What does the registration status of the abortion pills tell me?

The registration status alone does not tell you much about how a product is distributed. Some are registered for over the counter access (sold without prescription), others are registered for pharmacy distribution with a prescription, some are only marketed to health care facilities directly. 

If you see in the country profile that Mifepristone or Misoprostol is not registered, it tells you that there is likely no direct way to obtain the pills via an official way from within the country.

If you see in the country profile that Mifepristone or Misoprostol is registered, we might be able to give you more information on the regulations around the dispensing of the pills. It is possible that even though the pill is registered, it is very hard to obtain the pill as a private person. When looking for Misoprostol in a pharmacy, it might help to send a male friend or older person that would not be suspected of obtaining/procuring the pills for abortion purposes. 

Sometimes, the official regulations around the distribution of Mifepristone and Misoprostol do not reflect the reality of the distribution at all. It is always worth seeking guidance from local organizations or have a look at our community comment section if available.

When a medication is not registered or cannot be easily distributed or commercialized legally, access may be limited. This may lead to a black market, overpriced goods and unsafe/ unreliable pills that you may want to be aware of. If you obtained pills locally and you are not sure if they are genuine, you can check how the pills look here. 

If you have experience with or knowledge of the distribution or availability of Mifepristone and Misoprostol in your country please consider filling out the questionnaire in English, French, Spanish or Arabic or contact us here.