Abortion

What is an abortion?

An abortion is a safe, common, and effective medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. There are two options for an abortion.

In-Clinic Abortion:

• A medical professional examines the uterus through an ultrasound
• There are options to manage pain (ask your health provider about your options)
• Most in-clinic abortion procedures use a suction that is done through the vagina to empty out the uterus Staff will support you, record your vital signs, and review after-care instructions with you

Medical Abortion ("the abortion pill"):

• You can get medication for an abortion at an in-person appointment or through a telehealth provider (with meds mailed directly to you). The medication you take (at home or in a safe space) will cause the uterus to contract to expel the pregnancy usually within 4 – 12 hours.
• Less than 5% of patients may need to take additional medication or have a procedure to complete the abortion.

Abortion Appointment Scheduling:

Visit abortionfinder.org for locations near you.

• This search tool offers access to over 750 abortion providers You can enter your age, location, the first day of your last period, and receive a list of viable providers near you, including telehealth (phone-only) options
• Information includes whether organizations can help in paying for your abortion or offer other support such as lodging, childcare, meals, and local and long-distance transportation

California Laws

Abortion is legal in California, both for teens and adults. Pregnant people under 18 have the same right to an abortion as adults do.

Pregnant people can get an abortion until the time the fetus is viable, which means it is likely to survive outside the uterus without extraordinary medical measures.

Only qualified medical providers are allowed to perform legal abortions and if an abortion is performed outside the legal parameters, there may be criminal charges.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade does not affect a person’s right to abortion care in California. Proposition 1 solidified a person’s right to an abortion in the state constitution.

You do not need anyone's permission and the law protects your privacy. The decision is up to you. If you do decide to have an abortion, try and find someone you trust like a parent, counselor or friend so you don't have go through it alone.

Youth Rights:

You have the right to make your own decision about your health care. You do not need permission from a caregiver, parent, or any adult abortions.

Before you receive health care, you have the right to ask your doctor to explain who can or can’t receive your medical information.

If you receive sexual or reproductive health care, your doctor is NOT ALLOWED to share information with your parents, caregivers, social worker, group home, or probation officer without your WRITTEN consent. (Note: there are some exceptions in cases of harm or potential harm to a person under 18, this requires a mandated report to ensure safety.)

Most youth involve a trusted adult when making health decisions, but some may not feel safe doing so.

CONFIDENTIAL MEDICAL RELEASE (Education Code section 48205) - Requires schools officials to excuse students to leave school for confidential medical appointments, like an abortion, WITHOUT the school alerting guardians in any way. (For example: No automated phone calls home.)

If you need to leave school for a reproductive health appointment, talk to your school nurse/health office. They can help you with making appointments and talking to the attendance clerks so that you can be excused from school. You can also consider talking to your school counselor.

Quick Facts:

• The “morning-after” pill is another way to say emergency contraceptive. Emergency contraceptives (EC) prevents a pregnancy and can be used between 3  and 5 days after unprotected sex depending on the type of EC. EC does not end a pregnancy.
• It is possible to get pregnant from unprotected sex during your period
• Oral and anal sex do not result in pregnancy however it is still possible to pass sexually transmitted infections.
• Consent is not implied! In a healthy relationship, it's still necessary to ask for consent before and throughout sexual activity if sexual activity occurs.
• Abortion is a very safe type of medical procedure. Serious problems are rare.
• Birth control and abortion do not correlate to future infertility

Important things to know:

Not all clinics offer abortions

You can get an abortion at many family planning clinics and some doctor's offices, but even though abortions are legal, doctors and nurses do not have to offer them. If you are pregnant and have decided to have an abortion, find an abortion provider near you. You can also take a look at our abortion resources for additional support.

No one can make you have an abortion

It's your right to stay pregnant and have the baby. No one can force you to have an abortion or force you to give the baby up after it's born. If you decide to give birth, you will need medical care while you're pregnant and after you have the baby. Covered California programs may pay for the care you need if you can't afford it or if you don't already have health insurance.

Safe Surrender

If you follow through with your pregnancy but aren't ready to be a parent, you can safely surrender your baby. Learn more about the California Safely Surrendered Baby Law.