Contents
Acronyms
Introduction: Kelly’s Story
What Are Abortion Pills? Terms and Definitions
Methods and Sources
The Story of Abortion Pills in a Nutshell
Book Outline
1. “Medical McCarthyism”: RU 486 Development and the Fight for FDA Approval, 1980–2000
Anti-Abortion Campaign to Block RU 486 from the US Market
The Feminist Campaign to Bring RU 486 to the United States
FDA Approval of Mifepristone
2. “Thankful for Crumbs”: The Fight to Expand Abortion Pill Access, 2000–2019
FDA Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) and Mifepristone Research
Self-Induced Abortion?
Campaign to Remove FDA Restrictions
Political Shifts and Movement Mobilization
3. “Greased the Wheels”: COVID-19 Pandemic and the Rise of Telemedicine Abortion
Virtual Abortion Clinics
Organizing to Support Increased Access to Abortion Pills Outside of the Medical System
Supreme Court Stops Telemedicine Abortion
The Pendulum Swings: Biden Administration Expands Abortion Pill Access
Texas Bans Abortion: S.B. 8 Spurs Self-Managed Abortion
New Research Supports the Safety of Telemedicine and Self-Managed Abortion
FDA Loosens REMS Restrictions on Mifepristone
Spreading the Word About Abortion Pills
Legal Risks of Self-Managed Abortion
5. “Mail Those Pills No Matter What”: The End of Roe Spurs Efforts to Expand Abortion Pill Access
The Immediate Aftermath of Roe’s Fall
The Push for Telemedicine Abortion Provider Shield Laws
Litigation and Legislation to Expand Abortion Pill Access at the State Level
Federal Initiatives to Expand Abortion Pill Access
Expanding Abortion Pill Access Outside of the Medical System and the Law
Reframing Abortion Pills and Early Abortion
6. “Putting the Genie Back in the Bottle”: Post-Dobbs Attempts to Block Mifepristone
Abortion Pill Disinformation
Anti-Abortion Campaign to Remove Mifepristone from the Market
Conclusion: “Putting Pills Directly in the Hands of Those Who Need Them”
Appendix A: Abortion Pill Timeline
Appendix B: Glossary
Appendix C: Interviews
Acknowledgments
Endnotes