at the beginning of this introduction, dearly loved by Ovid two thousand years ago will be remembered. Corinna is every woman and girl we love. Do not forget her. Secure our future by recognizing her natural liberty to regulate her fertility. Help ensure that the safest and best services our modern society can offer are available to her.
-Sage-femme! Collective, 2008
How to Use This Book
A system of icons is included regarding the most common known side effects for each self-induced abortion method. The four star system of ‘reputed effectiveness’ is based on anecdotal evidence only. Very few self-induced abortion methods have been scientifically studied.
Icon Key:
0 – 24% Reputed Effectiveness
25 – 49% Reputed Effectiveness
50 – 74% Reputed Effectiveness
75 – 99% Reputed Effectiveness
Hormonal Effects
Liver and/or Kidney Toxic
Phototoxic
Contains Thujone
Deaths Associated
Heart Effects
Cathartic Purgative
The dating of a pregnancy from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) has been used exclusively throughout the book.
The term ‘clinical abortion’ is used to specify an abortion in a professional medical setting. The term ‘medical abortion’ is used to indicate an abortion induced via pharmaceutical drugs. Medical abortion with pharmaceutical drugs may be a form of clinical abortion or self-induced abortion.
The term ‘menstrual extraction’ is used for the self-induced procedure in a self-help group setting while the term ‘manual vacuum aspiration’ is used for the nearly identical procedure performed by a medical professional in a clinical setting.
An Icon Key and a chart of herbal abortifacients and the most common side effects that have been associated with them is located after the Herbal Introduction in Part III.
The herbal section is organized alphabetically according to common name. The information on each herb follows a precise format: Illustration, AKA (Names), Medicinal Properties, Effects on the Body, Abortifacient Action, Chemical Components, Herbal Lore and Historical Use, Gathering, Preparation, Words to the Wise, and Dosage.
Dosage information has been averaged from several sources. Dosage ranges are suggested for a 150lb. (68 kg) adult. No single dosage recommendation can be appropriate for every individual. Each person has unique sensitivities, constitutions, and physical attributes. Herbs can vary widely in the amount of medicinal components depending on growing conditions, preparation method, storage, etc.
The manufacturer’s dosage instructions should always be followed for any purchased herbal product. Consumers interested in using the information in this book with regards to their particular case should seek the advice of open-minded physicians, trained acupuncturists, herbalists, homeopathic doctors, and therapists. Self medication or self surgery is dangerous and not recommended.
Part I Self-Induced Abortion Basics
What is self-induced abortion?
Self-induced abortion is the induced termination of a pregnancy outside of the medical system. Self-induced abortion is sometimes called induced miscarriage. Self-induced abortion methods are sometimes based on traditional clinical abortion methods, like manual vacuum extraction or medical abortion with pharmaceutical drugs. Commonly around the world, self-induced abortion methods are based on methods of folk or alternative medicine, including: herbs, massage, acupuncture, and hyperthermia. In contrast, a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage is an abortion which happens naturally without prompting by external means.
Why would a woman choose self-induced abortion?
A woman may choose to attempt to self induce abortion if restrictions to clinical medical services make receiving professional medical care difficult. Restrictions may be financial, physical, or legal. Abortion may be outlawed or governmental restrictions on abortion services may make receiving clinical abortion services problematic.
Women in middle to low income brackets, in countries where abortions are not covered by national health care, may find the cost to procure a clinical abortion prohibitive. Sometimes the distance necessary to travel to receive clinical abortion services is prohibitive. Parental notification laws in some states in the United States may prohibit some young women from accessing clinical abortion services.
Why would a woman not choose self-induced abortion?
Self-induced abortion is known to be more dangerous and less effective than clinical abortion. Obtaining the necessary supplies, equipment, and support for self-induced abortion may be difficult. Depending on the government of the area, self-induced abortion may be illegal.
Nearly all self-induced abortion substances are suspected or known teratogens. Teratogens cause abnormal growth in the embryo or fetus, and often results in deformities in the child if the abortion attempt is unsuccessful and the pregnancy is brought to term.
Are there certain times in a pregnancy when self-induced abortion is more effective than other times?
Self-induced abortion is easier to accomplish in the earliest stages of pregnancy (the first eight weeks LMP). After the placenta is formed, self-induced abortion becomes more difficult.
What are the contraindications for self-induced abortion?
Answering yes to any of the following questions would indicate a woman is at a greater risk of complications associated with an abortion:
• Am I over 35 years old? Age can be a factor in increased complications. Also, a history of cesarean or previous placental adhesion can cause complications in an abortion.
• Am I overweight, or do I have asthma, allergies, cardiovascular disease, sexually transmitted diseases, glandular disorders, an abnormal uterus, bleeding or clotting disorders? Am I having any other health problems? A history of heavy smoking also increases the risk of complications.
• Do I have an IUD? An IUD must be removed prior to attempting an abortion.
• Do I generally eat in an unbalanced way? Abortion can stress the body, especially a body that is out of balance due to nutritional deficiencies.
• Is my psychological state fragile? The hormones of pregnancy can change suddenly with abortion attempts. Psychological support and counseling is often available in a clinical abortion setting.
• Am I feeling emotionally weak? If a woman has had previous emotional problems, attempting self-induced abortion may not be in her best interest.
• Is my domestic situation problematic? Am I putting myself at emotional or physical risk by attempting an abortion in my current domestic situation? Ideally, a woman attempting a self-induced abortion should have no interference from the people who surround her.
• Am I, due to finances or physical location, unable to access basic telephone, transportation, and backup medical care?
• Am I alone? A woman who is attempting to self abort requires someone close-by who would be able to help her in an emergency.
• Is someone trying to force me into having an abortion? It is not uncommon for women to be manipulated or coerced into an abortion. The counseling system in a clinical abortion service will often screen for women who are being forced into an abortion. Women faced with this issue would benefit from additional support and counseling services. The counseling system in a traditional medical system is set up to support women who are faced with this situation.