The Supreme Court has taken away the constitutional right to abortion. The decision was made in June 2022, taking away the rights of many people to control their own bodies and make their own personal health care decisions, giving it instead to politicians — leaving many people in other states without access to safe, legal abortion. Many states have already begun to pass highly restrictive bans on abortion and this decision will only increase the number of bans in states across the country.
This might seem like a scary and confusing time, but we are here to help you understand how these laws might affect your ability to get care. Most importantly, we will continue to provide information and resources to help you get abortion care because your health and well-being are our highest priority, no matter where you live.
Planned Parenthood health centers are still open in Pennsylvania and we will do everything we can to provide a full range of sexual and reproductive health care services to as many people as possible — including abortion care.
If you need an abortion, visit abortionfinder.org.
Questions you may have
Can I get an abortion in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Abortion is legal in Pennsylvania.
There are many places you can get an abortion in southeast Pennsylvania and a few places in north, west, and central Pennsylvania. If you aren’t close enough to an abortion clinic, you can also get abortion pills mailed to you at any address in Pennsylvania.
You can learn more about your options here or find an abortion provider here.
I thought abortion was a right in the constitution, what happened?
In the 1973 case, Roe v. Wade, the Court decided that the United States Constitution provides a fundamental "right to privacy" that protects a person's right to choose whether to have an abortion. The constitutional right to privacy comes from the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Due Process Clause does not explicitly state that Americans have a right to privacy. However, the Supreme Court has recognized such a right going all the way back to 1891. This right to privacy also protects the right to contraception, the right to same sex marriage and the right to interracial marriage.
The right to abortion has been tested many times, and until this point, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that right.
This means that states are now able to enact harsher laws and even make abortion completely illegal. Some states have already severely restricted abortion.
The legal right to abortion is a long, complicated story and if you would like to learn more about the most recent case, you can find out more at reproductiverights.org.
How can I get an abortion?
If you’re pregnant and need an abortion, your nearest Planned Parenthood health center or another trusted reproductive health care provider can determine how far along into pregnancy you are and help you understand your options. You can also find an abortion provider at AbortionFinder.org.
If you already have an appointment and need help paying for your abortion, transportation, or other financial needs to get to your appointment, please call 1-800-230-PLAN (7526) to find out about financial help we may be able to provide.
What are my options for getting an abortion?
There are two ways of ending a pregnancy: in-clinic abortion and abortion pills. Both are safe and effective. You can get either option from Planned Parenthood health centers and other health centers. And if you have a mailing address in Pennsylvania, you may be able to have a video or phone visit with a doctor and then have the pills mailed to you.
Do I have to go through a doctor to get abortion pills?
Finding and taking abortion pills to end a pregnancy outside of the health care system is called “self-managed abortion.” Legal abortion provided by a doctor or nurse is the most effective and best-studied way to have an abortion in the U.S., and decades of research show that it’s extremely safe and effective. While self-managed abortion hasn’t been studied as much, there are safe and effective ways to self-manage abortion with pills.
However, in the U.S. it’s illegal to give or get the abortion pills without a prescription. There are potential legal risks to buying abortion pills outside of the health care system. Plan C* has more information about the difference between getting an abortion from a doctor or nurse, like the staff at your local Planned Parenthood, and a self-managed abortion, including legal considerations.
What else do I need to know?
It’s important to be aware of fake health centers — also known as crisis pregnancy centers — which may advertise pregnancy counseling and free ultrasounds, but don’t provide abortion and won’t give you factual information about your options. All the providers on AbortionFinder.org are real.
Remember: if you need an abortion, Planned Parenthood staff can answer your questions, determine how far along your pregnancy is, and help you get the care you need.
We’ll keep providing updates as the situation unfolds. And know this: Planned Parenthood is here with you. We’ll continue to provide quality, essential health care and education, and we’ll never stop fighting for your right to access the care you need.