Research areas

Women seek later abortion care for many different personal reasons. There are several common barriers that often contribute to a delay in receiving care and these barriers can disproportionately impact a woman who needs an abortion later in a pregnancy.

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Clinicians report a range of reasons for continuing to offer later abortions. Most commonly, they report a recognition that later abortion is necessary to preserve the life and health of some women, and an understanding that for many women, particularly vulnerable or economically disadvantaged women, becoming a parent would prove debilitating because of their individual circumstances. This section provides information on clinician experiences, public health issues, and testimonies.

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Later abortion is a safe and effective procedure. The following complications of later abortion have been reported, although rates for these have been very low (less than 5%)

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Opponents of abortion have developed flawed research and restrictive legislation based on inaccurate ideas about abortion. Below are the primary areas in which misinformation continues to be advanced.
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Both surgical and induction abortion in the second trimester are safe and effective. In general, the choice of procedure depends primarily on availability and patient preference. An overview of the protocols of medical and surgical abortion is discussed.

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Since the legalization of abortion in 1973, structural barriers to abortion access have kept it out of reach for many women. Women seeking later abortion are disproportionately impacted by state-level procedure bans based on gestational age, restrictions on insurance coverage, and the limited number of practicing abortion providers.

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