When it comes to abortion, women claim “my body, my choice” as the basis for their stance, but do they understand the weight of this statement when it relates to the abortion pill? For young adults in college, this is becoming a prevalent issue with schools like the University of Oregon ruling to dispense abortion pills (mifepristone and misoprostol) beginning in the fall of 2026. The pill itself is dangerous, but behind acceptance of it are sentiments that also put women at risk.
When a young woman finds herself pregnant, she may search online for options. She would probably go to the Planned Parenthood website first. If she is early enough in her pregnancy, the abortion pill will likely be the option presented. On Planned Parenthood’s website, she will find no statistics, no sources, no real information that allows her to make an informed decision about the medication she may ingest. Graphics and short bullet points seem to communicate the drug is non-harmful and routine. The website states a visit with a medical professional is included, but the recent rise in telehealth abortion, allowing pills to be shipped to a woman’s door or campus mailbox, has made that untrue in many instances. Any woman, or man, can order abortion pills through the click of a button on various websites. A quick and easy solution, right? This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
In contrast, evidence-based resources contain peer-reviewed literature that state quite the opposite of Planned Parenthood. The Cureus Journal of Medical Science published a study three years ago stating, “60% [of women who have had an abortion] reported they would have preferred to give birth if they had received more support from others or had more financial security (Reardon et al., 2023). Another study, published by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, looked at serious adverse events occurring within 45 days post-abortion. A serious adverse event was identified as any of these six categories found in clinical trials: sepsis, infection, transfusion, hemorrhage, hospitalization, and/or required emergency visit. This study found that 1 in 10 women (10.93%) who use the abortion pill experience a serious adverse event (Hall, Anderson 2025). The warning label on the mifepristone drug states less than 0.5% of serious adverse events were identified in clinical trials which is 22% less than the real world actual.
The abortion pill is not an easy solution; death never is. The many stories from women who have had complications with the abortion pill are horrific. A jarring but informative website, littlepillsthatkill.com, highlights stories like this. Our communities and universities should be uplifting women in every season of life. Becoming a mother, no matter what the circumstances surrounding a pregnancy are, is not a failure; rather, it is an empowering experience. We need to support young women and provide them with life-giving options, holistic care, and emotional attention during this formative season of their lives. Institutions like the University of Oregon are eager to provide abortion, but they fail to offer resources that give women care that is truly informed and doesn’t lead to further trauma. In stark contrast, Pregnancy Resource Centers are eager to welcome women from any background or stage of life, providing counsel and care that truly puts a woman’s full needs at the forefront.
As women, we must advocate for options that lead to our flourishing, not pain and the destruction of families. Allowing free access to abortion pills only creates an environment where the less informed are exploited, and life is stripped from precious human beings. Truth is available to women, but it is often drowned out by the lies our culture pushes through entities, like higher education, that are meant to champion women. We must be the voice of clarity and compassion for the women on our campuses and in our communities. It could save not just one, but many lives from a path of destruction.
*Caitlin Abbott is a Young Women for America Ambassador in Oregon.
