Abortion
Abortion is a safe, common health care service to end a pregnancy. In the U.S., one in four women will have an abortion by the age of 45. Some states have more restrictive abortion laws.
In New York, you can get an abortion for any reason up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, or later if your health is at risk or your pregnancy will not survive. If you need an abortion and are uncertain about how far along in the pregnancy you might be, you may call or visit an abortion provider to determine if you are eligible.
Other states can also provide abortion services later in a pregnancy for any reason.
Any person who can get pregnant — including transgender men, non-binary people and people of any gender who have a uterus — can have an abortion.
The decision to have an abortion is a personal one. No one should pressure you to have or not have an abortion.
Find a Provider
You can get an abortion at many health centers in New York City.
To find abortion providers:
- In New York City, visit NYC Health + Hospitals
- In New York State, visit The Book of Choices
- Throughout the U.S., visit National Abortion Federation, ineedana.com or Abortion Finder
If you are looking for abortion services after 24 weeks, visit the Later Abortion Initiative.
Avoid Fake Clinics
There are anti-abortion facilities — sometimes called crisis pregnancy centers or pregnancy resource centers — that try to stop people from getting abortions.
These fake clinics often:
- Imitate health clinics by using names, banners and signs that are similar to real clinics.
- Are located near health clinics that provide abortions.
- Are funded by organizations that are opposed to abortion.
- Provide false information about abortion to pregnant people.
- Try to mislead people about how many weeks they have been pregnant.
- Claim to offer free counseling, pregnancy tests and ultrasounds.
Fake clinics may offer low-cost resources, such as pregnancy tests, ultrasounds or baby clothes, but they do not provide abortions. Also, they rarely offer any other medical care. Since they are not licensed health care providers, these facilities are not required by law to keep your personal information private.
New York City law requires these facilities to post a sign in English and Spanish that states they do not have a medical provider on site and do not provide abortion care. If you encounter a fake clinic without this sign posted in English and Spanish, you can file a complaint online or by calling 311.
Learn more about fake clinics in NYC:
Payment and Support Resources
Health insurance, including Medicaid, may cover the cost of an abortion. If you are pregnant, you may have special health insurance options. Contact your health insurer to find out what your plan covers.
You may be eligible for New York State Medicaid to cover your abortion procedure. Pregnant New Yorkers can qualify for Medicaid at higher income levels. Find out whether you qualify for Medicaid, or call the NY State of Health Official Health Plan Marketplace at 855-355-5777 for more information.
Some medical offices can check if you qualify for Medicaid at the time of your appointment. If you qualify, they can also enroll you, with coverage starting the same day. Before your appointment, ask your medical office if they are a Medicaid enrollment site. Be sure to ask if they require a photo ID or other documents.
As with any other medical procedure, an abortion can be expensive if you do not have insurance coverage.
If you need help paying for your appointment, visit:
- National Abortion Federation, or call its hotline at 800-772-9100
- New York Abortion Access Fund, or call its hotline at 212-252-4757
- National Network of Abortion Funds
If you need help with travel or lodging costs related to your appointment:
- Brigid Alliance provides help with travel expenses. You can make an appointment at one of their partner clinics to access this help.
- Haven Coalition provides help with overnight lodging for those who have to travel to New York City for an abortion. You can make an appointment at one of their partner clinics.
Types of Abortions
There are two types of abortions — medication and procedural.
Your provider may recommend a certain abortion type based on your preference, your medical history and the number of weeks since your last menstrual period.
Medication
This option, also called a medical abortion, involves taking two medicines — mifepristone and misoprostol.
- Process: You take mifepristone on the first day and misoprostol on the second day. The pills on the second day cause cramping and vaginal bleeding, similar to a heavy period.
- Timing: You can get abortion pills at up to 11 weeks of pregnancy, but the earlier you take them the more effective they are.
- Effectiveness: This method is 91% to 98% effective at ending a pregnancy.
- Side effects: These are usually mild and last between a couple of days and two weeks. They can include cramping, spot bleeding and nausea/vomiting. If you are having more severe side effects, call your provider immediately.
Oral Medicine by Mail
Ask your provider if they offer telehealth and can mail the abortion medication to you.
The FDA recently announced people can get medication for abortion by mail. Previously, people were only able to get it in-person from a health care provider. Contact a provider to find out if this option would work for you.
Procedural
This option, also called “in-clinic abortion”, is an outpatient procedure, which means you can go home after it is over.
- Process: The type of procedure used is based on how long you have been pregnant. The most common type involves widening the cervix and using gentle suction to remove pregnancy tissue. You may experience some cramping. This procedure is quick and usually takes less than 10 minutes, but you should expect to spend several hours at the provider’s office. If the pregnancy is more than 16 weeks, the procedure may take place over two consecutive days.
- Timing: Depending on the specific procedure, you can receive a procedural abortion from five weeks since your last period.
- Effectiveness: This method is more than 99% effective at ending a pregnancy.
- Side effects: These are usually mild and last up to two weeks. They may include cramping, bleeding, spot bleeding and vaginal discharge. If you are having more severe side effects, call your provider immediately.
Additional Resources
- Planned Parenthood: Abortion Services
- The Center For Reproductive Health Education In Family Medicine: Comparison of Early Abortion Options (PDF)
- The Doula Project: Self-Care for Before, During and After Your Abortion (PDF)
- Shout Your Abortion: Destigmatization and advocacy
- Exhale: A Pro-Choice, After-Abortion Chatline, or text their chat line at 617-749-2948.