Getting an abortion in the United States involves a few key steps: confirming how far along you are, understanding what’s legal where you live, choosing between a pill-based or in-clinic procedure, and finding a verified provider. The process looks different depending on your state, your gestational age, and your circumstances, but the core options are straightforward.
Check Your State’s Laws First
Where you live determines what’s available to you. As of early 2026, abortion is banned entirely in 13 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. Seven more states restrict abortion early in pregnancy, with Florida, Georgia, Iowa, South Carolina, and Wyoming enforcing six-week limits, and Nebraska and North Carolina setting limits at 12 weeks.
On the other end, nine states and Washington, D.C. have no gestational limits at all: Alaska, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont. Eighteen states, including New York, California, and Pennsylvania, allow abortion up to the point of fetal viability, which is typically around 24 weeks.
If you’re in a state with a ban or early limit, you still have options. Some people travel to a nearby state with broader access. Others use telehealth services that mail medication from states with “shield laws,” which protect providers who prescribe pills to patients in restricted states. By the end of 2024, roughly one in seven abortions in the U.S. involved pills mailed across state lines this way.
Find a Verified Provider
The safest way to start is through a trusted directory rather than a general internet search, which can lead to crisis pregnancy centers that don’t provide abortions and may give misleading information. These are the most widely recommended resources:
- AbortionFinder.org connects you with verified clinics and telehealth providers based on your location.
- Planned Parenthood operates clinics across the country and offers both medication and in-clinic procedures.
- National Abortion Federation maintains a directory of accredited providers and runs a hotline for referrals.
- Plan C focuses specifically on telehealth options for medication abortion, including providers in shield-law states.
- I Need an A is another directory that helps locate nearby clinics.
Any of these will help you confirm the laws in your state, find a legitimate provider, and understand your timeline.
Medication Abortion (The Abortion Pill)
Medication abortion is available up to 10 weeks (70 days) of gestation, measured from the first day of your last period. It uses two medications taken in sequence. The first, mifepristone, is a 200 mg pill taken orally. The second, misoprostol, is taken 24 to 48 hours later. Together, they end the pregnancy and cause the uterus to empty, similar to an early miscarriage.
You can get these pills in person at a clinic or through a telehealth appointment, depending on your state. About one in four abortions in the U.S. now happens via telehealth. During a telehealth visit, a provider confirms your eligibility, reviews your medical history, and mails the pills to you. The entire process, from taking the first pill to passing the pregnancy, usually happens at home over a day or two.
The average cost for medication abortion is around $580 at Planned Parenthood, though it can run up to $800 depending on the provider. Some insurance plans cover it, and financial assistance is available (more on that below).
In-Clinic Abortion Procedures
If you’re past 10 weeks, or if you prefer an in-clinic procedure at any point, two types are commonly used. Vacuum aspiration (also called suction abortion) is the standard first-trimester procedure. It uses gentle suction to empty the uterus and typically takes only a few minutes.
For second-trimester abortions, providers use dilation and evacuation, often called D&E. This involves dilating the cervix (sometimes with medication placed the day before) and using a combination of suction and instruments. The procedure itself usually takes less than 30 minutes, though you may spend a few hours at the clinic for preparation and recovery monitoring.
Both procedures are done with pain management, which can range from local numbing to moderate sedation depending on the clinic and your preference. In-clinic procedures tend to cost more than medication abortion, especially later in pregnancy, and prices vary widely by location.
What to Expect During Recovery
After either type of abortion, bleeding and cramping are normal. You can expect to bleed off and on for up to four weeks, though it’s often lighter than a period for most of that time. Small blood clots, ranging from red to dark purple, are typical. Some people experience a heavier episode of bleeding and cramps around four to six days after the procedure.
Pregnancy symptoms like nausea and fatigue usually fade within three days. Breast tenderness can take seven to 10 days to resolve, and your breasts may feel firm or leak fluid briefly before returning to normal within three to four days of swelling.
A few signs mean you need medical attention right away: a fever over 100 degrees or chills, soaking through one pad per hour for three consecutive hours, or severe abdominal pain that isn’t relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers.
Costs and Financial Help
Out-of-pocket costs depend on the type of procedure, how far along you are, and where you go. Medication abortion averages around $580, while in-clinic procedures can cost significantly more, particularly in the second trimester. If you need to travel out of state, the total cost rises further with gas, flights, hotels, and lost wages.
Abortion funds exist specifically to help cover these expenses. The National Network of Abortion Funds connects people with local and national organizations that provide money for the procedure itself along with help for transportation, lodging, and childcare. Many clinics also offer sliding-scale fees or can connect you with assistance directly.
Waiting Periods and Multiple Visits
Twenty-two states require a mandatory waiting period, usually 24 to 72 hours, between an initial counseling session and the abortion itself. In 13 of those states, the counseling must happen in person, which means two separate trips to the clinic. This can significantly increase the time and cost involved, especially if the nearest clinic is far away. If you’re in one of these states, plan ahead so the waiting period doesn’t push you past a gestational limit.
If You’re Under 18
Thirty-eight states require some form of parental involvement, either consent or notification, before a minor can get an abortion. If involving a parent isn’t safe or possible, 37 of those states offer a process called judicial bypass. This allows you to go before a judge and request permission for the abortion without a parent’s knowledge.
During a judicial bypass hearing, the court evaluates whether you’re mature and informed enough to make the decision, or whether the abortion is in your best interest. The process is confidential. Organizations like the National Abortion Federation hotline can help minors understand the bypass process in their state and connect them with legal support.
Telehealth From Restricted States
If you live in a state where abortion is banned or heavily restricted, telehealth through a shield-law state is one of the most accessible options. Eight states currently have shield laws that explicitly protect providers who prescribe and mail abortion pills to patients anywhere in the country. The provider is legally practicing in their own state, and the shield law insulates them from prosecution by your state.
Plan C and AbortionFinder.org are the best starting points for finding these telehealth providers. You’ll have a video or phone consultation, and if eligible (up to 10 weeks), the pills are mailed to you. By late 2024, roughly half of all telehealth abortions came from shield-law providers serving patients in restricted states. The legal risk for providers is addressed by the shield law; for patients, no state currently has a law that successfully prosecutes someone for receiving abortion pills by mail, though the legal landscape continues to shift.