Online abortion service Women on Web is 10 years!
Women on Web is a telemedical abortion service supporting women around the world to get access to safe abortion services. A woman can also receive a medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol by mail at her home address if she lives in a country where safe abortion services are not available.
For immediate release 25-4-2016:
Ten years ago, the website of Women on Web, www.womenonweb.org, was published online. The project was initiated by Women on Waves in response to the many emails with requests for help.
Women on Web is a telemedical abortion service supporting women around the world to get access to safe abortion services. A woman can also receive a medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol by mail at her home address if she lives in a country where safe abortion services are not available. Research by the WHO has shown that a medical abortion at home is safe.[1]
In the past 10 years, over 200000 women from over 140 countries did the online consultation, approximately 50000 women received a medical abortion at home and the helpdesk answered more than 600000 emails.
Ongoing scientific research concerning the outcome and acceptability of the service has been published in respected scientific journals. [2]
The service was featured by several media outlets like the New York Times and the BBC.
Many women express their gratitude, the first such email is from May 3, 2006: “I have got the parcel last fiday,i took the pills and it worked. NO complication, i went to the doctor today. I am very thankful” . And the last “Thank you so much.. thank you so much.. i am speechless right now and feel so happy reading your email.. i never imagine you could help me this way. Thank you so much for all. I appreciate and feel so grateful. I never forget the way you help me. Thank you so much.”
Today the helpdesk answers 10.000 emails in 16 languages every month. The website has almost 1 million unique visitors per month.
The website also has an "I had an abortion" section which invites women to upload their portrait and share their stories to break the taboo and stigma surrounding abortion and simultaneously actually support women who are facing the decision to have an abortion. More than 8000 women from all over the world shared their stories so far.
For our anniversary we received some amazing gifts:
A unique song “Thin Blue Line” from David Odlöv, Ellen Odlöv, Sanna Eriksson and Mattias Agerberg. Please click here to hear the song and here to read the text!
The Dutch/ Brazilian artist Renata de Andrade [3] made a beautiful animation with information how to do the medical abortion in 10 different languages. Please go here to see the animation in your language. or see them here here on the women on web website
For more information:
www.womenonweb.org
info@womenonweb.org
Phone: +31652052561
[1] http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/unsafe_abortion/abortion-task-shifting/en/)
[2] overview of articles: https://www.womenonweb.org/en/page/6880/research
[3] http://www.andrade.nl/