This section is where you’ll find events RJAM is hosting soon. Be sure to click the links below to RSVP so we know you’re joining us!

• On Monday, May 4th we held an emergency rally against the recent attacks on Mifepristone & mail-access to this medicine. You can read more about what happened in our ‘Recent Articles’ section

  

• New Member Meeting (5/24)

• RJAM will be at Locust Street Fest 5/31 asking folks to sign our petition about the decrease in Gender-Affirming Care access for trans youth

• RJAM is marching in the Pride Parade 6/7

• RJAM Drag Bingo Fundraiser 7/16

Recent Articles

(ICYMI) We recently published these pieces:

• This Attack On Mifepristone Is About Control, Not Safety

• Black Maternal Mortality: A Preventable Epidemic

April Recap

• Preconceived Documentary Screening
  RJAM hosted a documentary screening of the film Preconceived at Zao Church. Preconceived examines the rise of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPC’s) in the United States. The film looks into how these centers have become a tool of anti-choice extremists and the impacts they have on individuals and communities.

  

• Abortion Access Now Conference
  RJAM sent 6 members to the Abortion Access Now Conference. Organizers from around the Midwest gathered in Detroit to strategize the path forward in demanding abortion access for all. In this conference, organizers discussed the history of reproductive justice in America and shared resources, knowledge & connections.

• Gender Affirming Care Work Team
  RJAM is growing! In April we publicly launched our Gender-Affirming Care Work Team. Across Wisconsin and the country, healthcare providers are pausing gender-affirming care for youth - not because it’s illegal, but because they are afraid of losing funding. This team will be applying pressure to healthcare institutions that are withholding healthcare to trans youth. If you are interested in joining the GAC work team, RSVP to our next new member meeting!

Upcoming Observances

This newsletter section recognizes reproductive justice related observances, some of which RJAM will be publishing content around this month.

• May 17th is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

More Local Goodness

This section is to promote things that our local indie clinics and fellow Milwaukee organizations have coming up.

• In 2027, a bill called the SAFEGUARD Act is expected to be introduced to the Wisconsin legislature. The SAFEGUARD Act helps protect patients’ private reproductive health data from deceptive organizations, like Crisis Pregnancy Centers. Click here to see the ACLU Wisconsin’s breakdown of this legislation.

Key Links

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on Facebook

Visit the RJAM Website

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! Here’s a poll you can answer:

Until next time!

Expect a monthly surprise in your inbox each month with all things reproductive justice in the lense of the Milwaukee landscape.

Sincerely,

RJAM

On Friday, May 1, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously, 3-0, to block mail-order access to mifepristone, one of the two medications commonly used in medication abortion. The ruling requires mifepristone to be dispensed in person and at clinics, overriding FDA rules that had allowed the medication to be prescribed through telehealth and sent by mail. The case is expected to move to the U.S. Supreme Court, and drugmakers have already asked the Court to step in.

This situation is still developing, as there was an update while we were writing this piece. On Monday, May 4, Justice Samuel Alito issued two brief orders temporarily keeping the 5th Circuit’s ruling on hold until at least May 11. That pause gives the Supreme Court more time to decide how to respond to emergency requests from mifepristone manufacturers Danco and GenBioPro.

But it is a major attack on access. By targeting the FDA’s authority and cutting off mail delivery, the far right is trying to make abortion harder to get even in states where it remains legal.

While this fight centers on mifepristone, one of the two medications commonly used in medication abortion. But the real target is bigger than one pill. This is part of a long-term far-right strategy to attack bodily autonomy, undermine reproductive healthcare, and make abortion harder to access even where it remains legal.

What Is Mifepristone?

Mifepristone, often called “mife,” blocks progesterone, a hormone needed for a pregnancy to continue. It is commonly used with misoprostol, or “miso,” which causes cramping and bleeding that empties the uterus.

The FDA approved mifepristone in 2000, and millions of women in the United States have used it safely since then. The FDA later updated its rules to reduce unnecessary barriers, including allowing qualified providers and pharmacies to send mifepristone by mail.

The FDA is supposed to review medications based on science and evidence. Anti-abortion forces are trying to use the courts to override that scientific judgment because they oppose abortion.

If judges can second-guess the FDA on mifepristone for political reasons, the consequences could reach far beyond abortion care.

Mife and Miso: The Two Abortion Pills

Medication abortion often uses two medications:

Mifepristone stops the pregnancy from continuing.

Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue.

The two-pill regimen is common, safe, and effective. But people should also know this: mifepristone is not required for abortion.

Misoprostol can be used on its own. Misoprostol-only abortion is recognized by major medical authorities and remains an important option, especially when mifepristone is restricted or unavailable.

That does not mean attacks on mifepristone are harmless. They are harmful. They create confusion, delays, fear, and unnecessary barriers. But abortion care does not disappear because one medication is targeted.

One Pill Is Under Attack. The Other Is Still Available by Mail.

The current legal attack focuses on access to mifepristone by mail. Misoprostol is a different medication. It is used for abortion, miscarriage management, and other medical care. It is not regulated the same way as mifepristone.

That means misoprostol remains available by mail through some telehealth and medication abortion services, depending on state law and the provider.

The legal landscape is changing quickly, so people should rely on trusted abortion funds, clinics, and legal support networks for current information. But the political lesson is clear: the far right is not stopping at mifepristone.

If they can restrict one medication, they will come for another. If they can target the FDA today, they will target pharmacies, telehealth, shipping, insurance coverage, and providers tomorrow.

These Pills Are Safer Than Many Common Medications

Anti-abortion politicians talk about mifepristone as if it is uniquely dangerous. That is not supported by the evidence.

Medication abortion has a strong safety record. Mifepristone and misoprostol are safer than many medications people use every day, including Viagra, penicillin, Tylenol, and ibuprofen.

That does not mean any medication is risk-free. It means the panic around abortion pills is political, not scientific.

What is actually dangerous is forced pregnancy. Delayed care. Criminalization. Poverty. Racism. A healthcare system that dismisses Black women’s pain. A political system that forces birth while refusing to support life.

The pills are not the threat. The system is.

Why This Is a Reproductive Justice Issue

Reproductive justice is not only about abortion access. The SisterSong Collective defines reproductive justice as the human right to have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.

That framework matters here.

A woman cannot meaningfully choose whether to continue a pregnancy if she cannot get an appointment, afford travel, take time off work, find childcare, safely receive mail, or trust that she will not be criminalized.

For women in Milwaukee, this is not abstract. We live in a city shaped by segregation, medical racism, income inequality, and deep racial disparities in maternal and infant health. When abortion access is restricted, the burden does not fall evenly. It falls hardest on the women already facing the most barriers, Black women.

The same politicians attacking abortion pills are not fighting for prenatal care, paid leave, housing, childcare, or Black maternal health. They are forcing birth while refusing to build the conditions families need to survive.

What We Do Now

This is why Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee organizes.

Not because we think one court case will decide everything, but because we know women in Milwaukee are already living with the consequences of these attacks. People are already navigating clinic closures, long drives, confusing laws, high costs, medical racism, and a healthcare system that too often leaves Black women and women of color unheard and unsupported.

RJAM is building with the people most affected by these conditions. We are organizing around what our communities already know: abortion access matters, Black maternal health matters, and families need more than forced birth. We need housing, healthcare, childcare, good wages, and safe communities.

Join Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee. Help us talk to our neighbors, move people into action, and build the local power we need to defend reproductive justice in Milwaukee.Mifepristone is under attack. But our movement is not powerless.

We have knowledge. We have networks. We have each other.

And we have work to do.

EMERGENCY RALLY

Defend Abortion, Protect Medication Abortion Access
Monday, May 4th at 6PM

Red Arrow Park
920 N Water Street
Milwaukee

A new federal ruling is blocking access to Mifepristone through mail and telehealth services.

This is a direct attack on abortion access nationwide—especially for people in states with limited or banned care.

Medication abortions are still safe & legal with the use of Misoprostol.

Why This Matters

Mifepristone is one of the safest, most commonly used medications for abortion care.

Telehealth and mail access have made abortion more accessible, private, and safe, especially for:

• Rural Communities

• Disabled people

• Low-income individuals

• People in restrictive states

Our demands

Despite this attack on abortion access, we do not waver in our demands:

• Bodily autonomy for all

• Unrestricted access to abortion care

• Immediate protection of mifepristone access

• The right to telehealth abortion services

• An end to politically motivated attacks on healthcare

Join Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee for an Emergency Rally

Red Arrow Park
920 N Water Street
Milwaukee

See you there!

In 2023, approximately 260,000 women died in the United States during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum. That is over 700 women per day. A majority of these deaths were attributed to preventable complications. Comparatively, Black women are statistically more likely to die from pregnancy complications than any other race of women. In 2023, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births and was significantly higher than rates for White (14.5), Hispanic (12.4), and Asian (10.7) women in the US.

These glaring statistics call out the real-life experiences of Black women. Black women, like all people, deserve accessible, informed consent-based healthcare and to have their medical symptoms and concerns taken seriously.

The pain of this issue can be felt on the national, state, and local level. Here in Milwaukee and Wisconsin as a whole, we have some of the largest disparities between Black residents and white residents. It has been reported that Black women are three to five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. It does not have to be this way. We can work together as a community to build better health outcomes for Black women.

This Black Maternal Health Week, we aim to highlight this epidemic and echo the call for accessible, equitable and anti-racist health care for all. We are also sharing this article on the heels of the ProPublica investigation into court ordered c-sections.

In 2024, Cherise Doyley was in labor when the hospital staff pushed for a court hearing to bypass her bodily autonomy and force a C-section on her. Cherise is a Black woman living in Florida and was a professional birthing doula, her focus is now on postpartum depression resources. While Cherise Doyley, thankfully, is alive and sharing her story with us today - her story calls to light how some states are restricting the rights of pregnant people, ignoring informed consent and informed refusal that is vital to one’s bodily autonomy and how Black women experience medical racism within our healthcare system.

