Abortion Tourism: Is it Difficult?

If you are considering an abortion but live in a state with restrictive abortion laws, you may explore the abortion tourism option.

Abortion tourism means that someone travels out of state for a surgical or medical abortion due to their state’s laws restricting abortion. Many factors affect this decision, so keep reading to understand all of the facts you’ll want to know and understand before going this route.

Plan Ahead

As you evaluate your options, you’ll want to know for sure how many days you’ll be traveling and what that state’s current restrictions are. For example, some states require a waiting period before you are able to undergo an abortion procedure so you want to make sure you have the right timeline. 

Currently, there is no longer a waiting period in Minnesota.

Understand the Risks and Costs

In addition to knowing how many days you’ll be out of state (as well as how many days you may need to recover once you’re back home), you’ll want to understand the cost of an abortion and any potential medical risks. 

For medical abortions the risks can include:

• Incomplete abortion–likely requiring a follow-up surgical abortion
• An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive system discomfort 

The potential risks of surgical abortion are:

• Perforation of the uterus
• Damage to the cervix
• Scar tissue on the uterine wall
• Infection
• Heavy bleeding
• Cramping

Cost is also a factor to consider. You’ll want to figure out the cost of travel, lodging, and the procedure or medication involved.

Lab Quality Pregnancy Test & Ultrasound

If you’re going to make the effort of traveling out of state, you’ll want to do due diligence before you leave with the appropriate health screenings. 

Two highly recommended tests are a lab-quality pregnancy test and an ultrasound—these two screenings make sure you aren’t just relying on common symptoms like a missed period. 

An ultrasound can give important details like the pregnancy’s age (which can affect your eligibility for a medical abortion). It can also alert you to potential health complications such as an ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threatening if not treated appropriately. 

Know Before You Go

At First Care, we can help you gather all of these facts so you know if abortion tourism is right for you. We offer no-cost pregnancy services such as pregnancy tests and ultrasounds in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. Contact us today to make your appointment!