Background: As restrictive abortion laws continue to emerge in various states of the United States, pregnant individuals are turning to alternative channels to seek abortion medication, one of which is engaging in self-managed medication abortion, outsourcing the medicines from online websites without any medical prescriptions. Objective: This study explores the phenomenon of self-managed abortion outsourcing medication online by focusing mainly on the motivational factors and concerns behind such a decision and the abortion seekers’ journey throughout this process. Methods: Through the qualitative analysis of 20 semi-structured interviews with abortion seekers living in the U.S., we have examined the motivations, experiences, and challenges encountered by individuals seeking abortion medication online. Results: Our research provides evidence that, although using illicit e-pharmacies can lead to counterfeit medication and health consequences, these platforms create the perception of complete anonymity for pregnant individuals. Hence, they offer a way to find abortion medication detached from pregnant individuals’ physical communities, circumventing the stigma associated with seeking an abortion and the socio-cultural consequences of it, leading pregnant individuals to prefer these systems compared to legal options. Conclusions: This research uncovers the motivational factors and concerns behind the growing reliance on online tools to outsource the medication necessary for engaging in self-managed abortion.
Mucin-type O-glycans regulate proteoglycan stability and chondrocyte maturation
O-glycosylation is a ubiquitous post-translational modification essential for protein stability, cell signaling, and tissue organization, yet how distinct O-glycan subclasses coordinate tissue development remains unclear.