Black Maternal Mortality in Wisconsin

Black women and birthing people in Wisconsin die from pregnancy-related causes at over double the rate of the general population. Local data indicates Black women are 3-5 times more likely to die in childbirth or due to complications compared to white women. There is a lack in statistical data on how this epidemic impacts Black trans men, non-binary people, and other birthing people.

While mental health conditions are the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths for Wisconsinites overall, cardiovascular conditions are the leading cause for Black Wisconsinites.

In Wisconsin, cardiovascular conditions account for nearly 1 in 3 pregnancy-related deaths among Black people. A contributing reason is that Black women are more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes that puts them at risk for developing long-term cardiovascular disease.

Beyond medical conditions, the racial bias of providers prevents adequate care and sows seeds of mistrust from patients. The field of gynecology itself was built on the medical abuse performed on enslaved Black women. Enslaved women were surgically experimented on without informed consent and without anesthesia. These roots are still felt to this day as there are still doctors and nurses that believe the racist notion that Black women do not feel pain like white women or non-Black women do. There are countless cases of Black women reporting concerning symptoms to their doctors and face medical neglect to the point of life-altering or life-ending complications.

What Can Be Done To Build Towards Better Outcomes?

Reducing Black maternal mortality requires action at every level—expanding access to care, providers understanding the legacy of how Black women and people have been treated in healthcare settings and checking their own internal biases.

It will require us to build a future where patients, providers, and public health systems work together. Obstetric providers can help rebuild trust by actively listening to Black women and treating these patients with respect, compassion, and dignity, while ensuring continuity of care throughout the pregnancy journey. When women feel heard and valued, they are more likely to engage with the healthcare system.

Efforts to improve maternal health overall will also help reduce disparities. Before pregnancy, managing chronic conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes is critical, as these can lead to serious complications during and after pregnancy. During pregnancy, women with heart disease benefit from a coordinated, team-based “cardio-obstetrics” approach that brings together specialists to provide comprehensive care.

Pregnancy itself can reveal important insights about a woman’s long-term health. Often described as a “stress test,” it can uncover risks for future conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease. Black women who experience complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth, or having a small-for-gestational-age infant face especially high risks and should be connected with primary care providers immediately after delivery to ensure ongoing monitoring and support.

Expanding access to care is also essential. Extending state and federally funded healthcare coverage well beyond the immediate postpartum period can help women maintain their health for years to come. At the same time, hospitals that serve Black communities must be equipped with the resources needed to deliver high-quality, equitable care.

In addition to these steps to provide equitable healthcare throughout pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, it is vital to have comprehensive family planning services. All women, including adolescents, need to have access to contraception, safe abortion services to the full extent of the law, and quality post-abortion care.

Join The Fight For Reproductive Justice

Addressing Black maternal mortality is not just a medical challenge, it’s a call to build a more just and responsive healthcare system for all women. When we support and uplift Black women, there is a ripple effect that improves outcomes for all women.

Here in Milwaukee, there are local organizations such as the Black Health Coalition of Milwaukee and the African American Breastfeeding Network that work to raise awareness and improve outcomes.

Additionally, Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJAM) is a grassroots organization fighting for reproductive justice here in Milwaukee. If you are interested in joining our organization, visit our website for information on our next new member meeting.

This section is where you’ll find events RJAM is hosting soon. Be sure to click the links below to RSVP so we know you’re joining us!

• Preconceived Documentary Screening and Discussion (4/12)

• New Member Meeting (4/26)

Recent Articles

(ICYMI) We published these pieces in March:

• Unregulated Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPC’s) & The Lies They Tell

• Abolish ICE: The Intersection of Immigrant Rights and Reproductive Justice

March Recap

• INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
  RJAM was one of a handful of orgs in the IWD Coalition that worked together on planning and execution of another amazing International Women’s Day in Milwaukee. Our co-chair Brooke gave a speech on the second day of this year’s event, at the end of our rally.

  Watch Brooke's IWD Speech

• ABORTION PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY

  We celebrated Abortion Provider Appreciation Day by gifting our local clinics some community-created thank you gifts.

• NO KINGS
  RJAM tabled and marched with our comrades at Milwaukee’s No Kings.

  

• BODILY AUTONOMY FOR ALL
  RJAM co-chair Brooke gave another killer speech at the SDS Trans Day of Visibility Rally. (click to watch)

  RJAM created a Gender Affirming Care Work Team! Interested in supporting this work?

  Come to Our New Member Meeting

Upcoming Observances

This newsletter section recognizes reproductive justice related observances, some of which RJAM will be publishing content around this month.

• Black Maternal Health Week (4/11-4/17)

• National Infertility Awareness Week (4/19-4/25)

More Local Goodness

This section to be used to promote things that our local indie clinics and fellow Milwaukee organizations have coming up.

• Care For All, an independent reproductive healthcare clinic in Milwaukee, reached the milestone of 500 abortions provided. Care For All opened its doors in June 2025 and offers community members reproductive healthcare, regardless of their ability to pay.

Key Links

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on Facebook

Visit the RJAM Website

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! Here’s a poll you can answer:

Until next time!

Expect a monthly surprise in your inbox each month with all things reproductive justice in the lense of the Milwaukee landscape.

Sincerely,

RJAM

Here in Milwaukee, you may be familiar with the Alliance CPC van that parks outside of Planned Parenthood on Water Street. There are several other CPC’s in the metro area. They often target young people in low-income, marginalized communities. In Milwaukee, CPC’s are mostly located in Black and Latino majority neighborhoods.

CPC’s deceive people by offering free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, or STI testing. They present themselves as a community resource to those who are pregnant, think they might be pregnant or are sexually active. Once inside, CPC staff try to steer people into making the life choices that align with their agenda by shaming people for having pre-marital sex and spreading medical misinformation on abortion medications and contraceptive options.

Common Lies told by CPCs

Lie #1: You can never have children if you have an abortion.

Truth: Evidence shows that medication abortion and other types of abortions are safe and effective medical procedures associated with minimal risks only. The risk of an abortion is lower than the risks associated with pregnancy.

Lie #2: Abortion causes breast cancer.

Truth: Studies have not shown any connection between abortion and an increased risk of breast cancer.

Lie #3: The abortion pill is medically unsafe.

Truth: Abortion pills have a several-decade-long track record and have been shown to be safe to self-manage abortions.

Lie #4: Abortions cause trauma and permanent psychological and mental damage, called post-abortion syndrome.

Truth: There is no such diagnosis as post-abortion syndrome, and there is no research suggesting that abortion increases the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, or other mental illness.

Lie #5: Surgical abortion can kill you

Truth: Surgical abortions are incredibly safe with minimal risks. Again, the risks are significantly lower than the health risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

Lie #6: Abortions cost much more than carrying your baby to term.

Truth: The average cost for an abortion is around $500. This is much less than the average cost of a pregnancy, including doctor’s appointments, prenatal care, giving birth, and post-natal care, no matter one’s income level or insurance status.

Lie #7: Your baby already can hear you/smell you/can see/etc.

Truth: When you understand embryonic and fetal development, you can clearly understand that this is a lie. As we stated earlier, at 8 weeks, an embryo is only about ¼ to ½ inch long, and even at 11 weeks, it is not much bigger.

Lie #8: You have plenty of time to make a decision. Most pregnancies end in miscarriage anyway, no need to worry about an abortion.

Truth: CPCs want to delay your decision process to force you to keep your pregnancy. Abortion care is a time-sensitive issue! Abortion pills are generally recommended up to 11 weeks of pregnancy. Depending on your state laws, In-clinic surgical abortion can provide care later. But, some state laws are incredibly strict and some states only allow abortion up to week 6. In some states, abortion is completely banned, forcing individuals to rely on ordering medication abortion online or crossing state lines.

Lie #9: You will change your mind. You should use an abortion reversal pill if you’ve already taken an abortion pill.

Truth: CPCs and other anti-abortion websites often sell something they call abortion reversal pills. There are progesterone pills that they claim can reverse the effects of an abortion pill. There is, however, no scientific evidence that suggests that taking progesterone can counteract mifepristone. CPCs and anti-abortion activists also assume and claim that those who use medication abortion tend to change their minds quickly after taking the pill. Evidence suggests, however, that the majority of individuals feel that abortion was the right decision, and they feel this way immediately, short-term, and even long-term, decades later.

Lie #10: Birth control and emergency contraception cause abortion.

Truth: Neither birth control nor emergency contraception causes abortion. They can prevent abortion, but cannot end a pregnancy that has already begun.

What can you do?

Learn more about our CPC’s Out of MKE campaign! We are actively working to educate our community on the presence and dangers or CPC’s. We are also campaigning for legislative policy to protect our community from the deceptive practices of CPC’s. If you would like to be a part of the fight to protect bodily autonomy in Milwaukee, join RJAM! You can check out our website for information about our next new member meeting.

In the wake of growing federal occupation of American cities, we are seeing a spike in cruelty towards undocummented immigrants, immigrants with legal paperwork, refugees, American citizens, and indigenous tribal members. As we witness this state sanctioned violence, we are simultaniously seeing chaos and fear ensnare our communities, but also, a rapid rise in community support networks.

Once kidnapped by ICE, people are being sent to international mega prisons, former Japanese interment camps, former concentration camps that historically held Indigenous people, or new detention camps that are being built accross the country.

According to an ACLU report and human rights watch orgs, deaths while in ICE custody hit a 20 year high in January 2026. With the escalation of ICE operations from this administration, conditions in detention camps have only worsened.

It is not just the trauma of family separation & ICE detention that harms people, but the fear of being taken can be debilitating. The chaos and uncertanty being created by the Trump Administration is directly preventing some families from leaving their homes out of fear of being indiscriminately kidnapped by ICE. This means some folks are too afraid to take their kids to school, attend work, attend doctor’s appointments, go to the grocery store to buy food, formula or diapers, etc.

What Can We Do?

Communities across the nation are rising up to support their immigrant & refugee neighbors. Together, neighbors are protecting neighbors by...

