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A self-induced abortion (or self-induced miscarriage or self-managed abortion) is an abortion performed by the pregnant person alone or with the help of other, non-medical assistance. Although the term includes abortions induced with self-use of pills commonly used for medical abortion, it also refers to efforts to terminate a pregnancy through alternative, sometimes more dangerous means. Such practices may present a threat to the health of women.

Self-managed (or self-induced) abortion is often attempted during the beginning of pregnancy (the first eight weeks from the last menstrual period). In recent years, significant reductions in maternal death and injury resulting from self-induced abortions have been attributed to the increasing availability of misoprostol (known commercially as "Cytotec"). This medication is a synthetic prostaglandin E1 that is inexpensive, widely available, and has multiple uses, including the treatment of post-partum hemorrhage, stomach ulcers, and induction of labor. The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed two regimens for abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy using misoprostol: a standardized regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol and a regimen of misoprostol alone. The regimen with misoprostol alone has been shown to be up to 83% effective in terminating a pregnancy but is more effective combined with mifepristone.

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Methods used
Women can use many different methods to self-induce (or self-manage) an abortion. Some are safe and effective, while others are dangerous to the health of the woman and/or ineffective at terminating a pregnancy.

Mifepristone and/or misoprostol
The only scientifically studied effective self-induced abortion method is ingesting a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprostol alone. The combination of these medications is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system. In some countries, these pills may be available over-the-counter in pharmacies, although some pharmacists do not provide accurate instructions on use. In Latin America, women have reported self-inducing abortions with misoprostol alone since the 1980s. The history of women self-managing abortion with pills includes projects such as the Socorristas in Argentina and Las Libres in Mexico. Other countries have "safe abortion hotlines," which facilitate access to pills, provide instructions on proper use of the pills, and provide emotional, logistical, and/or financial support. Some women use online abortion pill help services such as Women on Web, Women Help Women, and Aid Access to order mifepristone and/or misoprostol, with reported effectiveness and safety in pregnancy termination and satisfaction in the service. Instructions on abortion pill use are widely available on the websites of the World Health Organization (WHO), Gynuity Health Projects, and the International Women's Health Coalition.

First trimester medical abortion is highly safe and effective. The side effects of medication abortion include uterine cramping and prolonged bleeding, and common side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The majority of women who use abortion pills on their own do not need an ultrasound or a clinician, although one may be recommended to ensure that the pregnancy is not ectopic. In the rare case of a complication, a woman can access a clinician skilled in miscarriage management, which is available in all countries.

Studies confirm a correlation between the increase in the self-administration of medical abortion with misoprostol, and a reduction in maternal morbidity and mortality. Some studies argue that unfettered access to medication abortion is a key tenet of public health, human rights, and reproductive rights.

Physical trauma, herbs, and other substances
Other commonly recorded methods of self-inducing an abortion are ingestion of plants or herbs, ingesting toxic substances, causing trauma to the uterus, causing physical trauma to the body, using alcohol and drugs in an attempt to end the pregnancy, and ingesting other substances and mixtures. There are no known effectiveness studies for plants, herbs, drugs, alcohol, or other substances. These methods are more likely to cause bodily harm to the pregnant woman than to be effective in terminating a pregnancy. Causing physical trauma to a woman's body or uterus may also result in physical harm or even death to the woman instead of causing an abortion.