New Bedford Light | UMass Dartmouth will refer students seeking medication abortion to two clinics
By Anastasia Lennon
Story Originally Appeared in the New Bedford Light
DARTMOUTH — UMass Dartmouth’s health center will refer students seeking medication abortion, or abortion by pill, to two health clinics. The agreements with the clinics, which took effect Dec. 1, are part of a statewide effort — and a new mandate for public universities — to reduce barriers to abortion.
Southeastern Massachusetts, including Dartmouth, has been labeled an “abortion desert,” with the nearest abortion clinics in Providence and Attleboro, 30 to 40 miles away from Dartmouth. Last year, Massachusetts enacted a law requiring public universities to ensure student access to medication abortion, either by offering the service on campus or providing referrals to nearby providers.
Students have been able to get referrals for abortion services from the university since at least 2013, said Ryan Merrill, a UMass Dartmouth spokesperson. The new state mandate, he said, “helps formalize everything,” through agreements with two providers: Health Imperatives, with a clinic in New Bedford, and the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.
A UMass Dartmouth health official declined an interview. The university responded to emailed questions through a spokesperson.
What students need to know
Students seeking medication abortion can visit the student health center for help, according to the university. A student can make an appointment and meet with a nurse practitioner, who will share information with the student and make a referral in accordance with the state guidelines.
At either Health Imperatives or Planned Parenthood, students will have access to abortion medication (up to the 10th week of pregnancy) and counselors who can discuss the process and any concerns students might have.
Health Imperatives has a clinic in New Bedford — about a 15-minute drive or more than a half-hour by bus from campus — as well as locations in Brockton, Wareham, and on the Cape and islands. The closest Massachusetts Planned Parenthood for Dartmouth students is in Boston.
Both Health Imperatives and Planned Parenthood offer telehealth appointments and mail delivery of medication. According to a Planned Parenthood spokesperson, students can be referred for a clinic visit or a telehealth visit, and will have access to staff who can provide logistical or financial assistance — be it scheduling an appointment or organizing transportation to the clinic.
“Knowing where to turn for this kind of essential and often time-sensitive health care can be difficult, but our staff, including expert patient navigators, are here to help students understand their options and get them the care that works best for them,” said Dominique Lee, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, in a statement on the organization’s partnership with UMass Dartmouth.
If a student needs help getting to a clinic, UMass Dartmouth operates an “anonymous taxi/rideshare” voucher program for non-emergency medical treatment. Merrill said this program would be available for students who need to travel for a medication abortion.
The university also has an emergency fund that can help students with costs, said Merrill. Health Imperatives and Planned Parenthood may also help with obtaining financial assistance.
Abortion by medication
Abortion by medication involves the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone dilates the cervix and blocks progesterone, which is needed to sustain a pregnancy. Misoprostol is taken 24 to 48 hours later; it causes cramping and bleeding, which expel the pregnancy tissue from the uterus.
Medication abortion has grown increasingly common nationally and in the state. According to the most recent data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, medication (denoted as medical/“non-surgical”) accounted for about 52% of abortions in 2022, up from about 31% in 2016.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says this type of abortion procedure is safe and effective. Since its approval in 2000, more than 5 million women have used mifepristone to terminate a pregnancy in the United States, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The pills are approved for use up to the 10th week of pregnancy. In Massachusetts, more than 70% of abortions were at zero to eight weeks of pregnancy in 2022, per state data.
Health Imperatives started offering medication abortion in July at all of its clinics. Abortion by medication involves the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol. Since its approval in 2000, nearly 6 million women have used mifepristone to terminate a pregnancy in the United States, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
“I really want students to know that there should be nothing that’s a barrier to them accessing this care,” said Julia Kehoe, CEO and president of Health Imperatives.
Mifepristone packages. Credit: Eleonora Bianchi / The New Bedford Light
Communicating the new plan to students
Student Health Services will update its website to include information on the medication abortion referral plan, according to Merrill. The Division of Student Affairs will relay the information to students through newsletters and during some student events.
The Light visited the Dartmouth campus last month to ask students about medication abortion. Some students declined to speak about it, stating the topic is controversial or too political; others didn’t know about the new mandate for public universities.
“I think we just need to be more comfortable talking about it,” said UMass Dartmouth student Avery Bennett. “I think conversations like this are important. People need to be made aware that these services are available and that it’s OK.”
State guidelines encourage universities to establish a planning committee and hold discussions with faculty, students, staff and the wider community to gauge attitudes, educate, and dispel potential misinformation about abortion.
According to the plan submitted by UMass Dartmouth, the school has not established such a committee and has not yet created opportunities for students to provide input on the planning process.
Some students who spoke to The Light commented on the stigma that abortion carries in conversation and the local community.
UMass Dartmouth completed a staff attitude survey on medication abortion, and plans to conduct its student attitude survey in the spring semester.
Merrill said the staff attitude survey “overwhelmingly supported assisting students with reproductive health through engagement, education, and the continuance of providing referrals for medical abortion,” and that it’s also an attitude held by the Student Health Services office.
“I do think that there’s a lack of information on what medical abortion is, so I think we’ll have to do some education with health services to talk to students,” said Juli Parker, assistant dean of students and director of the school’s Center for Women, Gender & Sexuality. “I think there are some myths or misconceptions about it.”
A few feet from Parker stood a small bookcase. Lying on top for students to grab were condoms, resource pamphlets, and stickers with the apparent purpose of challenging those stigmas and misconceptions.
“Abortions are normal and necessary. You deserve care before, during, and after your abortion … your choice is valid,” read one. Another read, “I [heart] abortion.”
The new guidelines say universities should develop a plan on how they will inform their campus communities about the availability of medication abortion on campus.
“Our hope is that university administrators will really have the support and tools and resources to implement medication abortion readiness plans and increase access to care for students,” said Taylor St. Germain, communications director for Reproductive Equity Now, an organization that worked with the Department of Public Health to issue guidelines to public universities.
The universities’ initial plans were due on Nov. 30 to the Department of Public Health, which will review and determine whether the plans are adequate by Jan. 31.