• Educating people on their constitutional rights through Barrio Walks and Know Your Rights Trainings, which can arm people with the information necessary to protect themselves during an ICE raid

• Strenghtening existing or developing mutual aid networks that help people access groceries, rent/bills assistance, legal aid, baby formula, breast milk, diapers, and other essential household items

• Community members standing watch over child care centers, schools, and places of worship that are at risk of being targeted by ICE

• Becoming an ICE verifier with a trusted organization, helping to stop misinformation on ICE’s presence so when folks hear of a sighting, they know if there is a real threat or not

It is important to remember that this most recent wave of ICE violence is being funded by the largest cut to medicaid in the programs history. Our government took away healthcare to some of our most vulnerable community members to fund terrorizing our neighborhoods.

The fight against ICE is also a fight of reproductive justice.

Family Separation

While we are seeing an escalation of the violence and cruelty being perpetuated by ICE, family separation has been a long standing practice for the agency. In Trump’s first term, families seeking asylum were separated at the Southern boarder. Parents were separated from their children, moved to different facilities across the country. There was startling little paperwork kept that made it exceedingly difficult for families to reunite. The fight to reunite families continues to this day.

Many families are comprised of mixed immigration status with different family members being more vulnerable than others. The tactics being deployed by ICE federal occupation, targeting child care centers, schools, hospitals, and places of worship have left some too fearful to leave their homes.

In cities like Minneapolis, schools have implemented remote learning options for students in immigrant families who are no longer able to attend school due to ICE aggression. This fear comes from watching the countless lives that have been devastated by ICE.

While the fear can be crippling, it does not amount to the internal scars and pain of being stripped from you children, family, and loved ones.

Pregnancy & Postpartum

Being detained by ICE or otherwise incarcerated during pregnancy, postpartum, or nursing has a host of adverse phyiscal and emotional health impacts for the mother or parent, and baby.

Lawmakers have been calling on the Trump Administration to adhere to federal policy that bans ICE from detaining immigrants who are pregnant, postpartum, or nursing outside of “exceptional circumstances” (ie: national security, risk of death or risk of physical harm). While the Trump Administration has not repealed this Biden-era policy, they are not adhering to it.

It is unclear the exact number of pregnant, postpartum, or nursing people are currently in ICE custody. Since 2019, ICE has done a biannual report with data on detained immigrants who are pregnant, postpartum or nursing. This past March ICE failed to produce this data and congress failed to hold them accountable.

While we do not know the full scope without this data, people are coming forward and bravely sharing their testimonials of being pregnant, postpatum, or nursing within the walls of detention centers.

In Minnesota, a nursing mother was taken by ICE. She was separated from her baby, who was only able to eat breastmilk. Her baby went a day and half without food, endagering the baby’s life. A nursing mother who produces more than she needs, had an established mutual aid network. She was able to respond to this families needs and provide breastmilk for the baby; saving the baby’s life.

The fear of being kidnapped by ICE can have serious implications on health and security too. Fear can be debilitating and can lead to unhealthy vitals that impact pregnancy, missed doctors appointments, fear to go to the grocery store or work, having a homebirth out of fear of ICE being at the hospital, etc. Medical providers that predomanately serve immigrant communities have noted that fewer patients are coming in for pre-natal care. This fear adds unnecessary stress that can lead to pregnancy complications and actively prevents people from seeking necessary healthcare.

Forced Sterilization & Other Non-Consentual Medical Procedures

There is a long, documented history of the US government performing forced sterilization and other non-consentual medical procedures on Black, Indigenous, and women of color. The ruling class has always been interested in controlling birth rates of who they deem should and shouldn’t have children.

The quiet reality is that these forced procedures still occur to this day. By the government’s own admission, there were reports of forced “medically unnecessary” hystercotmy’s being performed on detained immigrant women at the Irwin Detention Facility.

Menstruation & Reproductive Healthcare in ICE Detention

ICE detention facilities are notorious for at best inadequate healthcare and at worst sheer medical neglect. More than half the deaths in ICE detention facilities would have been preventable, had people received appropriate healthcare. With a general lack of critical healthcare, reproductive healthcare also suffers. This can look like insufficient menstural products, access to birth control, hormone therapy for menopause, gender affirming care, etc.

Accross ICE detention facilities and prisions in the US, access to essential health products like tampons and pads are inconsistent. Generally speaking menstrual products are made available to detainees and inmates, however, there is also a critical lack of oversight.

Lack of oversight has led to reports of people being denied pads or tampons, forcing them to sit in blood soaked clothing. Without oversight there is no guarantee that specific products are made available and regularly replenished.

Some facilities even limit the number of menstural products people can receive per month. There have been reports of facilities restricting people to 12-20 menstrual products per month. While people not being detained or incarcerated average 3 to 6 products a day, which can last 7 days. Women, girls, nonbinary, and trans people in ICE detention (or incarcerated) are getting restricted access to essential health and hygiene products.

Sexual Violence and Abuses in ICE Detention

Prior to the escalation of ICE with the Trump Administration, it had been widely reported that immigrants detained by ICE expereinced sexual abuse. (Article from 2023)

The Trump Administration has further targeted survivors of sexual assault by going after immigrants who have pending applications for U and T visas. These visas are specifically for survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. Previously, federal safeguards were in place to protect those with these visas or pending applicaitons. However, the Trump Administration has instructed ICE agents to not check for this visa status while arresting people.

This past summer there was a probe by congress in 2025 that found over 500 violations of human rights. The probe revealed a disturbing pattern of pregnancy complications, miscarrages, seizures, head injuries, and reports of sexual abuse.

Abolish ICE

ICE is an agency that is beyond reform. The actions of ICE operate from the framework and history laid down by slave catchers, Indian Residential Boarding Schools, Japenese interment camps and for profit prisions. Americans are seeing this agency for what it is. Recent polling shows that for the first time more than half of Americans are in favor of abolishing ICE.

RJAM joins the thousand of organizers and Americans calling for the Abolishment of ICE. It is long time we take a hard look in the mirror and question the systems that oppress the masses. It is time to imagine new futures that do not require mass incarceration. A future where all our basic needs are met and people live their lives with diginity.

Join Us

If you want to help us fight a brighter, more equitable future, you can join us at Reproductive Justice Action - Milwaukee. Watch our Instagram for information about new member meetings or fill out our New Member Interest Form at rjamke.com.

In Boonville, Kentucky, a young couple did what most people would do in a medical emergency. They went to the hospital.

Deanne Bennett was having a miscarriage. She and her husband told hospital staff that the pregnancy remains were still at their home. Instead of being met with adequate care, someone at the hospital called 911.

While Bennett was still in a hospital bed, still in the middle of miscarrying, police officers arrived. She was tethered to medical equipment when they arrested her. They then arrested her husband too.

Prosecutors charged them both with reckless homicide, tampering with physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, and concealing the birth of an infant. The reckless homicide charge alone carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.

She went to the hospital for help. She left in handcuffs.

She went to the hospital for help. She left in handcuffs. Deanne’s mugshot spread quickly across Kentucky crime pages. In the photo she is sobbing. She had just lost a pregnancy and within hours, she also lost her freedom.

This was not an isolated case. It was the third pregnancy related arrest in Kentucky in recent months.

Just weeks earlier, Miranda Spencer was charged with fetal homicide after experiencing pregnancy loss. Those charges were eventually dropped when prosecutors acknowledged that Kentucky law does not allow patients to be criminalized under the state’s abortion ban. But the damage had already been done. Her arrest was public. Her name circulated online. Her face was broadcast across social media. The state moved forward first and corrected itself later.

In another case, police arrested Laken Snelling after pregnancy loss and publicly claimed they had found an infant. The county coroner later clarified that the word infant may have been used to refer to a fetus. Language like that shapes public opinion long before facts are clear. It makes grieving women sound like criminals before they ever see a courtroom.

This pattern is not limited to Kentucky. In South Carolina, a woman was arrested for allegedly throwing a stillborn baby in the trash. It was later confirmed that she had miscarried at 18 weeks. Still, the arrest happened. The headlines ran. The damage was done.

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, more than 400 pregnancy related arrests have taken place across the country. Nearly half of all states now have laws that make these prosecutions possible.

There is no safe or correct way to experience pregnancy loss that guarantees protection from criminal charges in Kentucky and other states which have outlawed abortion. People have been arrested for miscarrying at home. For miscarrying in a toilet. For burying pregnancy remains. For placing remains in a bag. For bringing remains to a hospital. Every decision can be twisted into evidence. Every outcome can be reframed as a crime.

For a more comprehensive look at the criminalization of miscarriages, chekc out the Marshall Project’s database where they are tracking these cases by state.

The consequences reach far beyond individual cases. In Kentucky, infant mortality has risen since the abortion ban took effect. Sepsis cases have increased. Maternal mortality has gone up. Fear plays a role in all of it. When pregnant people worry that going to the hospital could lead to interrogation or arrest, some delay care. In emergencies, delay can be deadly.

The ACLU of Kentucky has stated plainly that anti abortion lawmakers are filling jails and courtrooms with grieving Kentuckians based not on crimes, but on pregnancy outcomes. Based on something that happens in roughly one out of every four pregnancies.

Miscarriage is common and it can be devastating. It is not homicide.

Deanne Bennett’s arraignment is scheduled for March. But long before that date arrives, her life has already been upended. Her name is attached to serious felony charges. Her image has circulated widely online. She is grieving while fighting for her freedom.

And somewhere in Kentucky right now, another woman is miscarrying and wondering whether she should call for medical help. That is the fear this system has created.

Although abortion is currently available in Wisconsin up to 20 weeks of gestation, it’s important that we pay attention to these national cases even though they aren’t local. Abortion is still not federally protected ever since the overturning of Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision in 2022. Because of this, we need to continue to fight for reproductive justice for all by demanding for federal protections, otherwise this could be a reality for Milwaukeeans too.

Reproductive justice means more than access to abortion. It means the right to seek medical care without risking arrest. It means trusting that a hospital is a place for healing, not handcuffs.

