A Guide to Getting Abortion Care Later in Pregnancy
Hello! If you are seeking good information about how to access safe, compassionate abortion care later in pregnancy, you’re in the right place.
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We hope this guide can help you navigate the information (and misinformation) you find online about later abortion care. We also want to help you find an appointment, know what to expect, and make informed decisions.
If you are looking for general information about accessing abortion not specific to later care, check out You Always Have Options.
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This guide has been made by a small group of people who have vast experience with abortion care later in pregnancy.
Our group includes physicians who provide later care, clinic workers, practical support folks who help people travel to clinics and pay for their care, and people who have had later abortions. -
This guide does not offer medical advice or legal advice. If you have medical questions about your health or your pregnancy, contact a trusted medical provider.
If you have legal questions, contact an attorney or the Repro Legal Helpline: tel:+18448682812 or go to reprolegalhelpline.org
Steps in the Guide
What do we mean by “later abortion?”
On this site, we use “later abortion” to refer to a medical intervention that ends a pregnancy after the first trimester. Later abortion is health care.
Do we mean Late Term Abortion?
Yes. People use phrases like “late-term abortion,” or “later-term abortion,” or “later abortion,” or “abortion later in pregnancy” to refer to this care. People may also talk about abortions that occur after a certain number of weeks or in the second or third trimesters. These are all used to describe abortions that someone needs later in their pregnancy.
Later Abortion is Normal
Hundreds of thousands of people get abortions every year, most in the first few months of pregnancy. Abortions later in pregnancy are less common, but not rare. You are not alone, and this guide is designed to help you get the care you need.
Why Later?
People seek abortions later in their pregnancy for many reasons—they were delayed, they didn’t know they were pregnant, they learned something new about their pregnancy, etc. No matter your reasons, you deserve safe, compassionate abortion care at any point you need it.
To learn more about later abortion, visit whonotwhen.com
“If there’s one thing I hope those in my position wishing to terminate know it’s that the choices we make are what’s right for our lives. Because no one knows our situation better than ourselves.”
Can you even get an abortion after 15 weeks? 24 weeks?
Yes, you have options. There is legally protected abortion care available in the second and third trimester in a number of US states. And there is support to help you reach and pay for your appointment, if needed.
Is Later Abortion Legal?
For the most part, abortion is regulated by state laws. Health care professionals who provide abortions follow the laws in their states. If the care you need is banned in your state, you may have to travel to a state where it is legal. If you have questions about the laws in your state, go to AbortionFinder.
What About Abortion Pills?
Ordering abortion pills to your home is an affordable way to end a pregnancy. But if you suspect that you are more than thirteen weeks’ pregnant, or past your first trimester, we highly recommend finding your way to an abortion clinic. There may be legal risks to managing an abortion later in pregnancy on your own.
If you have specific questions about the legality of ending your pregnancy at home with pills, call the Repro Legal Helpline: tel:+18448682812 or go to reprolegalhelpline.org
If you have questions about abortion pills, or if you’re unsure if they’re right for you, call or text the M+A (Miscarriage+Abortion) Hotline: tel:+18332462632 or go to mahotline.org
It can be difficult to date our own pregnancies. Bodies – and our lives – are complicated! This INAA resource can help you with an estimate. An ultrasound is the most accurate form of pregnancy dating.
What is an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound is a medical test that uses sound waves to make pictures of the inside of your body.
During an ultrasound, a healthcare provider puts some gel on your skin and moves a small tool called a transducer over the area. The sound waves bounce off your organs and make a picture on a screen.
When you’re pregnant, an ultrasound can help:
Confirm that you’re pregnant
Tell how far along the pregnancy is
Check how the pregnancy is developing
Show where the placenta is
Ultrasounds are safe, painless, and don’t use radiation. Use I Need an A’s resource to find a legitimate ultrasound provider in your area. Options for where you can get an ultrasound include a local reproductive healthcare clinic (Ex: doctors office, Planned Parenthood, Title X clinic) and the emergency room.
Can I get an Ultrasound at a Pregnancy Clinic?
We strongly encourage you NOT to get your ultrasound from a fake clinic (also known as a crisis pregnancy center (CPC) or pregnancy resource center). Unregulated fake clinics offer free pregnancy testing and cheap ultrasounds along with other limited health services. They also outnumber abortion clinics 12 to 1! CPC’s trick people seeking abortions and try to discourage them from getting abortion care. Read more about CPCs here or check this CPC database from Reproaction.
We know that for some people, a fake clinic might be the closest or most affordable option to get an ultrasound. If you can’t get an ultrasound anywhere else and you have been told that you need to get an ultrasound before your next appointment, here are some things to keep in mind:
Don’t tell them that you are considering getting an abortion. Instead, just say that you think that you might be pregnant
Ask them for a copy of the ultrasound image and any other records that they create during your visit
When you schedule your abortion clinic appointment, tell them you went to a Crisis Pregnancy Center so they are aware ahead of time
How can I know how pregnant I am?
“The ultrasound is the most accurate form of pregnancy dating. But if you can’t get one, you’ll have a good estimate by going from the first day of your last period. And if you aren’t sure when that was, try to remember when you had sex that could have resulted in a pregnancy and add 2 weeks!”
- I Need An A
FAQ’s
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Deciding whether or not to end a pregnancy is personal and different for everyone. You might feel more than one feeling about being pregnant, and more than one feeling about whether to have an abortion. It’s your body and your future. We all get new information every day, so it’s normal for your feelings to change as you learn more.
Choosing an abortion as the best decision for you doesn’t always mean you will feel happy, excited, or relieved. You might feel that way, or you might not. And that’s ok.
