More people in India are choosing self-managed abortion with pills—and it’s safe

The transformative terrain: An in-depth analysis of trends in self-managed abortion in India using NFHS-5 national data

Ipas
March 19, 2025

Conducted by researchers from Ipas Development Foundation and partners, this study examines national survey data to understand the growing use of self-managed abortion (SMA) in India. The research confirms that SMA—using abortion pills outside of a clinic—has become much more common and is a safe and effective option, especially in early pregnancy.

Main takeaway : More people in India are ending their pregnancies with abortion pills on their own, without seeing a doctor in person. The study found that self-managed abortion nearly doubled between 2014 and 2021, with no increase in reported health complications. This suggests that SMA can be a safe and effective way to access abortion—especially in early pregnancy and when people have the right information and access to quality medication. However, provider-assisted care is still critical, particularly for those who need abortion later in pregnancy. As India’s abortion law now allows abortion up to 24 weeks, it’s more important than ever to expand access to trained providers for those who need them.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/more-people-in-india-are-choosing-self-managed-abortion-with-pills-and-its-safe/

19.03.2025

Research

Ipas

Ipas Development Foundation

self-managed abortion

Only 1 in 3 people know that abortion is legal in India

Despite abortion being legal in India for the last 50 years, awareness about legality, safety and availability of abortion is quite low, Dr Vinoj Manning told Financial Express.com.

Written by Sushmita Panda
September 8, 2024

Abortion is legal in India, however, its landscape is complex in the country. India’s abortion rate, at 47 per 1000 women aged 15-44 is higher than the global average of 39, according to the 2018 Lancet Global Health report.

On International Safe Abortion Day on 28 September 2022, the Supreme Court of India extended the right to legal abortion to 20 weeks’ gestation for all women and to 24 weeks’ gestation under special circumstances. However, access and awareness of abortion rights continue to be a challenge.

Continued: https://www.financialexpress.com/business/healthcare-only-1-in-3-people-know-that-abortion-is-legal-in-india-vinoj-manning-ceo-ipas-development-foundation-3604710/

08.09.2024

Interviews/Podcasts

28 September

abortion stigma

International Safe Abortion Day

Ipas Development Foundation

lack of information

public support for abortion

5 ways youth are powerful advocates for reproductive justice

August 7, 2024
IPAS

When it comes to sexual and reproductive health, youth are their own best advocates—driving change, raising awareness and pushing for the health care and information they need most.

That’s why Ipas empowers young leaders to champion sexual and reproductive health and rights in their communities and globally. We support youth-led campaigns for abortion law change, train young peer educators, and partner with youth-led organizations that bring innovative solutions. We know young people are powerful advocates for reproductive justice because we see it firsthand every day.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/5-ways-youth-are-powerful-advocates-for-reproductive-justice/

American Women Turn to Cheap Abortion Pills From India Post Roe

Mail order businesses in India are shipping the pills to women in the US

By Bruce Einhorn and Dhwani Pandya
November 3, 2022

Angry over the US Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade in June, Deborah Willoughby wanted to do more than attend a rally or make a donation. So she sat down at her computer and placed an order for a pack of abortion pills from India sold under the brand name Unwanted.

India has many online pharmacies offering to sell mifepristone and misoprostol, drugs commonly used to terminate pregnancies — no questions asked and no prescription required. Plan C, an American group that provides information on how to obtain at-home abortion medication, needed volunteers to test online suppliers’ delivery claims. Willoughby signed up and placed an order via Secureabortionpills.com, which describes itself as an online international pharmacy selling generic drugs.

Continued: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-03/roe-v-wade-us-women-turn-to-cheap-abortion-pills-from-india

Indian women gain abortion rights but cost and stigma limit access

Experts say stigma and myths stemming from laws against sex-selective abortion of girls deter many women from having abortions

Thomson Reuters Foundation
24 Oct 2022

A ruling by India's top court that grants unmarried women equal abortion rights could end up being largely symbolic without concerted efforts to tackle persistent barriers to the procedure, reproductive rights campaigners say.

Stigma and myths stemming from laws against sex-selective abortion of girls deter many women, campaigners and experts said, while a lack of affordable and rural facilities are hitting poorer and marginalised groups.

