Eric Tabas, MD

In the US, the average cost of a first-trimester abortion (up to 12 weeks from the first day of your last period) averages around $600. The cost of an abortion goes up the longer you're pregnant. When calling a clinic, you can ask what the price of an abortion will be based on when your last period was.

The California state government has enacted multiple programs to help people with abortion costs. You can learn more about those programs here.

If you need help paying for an abortion, let the clinic know. After you make an appointment, they may be able to offer financial help or connect you with a local abortion fund.

An in-clinic abortion takes place in a clinic or hospital. They’re medically very safe and 99% effective. There’s a variety of names used for in-clinic abortions, as well as different types. Some names you might come across are surgical abortion, procedural abortion, dilation and evacuation (D&E), dilation and curettage (D&C), or vacuum aspiration. It can be a bit overwhelming keeping track of all of these! What’s important is they’re all very safe and effective.

With a first trimester in-clinic abortion (up to 12 weeks), your doctor will numb and dilate your cervix in order to insert a narrow flexible tube into your uterus. The tube will then remove the pregnancy tissue with suction. The suction portion takes about a minute and the entire procedure takes around 10 to 20 minutes.

If you need an abortion later in pregnancy (over 13 weeks), you’ll likely have what’s called a dilation and evacuation (D&E). It may take place over two consecutive days and require multiple visits to a provider. This procedure also involves suction to empty your uterus.

One thing to keep in mind is that in-clinic abortions later in pregnancy cost more with fewer providers to choose from. That’s why it’s helpful to contact a verified clinic as soon as you’re able to.

Some clinics offer pain and sedation medications to help you feel more comfortable before, during, and/or after the procedure. Be sure to ask the clinic before you arrive about your options.

If you can't afford an abortion, or the costs associated with getting there or taking time off of work, there are organizations like ACCESS RJ that are ready to help. The State of California also has many programs that can help with costs.

To compare the differences between in-clinic abortions, abortions with pills via a clinic, and ordering pills online, check out our Types of Abortion Guide.

Medication abortion is a way to terminate a pregnancy by using medications. It’s often called the ‘abortion pill' though it's technically two drugs: Mifepristone and Misoprostol.

Abortion pills are accessible both in an in-clinic setting and online. In the United States, medical professionals most often prescribe them to people less than 12 weeks pregnant, though abortion pills are safe and effective throughout pregnancy.

In a clinic setting, you will typically swallow a tablet of Mifepristone in the clinic. This pill is designed to stop the growth of the pregnancy and prepare your body to pass pregnancy tissue. Your provider will send you home with tablets of Misoprostol and instructions for the next step.

At home, you should expect to have cramping and bleeding. You may also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever and chills. For most people, the abortion will be complete within 24 hours. Most clinics will schedule a followup appointment to confirm the pregnancy has been terminated.

For more information on the abortion pill and ordering online, check out Plan C's website. For one person's account with ordering online, check out this Reddit post.

If you'd like peer support and info throughout the process of planning or having an abortion with pills at home, call or text Reprocare - open 7 days a week at 833-226-7821

Abortion in California is legal until "viability". Abortions after viability are banned except when the life of the pregnant person is at risk. Otherwise, there are no significant restrictions on abortion, such as parental consent, age limits, or waiting periods. In addition, abortion services are covered by state-funded health insurance.

Providers are required to distribute materials prepared by the state and/or conduct state-directed counseling.

Despite the relative accessibility of abortion in California, you should still take care to avoid crisis pregnancy centers or fake clinics. In many states, there are more of these than actual abortion providers, and they will come up when you search Google or the phone book. All providers on ineedana.com have been verified as real providers.

We work diligently to keep this site as updated as possible. If you find something that is out of date on this site, please fill out this form.

We’ve tried to provide answers and clear information on what to expect in seeking abortion access on this site because, we get it, we all hate talking on the phone. However, speaking to a knowledgeable counselor can actually feel great.

ACCESS is a California organization that provides a healthline and practical support for people seeking abortions. You can call them at
English 1.800.376.4636
Español 1.888.442.2237

They provide free and confidential information, referrals, advocacy and peer counseling on the full range of reproductive and sexual health issues, with a special expertise in pregnancy options and abortion services. They can help you find a clinic, navigate using insurance, get a ride to and from your appointment, as well offering counseling on various options. Their services are open to all folks living in California -- your age, income, insurance or immigration status does not matter!

ALL-OPTIONS talkline is another great resource to speak to someone about… all of your options. You can talk to them if you’re trying to decide what to do about a pregnancy, or if you’re feeling complicated emotions about a decision you’ve already made. They’re happy to talk about anything related to pregnancy, abortion, adoption, and parenting related. Their hotline is toll free and available Mon-Fri 10-1am, Sat-Sun 10-6pm EST

CALL 1-888-493-0092 Still not ready to pick up the phone? On the internet, there's an incredible community on reddit at /r/abortion, ready to help. You can sign up and create a "throwaway" account to message the group. If you'd still like to do some personal research before talking to anyone, check out this Pregnancy Options Workbook from Cedar River Clinics. Have a suggestion for another question we should include on the site? Let us know!"