In the wake of Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election, which raised fears of restrictions on abortion, sales of abortion pills have exploded in the United States.
“We need to get contraceptives or IUDs.” These were the first words spoken by Briana Schneekloth, a 20-year-old American, to her friend after learning of Donald Trump's victory early this Wednesday, November 6, reports the Washington Post.
Like this student at Temple University in Philadelphia, millions of Americans have decided to resort to abortion pills, ahead of the billionaire's return to power.
In the 24 hours following the announcement of the Republican candidate's election, Aid Access, one of the largest suppliers of abortion pills in the United States, received 10,000 requests for drugs – up from the usual 600 – from both of states restricting abortion than others where the procedure is still protected.
Rebecca Gomperts, the founder, said the organization received so many online orders that the website briefly crashed. In question, the concern of American women to see the right to abortion reduced even more than it already is by the elected president, Donald Trump.
Since the historic decision of the Supreme Court, in June 2022, to invalidate the judgment Roe vs Wade which guaranteed the right to abortion throughout the United States, the legality of abortion is now left to the discretion of the States. This decision was made possible thanks in particular to Donald Trump, who during his first term appointed three conservative judges to the Supreme Court.
Preparing for the “reproductive apocalypse”
Women's health care providers across the United States have been inundated with requests for abortion pills or birth control. From the GuardianElisa Wells, co-founder of the contraceptive organization Plan C, said traffic to her site had increased by 625%.
“People are trying to prepare for the reproductive apocalypse that will occur under the Trump presidency,” said Elisa Wells.
Sohana Pai, a 24-year-old medical student from Kansas City, Missouri, made an appointment with her gynecologist the day after Trump's election. To prevent a tightening of American legislation, she decided to have an IUD inserted. “It's a bit of pain for me for eight years, but I think it's worth it,” she told the Washington Post.
For Rebecca Gomperts, founder of the organization Aid Access, “people no longer trust state laws to protect them.” Hence the need for the Americans to take the lead.
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Rush on the morning after pill
The widespread concern has not only impacted abortion pills. Health services have observed a rush for the morning-after pill. Women's health service Wisp told the Guardian it had tripled its usual daily sales of emergency contraceptives as of 11:30 a.m. on November 6, just hours after Donald Trump's election.
“Women are smart. We see what's coming and we protect ourselves,” Cynthia Plotch, co-founder of Winx Health, a site specializing in sexual health, told the Guardian.
Trump, a conservative president
For more than a year, Donald Trump refused to clarify his position on abortion. But seven months before the presidential election, the Republican candidate ended up closing the debate by declaring, just like the Supreme Court, that it was up to each state to decide on its legislation.
The former president had also thanked the six conservative judges, who make up the majority on the Court, for their “courage” in choosing to invalidate the Roe vs Wade ruling.
“American women are aware that the threat is very real and that access to abortion is threatened under the Trump administration,” Brittany Fonteno, president of the National Abortion Federation, told the Washington Post.
“They are extremely concerned about their ability to get the care they need,” she said.
American women are all the more anxious in view of the Project 2025which risks further restricting access to contraception. This road map established by the country's ultraconservatives for almost two years provides the main guidelines for the program of the future Trump administration.