Continued: https://bdnews24.com/the-long-read/q8hug027cu

India – The Challenges Of Accessing Self-Managed Abortions During COVID-19

By Pragati Parihar
November 16, 2021

In the context of restrictions brought about by COVID-19 and Texas’ six-week abortion laws, the access to safe reproductive and sexual health choices has been brought back again to global focus. Apart from the traditional beliefs and legal norms concerning abortions, the different methods of abortion have also come to be an integral part of the discussion.

Self-managed abortions, also known as abortion by pills or medical abortions, is seen as one of the most effective ways to end an unintended pregnancy, even in countries with strict abortion laws. Self-managed abortions are defined as self-sourcing of abortion pills, outside of the clinical environment. It could be done from the comfort of one’s home or anywhere else that’s convenient to the abortion seeker.

Continued: https://feminisminindia.com/2021/11/16/self-managed-abortions-covid-19-challenges/

India – New abortion rules recognise minors as vulnerable, seek to make services more accessible to them

Jagriti Chandra, NEW DELHI
OCTOBER 30, 2021

The new abortion rules notified by the Government recently recognise minors as a vulnerable category and seek to make services more accessible to them. But social stigma and conflict with POCSO Act, 2012, or the law against child sexual abuse, pose hurdles.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Rules, 2021, define new categories of vulnerable women who are allowed termination up to 24 weeks upon meeting certain conditions and with the permission of two doctors. These include minors, survivors of sexual assault and those with foetal malformation among others. Others may seek abortion up to 20 weeks with the permission of one doctor upon meeting certain criteria…

Continued: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/new-abortion-rules-recognise-minors-as-vulnerable-seek-to-make-services-more-accessible-to-them/article37253176.ece

It’s Been 50 Years Since India’s Abortion Law Was Passed. Where Do We Stand Now?

By Ainee Nizami Ahmedi
September 3rd, 2021

This week, the state of Texas passed an abortion law that prohibits women from opting for legal abortion after six weeks of pregnancy—well before most women will even know that they are pregnant. While the law is being met with an uproar, with many calling it an unconstitutional infringement on human rights, back in India, we stand with a recently amended abortion law that still gives doctors more accessibility than women.

Passed in 1971, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act allows women to opt for abortion on the grounds of contraceptive failure. Post its recent amendment in 2021, abortion can be performed until 24 weeks of pregnancy, for special cases. While the earlier law stated that only a ‘married woman and her husband’ could opt for abortion, the marital status clause has now been removed. All pregnancies up to 20 weeks require one doctor’s approval, and between 20-24 weeks requires approval from two doctors.

Continued: https://elle.in/article/its-been-50-years-since-indias-abortion-law-was-passed-where-do-we-stand-now/

03.09.2021

Featured

News

abortion access during pandemic

Harsh Vardhan

Ipas Development Foundation

Medical Termination Of Pregnancy (MTP) Act

Let us remove all doubts: Reproductive rights are essential

December 10, 2020
Anisha Aggarwal

Women have been the worst sufferers of Covid-19 due to multiple reasons. The pandemic warrants a reminder that reproductive rights are human rights – they are essential and urgent

It may not be wrong to say that human rights were introduced in India right back in 1950 with the development of the Constitution of our country. The human rights movement has seen rapid progress and success, and many national programs and mechanisms have been introduced to complement the growing recognition of an individual’s rights.

Continued; https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/let-us-remove-all-doubts-reproductive-rights-are-essential/

10.12.2020

Ipas Development Foundation

India – 1.6 Crore Abortions Happen Every Year, Yet We Don’t Talk About Them. How Can That Change?

By Ipas Development Foundation in Gender and Sexuality, Sexual Health, Taboos
17th October, 2020
Co-authored by Shivi Sukhija and Parul

Societal norms and cultures affect all of us and often take over our decision making powers and capabilities. One commonly occurring, but rarely discussed, instance is when a woman has an unintended pregnancy. Any woman in such a scenario, whether married or unmarried, will have two options available with her – to continue the pregnancy or to consider various options available for its termination or abortion.

The decision should be hers and Indian law also permits termination of pregnancy under a broad range of conditions. But a complicated journey begins when she decides to terminate the pregnancy and due to societal concerns and taboos attached with abortion, she herself or her partner are unable to discuss their thoughts and feelings with peers and families. As a result, in an effort to hide the unintended pregnancy and their decision to terminate it, the woman and her partner end up seeking unsafe abortion services.

Continued: https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2020/10/starting-conversations-around-unintended-pregnancies-and-abortions/

17.10.2020