After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the authority to ban or protect abortion access is now up to the individual states.
Some states are still deciding what abortion access will look like in their state, but the current states that allow abortion with little to no regulation or gestational limit include: Colorado Vermont, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, New Jersey, Alaska, and Washington D.C.
Keep reading to learn more about the current status of abortion access in North Carolina.
Is Abortion Legal in the State of North Carolina?
Abortion is legal up to 20 weeks gestational age, which considered to be the age of viability (when a fetus can survive on its own outside the womb).
Prescriptions for a medication abortion after a telehealth appointment (and not an in-person visit) are illegal in our state.
Where Is Abortion Banned?
A patchwork is evolving across the U.S. landscape of states restricting, banning, or protecting abortion access.
When Roe was overturned, some states had “trigger laws” ready to ban or restrict abortion shortly after the Supreme Court decision. Others are still in the legal process of determining what is allowed and what is not. Other states, like Minnesota, have abortion protected in their state constitution.
Currently, abortion is almost completely banned in about 13 states (many are Southern states). Other states have varying restrictions, such as Florida’s 15-week ban.
The states that have stricter regulations on abortion vary in what their exceptions are. Some states allow for abortion in cases of rape or incest, while others only allow abortion when the woman’s life is endangered by the pregnancy.
Before Scheduling an Abortion
If you are considering an abortion, a best first step is to schedule an ultrasound to gather as much information as you can before scheduling a medical procedure.
At our center, we offer limited obstetric ultrasound to verify the age of the pregnancy, its viability, as well as determine whether or not the pregnancy is ectopic. We are here to offer our support and empower you to make the decision that’s right for you. Contact us today!