📖 This article provides information on late-term abortions (e.g., gestational limits and abortion methods).
A late-term abortion is understood as a termination of pregnancy performed after the first trimester (i.e., after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy). According to CDC's Abortion Surveillance 2021 statistics, 6.6% of US abortions are performed after week 13. Theoretically, abortions are possible up until birth. A distinction is usually made between:
*Viability is the stage at which survival outside the womb is possible.
If you live in an area with a threshold restriction for late-term abortions, specific reasons must be provided that allow for an exception.
If a doctor deems an abortion necessary to save the mother's life, abortion is permitted in most countries, even where abortion is illegal. Other indications that may allow for a late abortion are socioeconomic, the health of the mother, fetal anomalies, rape, or incest.
This table provides you with information on late-term abortion exceptions in your region. The numbers indicate the time limit for abortion in weeks of gestation, counting from your last menstrual period (LMP), according to the specific reason provided.
Region | Regular Limit | Fetal Defect | Rape | Mother's Health | Mother's Life |
Alabama | banned | banned | banned | banned | unlimited |
Alaska | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
Arizona | 15 Weeks LMP | 15 Weeks LMP | 15 Weeks LMP | 15 Weeks LMP | Unlimited |
Arkansas | banned | banned | banned | permitted beyond viabilty | unlimited |
California | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
Colorado | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
Connecticut | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
Delaware | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
Florida | 6 Weeks LMP | unlimited | extended | extended | unlimited |
Georgia | 6 Weeks LMP | 6 Weeks LMP | extended | 6 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Hawaii | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
Idaho | banned | banned | permitted | banned | unlimited |
Illinois | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
Indiana | banned | 20 weeks | 14 weeks if under 16; 10 weeks if 16 or older | permitted | unlimited |
Iowa | 6 weeks (Fetal Heartbeat) | permitted | Rape: within 45 days of incidence Incest: within 140 days | permitted but highly restricted | unlimited |
Kansas | 22 Weeks LMP | 22 Weeks LMP | 22 Weeks LMP | 22 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Kentucky | banned | banned | banned | banned | unlimited |
Louisiana | banned | permitted | banned | banned | unlimited |
Maine | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
Maryland | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
Massachus | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Michigan | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Minnesota | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
Mississippi | banned | banned | permitted | banned | unlimited |
Missouri | banned | banned | banned | banned | unlimited |
Montana | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
Nebraska | 12 Weeks LMP | permitted | 12 Weeks LMP | 12 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Nevada | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
N. Hampsh. | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
New Jersey | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
N. Mexico | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
New York | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
N. Carolina | 12 Weeks LMP | permitted | permitted | 12 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
N. Dakota | banned | banned | banned | banned | unlimited |
Ohio | viability | viability | viability | unlimited (12/08/23) | unlimited |
Oklahoma | banned | banned | banned | banned | unlimited |
Oregon | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
Pennsylv. | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Rhode Is. | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
S. Carolina | 6 Weeks LMP | permitted | permitted | permitted | unlimited |
S. Dakota | banned | banned | banned | banned | unlimited |
Tennessee | banned | banned | banned | banned | unlimited |
Texas | banned | banned | banned | banned | unlimited |
Utah | 18 Weeks LMP | 18 Weeks LMP | 18 Weeks LMP | 18 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Vermont | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
Virginia | 26w + 6d LMP | 28 Weeks LMP | 28 Weeks LMP | 28 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Washington | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
Wash. DC | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
W. Virginia | banned | banned | banned | banned | unlimited |
Wisconsin | banned | banned | banned | banned | unlimited |
Wyoming | viability | viability | viability | viability | unlimited |
Region | Regular Limit | Fetal Defect | Rape | Mother's Health | Mother's Life |
Great Britain | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Northern Ireland | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Ireland | 12 Weeks LMP | 15 Weeks LMP | 12 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | Unlimited |
Region | Regular Limit | Fetal Defect | Rape | Mother's Health | Mother's Life |