Pregnancy loss should never be prosecuted. Seeking care should never be a crime.

Decisions to halt care stand to cause major medical concerns for patients and will leave families with little to no options for lifesaving, medically necessary care. In their January 13 press release, Representatives from the Milwaukee LGBT Center called the decision “a profound abdication of responsibility, one that will have serious, foreseeable, and potentially devastating consequences for transgender and gender diverse youth across Wisconsin.” We at Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJAM) completely agree.

27 states ban gender-affirming care for folks under 18. The Williams Institute reports that there are more than 300,000 high school-aged (ages 13-17) transgender youth in the United States today. As of July 2025, 40.1% of these trans teens (or 120,400 people) live a state with an active ban on gender-affirming care. With these new federal rules prompting wide-sweeping changes, an even larger portion of trans teens are likely to lose access to their GAC.

To pull the rug out on any person’s medication with no notice can cause adverse reactions, and the government should not be given the right to subject our youth to this fate. Abigail Swetz, Executive Director of Fair Wisconsin, talked about this in a recent statement saying, “No matter how prepared you are, when medically necessary care is paused, there is no true way to be as prepared as possible when we are talking about patients needing to find access to this care fast in a way that is outside of the two largest hospital systems in this state.” We at RJAM echo this statement and add that these medical systems’ sudden decisions to comply with the administration’s ill-advised rulings are already creating real harm in the lives of transgender Wisconsinites.

We don’t need government oversight into our bodies and choices. In fact, systems to ensure informed consent already exist for patients and their parents. In their statement, the Legislature’s Transgender Parent and Nonbinary Advocacy Caucus said this: “Parents should be able to make informed decisions in consultation with qualified health care providers without political interference or fear.” We at RJAM agree and demand bodily autonomy for transgender people here in Wisconsin and all over the world.

Current Protocol For Receiving Gender-Affirming Care Under 18 in Wisconsin

Current protocol requires parents to actively participate in the informed consent process, where medical professionals describe all potential risks or side effects of treatment. Families often have to adhere to a litany of requirements and go through painstaking processes under the care of their doctors for months or years before beginning treatment.

Hoops families jump through in order to access care:

• To begin blockers or HRT, the patient must be at or over the age of puberty

• Diagnosis of gender incongruence that is marked and sustained over time

• A letter from a qualified mental health professional is required

• All of a patient’s mental health conditions must be stable and well-managed before starting blockers or HRT

• Potential pre-work labs

• Potential bone density check

• Most medical systems require multiple appointments with the patient and guardians before a provider will consider treatment

• Provider reviews all health risks and possible side effects with the patient and guardians

• Guardians must fully agree to treatment and sign informed consent

• Patient is encouraged to work with a counselor or therapist actively during this time

Those hoops are just to begin treatment. Once a patient begins blockers or HRT, labs are typically required every 3 months at first, then every 6 months, along with provider check-ins. Care may be suspended (no refills) if labs or appointments are missed. Patients may have barriers like insurance coverage, finances, and transportation issues. It can be difficult to get to the first appointment in this multi-step process, let alone continuing over a long period of time.

Aside from these barriers, it should be noted that few people under 18 pursue medical transition further than puberty blockers and/or HRT. If they do, their guardians must provide consent with updated requirements to access the care (like additional letters from other providers).

Many medical systems have chosen not to offer gender-affirming surgical care to those under 18 at all. In fact, Children’s Wisconsin already had a policy that they will not perform gender-affirming bottom surgery on anyone under 18, will not provide breast augmentation to anyone under 18, and will very rarely perform a gender-affirming top surgery or reduction on a patient under 18.

The assertion that there is “mutilation” of “children” happening is not only harmful but also completely untrue. The decision to proceed with GAC is not taken lightly by medical professionals, patients, or their families, and these informed decisions made by parents and doctors should be respected. There are already (more than) enough hoops to jump through before accessing this care, and systems are already in place to aid in safe decision-making for families navigating the transition process. Regardless of how thorough the informed consent process is, the fact remains: no government entity should have control over our medical decisions.

National & State Attacks on Gender Affirming Care (GAC)

This news of Childdren’s Wisconsin and UW Health stopping GAC for transgender youth under 18 comes at a time when experts are warning we are in the early stages of a transgender genocide in the United States:

• In the Supreme Court, two sports-related cases were heard on 1/13 and are now awaiting rulings, just as another case is hitting their desks from California. All this after losing United States v. Skrimetti last summer.

• In mainstream media, at length, heavily for the last few years in particular.

• In anti-trans statements that are simply untrue made by the current administration ad-nauseum.

It is on the backdrop of these national attacks that transgender Wisconsinites are now experiencing local harm at the hands of two of the largest hospital systems in the state. Complying in advance to a transphobic administration’s unlawful ruling is an act of harm.

The number of proposed anti-trans bills in the state of Wisconsin increased 400% in the past 3 years. There were 4 anti-trans bills proposed in 2022, which jumped to 15 in 2023, 17 in 2024, and then a whopping 20 anti-trans bills were brought forward in 2025. As we kick off 2026, there are currently over a dozen anti-trans bills currently being discussed, many of which have kept their hearing details intentionally quiet for as long as possible to decrease the possibility of folks being able to attend and have their voices heard. For some bills, even submitting testimony via email becomes difficult within the extremely abbreviated timeframe of notification. This is not an accident. None of it is.

The Truth About Gender-Affirming Care For Transgender Youth Under 18

This life-saving, medically necessary care has been proven safe and effective by every major medical association in the United States. World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards note that, from a human rights perspective, withholding gender-affirming care until a person turns 18 — thus requiring a trans child to go through puberty that conflicts with their gender identity — is not neutral. Research has found that trans youth who wanted but did not obtain puberty blockers or hormones had two to three times higher levels of depression and suicidality compared with those who had access to those forms of gender-affirming care.

This care is far from experimental, and it is certainly not dangerous. Cisgender kids who are going through puberty too quickly or experiencing adverse health effects have been being prescribed puberty blockers since the 1980’s. Any assertions otherwise are false and seek to further undermine our rights to access GAC.

Connecting the Intersections of Transgender Rights & Reproductive Justice

We see these anti-trans attacks for what they are: desperate reruns of textbook anti-abortion plays that have attempted to deny access to reproductive care at both the state and federal level. RJAM’s intent in publishing this statement is to hold accountable the systems that are denying this care while providing education about attacks on bodily autonomy happening in our own backyard.

We must call out anti-trans propaganda, false claims, and hate speech from the current administration and its tools. We must demand that our medical systems stand firm in protecting gender-affirming care and ensuring we keep trans youth safe in Wisconsin. We must name these facilities and urge them to continue providing this medically necessary care.

We have our eye on other medical systems in our state that are quietly deleting online content about GAC and pausing care as well. We will not allow these entities to continue to hide behind “value pillars” of “equity & inclusion” while silently providing less than adequate care to a specific subset of patients, based solely on the fact that those patients hold a particular identity. That is discrimination.

The fight for bodily autonomy must include transgender and gender nonconforming people. The right to make decisions for and about one’s own body and life are non-negotiable. Whether you are chosing HRT, puberty blockers, a hysterectomy, permanant or temporary birth control options, or to end a pregnancy - the government should not be allowed to limit your options, prevent you from receiving life-saving medical care or otherwise force medical decisions upon you. We cannot comply in advance to the demands of this authoritarian administration. We must stand up and fight for the right to bodily autonomy for all.

RJAM unequivocally supports trans people and denounces the decisions made by UW Health and Children’s Wisconsin to pause gender-affirming care for people under 18.

There is no need to feel shame! You have the right to make healthcare decisions regarding your body that are best for your own situation. You deserve information, access, and care, including abortion care.

We want to break down stigma and misinformation and help you make the best choice for your body. Today, we want to go over everything you need to know about emergency contraception.

What Is the Abortion Pill?

The abortion pill is a medication that ends an early pregnancy safely and effectively. Though they are commonly known as the “abortion pill” or “Plan C”, there are actually two different medications that can help a medical abortion: mifepristone and misoprostol.

Mifepristone stops your body from making progesterone, which causes your body to end the pregnancy. Misoprostol causes cramping and bleeding that can allow you to pass the pregnancy more easily. Mifepristone and misoprostol are often taken in combination to achieve abortion, but misoprostol can also be used on its own.

What is the Difference Between Plan B and Plan C

Plan B is a brand of emergency contraception pills. It’s commonly referred to as morning-after pills, regardless of the brand. Plan B and other emergency contraception pills work to prevent pregnancy from happening by delaying or preventing ovulation. Without ovulation, you cannot become pregnant. However, Plan B and other emergency contraception methods do not reverse, stop, or harm any pregnancy that has already begun.

Plan C or abortion medication, on the other hand, does cause abortion (the pregnancy to end). You can use abortion medication if you are pregnant, even if you used emergency contraception after sex.

You can learn more about emergency contraception by reading this article from us.

When Can You Take the Abortion Pill?

Mifepristone and misoprostol are both approved by the FDA for up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. Clinical guidelines suggest that it may be used up to 11 weeks, and there is some evidence that it may be effective even beyond that.

Effectiveness of the Abortion Pill

Generally speaking, the abortion pill is very effective. Its effectiveness changes, depending on when you take it and whether you are using mifepristone and misoprostol together or only misoprostol.

The effectiveness of the abortion pill:

• 8 weeks of pregnancy or less: 94 to 98%

• 8 to 9 weeks of pregnancy: 94 to 96%

• 9 to 10 weeks of pregnancy: 91 to 93%

• 10 to 11 weeks of pregnancy: 87%

• Taking an extra dose of misoprostol before week 10: up to 99%

• Taking an extra dose of misoprostol between week 10 and 11: up to 98%

• Taking misoprostol alone without mifepristone: 85 to 95%

If the abortion doesn’t work after taking the abortion pill as directed, contact a healthcare provider; you may need more medicine or an in-clinic abortion.

Does Weight Affect the Effectiveness of the Abortion Pill?

