graphic by kayleigh woltal
*Note: this piece was originally published at https://simmonsvoice.com/12812/features/how-a-nationwide-abortion-ban-would-limit-my-access-to-life-changing-arthritis-medication/*
I was around 7 years old when I was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It’s similar to rheumatoid arthritis in terms of the joint pain and swelling it causes, but it can also create growth problems in youth.
When I started treatment, I was put on several medications; I ultimately stuck with one called methotrexate for most of my life. Methotrexate is a chemotherapy agent used to treat not only arthritis but also conditions like lupus and even types of cancer. Since then, I’ve downgraded my medication to something less aggressive for someone my age, since my condition does not require chemotherapy. My current medication regimen is more commonly used for general cases of inflammation.
Over time, I learned to navigate life with an invisible illness and, thankfully, in 2020, went into remission. I’ve been monitored by my amazing rheumatology team ever since, but that doesn’t alleviate the potential for relapse. I think of it like an umbrella over my head: This figurative umbrella could break at any moment, with the symptoms of arthritis showering me. I’d likely be back at the beginning with the methotrexate treatment once again.
However, thanks to a potential nationwide abortion ban, I might not be able to get on this medication again if I relapse. You may think I’m crazy for thinking a woman’s right to her body is connected to my swollen joints, but it is. When Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, I didn’t think of this either. I was worried for the people around the country who were losing autonomy over their bodies but thankful for my right to choose in my home state.
However, I kept seeing Roe v. Wade in the news and got even more intrigued when I saw “methotrexate” in the same sentence as the name of the court case. What does arthritis medication have to do with a court case about bodily autonomy?
I was shocked to read a BuzzFeed headline decrying how “A Doctor Just Declined To Prescribe This Patient Their Arthritis Treatment Because It Could Hurt A Fetus That Doesn’t Even Exist” while aimlessly scrolling through my Instagram Explore page. It told the story of someone with rheumatoid arthritis who took the same medication that I did. They weren’t currently or planning to become pregnant, according to the article, but were no longer able to take methotrexate because it is a medication that can also be used for abortions. The article mentioned several other people with various other autoimmune diseases, like lupus and types of cancer that are treated with methotrexate, who are experiencing the same problem.
Although I live in a state where the right to control my own body is protected, it got me wondering: If there is a nationwide abortion ban, and I need to go on methotrexate again, am I next? Am I someone who won’t get the medication that’s controlled their condition for years, all because the government wants to control the bodies of people who can get pregnant?
More and more states are mandating gestational bans that are too early — most of the time, they go into effect before someone would even know they’re pregnant — or are outlawing abortion services completely. This puts access to contraceptives, birth control and anything considered “abortion-inducing” at risk. If life-saving methotrexate is at risk for people who need it, abortion bans could open the floodgates for other medications being at risk of restriction. Is it too much to ask for chronic illness patients to have consistent access to medications that help us live our lives?
The Arthritis Foundation published a statement on June 30, 2022, offering points of contact for people who are struggling to get their methotrexate prescription filled and various other resources. With the current national medication shortage, methotrexate is at risk once again. According to ClinCalc, 1.1 million people rely on methotrexate to treat their conditions, and this restriction could affect the quality of life of these people. Autoimmune conditions typically cause swelling and pain, with symptoms ranging in severity. The Food and Drug Administration also published a list of “Frequently Asked Questions” that provide additional guidance for navigating the current shortage.
As someone who has spent over half of her life with a chronic illness, I can’t stress enough the importance of education, reaching out for help and support, and, most importantly, voting for people who believe health care is a human right. If you’re interested in learning more about arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, click here.