Reproductive health care, including access to birth control and safe and legal abortion care, is an essential part of your health and well-being. While Roe v. Wade was overturned, abortion remains legal in many states, and other reproductive health care services remain protected by law. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has created a page with accurate and up-to-date information about access to and coverage of reproductive health care and resources. Read the information you need to know below:
Every state has crisis pregnancy centers that pose as abortion clinics or women’s healthcare providers who target people seeking information about pregnancy, birth control, and abortion.
Terminology like “pregnancy resource center” or “crisis pregnancy center” in a business’s title may indicate a fake women’s health clinic. These outfits are technically legal but don’t meet the standards for women’s healthcare. They also don’t present patients with the full range of options — especially not abortion — and offer limited information in a misleading way.
Some websites also position their content as “holistic” without giving information about abortion. For instance, the American Pregnancy Association claims to support pregnancy and wellness on its website and hotline, but does not provide information on the full range of options for terminating a pregnancy.
Resources like the Crisis Pregnancy Center Map and Expose Fake Clinics have searchable lists of predatory crisis pregnancy centers. Check to make sure a clinic isn’t on the list before making an appointment.
Planned Parenthood recommends that you trust your gut: “If something seems fishy, it probably is. And if you ever feel uncomfortable at a clinic, you have the right to leave at any time.” If you want to verify a website you’re unsure about, you can check with Planned Parenthood.
Before you begin searching for information about abortion or contraception, you may need to be careful about how and where you search. In some cases, your digital footprint could be used against you.
Use encrypted messaging platforms, such as Signal, when talking to loved ones about birth control or abortion.
Consider using public computers, such as at a library, when researching abortion.
Use internet browsers with added privacy, such as DuckDuckGo.
Turn off location sharing on your phone or computer.
Don’t consent to police searches of your phone. Only a judge can legally compel you to turn over a phone, and it requires a subpoena. If you usually use Face ID, turning off your phone will disable this feature and require your password, preventing police from accessing your data even if your phone is confiscated.
Birth control can fail. Condoms can break. If you miss a period and realize you’re pregnant and don’t want to be, act fast. You can use an abortion pill in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy — about three months. If you’re not sure how long you’ve been pregnant, you can check using this pregnancy calculator from Aid Access.
The abortion pill is also referred to as medical abortion or “Plan C.” The medication is a combination of the drugs
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