The DIY Abortion Trend in Texas: How HB2 Impacts Women?

Author: Cara Filson

With restrictive laws on pregnancy termination growing in Texas and shut down of majority pregnancy ending clinics, a trend of procuring medicines for the purpose in at the lead in Latin America. It is not a surprise that underhand sale of Misoprostol abortion pill is progressing due to unavailability of enough reproductive rights for the citizen, especially for those who are financially backward. With the Texan House Bill 2 (HB 2) coming in, a wave of unrest is seen amidst women of the region.

Why Black Market of Pregnancy Ending Medicines is on Rise?

Though it is legal in the United States for women to get apt healthcare for ending 4 to 9 week gestation pregnancy with medicines, the Texas laws has a different take all together. The women in this region cannot get fetus aborted without doctor’s consultation and observation, and after 20 week post fertilization. Women rather buy abortion pill online safely, but in a discreet way, which increases risks to using fake medicines purchase from fake peddlers. Thus, the instances of late term pregnancy ending too heighten.

The tablets are sold under other medication name in the pretext of curing fibroids, inducing post partum labor, getting menstrual cycle back and other uses. But, those who know generally purchase the product for ending an unwanted pregnancy. The females do have the option to get Mifepristone online (progesterone blocker used to restrict fetus growth). But, many internet pharmacies that provide legal FDA approved such tablets are often blocked by the government. This has encouraged females from finding alternative means of getting the tablets through black market.

What are Impacts of Texan Restrictive Abortion Laws?

More than 40 centers offering pregnancy terminating services have been closed down, with only few left. These too may shut soon, if the limitations of having OB-GYN facilities with admitting provision, and high-end ambulatory privileges within 30 miles radius from hospitals are not met. Thus, women are not able to find legal places to get the medicines. The question of where to buy Misoprostol looms at large, without concrete answer than availing these prostaglandin tablets in the black market.

In March, the 5th Circuit Court of U.S admitted the aspects of HB 2, which made valley clinics to close down, dropping the rate of hospital number from 40 to 28, and not the figure stands to 24 centers with danger of lessening ahead for surgical procedure. The laws are restrictive to medical pregnancy ending as well, which is actually the safest for early pregnancy termination with abortion pill. Thus, more females are falling back on flea markets that disguise these medicines for ulcer treatment.

Why HB 2 May Be a Threat to Texan Women?

Now, another provision from HB 2 is going into effect that requires the pregnancy termination providers to meet the ambulatory surgical center standards, meaning to upgrade the cost for the process, which will lead to shut down of more clinics. If these laws are applied, then pregnancy termination services in the state will drop to six, with possibility of illegal peddling of medicines and Misoprostol price to shoot up among such providers. The future of South Texan women is clearly at stake with lesser reproductive centers available.

In medical pregnancy end, the women take a combination of progesterone blockers medicine and prostaglandin. The users can buy Mifepristone to start the regimen via oral consumption of anti progesterone tablets, and proceed to prostaglandin after 2 to 3 days. The womb contracts, sheds implantation lining killing fetus, and expels it from vagina with heavy bleeding lasting for few days until the procedure completes successfully. These tablets can be taken in home as well. But, in Texas things are different.