POSTAL SERVICE

It was such a relief to have an abortion at home in Covid lockdown – all women should have option of ‘pills by post’

WOMEN up and down the country have been unable to access their healthcare needs due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This has caused worry for many who had unprotected sex before the lockdown started, with some having unwanted pregnancies with no where and no one to turn to for help.

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The “pills by post” system was introduced in order to help women with this predicament and one user of the service said it would have been “almost impossible” to terminate the pregnancy without it.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service have now said the choice should remain post-lockdown.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Huffington Post that she suspected she may have fallen pregnant just one week before Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced lockdown measures on March 23.

She had been self-isolating at home due to showing Covid-19 symptoms and it was only after the 14 day isolation period was over that she was able to take a pregnancy test.

On discovering she was pregnant, the key worker from Leicestershire decided she wanted an abortion.

Without the pills she would have been unable to terminate the pregnancy.

The 40-year-old had been in a casual relationship and despite using condoms the man told her he had tampered with the contraception in order to force her into a more serious commitment. 

After calling her GP she was then referred to BPAS who told her about the “pills by post system”.

The system works by sending women two pills in the post.

This removes the need for women to visit their GP.

A PERMANENT FIXTURE

The pills are mifepristone, which would usually be taken in a clinic and misoprostol, which would usually be taken at home.

The scheme allows women to take both pills at home.

Patients still have to have a telephone consultation with a clinician to go over medical history, why you want the treatment and how to use it.

BPAS said even outside of the pandemic women had been struggling to get to clinics and added that women in abusive or controlling relationships are often at risk of being unable to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

Critics of the pill have claimed that not having a face to face appointment could be detrimental to women, but BPAS says it's something that should be permanent.

Spokesperson Katherine O’Brien said the tool should remain in place permanently.

“To protect this group of extremely vulnerable women, the pills by post service must continue to be provided.”

At the moment, the Coronavirus Act, the act that approved the “pills by post” system, will only run out two years after the permission was granted.

The current Health Secretary Matt Hancock would have the ultimate decision on whether or not the “pill by post” system could become permanent.

The Department of Health and Social care said: "Safe and continued access to key services is our priority during this difficult period.

"As of the end of March, women who need an abortion up to ten weeks and can’t access a clinic can use abortion pills at home following a telephone or e-consultation with a clinician.

"This measure is temporary and we continue to monitor how it is working through regular engagement with abortion providers and the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists.”

O’Brien added that it “would make no sense” for Mr Hancock to shut down the service completely.

The BPAS says the process is “simple and effective”.

The pills arrive in unmarked packaging in order to be as discreet as possible.

The key worker who used the pills said the process went “very smoothly for her” and added that she was able to “get her life back” after taking them.