No, your weight does not affect the effectiveness of an abortion pill (Plan C). Higher weight can impact the effectiveness of the morning-after pill (Plan B or ella)

What Happens During Medication Abortion?

Using abortion medication has several steps. In most cases, you will be taking both Mifepristone and misoprostol; however, you can also perform an abortion using only misoprostol.

When using both medications, you will first take mifepristone to stop the pregnancy from growing. Most individuals won’t feel anything after taking this pill.

Next, you will be taking misoprostol, either right away or up to 48 hours after the first pill. An appropriate healthcare provider (abortion doctor or nurse) can best guide you when and how to take it. Misoprostol will result in cramping and bleeding that will remove all pregnancy tissue through your vagina. It is very similar to an early miscarriage.

Cramping and bleeding will likely start between 1 to 4 hours after taking misoprostol. It is very normal to see clumps of tissue and large blood clots (up to the size of a lemon!). The pregnancy (embryo) passing, however, is very small. At 8 weeks, an embryo is only about ¼ to ½ inch long and even at 11 weeks, it’s not much more, so you may not even notice it. Most of what you see passing is blood and tissue.

Passing of the pregnancy tissue usually takes about 4 to 5 hours, though for some, it may take somewhat longer. The cramping and bleeding will slow once the tissue comes out, but you may experience some cramping for another few days. Spotting or some bleeding is normal for another few weeks. You may use whatever you feel comfortable using: pads, tampons, and menstrual cups are all okay. Pads are usually the best option for tracking how much you are bleeding.

The final step is to make sure that the abortion worked. You can use an at-home pregnancy test or visit your abortion care provider for a blood test and/or ultrasound. If you received your abortion pills from an in-person provider, not online, it may be safest to follow up in person to ensure everything passed and you are not pregnant.

While it is rare, if the abortion didn’t work and you are still pregnant, you may need another dose of medication, or you may decide to receive in-clinic abortion care. If this happens, it is best to visit an abortion care clinic, even if they didn’t provide you with the abortion pills.

Safety, Risks, and Side Effects

Abortion pills are generally safe. Medication abortion feels like having an early miscarriage.

You may experience the following symptoms:

• Cramping and pain

• Heavy bleeding with large clots and clumps (up to the size of a lemon)

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Mild fever or chills (99-100° F)

Most symptoms should subside within a day. You may experience cramping for a few days and bleeding or spotting for a few more weeks. If you are experiencing a fever after a day of taking misoprostol, seek medical care right away, as it could be a sign of an infection. In addition to a fever lasting over 24 to 48 hours, unpleasant vaginal odor may also be a sign of an infection.

There are no long-term health risks associated with medical abortion. There are some short-term risks you have to be aware of.

Risks of Using Abortion Medication:

• Failure to end the pregnancy

• Retaining pregnancy tissue

• Heavy bleeding that doesn’t stop after a day

• Severe digestive pain or diarrhea

• Allergic reaction to the medication

• Infection (Signs include: fever lasting over)

If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical help.

Other Types of Abortions

Besides medication abortion, there is also:

• Aspiration abortion: Aspiration abortion uses gentle suction to remove the pregnancy. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of rest and observation. This type of abortion can be done between 2 weeks and 14 weeks of pregnancy.

• Surgical abortion: Surgical abortion is also known as suction aspiration abortion. It involves the removal of the pregnancy via the vagina by surgical means. It can be done from 15 weeks through 21 weeks of pregnancy.

Why Choose Medication Abortions

Choosing medication abortion over other options depends on your personal preferences, health, and situation. Most people do not need an in-clinic abortion before week 11 of a pregnancy. Many find abortion pills less stressful. You can use them on your own schedule from the comfort of your home.

Since it’s possible to order abortion medication online, many people like the ease of not having to visit a doctor’s office at all. Many people don’t live close to an abortion provider, so ordering an abortion pill online can offer health care with ease.

Medication abortion is similar to a miscarriage, and it’s less invasive than in-clinic options. That said, some people require and choose an in-clinic abortion over abortion pills, while some may find them better for personal reasons.

When Not to Choose Medication Abortion

Abortion pills are not always the best option. If you have severe anemia, currently have an IUD, are experiencing pregnancy outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy), or have other medical contraindications, other options are likely safer and better suited. It may not be the best option after week 10–11 of the pregnancy and is not appropriate for late-term abortions and medical emergencies. Working with medical professionals at an abortion-provider clinic can help you determine which option is the best for your personal situation.

Is Plan C Legal in Wisconsin?

Abortion care, including abortion medication, is currently legal in Wisconsin up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

If you go to a clinic in Wisconsin, you will be required to go through an in-person counseling visit, which will include an ultrasound and a 24-hour waiting period. If you order your abortion pill online, then you won’t have to go through a counseling visit.

If you are under the age of 18, a Wisconsin parental or guardian consent is required to get an abortion. If you prefer not to involve your parent or guardian, or they don’t support your decision, you can get a judicial bypass, which means that a judge can grant you to ability to get an abortion without parental/guardian consent. In the state of Illinois, there is no requirement for parental/guardian consent.

Keeping Some Abortion Pills on Hand

You can order abortion pills online without being pregnant. Though abortion is currently legal in Wisconsin and abortion pills are accessible both at abortion-provider clinics and online, you may find ease and peace of mind by having a pack of abortion medication at home. You never know what life brings, and you can’t predict emergencies. Even if you can’t personally become pregnant, you never know when a partner, friend, or family member may require help. Ultimately, it is your decision, but know that the option to keep abortion medication at home is available.

How to Get Plan C

What if you are pregnant and in need of a medication abortion? Here are your options.

Order It Online

Depending on where you live, going to an abortion clinic may not be accessible to you. Fortunately, you can order abortion pills online from all 50 states! They come from telehealth clinics that are licensed to prescribe abortion pills, all FDA-approved and clinically safe to effectively end an early pregnancy.

• www.plancpills.org

• www.mayday.health

• www.heyjane.com

• aidaccess.org/en/

• abortiononourownterms.org

• carafem.org

• justthepill.com

Go to a Clinic

Go to an abortion provider’s health clinic (NOT an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center/CPC!!!). In Milwaukee, Care for All, Affiliated Medical Services, and Planned Parenthood at their Water Street Health Center are your choices for abortion care.

Care for All and Planned Parenthood at their Water Street Health Center offers medication abortion. Affiliated Medical Services also offers aspiration and surgical abortion. Planned Parenthood at their Water Street Health Center offers in-clinic abortions up to 21 weeks and 6 days into pregnancy as well. If you are in financial need, Care for All is committed to helping its patients regardless of whether they have the ability to pay or not (thanks to their generous sponsors!).

Abortion Care Locations in Milwaukee include:

• Care for All:

  • 756 N 35th St. Suite 204, Milwaukee, WI 53208; (262) 272-0246

• Affiliated Medical Services:

  • 625 East Saint Paul Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53202; (414) 253-6400

• Planned Parenthood:

  • Water Street Health Center: 435 S. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204; (844) 493-1052

  • Wisconsin Avenue Health Center: 2207 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233; (844) 493-1052

  • Mitchell Street Health Center: 1710 South 7th Street Suite 300, Milwaukee, WI 53204; (844) 493-1052

  • Capitol Drive Health Center: 801 East Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212; (844) 493-1052

  • Northwest Health Center: 5380 W Fond du Lac Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53216; (844) 493-1052

  • Virtual visits

  • Other centers outside of Milwaukee: Use the search function here

Not in Milwaukee?

If you are not in Milwaukee, but looking for an abortion provider near you, you can either contact your local Planned Parenthood or use these two websites to find an abortion provider clinic:

• INeedAnA.com

• National Abortion Federation’s U.S. Abortion Clinic Locator

Working with an Abortion Doula

Abortion doulas are similar to birth and death doulas, except they provide support for those seeking abortion care. Abortion doulas provide physical and emotional support before, during, and after the abortion process. It can be particularly helpful if you don’t have support from family and/or friends around. In Milwaukee, Care for All can guide your search for an abortion doula.

For additional emotional support, you can find groups on Reddit and Facebook. However, be aware that anti-abortion activists may infiltrate these spaces. We sometimes share abortion-related events and workshops in our area, so follow us for any updates!

We Love Abortion: Reduce the Stigma & Increase Access

There is so much stigma, misinformation, and many barriers when it comes to medication abortion and abortion care, all of which can cause harm to individuals and our community. Those who need abortion care need timely and compassionate care, instead of judgment and difficulties in accessing support. Together, we can shift the narrative and push for policy and cultural change to ensure that everyone of reproductive age with a uterus has the right to make empowered decisions about their bodies and access appropriate care.

Abortion Is a Valid and Responsible Choice

We can’t say this enough: there is no shame in having an abortion. You do not need to justify your decision. It’s your body, it’s your choice. You have a right to make informed decisions about your reproductive health. It is a sign of strength and not failure or shame.

Supporting a Partner or a Friend

If you know someone who needs or has had an abortion, listening to them with empathy and offering the support they need without judgment is the best you can do. Reassure them that it is a responsible decision and nothing to be ashamed about. Respect their autonomy and choice without judging them. If they ask for support during their abortion, offer them your help!

Normalizing Keeping Abortion Medication on Hand

Keeping abortion pills at home can be a smart idea in our current political climate, especially if you live in an area with a lack of access to abortion care facilities or harsh abortion laws. Remember, you keep ibuprofen and bandaids in your bathroom cabinet for “just in case” scenarios, too. Emergency contraception and abortion medication can be the same. Having it on hand means you are prepared instead of trying to figure out a solution when the urgency arises. We hope to someday live in a world where abortion care is easily accessible for everyone and everywhere, but until then, you can play it smart. (This is not medical advice. It’s ideal and the safest if you can talk to a medical provider before taking an abortion pill.)

Advocating for Better Education and Access

There is so much misinformation out there, and many people still don’t understand how medication abortion and other forms of abortion work. Sexual health education and empowerment in our communities are critical. We must also push for policies that fund public education, de-stigmatize contraception, emergency contraception, and abortion, remove barriers, delays, and price markups, and improve access to all varieties of contraception, emergency contraception, and abortion care.

