Accessing Abortion in NC

If you’re thinking through your decision, you can review Planned Parenthood’s page on considering abortion. 

If you or someone you know is a patient seeking an abortion and you have questions, or want to know about available resources, The National Abortion Federation hotline can help. You can talk to someone on the phone or using their online chat function.

Before scheduling your appointment, it would be helpful to know the date of your last period. This is how clinics measure how far along you are in your pregnancy, or your “gestational age,” which may limit your options due to legal restrictions.

The following restrictions on abortion are in effect in North Carolina as of June 2024:

• Prior to receiving an abortion, you must go to an in-person appointment and receive an ultrasound and state-directed counseling that includes information designed to discourage you from having an abortion. You then have to wait 72 hours after the counseling appointment to receive the abortion. 
• Abortions after 12 weeks are only allowed in cases of rape, incest, after the diagnosis of a “life-limiting” fetal anomaly, or when there is a “medical emergency.” Abortions in the case of rape or incest can be performed up to 20 weeks. Abortions in the case of fetal anomaly can be performed up to 24 weeks.
• Public funding and state insurance plans can only cover abortion in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest.
• The state prohibits abortions performed for the purpose of sex selection or based on suspicion of Down Syndrome.

North Carolina has 14 abortion providers in 9 counties. You can find the closest one to you using AbortionFinder.org. It will ask you to input the date of your last period to determine which clinics offer abortion at your stage of pregnancy.  

It is critical that you find a reputable and safe abortion provider. If a clinic is not listed in the finder above, it may be a Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC). CPCs are fake abortion clinics that are designed to dissuade people from obtaining an abortion. They engage in varied manipulation tactics, including misleading advertisements and medically inaccurate information, to target vulnerable people.  

Read more about how to avoid fake clinics

Different types of abortion are available to you depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy.  

• Medication abortion is typically available up to 8-11 weeks, depending on the provider. It’s most effective for pregnancies under 8 weeks. It consists of two pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, which you take 48 hours apart. You may experience some bleeding and cramping. This is normal and can usually be managed at home.
• In-clinic abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. There are a couple kinds of in-clinic abortion procedures, and many factors may impact which is right for you. You can discuss these options with your provider. Suction abortion is the most common type of in-clinic abortion. It uses suction to empty your uterus. It’s typically available between about 5 weeks and about 16 weeks. 

Some providers have an online appointment scheduler, while some require you to call the clinic. Keep in mind potential wait times for appointment availability. Some clinics only perform abortions on certain days of the week. When you call, be prepared to answer some questions, such as when your last period started. You can find contact information for your closest abortion clinic at AbortionFinder.org.  

If you are under 18 and have decided to get an abortion in North Carolina, you have two options. First is that one of your parents, a legal guardian, a grandparent with whom you have lived for at least six months, or a person who you live with who stands in loco parentis (meaning that they have parent-like responsibility for you) gives you permission to get an abortion -- this is generally called “parental consent.” If that isn’t possible, or you don’t want to ask them, then there is a second option, called “judicial waiver.” A judicial waiver is getting a judge’s permission to get an abortion without involving a parent. That may sound intimidating, but we are here to help. 

Learn more about getting an abortion as a minor

Abortions after 12 weeks can be performed in cases of rape, incest, after the diagnosis of a “life-limiting” fetal anomaly, or when there is a “medical emergency.” In these cases, the abortion must be performed in a hospital. 

The law does NOT require that you report the rape to police before you can get an abortion. Abortion providers are required to report all abortions after 12 weeks but your name or identifying information will never be reported. Your information will remain confidential. It is your decision only whether to report rape to law enforcement.

If you have experienced sexual violence and need extra support beyond abortion services, you can find your local rape crisis center through this search function from the NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) also has a national 24-hour hotline you can reach over the phone or by online chat. For assistance with intimate partner violence, you can search here for local domestic violence service providers. Many of these centers have hotlines you can call for assistance and support. 

The average cost in North Carolina is $300–$600 for a first trimester abortion (up to 12 weeks). Second trimester abortions (between 13 weeks and viability) could cost much more. When you call to make your appointment, the provider should be able to tell you how much you will have to pay.  

Some private insurance plans cover abortion care. In North Carolina, health plans offered for public employees and under the Affordable Care Act can only cover abortion in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest. 

If you’re concerned about your ability to pay for your abortion, you can ask your provider if they have any financial assistance available. Some clinics also offer discounts under certain circumstances, like if you can pay on the day of service.  

For more support and financial assistance, you can also contact the Carolina Abortion Fund. They can help you identify all the costs associated with your care and may be able to provide you with financial assistance.

If you are currently 15 weeks pregnant or more and you need help with travel, food, child care or other logistical aspects of accessing abortion care that Carolina Abortion Fund is unable to assist you with, you can contact the Brigid Alliance.

Many providers will require you to bring someone to help you get home after an in-clinic abortion, particularly if sedation will be required. You can ask someone from the clinic what their requirements are and how long the appointment is expected to take. Consider if there is someone in your life you can share your plan with and ask if they will accompany you.  

If you are planning to go alone, or if your support person is unable to drive you, check your local public transportation (bus, train, etc) in advance to be sure you can get home. You can also take an Uber, Lyft, or another ride share app or taxi company. You will not be able to drive yourself home. 

• Depending on appointment scheduling and how you are feeling, you may have to take time off work to get an abortion and to recover from the procedure. Additionally, because only 9 counties in North Carolina have an abortion clinic, you may have to travel to your appointment. If you're getting an abortion with Planned Parenthood, their patient navigator may be able to help you with your travel needs. When you make your appointment, you can ask what help may be available to you or email [email protected]. Some abortion funds and other financial resources may be able to help with the financial concerns beyond paying for the appointment. 
• If you have children, some clinics allow you to bring them with you to your appointment, but you should check beforehand if this is allowed. It may be necessary to arrange child care (see Cost and payment options for information on financial support for child care).  
• You can also consider what type of emotional support you may need before, during, and after the procedure. Are there people in your life who you can safely talk to about your feelings? Hey Jane has written a guide on telling people about your abortion. If you can’t talk to anyone in your life, there are hotlines you can call to receive support. Exhale is a confidential textline that provides emotional support after an abortion. 
• Unfortunately, there may be protesters outside of the abortion clinic when you come in for your appointment. They may shout at you or try to hand you literature. Security and trespassing laws vary by clinic. Many clinics have volunteer escorts who will walk you from your car and shield you from protesters. Sometimes these escorts will wear special vests to identify themselves. Pro-Choice NC also has some information on dealing with protesters on this page.