Mabel Wadsworth Center

05/15/2026

We are relieved that Mifepristone will still be able to be mailed and accessed via pharmacies while the Fifth Circuit case continues, and we know that this fight is not done.

Mifepristone as a part of medication abortion is safe and effective, which is precisely why it is being attacked. Anti-abortion extremists by and large do not believe the disinformation they spew about supposed safety concerns with Mifepristone specfically or medication abortion generally. They are just as capable of reading the data. They understand peer-reviewed research. Anti-abortion extremists care about control, not safety or science. This case should have been tossed out in the first place.

It is good that the Supreme Court of the United States made this call on Mifepristone, and we know that this is the same institution that overturned Roe almost four years ago and recently gutted the Voting Rights Act. We can not simply hope that those in power will act in our best interests. Supporters of abortion access are the majority in the United States, and it is on all of us to fight for autonomy and freedom. As your local feminist health center and independent abortion clinic, we need you in the fight with us.

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the abortion pill mifepristone can continue to be prescribed online or over the phone and sent through the mail.

05/14/2026

Check out the link from the Maine Department of the Secretary of State below for just about all the info you need to vote early/absentee for the June 9th primary election here in Maine!
https://www.maine.gov/sos/news/person-absentee-voting-begins-monday-may-11-june-9-primary-election

Along with the primary elections for elected positions like Governor, US Senator, and US Representative, some towns will have additional questions relevant to that specific town (like Board of Selectmen, budget, etc.) that have a direct impact on residents day-to-day lives. You can find out more by going to the website or visiting the Town Office/City Hall for your specific municipality! This is also where you can find out information like location for voting in-person on June 9th.

05/12/2026

New name, who's this?

When we've talked about PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) before, we've mentioned how that name can be a misnomer, as not everyone with this condition gets ovarian cysts! Now, the name more accurately describes the syndrome--PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome).

PMOS, even under its old name, has always primarily been a hormonal and metabolic syndrome. While some folks with this diagnosis do have ovarian cysts, not all do. This more accurate name demonstrates a better understanding of PMOS, and will help those who have not yet been diagnosed.

We've got the link to the Lancet publication below!

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00717-8/fulltext

05/12/2026

Looking for fun events in community with other feminists? Our friends at Maine Women's Lobby have you covered!

05/11/2026

Trans folks deserve visibility, safety, and the freedom to live as their true selves. Please follow the link in EqualityMaine's post to tell Congress to vote no!

05/08/2026

Here at Mabel's, we're glad to offer our MabelCare program for folks who are uninsured and need reduced-cost care. As a part of this program and through working with DirectRelief, we're able to provide free long-acting reversible contraceptives to our MabelCare patients. These contraceptive options are often too expensive for people to access without insurance, making this program huge for overcoming barriers to accessing birth control!

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) like IUDs and Nexplanon are an amazing and reliable option for birth control. Now, like all things in life, they aren't the right fit for everyone, but the different options for LARCs are a great fit for many folks. They're among the most effective options for pregnancy prevention, and can help folks manage side effects of menstruation to boot. Additionally, because these devices are implanted in the body in either the uterus (IUD) or arm (Nexplanon), you don't have to worry about forgetting to take a pill.

If all of this wasn't exciting enough, DirectRelief is now offering more LARC options! If you're a MabelCare patient (or think you might qualify) and are interested in a free LARC, schedule an appointment by calling our office at 207-947-5337 or sending an email to info@mabelwadsworth.org.

05/06/2026

Love feminist healthcare? Want to take action in the face of attacks on sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice? Join the Mabel Wadsworth Center Board of Directors! Check out our website linked below to learn more about our Board and how to apply.

https://www.mabelwadsworth.org/2022/07/12/join-our-board-of-directors/

05/05/2026

Check out this OpEd in the Bangor Daily News from our very own Community Engagement Manager Aspen!

"Survivors deserve better. Believing survivors in our society is a radical act when it should be the bare minimum. Survivors deserve safety and justice. We all deserve a world without sexual violence, and I believe the only way we can get there is to end victim-blaming and challenge r**e culture at every turn."

"Believing survivors in our society is a radical act when it should be the bare minimum."

05/05/2026

Statement from Mabel Wadsworth Center regarding Mifepristone/medication abortion:

As many have heard by now, on Friday May 1, 2026, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request from Louisiana’s Attorney General to reinstate the requirement for Mifepristone to be accessed by abortion seekers in-clinic rather than via mail or a pharmacy. Additionally, on May 4, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued a temporary stay that blocks reinstating this requirement, meaning that Mifepristone can still be mailed. Let us be crystal clear: requiring an in-person visit to access Mifepristone is based fully in governmental and political overreach. Medication abortion is safe. Mifepristone has been safely used as a part of abortion care for decades, and it carries lower risk than other, easier to access medications like Tylenol, Vi**ra, and penicillin.

This attack on Mifepristone, like all attacks on abortion, is rooted fully in control, cruelty, and creating confusion for abortion seekers. Anti-abortion extremists like Louisiana’s Attorney General know that the data shows that abortions are safe and essential care. These extremists know that restricting abortion access increases maternal and infant mortality rates. The point is not to improve health outcomes–the point is to punish and control pregnant people. These extremists also know that restrictions such as this cause confusion and shame, leading to abortion seekers delaying care.

This is a situation that is evolving, and we will keep you updated. Abortion is legal and available in Maine at Mabel Wadsworth Center, Maine Family Planning, and Planned Parenthood. Because of the temporary stay from SCOTUS, Mifepristone can still be mailed. This frivolous and anti-science restriction of Mifepristone reduces access to abortion care, especially for folks in more rural areas or in states with abortion bans, but there are resources to help you access the care that’s right for you. If you are in need of abortion care, please call our office at 207-947-5337 or send an email to info@mabelwadsworth.org.

05/04/2026

We had our statement written and ready to post about the reinstatement of the restriction on mailing Mifepristone implemented by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and then the Supreme Court (temporarily) restored the ability to mail the medication. We have an article linked below that goes more in-depth.

What does this mean? People can indeed still access telehealth medication abortion using Mifepristone. Prior to this decision from the Supreme Court, abortion remained legal and available in Maine, and it continues to remain legal and available here. We will keep you updated as this case develops, as it is an evolving situation.

Mifepristone is an exceedingly safe medication, and this attack was/is rooted in control, cruelty, and creating confusion. Abortions are safe, essential, common care. If you find yourself in need of care, please call our office at 207-947-5337 or email us at info@mabelwadsworth.org.

The Supreme Court temporarily restored telehealth and mail access to the abortion pill mifepristone on Monday, responding to an emergency appeal that warned of potential chaos for patients who had appointments to access the drug.

05/02/2026

We will share more thoughts on the restrictions on mailing Mifepristone Monday, but we want to be clear that abortion is still legal and available in Maine, including medication abortion. This attack, like all attacks on abortion, is rooted in control and cruelty.