6-Week Abortion Ban Triggered

Yes. Here in Florida, abortion is still legal and you can still access abortion care.

However, on April 1st, the Florida Supreme Court upheld the state's 15-week abortion ban, triggering the 6-week ban. Starting May 1st, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida will no longer provide abortion care for patients who are more than 6 weeks pregnant, unless they meet a statutory exception. 

No. It is illegal in Florida for anyone other than a doctor to perform an abortion.

Yes, abortion is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy. The abortion bans being passed have nothing to do with patient health or safety.  

Millions of people face unplanned pregnancies every year, and about 4 out of 10 of them decide to get an abortion. 

Serious complications from abortion are really rare. Having an abortion doesn’t increase your risk for breast cancer or affect your fertility. It doesn’t cause problems for future pregnancies or pose any risk to your overall health.  

At this point, the 6-week ban is not in effect and abortion is still safe, legal, and accessible in Florida for up to 15 weeks of gestation. On April 1, 2024 the Florida Supreme Court upheld the state's 15-week abortion ban, triggering the 6-week ban. Starting May 1st, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida will no longer provide abortion care for patients who are more than 6 weeks pregnant, unless they meet a statutory exception. 

When patients come to us for care but are past the legal limit for getting an abortion in Florida, our Patient Navigators may be able to to help them find care, depending on their needs and the resources available..  

As always, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida will comply with the law, even when we believe it to be unjust and unconstitutional. We remain focused on providing safe, comprehensive care to as many patients as possible. We will continue to follow the law, adjust to these new restrictions, and assess the shifting litigation moment by moment.

The 15-week ban allows for limited exceptions if carrying the pregnancy to term would result in serious injury or death for the mother or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. There are no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.   

The 6-week ban offers the same exceptions as the 15-week ban, with the addition of allowing for abortions in the case of rape, incest, and human trafficking. The Florida Supreme Court upheld the state's 15-week abortion ban, triggering the 6-week ban. Starting May 1st, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida will no longer provide abortion care for patients who are more than 6 weeks pregnant, unless they meet a statutory exception. 

Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida will comply with all laws and regulations while the 15-week ban is in effect and when the 6-week ban is implemented. We will connect patients with our Patient Navigator to coordinate their care as available and as needed.

Yes, in Florida abortion is still legal for everyone up to 15-weeks, after that there are very limited exceptions. The Florida Supreme Court upheld the state's 15-week abortion ban, triggering the 6-week ban. Starting May 1st, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida will no longer provide abortion care for patients who are more than 6 weeks pregnant, unless they meet a statutory exception. When patients come to us for care but are past the legal limit for getting an abortion in Florida, our Patient Navigators may be able to help them navigate their care needs. 

All of our health centers are open and providing care to ensure that patients have access to safe, legal abortion and the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care. Our health care team has been working to increase access to services to meet our patients’ needs.      

Our Patient Navigators are working in partnership with other abortion providers throughout the United States to help patients get abortion care however we can.    

We are working in partnership with Floridians Protecting Freedom and the Yes on 4 campaign, the citizen-led abortion ballot initiative Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion. If successful, this amendment will constitutionally protect Floridians’ freedom to access abortion. To learn how you can get involved with this group directly and support our efforts to protect abortion access, you can click here to visit FloridiansProtectingFreedom.com.  

If you need abortion care, please make an appointment with Planned Parenthood or visit AbortionFinder.org.    

We will continue to explore all options, and we will keep this page updated on the status of these laws and what they mean for you.   

And we won't give up. Not now. Not ever.  

Visit act.ppswcf.org to find ways you can help. We appreciate your support and couldn’t do this work without you!