Medicaid/Medicare/Public Funding/Insurance
The availability of public funds or insurance coverage for an abortion varies from state to state and from country to country. Read up on your state’s policy about insurance coverage for abortion. Additionally, you can call and ask the abortion clinic if they take your insurance.
Crowdfunding websites that are confirmed to delete abortion fundraisers:
Crowdfunding websites that are confirmed to permit abortion fundraisers:
GoGetFunding - International, 4% fee
FundRazr - International, 5-7% fee
GiveForward - US, 7.9% fee + $0.30 per transaction
Crowdfunding with PayPal: set up an account under “medical funds,” then share it on social media. Post it on tumblr (tagged “abortion”) and in r/Assistance.
National Abortion Federation - US
National Network of Abortion Funds - US, Canada, Mexico, UK
Pro-Choice Resources - Certain states in US
Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project - US
Canadians for Choice Norma Scarborough Emergency Fund - Canada
MARIA Abortion Fund For Social Justice - Mexico
Abortion Support Network - Ireland and Northern Ireland (also helps facilitate transportation)
Children By Choice Action4Choice Fund - Australia
Women Help Women - all over the world except US, Canada, and some countries in western Europe
Women On Web - countries where abortion is illegal
Google “abortion funds” + your state/country
Planned Parenthood and other clinics sometimes provide financial assistance or offer payment plans to low-income people seeking an abortion. Call your local clinic and ask about their financial assistance options.
Clinics usually require that you pay in cash. If you’re desperate for cash, you can write a credit card check to yourself.
Many abortion funds help with transportation to and from an in-clinic abortion appointment. Search abortion funds in your area to see if one of them can help you with transportation.
proudly-pro-choice has set up a list of volunteers who may be able to drive you to your abortion appointment. Contact a volunteer in your area to see if they would be able to help.
If you are in the US and you are under 18 years of age, you may be required to notify your parents or even get their permission before having an abortion. Look through this list to see if your state requires parental notification or consent.
If you don’t want to let your parents know that you are getting an abortion, you can try to get a judicial bypass. This means that a judge can excuse you from the parental notification or consent requirement. Here is information about obtaining a judicial bypass for abortion.
US: Abortion laws by state
Outside US: Abortion laws by country
Here are some common abortion restrictions to plan ahead for:
Abortion access may be cut off at 20 or 12 weeks.
Your insurance may be forbidden from covering abortion.
The nearest clinic may be a long distance away.
You may have to go to an anti-choice “counseling” appointment and then wait up to 72 hours, necessitating multiple trips or overnight stays.
You may have to watch anti-choice video propaganda.
Here is a post refuting some of the lies physicians may be required to tell you.
Finding The Right Abortion Provider
US - National Abortion Federation, Abortion Care Network, Planned Parenthood (look for clinics that list “abortion services”)
Canada - National Abortion Federation
UK - British Pregnancy Advisory Service
Europe - Abortion Clinics In Europe
Mexico City - Fondo Maria
Australia - Children By Choice, Dr. Marie
South Africa - Marie Stopes
You can also just google “abortion clinic near me” and contact some of these offices to ask for more information. This guide from the National Network of Abortion Funds can help you find a trustworthy clinic that provides all the services you’re looking for.
DO NOT contact any place called a “crisis pregnancy center,” “pregnancy resource center,” or “pregnancy care center”. These fake “clinics” are run by medically unqualified anti-abortion folks who spread lies about abortion. More information on CPC’s: [x] [x] [x]
Questions To Ask The Clinic
Call the clinic (you can call anonymously) beforehand. Here are some questions to consider asking: [x]
Which abortion procedures do they offer?
Can your friend or parent come with you?
How many visits are required?
What is the procedure like?
What types of anesthesia are offered and who administers it?
(For medical abortion): What do they do if the medication doesn’t work?
What is the fee and what does it include?
Are all medications included?
Is all lab work included?
Is a method of birth control included?
Do they take insurance or Medicaid?
If they can’t take Medicaid (in many states they cannot), will they give you a discount?
Do they offer payment plans for abortions?
Can you get services at their office without your parents’ permission?
Can my parent/s have access to my records?
Will my parent/s see the bill?
Deciding On The Right Procedure
One medication (Mifepristone) is taken on first visit and one medication (Misoprostol) is taken 1-2 days later
$300-$800, average cost is $490
1-2 visits + 1 follow-up visit
After-abortion bleeding for 13-16 days
Avoids shots, anesthesia, instruments, or vacuum aspiration
It takes several days to end pregnancy
Cramping can be severe and lasts longer than with surgical abortion
Not good method if you are trying to conceal abortion
Suction Aspiration / Dilation & Curettage
Cervix is dilated before surgeon uses suction vacuum and/or a loop-shaped curette instrument to remove tissue from the uterus
$300-$1000+ (depending on when it’s performed & what’s included), average cost is $450
1 visit + 1 follow-up visit
After-abortion bleeding for 9-14 days
Quick, predictable, and over in a few minutes
Less cramping and less bleeding than medical abortion
A doctor must insert instruments inside the uterus
Anesthesia (local or general) may cause side effects
Similar to D&C, but involves the additional use of other surgical instruments such as forceps
$900-$1500+ (depending on when it’s performed & what’s included)
Planned Parenthood’s guide on what to expect during a medication abortion
Complete guide to deciding between medication and aspiration abortion
Find a provider, get a quote, and start saving money. The longer you wait, the more expensive it will be.
