Abortion pill eligibility depends on three factors: your local laws, personal health status, and your pregnancy’s gestational age. Keep reading to find out how you can determine your options.
1. Your Local Laws
Legality can go hand-in-hand with safety. Seeking an illegal abortion can lead to greater risks, so it’s essential to observe the laws in your area.
Our state, New Mexico, allows abortion at any time during pregnancy. If you’re considering traveling to New Mexico for an abortion, make sure to read our abortion safety checklist.
We can also provide free limited ultrasounds, STI testing, and information on your options. No payment is needed for an appointment.
2. Your Personal Health Status
Mayo Clinic says medical abortion is not an option for women who…
- Are too far along in pregnancy (See Factor #3)
- Have an intrauterine device (IUD) currently in place
- Have a suspected pregnancy outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy)*
- Have certain medical conditions, including bleeding disorders, certain heart or blood vessel diseases; severe liver, kidney, or lung disease; or an uncontrolled seizure disorder
- Take a blood thinner or certain steroid medicines
- Can’t make follow-up visits to the provider or have access to emergency care
- Have an allergy to the drugs used
If these apply, you might not be eligible for the abortion pill (medical abortion). Instead, an abortion provider might recommend a surgical abortion.
*Note: If you have an ectopic pregnancy, you will need an emergency procedure to remove the non-viable pregnancy. This condition is not considered an abortion or treated with abortion pills.
3. Your Pregnancy’s Gestational Age
Your pregnancy’s gestational age is how long you have been pregnant.
The FDA has only approved medical abortion through the first ten weeks of pregnancy. After this timeframe, an abortion provider might consider surgical abortion to be a safer option for you. The only way to find out how far along you are is with an ultrasound scan.
Receive a Free Ultrasound Scan
Visit Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Albuquerque for a free pregnancy test and limited ultrasound scan. An ultrasound scan will measure your pregnancy’s gestational age and screen for miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
We’re here to help whether you’re a New Mexico resident or from out of state. Schedule for free today!