Women on Web counters disinformation on abortion that puts abortion seekers at risk in Italy

29.10.2024

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Women on Web is an international non-governmental organization that has supported over 120,000 people worldwide to access medical abortions since 2005. Evidence-based and unbiased information about reproductive care is essential to uphold women and pregnant people's right to health, equality and bodily autonomy and enable access to critical healthcare. 

Medical abortions are done by taking the pills Mifepristone and Misoprostol. Both medicines are listed on the WHO List of Essential Medicines and proved to be safe and effective. They can be administered in a medical facility or at home. The WHO’s newest abortion care guidelines explicitly recommend “self-management of medical abortion” up to week 12 of pregnancy. Medical abortions outside the formal health sector following WHO’s medical protocols have comparable outcomes to in-clinic medical or surgical abortions. Medical abortion has a very low risk of complication, affecting less than 1% of cases. Claims that abortion is connected to breast cancer or depression have been proved to be false by a large body of scientific evidence. 

“Using disinformation and myths on abortion and contraception disguised as science is an unethical attempt to limit people's reproductive rights and puts their health at risk.” comments Venny Ala-Siurua, Executive Director of Women on Web. “All kinds of people have unwanted pregnancies and end up looking for safe and private abortion care – regardless of their religion or political views. Women on Web stands in solidarity with the Italian medical community and organizations that are safeguarding access to safe and timely abortion care.” 

In Italy, Women on Web conducts research on the local barriers to access abortion to support advocacy for high quality abortion care on people’s own terms. The data helps to understand people’s interactions with the formal health sector and motivations to seek online abortion services. Women on Web offers online information in 16 languages 7 days a week. Every year Women on Web responds to over 600 messages coming from Italy. 

Women on Web is available for comments, interview requests and information on medical abortion in Italian and English. Please contact eleonora@womenonweb.org.