Having Conversations to Fight Stigma

The best way to fight stigma around abortion is to talk about it openly. Whether it’s privately with your friends and family or in a larger setting like a classroom, clinic, or even an online group, you can help to reduce shame, misinformation, stigma, and controversy. We can empower, educate, and advocate in our communities through simple conversations. We love abortion because it’s safe and much-needed healthcare!

Join Us

If you want to help us fight stigma and push for policy change, you can join us at Reproductive Justice Action - Milwaukee. Watch our Instagram for notifications for new member meetings.

References:

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-pacific-southwest/blog/introducing-abortion-doulas

https://www.pregnancyoptionswi.org/doulas/

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information-about-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation

https://srhr.org/abortioncare/chapter-3/abortion-3-4/medical-management-of-induced-abortion-recommendations-27-30-3-4-2/

https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2020/10/medication-abortion-up-to-70-days-of-gestation

https://www.bpas.org/abortion-care/abortion-treatments/surgical-abortion/vacuum-aspiration/

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/abortion-procedures-surgical

https://www.wpr.org/news/whats-next-legal-fight-abortion-rights-wisconsin

https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/obgyn/family-planning/patient-resources/medical-vs-surgical-abortion

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill/how-does-the-abortion-pill-work

https://www.contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-7824(12)00643-9/fulltext

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010782421000913

https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important/medication-abortion-reversal-is-not-supported-by-science

https://www.ansirh.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/so-called_medication_abortion_reversal_7-14-2020_1.pd

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We gathered all the food pantries and meal programs in the Milwaukee area to support you. Please, spread the word and share this article with anyone around you who may be losing their FoodShare benefits or needs assistance.

What Happened?

In Wisconsin, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is called FoodShare. Wisconsin receives $114 million a month in federal funds to cover these benefits, which takes care of about 700,000 Wisconsinites.

If the government shutdown continues, FoodShare funding will run out and won’t be available starting November 1st. The Trump administration and the US Department of Agriculture say it won’t tap into any contingency funds or other nutrition programs to help the states support low-income families losing their SNAP benefits.

What does this mean for Milwaukee and Wisconsin? This will leave 12% of our state and vulnerable low-income individuals and families without much-needed support to buy groceries and put food on the table. Without help from our government, food pantries, meal programs, and mutual aid will be more important than ever.

What Happens to Your Remaining Balance?

If you still have remaining balance from October, you may want to use your benefits before November. Your remaining balance may or may not be available after November 1st. To inquire about your remaining balance, contact Milwaukee Enrollment Services at 888-947-6583 or at access.wi.gov.

What About WIC?

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is a special supplemental nutrition program for eligible women, infants, and children. WIC will be still AVAILABLE through November.

Additional Support

If you are a Wisconsinite who needs support with food or infant formula, you can research out to 211 for more information and referrals for local services:

• Visit 211wisconsin.communityos.org to search for services or chat with someone for assistance

• Dial 211 or 877-947-2211

• Text your ZIP code to 898211

What You Can Do to Help

If you are able, you can

• donate to your local food pantry

• start a food drive

• volunteer to cook a meal for or sponsor a family

• volunteer at a meal program

• check on your neighbors, friends, and family

• write to your representatives and join local grassroots movements to support your community

How to Get Updates

If you or someone you know relies on FoodShare you can get updates by opting in for phone or text updates at ACCESS.wi.gov.

We will also update you and share resources as things develop. Follow us and watch this space for more!

Food Cupboards or Little Free Pantries in Milwaukee County

Food cupboards or little free pantries are little pantries, similar to little free libraries, but with food. Neighbors can donate non-perishable food items and even unused personal hygiene items. Those in need can take what they need. Unlike traditional food banks and meal programs, Little Free Pantries are accessible 24 hours a day.

There isn’t an official list of little free pantries, but look around in your neighborhood for some. Schools, churches, and community centers are likely places to locate one. Reach out to the ones in your neighborhood to see if they have any. You can also encourage your community to build one or even set one up on your own property to support your community.

Here are some food cupboards we were able to find:

Little Free Pantry - Lake Park Lutheran Church

2647 N Stowell Ave, Milwaukee

Little Free Pantry Donovan Foundation

4906 N 85th St, Milwaukee

Free Pantry

4863 S 21st St, Milwaukee WI 5322

Food Pantries in Milwaukee County

Gaenslen School

1250 E. Burleigh St., Milwaukee

414-301-1478

Tuesdays, 4:30-6:30 pm

Riverwest Food Pantry

414-301-1478

Bayview Community Center Food Pantry

1320 E Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee

414-482-1000

Mondays: 4 - 6 pm

Wednesdays: 4 - 6 pm

Saturdays: 11 am - 1:30 pm

Milwaukee LGBT Community Center’s Food Pantry

315 West Court Street, Milwaukee

414-271-2656

They are preparing an Emergency Food & Mitigation Plan for these times.

Monday & Friday: 12 - 5 pm

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10 am - 6 pm

St. Casimir Parish Hall

924 E. Clarke, Milwaukee

Saturdays, 8:30-10:30 am

Serving residents of the following zip codes: 53202, 53203, 53211, 53212, 53217

*Photo ID and proof of address required

Little Free Pantry - Lake Park Lutheran Church

2647 N Stowell Ave, Milwaukee

Salvation Army Distribution Center

5880 N. 60th Street, Milwaukee

414-464-2940

Monday-Friday, 12:30-3:00 pm

Serving residents of the following zip codes: 53218, 53224, 53225

*Photo ID required

Salvation Army Milwaukee

4129 W. Villard Ave, Milwaukee

414-463-3300

Fridays, 10:00 am-3:00 pm

*Photo ID required

Praise Temple Food Pantry

6103 W Capitol Drive, Milwaukee

414-461-9673

Tuesdays, 10:00 am-12:00 pm

Salvation Army West Corps

1645 N. 25th Street

414-342-9191

Tuesdays-Thursdays, 10:00 am-12:00 pm and 1:00-3:00 pm

Serving residents of the following zip codes: 53205, 53208

*Photo ID required

Mayfair Road Food Pantry

4515 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa

Wednesdays, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Serving residents of the following zip codes: 53210, 53218, 53222, 53224, 53225

*Will not turn anyone who needs non-perishables at this time

Salvation Army Oak Creek

8853 S Howell Avenue, Oak Creek

414-762-3993

Wednesdays & Thursdays, 9:00 am-12:00 p.m.

Serving residents of the following zip codes: 53129, 53130, 53132, 53154

*Photo ID required

Soup Kitchens and Meal Programs in Milwaukee

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Milwaukee

South Meal Program Site: Cross Roads Kitchen

931 W. Madison St. 414-649-9555

Open serving meals 5:30pm-6:15 pm, Sunday-Friday

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Milwaukee

North Meal Program Site: Harambee Kitchen

2600 N. 2 St. Milwaukee, WI 53212 414-249-3866

Open serving meals 5:30pm-6:15 pm, Monday-Friday

St. Ben’s Community Meal

1015 N. 9th St.

Milwaukee WI 53223

414-271-0135 ext. 13/16

Sunday through Thursday

5:15 - 6:30 pm

The Gathering

Breakfast at The Gathering:

Monday - Friday; 9 - 10 am

1300 West Fond du Lac Ave, Running Rebels

Lunch locations at The Gathering:

Tuesday - Thursday & Sunday

11:30 am - 12:30 pm

631 N. 19th, Lunch at Olga’s (Redeemer)

Saturday 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

1300 West Fon du Lac Ave, Running Rebels

Saturday 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

1236 S. Layton Blvd, Ascension Lutheran

Every 2nd and 4th Saturday 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

8424 W Center Street, Mount Carmel Lutheran

Dinner at The Gathering:

Monday & Wednesday, 5 -6 pm

1236 S. Layton Blvd, Ascension Lutheran

All Saints Meal Program

4051 N. 25th St.

Milwaukee WI 53216

414-444-5610

Tuesday - Thursday 5 - 6 pm

Milwaukee Rescue Mission

1820 W. Wells

Milwaukee WI 53233

414-344-2211

Iglesia Trinidad

2300 W. Mineral

Milwaukee WI 53204

414-384-1244

Ebenezer Lutheran Church

1127 S. 35th St.

Milwaukee WI 53215

414-383-0710

Gesu Catholic Church

1210 W. Michigan Ave.

Milwaukee WI 53233

414-288-7101

St. John’s Cathedral

831 Van Buren

Milwaukee WI 53202

414-276-9814 Ext. 10

St. Vincent De Paul

931 W. Madison St.

Milwaukee WI 53204

414-649-9555

South Shore Sharing

1051 E. Russell Ave.

Milwaukee WI 53207

414-769-2480

Bethesda Outreach Center

2810 W. Highland

Milwaukee WI 53208

414-344-9881 or

414-342-7094

Unity Lutheran Church

1025 E. Oklahoma Ave

Milwaukee WI 53207

414-744-6311

United Baptist Church

2535 W. Hawley

Milwaukee WI 53206

414-264-4655

House of Vision

2605 W. Capitol Drive #101

Milwaukee WI 53206

414-755-3434

Sonny’s Helping Hands

Offer food box deliveries to those in needs

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577870992394

Follow Us for Updates

We know these are difficult times for many of our community members. We are in this together and support you. We will update you and share more resources as things develop. Follow us and watch this space for more!

Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1351466496338020&set=a.444062743745071

https://www.wisn.com/article/foodshare-benefits-will-run-out-nov-1-state-health-officials-say-if-government-shutdown-continues/69126461

https://www.cbs58.com/news/wisconsin-foodshare-program-will-run-out-of-funding-in-10-days-evers-says?fbclid=IwY2xjawNpMmhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHs85a4zTk5LpzXU_Sed9UH0wKfJevLcH0TtxEL6TFm-PNPJ4E-c8oJ05gXPx_aem_HEthFvU24y0fcdlvWTgQkQ

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/24/snap-food-aid-shutdown-usda-00622690

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin is working to restore funding for ALL of their services through legal action. Their plan is for this to be a temporary pause in care.