Depending on where you go and how busy they are, it could take up to 5 hours of waiting. You will need to take the day off from work or schedule your appointment for a Saturday.
You don’t need to tell the person who impregnated you about your abortion. If you two have a good relationship, then you may want to talk about it and get their opinion, but, ultimately, it is your body, and the other person has no right to tell you what to do with your body.
If you’re getting a surgical abortion, you won’t be allowed to drive home. Be sure to have a form of transportation prepared in that case.
DO NOT google “abortion stories.” Most of the results are anti-abortion propaganda. I collected a list of positive abortion stories to help set your mind at ease, if you need it.
Pregnancy sucks. Focus on making sure you’re comfortable, well-rested, and hydrated in the days before your procedure. However, if you’re getting a surgical abortion, be sure to stop eating or drinking anything by midnight the day before.
A bunch of overnight pads, non-scented
Comfy, cotton “granny panties” and comfy pants/trousers
Over-the-counter pain pills, like Tylenol
Nausea medication, if you’re having a medical abortion
Treats for eating after your procedure
Food for an upset stomach. Dark chocolate and tea.
Electric heating pads, hot water bottles, microwavable bean bags, etc.
A good book, movies, or Netflix queue for being stuck indoors
If you can, bring someone–your partner, a friend, a family member–with you. If you don’t have anyone for emotional support, contact AR Emotional Support. These are volunteers who may be able to call or text you before and/or immediately after the procedure for support.
Some abortion clinics have escorts out front, usually in bright blue vests, who will help you get into the clinic if you are lost or there are people protesting.
If you have to run the gauntlet of protesters, keep your head up, your shoulders back, and don’t say anything. Don’t make eye contact. Keep your face flat and neutral. You are getting a legal medical procedure from a licensed physician. You have no obligation to give your attention to these people.
Many “sidewalk counselors” try to offer you chocolate because “you appear stressed.” Don’t eat or drink anything they give you, or you will have to miss your procedure. Also, many protesters will try to get you to go into the crisis pregnancy center next door, which will cause you to miss your appointment.
An abortion will usually consist of a blood test, a urine test, a counseling session (to make sure you really want this and you’re not being pressured into it), an ultrasound, anesthesia/sedation (depending on if you’re getting a surgical abortion and if you chose local or general anesthesia), and then the procedure. If you’re getting a medical abortion, you’ll take the first pill at the clinic, and it will take a couple minutes tops; if you’re getting a surgical abortion, the procedure will take 5-20 minutes, depending on how far along you are. Abortions are never easy or fun, but they’re usually not that bad.
If you had an abortion and you don’t want the people you’re living with to know, spend the night at a close friend’s house or at a hotel, especially if you had a medical abortion. If you’re at home, it will be hard to hide the cramps and/or large blood clots.
Plan to rest for the rest of the day after the procedure and probably the day after. The cramps and discharge will ease up relatively quickly, but if you had a medication abortion, the nausea will likely take a few more days.
Avoid alcohol, since it won’t play well with other drugs.
Don’t plan on having vaginal sex, playing sports, or doing heavy lifting for at least two weeks.
Read this guide to physical healing after an abortion.
What you feel is what you should feel, but don’t beat yourself up about it. Anyone, at any age, can have their contraception fail on them or even forget contraception. You’re not a screw-up, and you’re not the first person it’s happened to.
If you are being abused, call the National Domestic Abuse Line at 1-800-799-7233 or for sexual assault/incest, call 1-800-656-4673 to get the help you need.
You are not a whore or a murderer. You did what you had to do to give yourself a better future. It is your body and your choice.
Your abortion will not go on your medical records if you don’t want it to. However, in the future, you should probably be honest with your gynecologist about having had an abortion so they know your full medical history and can take the best care of you. If there’s a good reason for them not to know, you can say you had a miscarriage.
If you’re on your parents’ insurance and you don’t want them to know you had an abortion, many insurance companies are able to send your EOB’s (explanations of benefits) to you directly. See The Girls’ Guide to Getting Some Privacy on Your Parents’ Health Insurance (gendered language).
Buy emergency birth control online
How likely it is different birth control methods will fail
In the US, abortions are federally tax-deductible. Your preferred method of birth control, vasectomy, and the copay of your annual physical exam are all tax-deductible as well. Keep your receipt!
Doing A Safe Self-Abortion
If you’re under 9 weeks pregnant and have no available options for getting an abortion from a clinic, you can perform one yourself at home using pills.
How to perform a self-abortion with Misoprostol
Get abortion pills from Women on Web
Find abortion pills in Mexico
Talking To Someone About Your Abortion
You may need to talk to someone about your abortion, but you may not have anyone safe you can talk to or anyone who understands. Below is a list of resources for resolving your feelings after an abortion.
Connect & Breathe - Hotline for talking after an abortion:
Exhale - Website and after-abortion hotline:
US: 1-866-4-EXHALE ( 1-866-439-4253)
Faith Aloud - Hotline for going over pregnancy options or talking about an abortion from a pro-choice, faith-based perspective:
Positive/Neutral Experiences
I Had An Abortion Experience Project
The Abortion Diary Podcast
Ending A Wanted Pregnancy - offers support for parents ending a pregnancy after prenatal or maternal medical diagnosis.
Peace After Abortion - for people who are experiencing pain after an abortion.
A Guide To Emotional And Spiritual Resolution After An Abortion
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