If you’re pregnant and don’t want to be, you have three main paths: ending the pregnancy with medication, ending it with a procedure, or continuing the pregnancy and placing the baby for adoption. Which options are available to you depends on how far along you are, where you live, and what feels right for you. Here’s what each option involves in practical terms.
First, Know How Far Along You Are
Everything that follows depends on gestational age, counted from the first day of your last menstrual period. A pregnancy test confirms you’re pregnant, but it won’t tell you how many weeks along you are. If you’re unsure, a clinic or your doctor can determine this with an ultrasound. The earlier you are, the more options you have and the simpler most of them are, so acting quickly matters even if you haven’t fully decided yet.
Medication Abortion (Up to 10 Weeks)
Medication abortion uses two pills taken at different times to end a pregnancy. It’s FDA-approved through 10 weeks of gestation (70 days from the first day of your last period). You take the first pill at a clinic or at home, then take the second pill 24 to 48 hours later. The second pill causes cramping and heavy bleeding, similar to a miscarriage, which typically completes the process within several hours. Most people pass the pregnancy tissue at home.
The experience varies. Some people describe it as intense period cramps; others find it more painful. You’ll likely want to clear your schedule for at least a day. A follow-up appointment or phone call confirms the abortion is complete.
About one in four abortions in the U.S. now happens through telehealth, where a provider conducts a video visit and mails the pills directly to you. Under current federal rules, the medication can be dispensed by certified pharmacies and through the mail. However, nine states (Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia) explicitly ban telehealth for medication abortion or the mailing of abortion pills. In some cases, providers in states with legal protections called “shield laws” mail pills to patients in states with restrictions. As of late 2024, roughly 15% of all U.S. abortions involved pills mailed across state lines this way.
The median out-of-pocket cost for medication abortion is around $560, though this varies by clinic and location.
Procedural Abortion
If you’re past 10 weeks or prefer not to go through the process at home, an in-clinic procedure is the other option. In the first trimester (up to about 14 weeks), the standard procedure is suction aspiration. It’s done in a clinic, takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and most people go home the same day. You can usually return to normal activities within a day or two.
In the second trimester, a different procedure called dilation and evacuation is used. It takes longer, may require preparation the day before, and recovery can take a few more days. Second-trimester procedures are safe but involve more steps, more cost, and fewer providers offer them. The median out-of-pocket cost for a first-trimester procedure is around $575, and prices go up significantly with gestational age.
Where You Live Changes What’s Available
Since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in 2022, abortion access depends heavily on your state. As of early 2026, 13 states ban abortion entirely: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. Six more states restrict abortion between 6 and 12 weeks. Florida, Georgia, Iowa, and South Carolina set the limit at 6 weeks (before many people even know they’re pregnant). Nebraska and North Carolina allow abortion up to 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. Most remaining states fall somewhere in between, typically allowing abortion through the first or second trimester.
If you live in a state with a ban, your realistic options are traveling to another state or accessing telehealth from a provider in a shield-law state. Both are legal for the person seeking the abortion in most circumstances.
Help Paying for It
Abortion funds exist specifically to help people who can’t cover the cost on their own. These are nonprofit organizations that provide direct financial support (not a loan) to cover part or all of the procedure. Many also help with logistics: travel, lodging, childcare, even translation services. Some funds work directly with patients, while others coordinate through the clinic itself.
The National Network of Abortion Funds maintains a directory at abortionfunds.org where you can search by state. If you need to travel for care, some funds specifically cover gas, bus or plane tickets, and hotel stays. Reaching out early gives you more time to coordinate.
If You’re Under 18
Twenty-one states require minors to involve a parent or guardian before getting an abortion, whether through written consent, notification, or both. The specifics vary. Some states require written permission from a parent. Others require a doctor to notify a parent 24 to 48 hours in advance.
If involving a parent isn’t safe or possible, most of these states offer what’s called judicial bypass. This is a confidential legal process where you go before a judge who either determines that you’re mature enough to make the decision yourself, or that the abortion is in your best interest. You don’t need a lawyer in most cases, though legal aid organizations can help you navigate the process. It’s designed to be private, and your parents are not contacted.
Adoption as an Alternative
If you don’t want to end the pregnancy but also don’t want to raise a child, adoption is a third path. You can begin making an adoption plan at any point during pregnancy, and you retain all parental rights until you formally sign them away after the baby is born.
There are three types of adoption arrangements:
- Open adoption: You have direct contact with the adoptive family, including visits, calls, texts, and social media. You typically get to review biographies of prospective families and choose the one you’re most comfortable with. Research shows birth parents in open adoptions often experience less grief and guilt, and find comfort in knowing how the child is doing.
- Semi-open adoption: A social worker or counselor acts as a go-between, passing information back and forth without sharing direct contact details. You get some updates but maintain more privacy.
- Closed adoption: There is no contact between you and the adoptive family. A third party handles everything, and only non-identifying information is shared. You may not have a say in choosing the adoptive parents. Some birth parents prefer this for the sense of closure it provides.
Adoption agencies typically cover medical expenses related to the pregnancy and birth, and sometimes living expenses during pregnancy as well. You are not locked in until you sign the legal paperwork after delivery.
Morning-After Pills Are Not the Same Thing
If you recently had unprotected sex and aren’t sure whether you’re pregnant yet, emergency contraception (Plan B and similar products) prevents pregnancy from occurring. It does not end an existing pregnancy. These pills work by delaying ovulation, and they must be taken soon after sex to be effective. If you’re already pregnant, as confirmed by a test, emergency contraception won’t help, and you’d need one of the options described above.
Safe Haven Laws
Every U.S. state has a safe haven law allowing a parent to surrender a newborn at designated locations (hospitals, fire stations, or law enforcement agencies) without facing criminal charges. Age limits vary by state. In Ohio, for example, the baby must be younger than 30 days old. Other states set the window anywhere from 3 days to 1 year. This is a last-resort option, but it exists and is legal.