Why did Planned Parenthood pause abortion services?

This decision stemmed from Trump signing a budget bill, which included steep cuts to Medicaid. Within these cuts to Medicaid came a provision that no federal Medicaid dollars will go to family planning clinics that offer abortion services.

Planned Parenthood was forced to choose between pausing abortion services or losing Medicaid funding. Two-thirds of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s patients use Medicaid or Badgercare (State Medicaid) to pay for treatments. In addition to abortion care, Planned Parenthood also offers contraception care, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, gender affirming care, and more.

“Pro-Life” organizations claim that this budget bill signed by Trump stops federal funding from covering costs of abortions. This language is deceptive as the Hyde Ammendment, passed in 1980, already prohibits tax dollars from funding abortion care.

The reality is that the Trump Administration knows that they would fail in passing a nation-wide abortion ban. So they are attempting a back door abortion ban to effectively defund Planned Parenthoods across the nation.

Where does this leave abortion access in Wisconsin?

Currently there are two clinics in the state that offer abortion services: Care For All and Affiliated Medical Services. Both of these clinics are located in Milwaukee and are independently run.

If folks cannot come to these clinics due to travel distance or scheduling constraints, they may need to travel to Illinois or Minnesota. Folks who need help covering the costs of abortion care or travelling for care can utilize abortion funds, like the Wisconsin Abortion Fund.

Additionally, folks can get Plan C or abortion pills via mail. This is a great resource as scheduling an appointment may be more challenging at this time and travelling is not accessible to everyone. You can also order Plan C pills in advance, to have on hand in case you need them. The telehealth clinics that offer Plan C pills by mail include:

• www.plancpills.org

• www.mayday.health

• www.heyjane.com

• aidaccess.org/en/

• carafem.org

• www.justthepill.com

What can you do to help keep abortion accessible in Wisconsin?

Support remaining abortion clinics. Even though this pause has only been in effect for a few days, clinics are already seeing a spike in need. Care For All & Affiliated Medical Services will need extra community support to meet the increased need for care. You can donate to these independent clinics, buy items off of their wishlists, buy their merch, or volunteer as a clinic escort. While Planned Parenthood is not currently offering abortion services, donations will still support their legal battle against the Trump Administration and the other reproductive care they offer communities.

Support abortion funds. With this decrease in accessibility, more Wisconsin residents will need to travel to access abortion. The Wisconsin Abortion fund helps cover travel and appointment costs for Wisconsinites seeking an abortion.

Advocate for abortion access. If you believe that everyone deserves the autonomy to make their own medical decisions, you are needed in this fight to keep abortion legal, safe and accessible. You can get involved with an organization - like RJAM :), donate to abortion clinics & abortion funds, help to normalize abortion stories, and pressure your representatives to fight for access. When we fight, we win!

Join our CPC out of MKE campaign. There are 50+ anti-abortion clinics in Wisconsin and only 2 clinics (currently) offering abortions. These anti-abortion clinics go by the name of crisis pregnancy centers and use deceptive practices to harass patients and spread medical misinformation. To learn more about this campaign, click here.

The Beerline Plaza (W. Holton & Concordia)

Sunday, October 5th

11am – 4pm

We’ll have FREE food, Plan B, winter clothes & household item swap, safer sex + safer use supplies, Narcan, de-escalation training, safety planning, and so much more! Including organizations like Vivent Health, Care For All, Diverse & Resilient, Happy Campers, Punk Rock Saves Lives, Pathfinders, Food Not Bombs, MKE Harm Reduction Collective, Victory Garden Initiative, Beacon of Hope, Ostara Initiative, and MKE Overdose Prevention. Including literature from the MKE Public Library, Almost Home Cat Rescue, and Milwaukee Diaper Mission.

Live music all day and Food Not Bombs will be providing a take-home meal.

Come through, grab resources, build community, and share in collective care.

Please share the event on Facebook or Instagram and invite all your people! Follow us on socials: @reproductivejusticeaction

Yet, I was embarrassed when going up to the counter. I was embarrassed to talk to my friends about it. I knew that it was a responsible choice, but a part of me still felt irresponsible. Now, in my 40s, I can tell you that I haven’t spoken to a single friend who hasn’t taken or considered taking the morning-after pill at one point. 

There is still so much stigma and misconception around Plan B and other emergency contraception options. A lot of people still don’t know where to get it or feel embarrassed for needing it. Many don’t have a supportive partner, friends, or family. 

We want to break down stigma and misinformation and help you make the best choice for your body. Today, we want to go over everything you need to know about emergency contraception.

What Is Emergency Contraception?

Emergency contraception is a type of contraception that you can use after sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy. Emergency contraception can be used by anyone with a uterus and of reproductive age. There is no age limit for turning to emergency contraception as long as you are of reproductive age and feel that there is a risk of pregnancy.

Types of Emergency Contraception

If you are looking for emergency contraceptives, you have several options to choose from.

Morning-After Pills

The most common types of emergency contraceptives are so-called morning-after pills. These are medications you can take within a few days of having sex.

Levonorgestrel

Levonorgestrel is a type of progestin, which is a synthetic form of progesterone. Levonorgestrel is the main ingredient of many common morning-after pill brands, including Plan B One-Step®, My Choice™, Take Action™, Option 2®, Preventeza™, Aftera®, and generic brands. All these brands work the same, so it’s safe to choose any brand available to you and the price point that works with your budget. 

You can use levonorgestrel within 72 hours after having unprotected sex. You can access levonorgestrel without a prescription. If you are over 165 lbs, levonorgestrel becomes less effective.

Ulipristal Acetate

Ulipristal acetate is found in the brand ella®. You can use ella® within 120 hours (five days) after unprotected sex. One benefit of ella® is that it’s more effective than levonorgestrel pills when taken within 72 hours. It may be a better option for those with a higher BMI, however, ella® becomes less effective if you are over 195 lbs.

You can only take ella® once within a menstrual cycle, while levonorgestrel can be used more than once within one cycle. Ella® requires a prescription. However, you may use Nurx, PRJKT RUBY, or the Planned Parenthood Direct app to get a quick consultation and next-day delivery.

Other Options

Most of this article focuses on Plan B and other morning-after pill options. However, we wanted to touch on some other emergency contraception options besides using a morning-after pill.

You can also get certain types of IUDs, including Paragard, Mirena, and Liletta IUDs, inserted within 120 hours (five days) of unprotected sex. Using IUDs is 99.9% effective when inserted within five days. While this is more effective than the morning-after pill, it is also more difficult to get, can be pricey and painful, and it’s a long-term commitment.

Finally, taking a higher dose of your combination birth control pill, typically two doses, can be used as an emergency contraception option. However, the exact dosage and the appropriateness of this option depend on the type of birth control pills you are using. If you go with this option, it’s very important that you talk to your healthcare provider and/or pharmacist for appropriate guidance and dosage.

Reasons to Use Emergency Contraception

Reasons you may turn to emergency contraception:

• You did not use any form of contraception during sexual intercourse

• The condom broke or slipped off during intercourse

• You missed your birth control pills, especially if you missed two or more in a row

• Your birth control patch fell off, or you did not replace it on time

• Your diaphragm or cervical cap slipped or was used incorrectly

• You didn’t get your birth control injection as scheduled

• Any shifting or expulsion of your birth control implant or IUD

• Ejaculation happened inside or early when using the withdrawal method

• Protection failed during or close to ovulation

• One method of contraception fails when using several methods

• Any other concerns with your contraception method of choice

• Sexual assault or rape, with or without protection

No Shame in Using Plan B!

Please remember, there is no wrong reason to use emergency contraception! Don’t feel ashamed. It is a responsible decision to prevent pregnancy, and nearly half of the population with a uterus has used it at one point.  

Stats on Emergency Contraception Use

According to the KFF analysis of the National Survey of Family Growth Survey, 33% of women of reproductive age have used emergency contraception and between the ages of 15 and 24, this number is 44% and between the ages of 25 and 34, it’s 40%, and betweenages  35 and 49, it’s 25%. 

The survey only focused on cisgender women with male partners, not including trans women or non-binary individuals with a uterus. Since the number of emergency contraception users has grown over the past 8 years, we can assume that the need for emergency contraceptives is even higher, but social stigma, issues around availability, or lack of sexual education may hinder many from turning to this option.

How Does Plan B Work? Is It the Same as the Abortion Pill?

Plan B and other emergency contraception pills are not the same as abortion pills. These morning-after pills are used as emergency contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy from happening by delaying or preventing ovulation. Without ovulation, you cannot become pregnant. However, Plan B and other emergency contraception methods do not reverse, stop, or harm any pregnancy that has already begun.

Can the Morning-After Pill Affect Pregnancy or Fertility?

No. Neither levonorgestrel nor ulipristal acetate impacts your fertility. They do not risk your chances of becoming pregnant in the future. They do not harm or stop existing pregnancies. They are not abortion pills.

Safety & Side Effects of the Morning-After Pill

Morning-after pills, including levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate, are generally safe and effective options for emergency contraceptives. They do not impact your fertility, risk your chances of becoming pregnant in the future, or harm or halt existing pregnancies.

Like every medication, morning-after pills may have some minor side effects. You may experience:

• Spotting

• Temporary disruption to your menstrual cycle, including earlier or later periods, lighter or heavier periods

• Nausea or vomiting

• Fatigue

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Cramping

• Breast tenderness

If you notice any side effects, they should be mild and short-lived. If you notice any severe symptoms or allergic reactions, seek support from a healthcare provider.

Reasons Morning-After Pills May Fail

While morning-after pills are highly effective, they are not 100% reliable. The most common reason morning-after pills may fail is timing. Their effectiveness reduces as time passes, so it is important for you to take the pill as soon as possible. 