ACT | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
NSW | 22 Weeks LMP | unlimited | 22 Weeks LMP | 22 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
NT | 14 Weeks LMP | 23 Weeks LMP | 23 Weeks LMP | 23 Weeks LMP | Unlimited |
QLD | 22 Weeks LMP | 22 Weeks LMP | 22 Weeks LMP | 22 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
SA (2022) | 22w + 6d LMP | unlimited | 22w + 6d LMP | unlimited | unlimited |
TAS | 16 Weeks LMP | 16 Weeks LMP | 16 Weeks LMP | 16 Weeks LMP | Unlimited |
VIC | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
WA | 20 Weeks LMP | 20 Weeks LMP | 20 Weeks LMP | 20 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
While abortion is unrestricted throughout Canada, availability differs from state to state. Here you can find out until when abortion is offered in your region:
Region | Available Until |
---|---|
Alberta | 20 Weeks LMP |
British Columbia | 24w + 6d LMP |
Manitoba | 16 Weeks LMP |
New Brunswick | 16 Weeks LMP |
Newfoundland & Labrador | 16 Weeks LMP |
Northwest Territories | 20 Weeks LMP |
Nova Scotia | 16 Weeks LMP |
Nunavut | 19w + 6d LMP |
Ontario | 23w + 6d LMP |
Prince Edward Island | 12 Weeks LMP |
Quebec | 24 Weeks LMP |
Saskatchewan | 18w + 6d LMP |
Yukon | 12w + 6d LMP |
Region | Regular Limit | Socio-economic Reasons | Fetal Defect | Rape / Mother's Health | Mother's Life |
New Zealand | 20 Weeks LMP | 20 Weeks LMP | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
South Africa | 13 Weeks LMP | 20 Weeks LMP | unlimited | 20 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Region | Regular Limit | Fetal Defect | Rape | Mother's Health | Mother's Life |
Cambodia | 12 Weeks LMP | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
Mexico | 15 Weeks LMP | possible | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
Netherlands | 24 Weeks LMP | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited | 24 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
Thailand | 12 Weeks LMP | 20 Weeks LMP | 20 Weeks LMP | 20 Weeks LMP | unlimited |
2nd and 3rd Trimester Abortions
Abnormal findings or detection of disability would make you feel like your world has been flipped upside down. Dreams and plans come to a standstill as the situation takes on an enormous weight.
It is natural to desire your child to be healthy—this shows you care!
Maybe you just had a stressful experience at a prenatal examination and came upon this article hoping to find clear answers.
🩺 Facing the question of whether to have a fetal defect abortion or not? – Take the Self-Assessment!
🕰 If you are facing this decision, you probably still have time to envision several different scenarios of what your future could look like.
However, many women say they feel like they are running a marathon—battling their hopes and fears. Your medical provider may have also given the impression that you must decide and act quickly.
But, especially now, take the time to carefully consider every possible step.
Ask yourself: What do I want? Who has my back? What are my long-term goals?
Should a woman fall within the spectrum of exceptions and choose to pursue a late termination of pregnancy, the following steps can be expected:
Late terminations of pregnancy, performed after the first trimester, require their own methods. Neither medical abortions via the abortion pill, D&Cs, nor vacuum aspirations are used past the first 12–14 weeks.
Three methods are available for late-term abortions:
Before using this procedure in the US, the fetus must be given an injection to stop its heartbeat. It is then delivered feet first, with the head remaining inside the woman’s body. Scissors are inserted in the back of the fetus' neck creating a hole. The baby’s brain is then suctioned out and the head collapsed, reducing the head circumference for removal.
This procedure can be performed in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
🏥 Abortion Methods: What do I need to know? — Take the Test!
You may be facing the decision of whether to have a late-term abortion. Your pregnancy may have taken an unexpected turn. This is something you could not have foreseen. Or perhaps you only just found out you were pregnant. Since you are already beyond the first three months of pregnancy, you are now considering a late termination of pregnancy…
Several aspects play a role in making a late-term abortion more difficult than an early termination:
🛤 Are you concerned whether an abortion could affect you long term? — Take the Test
You are probably under immense pressure right now. Many women in your shoes have had the experience that the people around them felt at a loss for words and did not know how to respond.
You were probably also met with a sense of helplessness, given unsolicited advice, or received some harsh judgment. In all likelihood, your worries have fallen on deaf ears.
You have not been given a safe place to voice your concerns, fears, and aspirations .
Our desire for you is that you would not be left stranded but that you would receive the care you deserve. That is why we have compiled resources that are tailor-made for your situation.
It is estimated that 10–15% of abortions worldwide happen after the first trimester (Reproductive Health Matters, 2010).
In 2021, 5.7% of abortions in the US were performed in the second trimester, and 0.9% of abortions were performed within the third trimester (CDC Report 2023).