How to Find and Choose a Safe Abortion Clinic
Step 1 is finding a clinic or provider that is pre-screened, safe, legit, and right for you. We know it can be really tough to find a clinic or an abortion provider that you know you can trust. Rest assured the vast majority of clinics are safe and clean, and will provide high-quality medical care.
Where to Find a Clinic or Abortion Provider
You can find a clinic or abortion provider by going to any of these websites:
- ineedana.com
- National Abortion Federation
- Planned Parenthood (look for clinics that list “Abortion Services”)
- GynPages
- Abortion Clinic Pages
- Abortion Care Network
You can also call 1-877-257-0012 or 1-800-230-PLAN (7526) for information about some of these clinics. WRRAP works with over 700 health clinics and providers as part of our network for patient funding.
Understanding Your Options and Gestational Limits
Every clinic is different. Things like cost, anesthesia, and available services will be different at different clinics. It’s a good idea to call different clinics and get an idea of what your options are. Be advised that you may need to travel out of state to an abortion clinic, especially if you are looking for an abortion after 13 weeks of pregnancy.
| Pregnancy Stage | Available Services |
|---|---|
| Up to 11 or 12 weeks | Commonly provided at most clinics. |
| Up to 18, 24, or 26 weeks | Provided by specific clinics; may require travel. |
Tips on How to Choose a Good Provider & the Right Questions to Ask
Don’t trust ads in the phone book or on the internet. Big or expensive ads don’t necessarily mean that the clinic is a good one – or even that it’s a real clinic at all. Before clicking on advertisements, use the links above to see if there are clinics in your community.
Key Questions to Ask the Clinic
- Call the clinic on the phone: Ask if they provide abortions. If they say no or avoid the question, it might not really be an abortion clinic.
- Check credentials: Ask whether they have doctors or nurses on staff. Ask what training the doctors have received.
- Ask about their services: What 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? What do they do in case of an emergency?
- Ask about their fees: Ask what charges are included in the fee. Are all medications included? Is all lab work included? Is a follow-up included? Do they take insurance or Medicaid?
Evaluating the Facility
Take a look at the clinic and staff. Is the clinic clean? What is the atmosphere like? Is it cold and sterile or warm and friendly? How much experience do the doctors have? Can they provide you with all the information you might want? Trust your instincts. Your safety and health are the most important things to consider. If there’s anything about a clinic that makes you feel uncomfortable, ask them about it.
Warning: Identifying Crisis Pregnancy Centers
There are some places out there that call themselves “clinics” but don’t actually perform abortions. These “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” are often listed in phone books under Abortion or Abortion Alternatives. They also show up when you do Internet searches for “abortion.”
To protect yourself, you should know these places are anti-abortion and they will try to convince you not to have an abortion, often by giving you false, medically inaccurate information about the risks or costs of abortion. They often will offer you free pregnancy tests or free ultrasounds, but the people who perform these services are not doctors. If you aren’t sure that a clinic is doing something the right way, call your regular doctor or hospital and ask them about it.