Abortion is becoming more common in primary care clinics as doctors challenge stigma
Abortion is becoming more common in primary care clinics as doctors challenge stigma, offering an abortion option in a familiar setting. Dr. Stephanie Arnold, a primary care physician who founded a family medicine clinic, offers reproductive health care, including abortion, alongside all kinds of other care. “It’s a little bit of everything, which is very typical of family medicine,” she says. This trend of primary care integrating medication or procedural abortions, usually in early pregnancy, is growing in states where abortion is legal.
The Role of Primary Care in Reproductive Health
Arnold, whose practice includes abortions up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, states, “There's no reason for this care to be siloed.” She explains, “I don't feel like it's any different than my management of diabetes or chronic pain or endometriosis — this is just a routine part of my day.” Since nearly 40% of U.S. counties have no OB-GYN, primary care doctors can fill gaps in reproductive health care. In Michigan, Dr. Allison Ruff found that the medications used for abortion are safer than a lot of the medicines we use every day for other things, noting that general internists are able to provide that spectrum of care.
Rising Demand for Medical Training
Elizabeth Janiak of Harvard Medical School co-leads a program called ExPAND that trains primary care providers on abortion. She documented the rising demand among primary care physicians seeking abortion care training, a phenomenon she observed after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Janiak points out that even 5% of the country's 250,000 primary care doctors is a significant number, which means “we're talking thousands and thousands of providers.”
Resources for Finding a Provider
Step 1 is finding a clinic or provider that is pre-screened, safe, legit, and right for you. You can find a clinic or abortion provider by going to these websites:
| Resource Website | Information Provided |
|---|---|
| ineedana.com | Clinic and provider locations |
| National Abortion Federation | Verified clinic information |
| Planned Parenthood | Clinics listing “Abortion Services” |
| Abortion Care Network | Independent provider network |
Tips on How to Choose a Good Provider
It’s a good idea to call different clinics and get an idea of what your options are. Consider the following when choosing a provider:
- Get a referral: Ask someone you trust or call a local hospital or doctor’s office and ask them to give a referral to a clinic they trust.
- Call the clinic on the phone: Ask if they provide abortions. Avoid centers that refuse to give a straightforward answer.
- Ask about their fees: Ask what charges are included in the fee, such as all medications, lab work, and follow-ups.
- Trust your instincts: If there’s anything about a clinic that makes you feel uncomfortable, ask them about it.
Identifying Crisis Pregnancy Centers
Be advised that there are some places out there that call themselves “clinics” but don’t actually perform abortions. These “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” are often listed under Abortion or Abortion Alternatives in internet searches. 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.