Where to Get an Abortion: 7 Questions You Have About Choosing an Abortion Clinic
Once you are certain of your abortion decision, it’s typically recommended that you access abortion services as quickly as possible. If you wait too long to start contacting abortion providers, you may miss your state’s time limits for accessing abortion services, your medical risks will be heightened, and it may be more difficult to find places to get an abortion at your stage of pregnancy.
But finding abortion places is easier said than done. Where can you get an abortion safely? How can you find affordable abortion services? And how can you make sure the abortion clinic you choose will provide unbiased information and nonjudgmental support?
In this article, find answers to these and other questions about where to get an abortion.
Where Can I Get an Abortion?
Most abortions are performed at abortion clinics.
Depending on where you live, finding a women’s abortion clinic may be challenging; five states (Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming) only have one clinic for abortion, and even in states with multiple abortion clinics, you may need to travel long distances to find the services you need.
Whether you are seeking a clinic abortion procedure or hoping to take the abortion pill, clinics are typically the best professionals to offer these services. Read on to learn how you can find your nearest abortion clinic.
How Can I Find Abortion Clinics Near Me?
Fortunately, there are many resources that can help you find local abortion clinics in your area. Check the following organizations for help finding your closest abortion clinic:
- Your Obstetrician-Gynecologist. Most ob-gyns are not abortion doctors, but if you have an ob-gyn you know and trust, she can likely give you the information you need and refer you to a trusted abortion provider near you.
- Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood can be a great resource for unbiased abortion information, and many of their health centers across the country offer abortion services. You can visit their website or call 1-800-230-PLAN for a list of Planned Parenthood abortion clinics by state.
- The National Abortion Federation. You can call the NAF Hotline referral line (1-877-257-0012) for a referral to your nearest abortion clinic.
- Abortion Clinics Online. This site is a directory of abortion clinic locations across the country. You can search for abortion providers by state or by the services they offer. For example, if you are specifically looking for walk-in abortion clinics, a 24-hour abortion clinic or a specific type of abortion (like “abortion pill clinics near me”), this site may be a valuable resource.
Are There Any Free Abortion Clinics Near Me?
When choosing an abortion clinic, the cost of each professional’s abortion services is one factor many women consider.
While you are unlikely to find a completely free abortion clinic, costs can vary from one provider to the next. Before scheduling your appointment, ask your clinic about the cost of their services and whether they can accept your insurance. Even if you cannot find clinics that do free abortions, you may be able to find low-cost abortion clinics that can offer information or resources to help you fund your abortion. If you do find an organization claiming to provide free abortion services, be very wary. Abortion, like any medical procedure, involves some inherent costs and should only be performed by a highly trained and properly licensed medical professional.
The National Network of Abortion Funds and the National Abortion Federation can provide additional information on financial assistance for abortion and may be able to suggest cheap abortion clinics in your area. Call the NAF hotline at 1-800-722-9100 for more information.
How Can I Avoid Fake Abortion Clinics?
Not every women’s clinic provides abortion services, and some organizations posing as health or abortion centers are even anti-abortion organizations. These fake abortion clinics, often referred to as crisis pregnancy centers, actually outnumber real ones, so it’s very important to do some research into any organization claiming to be an abortion center. Ensure that the provider you choose can offer unbiased, medically factual information about abortion and that they won’t pressure you into making any decision you don’t think is right for yourself or your baby.
To ensure you’re working with a licensed, reputable abortion provider, verify that they’re included in the aforementioned directories offered by Planned Parenthood, the National Abortion Federation and Abortion Clinics Online.
Where Can I Find Late-Term Abortion Clinics?
Waiting until later in your pregnancy to have an abortion is not ideal. Not only do second- and third-trimester abortions involve more invasive procedures, but they also are more difficult to access. Not every abortion doctor will perform late-term abortions, and state laws may also impact your ability to find a nearby clinic.
If, for whatever reason, you find yourself needing an abortion late in your pregnancy, this might lead you to wonder: Where do you go to get an abortion after the first trimester?
While it may be more difficult to find second trimester abortion clinics or late-term abortion clinics, there are still a handful of practitioners who can help women needing these services. Abortion Clinics Online and Abortion.com both offer lists of abortion providers who can perform abortions later in pregnancy.
Does Planned Parenthood Do Abortions?
Planned Parenthood abortion services vary by location, but many of their health centers across the country do serve as abortion clinics. To find your nearest Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, search their health centers in your state and look for the ones offering abortion services.
Many Planned Parenthood abortion clinics can offer the following services:
- Medical abortion (the abortion pill)
- Surgical or in-clinic abortion procedures
- Referrals for abortion services (as well as adoption and parenting options)
- Education about your sedation options
- Post-abortion follow-up exams
- And more
You can also find more information about abortion at Planned Parenthood on their website.
Do Hospitals Do Abortions?
While the vast majority of abortions are performed in clinics, some hospitals do offer abortion services, especially when the abortion procedure is medically complex. For example, when a woman is carrying a high-risk pregnancy or needs a late-term abortion, the procedure may take place in an abortion hospital.
However, many hospitals do not offer abortion services, either for political reasons or because they do not have the staff and resources necessary to dedicate to providing abortion services.
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Abortion is an incredibly personal decision, and every woman seeking abortion services deserves compassionate care from a provider she can trust. Before deciding where to get abortion services, ask potential abortion providers some questions to prepare yourself for what to expect at your chosen abortion clinic.