The proposal makes it illegal to prescribe, distribute, sell or use any medicine for the purpose of having an abortion yourself or helping someone else to do so. So-called morning-after pills are not covered by the ban.

Violation of the law will be punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to the equivalent of approximately SEK 95,000. The ban is supposed to take effect July 1, but could be delayed if the bill ends up in court.

Medical abortions are the most common form of abortion in the United States. Wyoming will be the first state to impose a total ban on abortion pills. Fifteen states have already introduced regulations restricting access to medications used in medical abortions. Thirteen states have banned all forms of abortion, with no exception for pregnancies that occur as a result of rape or incest.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court last year tore up the precedent called Roe v. Wade, which effectively guaranteed American women the right to abortion, a number of states have tightened their laws.

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After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June of this year to overturn the 1973 historic Roe v. Wade ruling, several states have strengthened or overturned abortion protections on their own. Photo: SVT/Reuters