Getting an Abortion Past 20 Weeks

After 20 weeks from someone’s last menstrual period (LMP), access to abortion can get logistically more challenging. Later in pregnancy the cost of care goes up, the number of providers goes down, and more restrictions go into effect. Before Roe was overturned, 1 in 10 people traveled for abortion care, now that number has doubled to 1 in 5 people. We know this can feel overwhelming, but this guide will break down each step including how to get financial, logistical and emotional support. You aren’t alone in this.

Our Advanced Search can filter abortion providers that go beyond 20 weeks:

Step 1:

Calculate how many weeks you are here. If you’re unsure, check out our blog How to Calculate How Many Weeks Pregnant You Are.

Step 2:

Make an appointment at the clinic. Use our search feature to find the nearest clinics based on how many weeks pregnant you are.

Step 3:

Ask the clinic to connect you to support for paying for the procedure and travel and or reach out to the organizations who can help (see below).

You need to book an appointment in order to receive support from abortion funds. You do not need to know how you’re going to pay for the procedure or how you’re going to get there when you book your appointment.

Step 4:

Prepare for your trip and review our travel checklist!

Who can help me get to or pay for my abortion appointment after 20 weeks?

The Brigid Alliance helps anyone who is 15 weeks pregnant or more with the travel costs, food, lodging, child care and/or other logistical parts of accessing abortion care (this is also known as “practical support”). First make an appointment with one of their partner clinics. Ask your clinic to make a referral to the Brigid Alliance on your behalf. One of their coordinators will contact you for a confidential conversation within 24-48 hours.

Additionally, there are two national organizations that may cover a portion of the procedure depending on which clinic your appointment is at:

Use our Advanced Search to filter by type of support needed. Check to see if there are organizations who can help in your home state as well as the state where your appointment is.

What are the reasons people get abortions past 20 weeks?

If you’d like to hear about other people’s experiences who had abortions past 20 weeks check out our stories.

People seek abortion later in pregnancy for the same initial reasons they do earlier in pregnancy. However, not everyone is able to get care as soon as they would like. Some people receive important new information later in their pregnancy, like the health of their pregnancy, a fetal indication, or most commonly, that they are pregnant. Later recognition of pregnancy is common, especially for young people and other marginalized groups.

Others experience delays due to circumstances like abortion bans, gestational limits and parental involvement laws. These laws frequently force people to travel hundreds of miles out of state for care. Planning a trip quickly while requesting off work or school, finding childcare and paying for travel and procedure costs can further delay access to abortion services. Further into pregnancy, the cost of abortion care goes up, the number of providers goes down, and more and more restrictions go into effect.

Most people will experience both: they find out new information later in their pregnancy and then are delayed due to barriers.

Whatever your circumstances, all abortion seekers deserve care and support, not judgment.

To learn more about how abortion bans can delay care and why people discover pregnancy later, check out Who Not When.