MYA Network Supports
A person-centered option for anyone whose period is late, who thinks they might be pregnant, and knows they don't want to be.
Period pills (also called “missed” or “late” period pills, or menstrual regulation with period pills) are medicines people can take when their period is late, they think they might be pregnant, and they know they don't want to be pregnant. The medicines will bring on the next period and, if the person is pregnant, end an early pregnancy. Period pills are usually mifepristone + misoprostol, but can also be misoprostol alone or other medications. Learn more here.
Yes, and yes! We have over 20 years of data from the US showing the safety of mifepristone and misoprostol for various indications, even when someone is not pregnant.
We also have over 20 years of data in the US showing that mifepristone + misoprostol is 95–98% effective at ending an early pregnancy, and international data showing that 92–98% of people who are not pregnant will bleed (i.e., get their next period) if they are not pregnant.
There are lots of reasons.
Sometimes people live too far away from, or don't have a way to get to, a medical provider who can confirm their pregnancy — or can't take the time off work or away from childcare. Sometimes people don't have health insurance or can't pay to see a medical provider, or don't feel safe going to a medical office. Sometimes people don't have a way to get a home urine pregnancy test — maybe because they don't have a store nearby, can't afford to buy one, or don't want to be seen buying a pregnancy test (or have someone else find their pregnancy test at home).
And sometimes, people don't want to be “forced” to take a pregnancy test and know if they are pregnant — they just want to bring on their next period, while also knowing that, if they are pregnant, the medications will end their pregnancy. This can bring comfort to people, as our culture has certainly created a lot of stigma around abortion. And because menstrual regulation has been practiced for hundreds of years — all over the world and even in the Colonial US — it resonates culturally with many people, including immigrants and communities with strong ties to midwifery. These people are often more marginalized in the US today.
Period pills are available in all 50 states and US territories via shield law providers. You can find a provider in your state at www.PlanCPills.org under “abortion pills,” then “period pills.”
Period pills are a person-centered option for fertility management. Based on peer-reviewed studies, we know people are interested in period pills and that they are safe and effective. While period pills are an “off label” use of the medications, they are within the standard of care.
In 2024, the National Abortion Federation (NAF) removed the requirement for pregnancy confirmation before dispensing mifepristone and misoprostol, and in December 2025, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) added period pills as an option for their affiliates.
MYA Network is working with The Period Pills Project to help increase availability of period pills.