Traveling Out of State for an Abortion: Is it Difficult?

With the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, getting an abortion may be more difficult than it was before, depending on where you live.

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, but abortion access is limited in your state, read this article to understand what steps you should consider before traveling out of state for an abortion, such as the physical risks, associated costs, and legal restrictions.

What Are the Current Laws in Your State? 

Ever since the historic ruling by the Supreme Court that handed the authority back to each state to regulate abortion access for themselves, it has been difficult to keep up with the changing regulations across the U.S. 

Currently, in the state of Illinois, abortion is legal up to the point of viability unless the woman’s health is at risk. However, it is always a good idea to take health screenings, such as an ultrasound, before an abortion. 

Without this important scan, you don’t know if the pregnancy is still viable or is located within your uterus (an ectopic pregnancy), requiring treatments other than abortion.

At Waterleaf Women’s Center, we offer no-cost ultrasounds or you can give us a call so we can help you understand what your options are in your location.

What Logistics Should I Consider? 

Traveling out of state for an abortion can be an emotionally taxing effort. It’s also important to consider the expense of travel and lodging. Depending on how far you have to travel, you should consider the distance, where you will stay, and the cost of a hotel and gas. 

Additionally, you’ll want to consider the expense of the abortion. Without healthcare, abortions can be up to $500 for the medication abortion and as much as several thousand dollars. 

What Are the Risks of an Abortion? 

In addition to the logistical difficulty of traveling out of state for an abortion, you’ll also want to understand the different risks associated with the different types of procedures.

Risks of a Surgical Abortion

According to the Mayo Clinic, the risks include:

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

Risks of the Abortion Pill

According to the Mayo Clinic, potential risks of medical abortion include:

• Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
• An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive system discomfort

How far along your pregnancy is will also affect which procedure you are eligible for. For example, the abortion pill is only FDA- approved for up to 10 weeks of gestational age. Another benefit of ultrasound is that it will also verify how far along you are.

At Waterleaf Women’s Center, we offer no-cost ultrasounds and pregnancy tests which will show you immediate results.

Next Steps

At Waterleaf Women’s Center, we offer no-cost pregnancy services to women who are Illinois residents or from out of state. We also can provide cost estimates for traveling to Illinois for an abortion procedure over the phone or an in-person appointment. We provide a safe, pressure-free environment for you to gather more information and ask questions about the pregnancy process. Contact us today!