
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to Marie Claire. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
As a result of the Texas Senate passing some of the toughest anti-abortion measures in the country, many clinics would potentially be forced to close. Consequently, doctors are nervous that women will turn to unsafe abortion methods, such as using the drug misoprostol, which induces miscarriages.
Characterized as a "star" pill for its hexagonal shape, misoprostol is often used in Latin America where abortion is illegal; the pill can be bought for $2 per pill overseas in bodegas and pharmacies. Misoprostol is typically used to treat stomach ulcers, as well as to prevent women from experiencing postpartum hemorrhaging. But Doctors are concerned about the effects that can occur when women take the pill on their own terms. "While it's not the most dangerous drug, there are a lot of questions about how to take it appropriately," says Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.
According to Dr. Lester Minto, who runs Reproductive Services clinic in Harington, Texas, the women he treats may turn to the "star" pill method in the face of the anti-abortion measures — he'd be forced to close his clinic himself. As the drug is openly available in Mexico but not the United States, many relatives smuggle misoprostol over the border, and it can be found in some Texas flea markets. Minto compares the self-treatment with the pill to a "cheap cure for a radiator leak," but at the same time, cannot criticize it. "I would probably try the same if I were in a situation like these women."
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
-
Naomi Campbell Added an Edgy New Element to Her Signature Sleek Hairstyle
We're talking about side-swept bangs, to be specific.
By Sophia Rivka Vilensky
-
Gigi Hadid’s Daughter Khai Gave Her the Sweetest Pedicure
Who needs a glam team when you have Khai?
By Sophia Rivka Vilensky
-
Jane Fonda Gave Her Signature Blowout a Textural Update
She changed her hair color, too.
By Sophia Rivka Vilensky
-
Senator Klobuchar: "Early Detection Saves Lives. It Saved Mine"
Senator and breast cancer survivor Amy Klobuchar is encouraging women not to put off preventative care any longer.
By Senator Amy Klobuchar
-
How Being a Plus-Size Nude Model Made Me Finally Love My Body
I'm plus size, but after I decided to pose nude for photos, I suddenly felt more body positive.
By Kelly Burch
-
I'm an Egg Donor. Why Was It So Difficult for Me to Tell People That?
Much like abortion, surrogacy, and IVF, becoming an egg donor was a reproductive choice that felt unfit for society’s standards of womanhood.
By Lauryn Chamberlain
-
The 20 Best Probiotics to Keep Your Gut in Check
Gut health = wealth.
By Julia Marzovilla
-
Simone Biles Is Out of the Team Final at the Tokyo Olympics
She withdrew from the event due to a medical issue, according to USA Gymnastics.
By Rachel Epstein
-
The Truth About Thigh Gaps
We're going to need you to stop right there.
By Kenny Thapoung
-
3 Women On What It’s Like Living With An “Invisible” Condition
Despite having no outward signs, they can be brutal on the body and the mind. Here’s how each woman deals with having illnesses others often don’t understand.
By Emily Shiffer
-
The High Price of Living With Chronic Pain
Three women open up about how their conditions impact their bodies—and their wallets.
By Alice Oglethorpe