Abortion Legal Rights & Privacy: Protect Yourself, Avoid Fake Clinics & Get Legal Help

How do I avoid fake abortion clinics (crisis pregnancy centers)?

A Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC) is a place created to stop pregnant people from getting abortions. They may offer you a free pregnancy test or free ultrasound, but they're actually fake clinics that may give you incorrect information about your options. For example, they might tell you you're past the limit for when you can get an abortion when you're actually not.

They're made to look like real health centers, but most are not licensed and don't provide health care or have real doctors on staff. Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are anti-abortion organizations that say their goal is giving information about pregnancy options. However, they often lie or give misleading information to trick people into not getting abortions. CPCs are usually run by volunteers with no medical training, and their centers are not regulated like real clinics are. They often buy buildings close to real abortion providers and use similar names or signs to confuse people looking for real abortion services.

How to spot them: They may call their business a "pregnancy resource center," "pregnancy help center," "pregnancy care center," "women's resource center," or "abortion alternative." They may advertise free pregnancy tests, abortion counseling, pre-abortion screenings, or after-abortion help — but refuse to help you get an abortion. They may say bad things about abortion, birth control, condoms, or sex. They may also lie to you about how far along you are, to get you to think you cannot legally get an abortion even if you still can. They may advertise "abortion pill reversal" or say you can "reverse" an abortion. This isn't true. They may say abortion is unsafe, or that it leads to cancer, infertility, or mental health problems. This also isn't true — abortion is one of the safest medical procedures, and it does not increase the risk of cancer, infertility, or mental health problems.

Where can I get answers to legal questions about abortion?

A quick, easy, and free way to answer your legal questions is to talk to someone at the Repro Legal Helpline. They are a group of lawyers who work on abortion issues. Legal services are free and confidential. The helpline covers US laws only; including state abortion laws, self-managed abortion, miscarriage management and abortion denials, advanced provision (getting abortion pills before you're pregnant, just in case you need them in the future), and judicial bypass. They also offer legal support for young people who cannot or do not want to involve their parents in their abortion decision. They respond to voicemails and messages sent through a secure online form. They respond to all questions within 2 business days, and legal emergencies as soon as possible (and always within 24 hours).

How do I protect my privacy when searching for abortion information online?

There are steps you can take to protect your privacy. When using a shared computer or phone, some people who don't want others to know they looked at abortion information remove the page from their browser history or use "incognito" or private browsing to look at abortion information. Think about using a VPN, "incognito" or "private" browsing as you look into abortion options. You may also delete your browser history after you are done looking online.

You do not need to tell anyone that you took abortion pills, even if you need to visit a medical provider for follow-up care. You can simply say that you are having a miscarriage. There are no blood or urine tests that can detect abortion pills. Visit reprolegalhelpline.org/internet-safety to learn more.

Can someone tell if I've had an abortion from a medical exam or test?

No. With abortion pills, there are no blood or urine tests that can detect mifepristone or misoprostol. If you need follow-up care after a medication abortion and you're worried about getting in trouble, you don't need to tell the healthcare provider that you took abortion pills. There's no way for a healthcare provider to tell the difference between a medication abortion and a natural miscarriage unless you took the pills vaginally and have some small pieces left in your body. This is only likely to happen if you seek care within a few hours after taking pills. Abortion procedures also do not leave any telltale signs, in most cases. In rare cases, abortion may cause scar tissue in the uterus, but other things can cause that. Your doctor cannot tell with certainty if you have been pregnant before.

Remember it's your decision whether to keep your abortion private or share it with trusted people.

Can having an abortion get me in trouble?

The legal risk of getting an abortion depends on the laws in the state you receive care. In some places, abortion care is legally protected and won't cause issues, while in others, there may be restrictions. It's important to know the laws where you live. Most states that restrict abortion typically make it a crime for healthcare providers to provide an abortion to someone else, but it is generally not a crime to have an abortion. You also have the option to travel to another state. If you're concerned, you can chat with Charley to learn about your options and find trusted resources that can help.