You don’t have to be 100% sure before you start learning about your options. You can always call and get information. Clinics are used to people asking questions while still deciding.
Making an appointment does not commit you to anything. Some people start their appointment and then change their mind. No one will pressure you to make a certain decision. Although, clinics definitely appreciate it when you let them know ahead of time if you decide to cancel. Some clinics may have deposits and/or a specific cancellation policy.
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If you are a young person looking for an abortion, we want you to know that abortion is incredibly common. You are not alone. In fact, young people are more likely to need abortion care later in pregnancy because they are more likely to discover their pregnancies later. You can learn more about later discovery of pregnancy at Who Not When.
If you are under the age of 18 you may live in a state that requires parental involvement. In 36 states, some level of parental involvement is required to access abortion. This might mean needing your parents’ consent or they would legally have to be notified. In almost all of those states, there is a process for you to get a judicial bypass to get access to abortion without a parent’s involvement. You can find more information about parental involvement and judicial bypass state by state on the Guttmacher Institute website.
Note: different clinics and practical support organizations have guidelines or limitations on minors traveling alone for multi-day procedures. Let the clinic know about your specific situation so they can be sure to help you navigate these.
If you are the parent or guardian of a young patient, we recommend that you learn as much as you are comfortable learning about the procedure ahead of time. We know that it may feel overwhelming to see your child getting care related to pregnancy, and that you may feel a strong impulse to protect them. It might be helpful for you to read technical descriptions of the procedure (Go to Step 5: Procedure).
Abortion is common. There are so many young people who have abortions and then live lives that they love. Young people often share that their parents or caregivers’ support – or lack of support – greatly impacted their ability to heal and move on. You may have a desire to “teach them a lesson” in some way but please trust us, this is not the time.
Planned Parenthood also has a short guide about how to talk to young people about abortion.
We also want to encourage you to talk with your child about what they’re feeling. It makes a big difference to young people to feel listened to. If you would like help processing possible options, we recommend calling the All-Options Talkline.
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There are widespread myths and misinformation around abortion related to infertility, birth control, depression, anxiety, safety, etc. It’s important for you to know:
Abortion is safe. Abortion does not increase your chance of infertility, breast cancer, depression, or anxiety.
People may regret the circumstances they were in, but people rarely regret getting an abortion. Research shows almost all people who get abortions feel like it was the right decision for them after getting the abortion, even if they also feel sadness or grief.
It’s possible to ovulate immediately after getting an abortion, which means it’s possible for you to get pregnant immediately. If you have any questions about getting contraception/birth control, please ask them during your appointments. It is safe to use contraception after you have your abortion.
We encourage you to ask about STI testing! Some clinics will offer testing and treatment, but if they don’t, ask them about it.
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As you might have experienced already, reproductive health care can sometimes have very outdated practices, including binary language and gendered clinic design. Some clinics are trans-affirming in the way they offer abortion care and some are not. We encourage you to reach out to local LGBTQIA organizations for referrals and/or to explore the clinic’s website to get a sense of which clinics might be more inclusive (you can also ask reddit at r/abortion as they are very safe and affirming).
You do not have to come out to get an abortion or to access abortion resources. There are a lot of people who choose not to come out during their abortion care. That doesn’t make their experience, or your experience, any less valid.
If you take testosterone, follow the recommendation of your care team. Typically, it’s not recommended to take testosterone when you’re pregnant. You can resume taking testosterone immediately after your abortion.
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More than 40% of people have experienced Intimate Partner Violence at some time in their lives.
If it’s possible, we encourage you not to bring the person who is hurting you to your abortion appointments. If you have to travel together, it might help to know what they will and will not be able to do when they come with you to your appointments. If you have the ability to speak with or message anyone at the clinic privately, you can ask them to make sure that you get to see the provider alone. It's also a good idea to ask the clinic about your right to privacy. They are there to help you stay as safe as possible.
If you think that someone might be monitoring your technology without your permission, there are safety steps you can try:
Use a different device that they won’t have access to (like a computer at a library or a friend’s phone) to make your plans.
Ask the clinic, abortion funds, and practical support organizations to use a safety PIN code when communicating with you to keep you and your information safe.
Set up a new email address that is not connected to any of your current devices.
You can use a new email address to set up Google Voice so that you are able to receive phone calls and voicemails that your partner will not see even if they are monitoring your phone.
This can hopefully give you an option for communication that cannot be monitored by your partner.
For help with creating a safety plan, call or text The Anti-Violence Project’s 24/7 English/Spanish hotline at 212-714-1141 (note: AVP is an LGBTQ+ support org that helps *everyone* so you will be welcome!) -
Please know you are not alone. Sexual assault is an epidemic and you deserve specialized care.
Some people who have survived sexual assault can find that the experience of getting any pelvic exam or procedure, and even the process of giving birth, can be triggering and may bring memories back to the surface. If you feel comfortable sharing your experience with nonconsensual sexual experiences with the clinic, they might be able to make adjustments so that your experience is as comfortable as possible.
If you are pregnant after being sexually assaulted and are thinking about pressing charges, ask the clinic or hospital where you are getting care what they can do to support you.
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Many clinics know that people use substances and are open to talking with you about how your procedure can be as safe as possible. You can absolutely ask the clinic if they have experience helping people who use substances before you arrive in person for your appointment. This will help you to get a sense about whether they have experience supporting people who regularly use substances. It will also allow them to treat you in the safest way possible. Many substances can negatively interact with anesthesia or sedation medications, so it is important to notify the clinic about your substance use. You deserve respect and good care.
Remember that there are risks of seeking a supply of substances somewhere that you don’t normally go. Similarly, there are risks of traveling with substances that are not legal. This is part of the reason it can be good to talk about substance use with your clinic before you travel.