What is a coat hanger abortion?

The familiar symbol of illegal abortion is the infamous "coat hanger" — which may be the symbol, but is in no way a myth. ... Whoever put it in — perhaps the patient herself — found it trapped in the cervix and could not remove it...However, not simply coat hangers were used. read more

The familiar symbol of illegal abortion is the infamous "coat hanger" — which may be the symbol, but is in no way a myth. In my years in New York, several women arrived with a hanger still in place. read more

In September of this year, Anna Yocca, 31, allegedly attempted to perform an abortion on herself by untwisting a wire coat hanger and inserting it into her vagina in order to induce her own miscarriage. She was 24 weeks pregnant. read more

Neither have good outcomes for the woman in the short run, and too often a self-abortion attempt with a coat hanger can result in permanent infertility. In the years before Roe vs. Wade, there were in excess of 50,000 emergency room post-self-abortion treatments administered annually. read more