Being over 165 lbs (levonorgestrel) or 195 lbs (ulipristal acetate) may also reduce the effectiveness. Taking a double dose of levonorgestrel if you are over 165 lbs is safe. However, a double dose may not increase effectiveness and can be pricey. If you are over 165 lbs, choosing ulipristal acetate (ella) is a better option, just remember, you can only use ella once per cycle.

Vomiting within two hours of taking it may also lower its effectiveness. Finally, some medications, including barbiturates or St. John’s wort, may also decrease the effectiveness of the morning-after pill.

What to Do After Using Plan B or Other Emergency Contraception Pills?

In most cases, you don’t have to do anything specific after using a morning-after pill. If you used ella®, wait five days before taking any hormonal birth control pills. With levonorgestrel, you can use hormonal birth control right away.

While your cycle may get temporarily interrupted after using a morning-after pill, if your period is late and/or you notice early signs of pregnancy, it is important that you take a pregnancy test and seek support from your healthcare provider if needed. If you notice heavy vaginal bleeding or severe abdominal pain, contact your healthcare providers. These may be signs of an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage and should be taken seriously. 

Is Plan B Legal?

Yes, Plan B and other emergency contraception pills are legal in all 50 states. They are available without a prescription, though it may be easier to access them in some states than others. If anything changes in terms of legal availability for Plan B in Wisconsin, we will be the first to share it  with you.

How to Get Plan B or Other Emergency Contraception Pills?

There are many ways to get Plan B or other morning-after pills, both online and in person:

Go to Your Pharmacy

You can pick up any morning-after pills in person at a local pharmacy, including at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Hayat Pharmacy, and any other pharmacies.

Order It Online

You can order emergency contraception online, including at:

• Wisp

• Nurx

• Pandia Health

• Lemonaid Health

• PRJKT RUBY

• Amazon 

• Walmart

Go to a Clinic

Go to Care for All, Planned Parenthood, or another women’s or family planning clinic (NOT a CPC!!!) to get your morning-after pill. These places offer a sliding scale and often, free options, if you are in financial need!

Locations in Milwaukee include:

• Care for All: 

  • 756 N 35th St. Suite 204, Milwaukee, WI 53208; (262) 272-0246

• Planned Parenthood:

  • Wisconsin Avenue Health Center: 2207 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233; (844) 493-1052

  • Water Street Health Center: 435 S. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204; (844) 493-1052

  • Mitchell Street Health Center: 1710 South 7th Street Suite 300, Milwaukee, WI 53204; (844) 493-1052

  • Capitol Drive Health Center: 801 East Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212; (844) 493-1052

  • Northwest Health Center: 5380 W Fond du Lac Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53216; (844) 493-1052

  • Virtual visits

  • Other centers outside of Milwaukee: Use the search function here

Which Option to Choose?

If you need a morning-after pill quickly, going to a pharmacy or clinic is your best option. Wisp and other online companies offer one-day delivery, however, delays can happen. If you want to stock up on a box or a few boxes for “just in case” scenarios, ordering online is a great option.

Always Keep Some Morning-After Pills on Hand

You never know when you or someone you know may need emergency contraception. Keeping at least a box at home is a safe and responsible choice. As the name suggests, it should be used as emergency contraception, and you can’t predict when emergencies may happen. This is true for everyone, not just sexually active individuals with a uterus at a reproductive age. Even if you can’t personally become pregnant, you never know when a partner, friend, or family member may require help.

A Word on Finances

Morning-after pills can cost anywhere between $11 and $65, depending on the brand and provider. Generic brands are generally cheaper. Purchasing it online can also be cheaper. 

If you live in Milwaukee, Care for All offers Plan B for free for those in need. Planned Parenthood and other health clinics may offer it on a sliding scale or for free. 

It’s important that you don’t go to so-called crisis pregnancy centers. They are not real pregnancy clinics and will not help you with emergency contraception or abortion! Learn more about the problem with CPCs here. 

If you are uncertain if the clinic in your area is a real clinic or if it’s able provide you with sliding-scale or free emergency contraception options, you can always call ahead. If their answer is anything but a very clear “yes”, you should stay away.

A Word on Privacy and Safety

Though the morning-after pill is currently legal in all 50 states, it is understandable if you are concerned about privacy and safety. You may not want your parents or partner to find out that you had to use emergency contraception if you are on the same insurance or if you have a joint bank account. 

Here are some options if you are concerned about privacy and safety:

• Go to a pharmacy that you don’t normally frequent

• Don’t use your insurance

• Pay with cash instead of a card

• Ask a friend to buy it for you

• Go to Care for All, they can help you out without asking for your information

Reducing Stigma & Increasing Access

There is so much stigma, misinformation, and barriers when it comes to emergency contraception, all of which can cause harm to individuals and our community. Those who need emergency contraception need timely and compassionate care, instead of judgment and difficulties in accessing support. Together, we can shift the narrative and push for policy and cultural change to ensure that everyone of reproductive age with a uterus has the right to make empowered decisions about their bodies and access appropriate care.

Emergency Contraception is a Valid and Responsible Choice

We can’t say this enough: there is no shame in choosing emergency contraception. Instead, it is an appropriate, responsible, and proactive response to an unexpected situation. It doesn’t matter if its due to a missed pill, broken condom, failure to use protection, rape, or anything else, the morning-after pill is a safe and effective option to prevent unwanted pregnancy. You have a right to make informed decisions about your reproductive health. It is a sign of strength and not failure or shame.

Supporting a Partner or a Friend

If you know someone who needs or has used emergency contraception, listening to them with empathy and offering the support they need without judgment is the best you can do. Reassure them it is a responsible decision and nothing to be ashamed about. Respect their autonomy and choice without judging them. They may also need additional support in accessing emergency contraception, such as a ride to the pharmacy or help ordering it online.

Normalizing Keeping Emergency Contraception on Hand

Keeping Plan B or another type of morning-after pill at home should be just as normal as having ibuprofen or bandaids in your bathroom cabinet. We keep these things at home, not for ‘just in case’ scenarios. Having it on hand means you are prepared instead of trying to figure out a solution when the urgency arises. Even if you are not a person with a uterus, not at a reproductive age, or not sexually active, you should have emergency contraception on hand in case someone you know needs support.

Advocating for Better Education and Access

There is so much misinformation out there and many people still don’t understand how emergency contraception works. Sexual health education and empowerment in our communities are critical. We must also push for policies that fund public education, de-stigmatize contraception and emergency contraception, remove barriers, delays, and price markups, and improve access to all varieties of emergency contraception.

Having Conversations to Fight Stigma

The best way to fight stigma around emergency contraception is to talk about it openly. Whether it’s privately with your friends and family or in a larger setting like a classroom, clinic, or even an online group, you can help to reduce shame, misinformation, stigma, and controversy. We can empower, educate, and advocate in our communities through simple conversations.

Join Us

If you want to help us fight stigma and push for policy change, you can join us at Reproductive Justice Action - Milwaukee. Watch our Instagram for notifications for new member meetings.

References:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/emergency-contraception 

https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/use-emergency-contraception-united-states 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db112.htm 

https://www.cdc.gov/contraception/hcp/usspr/emergency-contraception.html 

https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/fact-sheet/emergency-contraception/ 

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/morning-after-pill-emergency-contraception/which-kind-emergency-contraception-should-i-use 

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/morning-after-pill-emergency-contraception/how-do-iuds-work-emergency-contraception 

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/morning-after-pill-emergency-contraception/which-kind-emergency-contraception-should-i-use 

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/get-care/ppdirect 

https://www.prjktruby.com/products/ella 

https://www.nurx.com/birth-control/emergency-contraception/ella/ 

https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/fulltext/2022/07000/double_dosing_levonorgestrel_based_emergency.8.aspx 

https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/emergency-contraceptive/ella-vs-plan-b?srsltid=AfmBOoogvkONESC2hy_M4RUPZb0rfqBSLDRvQGSFVFBzA-OwsX2OOIAN#quick-comparison 

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/image?imageKey=PI%2F74604 

https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/emergency-contraception 

As a grassroots organization, and a part of a collective effort for progressive policies, we will always advocate for access to safe and legal abortion access. We continue to demand not only the basic right to access an abortion, but equitable healthcare across the board. 

Our attention must shift now to ensuring that the right to an abortion is protected in Wisconsin’s state constitution. Our fight to defend and protect abortion access is ongoing, and is informed by radical love, care, and trust. We must see through that the values shared by the majority of Wisconsinites are what shapes the integrity of our state. The people have stated on numerous occasions - abortion care is a basic human right. 

WHILE ONLY 5 ABORTION CLINICS ARE OPEN FOR PATIENTS SEEKING CARE.

Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs), or fake clinics, are facilities set up by the anti-abortion movement with the intention to confuse or harass people into continuing their pregnancies.

They are typically located near legitimate abortion clinics and may offer free ultrasounds despite not having trained medical staff. CPCs often counsel abortion seekers using falsehoods about abortion and contraception.

Visit https://cpcsoutofmke.com to learn more about fake clinics in Wisconsin and how Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee plans to fight against them.

This horrific violence was a politically motivated assassination. Rep. Melissa Hortman was a champion of reproductive justice and worked closely with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to advance policies prioritizing abortion, gender-affirming care, and children’s well-being. Other pro-choice politicians, pro-abortion activists, and abortion providers were also named on the suspect’s hit list.

Though the suspected shooter is now in custody, we must be clear: the threat of anti-abortion terrorism remains. This was not the first, and sadly, likely not the last, threat to reproductive justice activists, providers, and supporters. 

At RJAM, we condemn all acts of anti-abortion intimidation and violence. Everyone deserves the right to feel safe when seeking out essential reproductive care or when speaking out and fighting for reproductive care access. Any action that undermines or restricts a person’s fundamental right to safety, healthcare, and freedom of choice shall not be tolerated. 

We are united in solidarity with abortion providers and all those committed to reproductive health, rights, and justice. We won’t back down in fighting for our vision for a world where people can freely exercise bodily autonomy. We support abortion care providers, advocates, and activists for their work in building this future, locally, nationally, and globally.

We are not afraid. 

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