The tabs below will provide you with some additional information about access to abortion care in Pennsylvania.

Yes, but there are restrictions

  • It is legal to 24 weeks gestational age (from last menstrual period).
  • Use of state and federal Medical Assistance (MA) Funds are prohibited for abortion services, with exceptions for rape, incest or to avert the death of the pregnant person.
  • A patient is required to undergo mandated counseling from an abortion provider.
  • There is a 24 hour wait before getting an abortion. This waiting period can be waived if health is at risk because of the pregnancy.
  • If under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must give permission to get an abortion or request a judicial bypass to waive the requirement for parental involvement.

There is no Federal constitutional right to an abortion, and the authority over abortion law is now determined by individual states.

Yes, multiple bills have been introduced that would ban or restrict abortion access.

  1. S.B. 378 (Mastriano) H.B. 904 (Borowicz) – 6 week abortion ban.
  2. S.B. 956 (J.Ward) H.B. 2252 (Oberlander) – Would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to remove any statewide judicial protections for abortion.
  3. S.B. 152 (J.Ward) – Would limit funding for family planning services that provide abortion.
  4. H.B. 1500 (Klunk) – Prohibits abortion based on a patient's reason.
  5. S.B. 1872 (Bonner) – Requires patients to receive excess pain relief medication or anesthesia prior to an abortion, in order to direct anesthetic to the fetus.
  • Yes, abortion is safe and common.
  • 1 in 4 women will have had an abortion by the time they turn 45 years old.
  • Abortion is a safe procedure with less health risks than common surgeries, like removing wisdom teeth.
  • 95% of women who had abortions continued to feel confident about their decision.
  • Individuals should consult with a medical professional for further information.
  • Medication abortion is a non-surgical abortion where the patient ends their pregnancy by taking a pill or series of pills.
  • Mifepristone, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000, is used with another medication called misoprostol to end early pregnancy. Mifepristone is well established in medical literature as a safe alternative to surgical abortion.
  • In 2019, 45% of all abortions provided in Pennsylvania were medical abortions.
  • The regimen of pills can be taken safely at home, a method increasingly used around the world.
  • The protocol approved for use in the United States includes two medications. The first one, mifepristone, blocks a hormone called progesterone that is necessary for a pregnancy to continue. The second, misoprostol, brings on uterine contractions.
  • The combination of these pills causes a complete abortion in more than 99 percent of patients.

Although abortion is safe and effective, many women have difficulties accessing care. Barriers to safe legal abortion include

  • Money
  • Travel logistics
  • Limited clinics
  • State restrictions

These factors all result in delayed care, negative mental health consequences, and the consideration of unsafe methods to end a pregnancy. Black and Brown communities and low-income earners are disproportionately impacted.

 

Latest News

Cephas applauds $500,000 funding provided by City of Philadelphia to the Abortion Liberation Fund of Pennsylvania

(1 day ago) Women’s Health Caucus

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8 – State Rep. Morgan Cephas today commended the announcement made by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney of a 500,000 investment by the city to the Abortion Liberation Fund of Pennsylvania. Cephas, who is co-chair of the legislative Women’s Health Caucus, indicated that she is appreciative of the city’s effort because the funds heading to ALF-PA will help to remove barriers for people in need of abortion that cannot afford insurance or pay out-of-pocket for services. “These funds will expand the current capacity of the Abortion Liberation Fund of PA to address critical needs. As co-chair of the Women’s Health Caucus, this is a proud moment. It’s uplifting to know that our voices are being heard and that this issue is being prioritized in Philadelphia”, Cephas said. Cephas also reaffirmed her commitment to strengthen reproductive health care and maintain access to abortion and other reproductive services in the state of Pennsylvania. “Philly has taken a step forward, but much more is needed; we have to keep in mind not only residents of the commonwealth, but also people traveling from other states to Pennsylvania in search of care. I will continue championing for safety and sustained access to the procedure. I hope this investment could also serve as a call to action Read more

PA Women’s Health Caucus applauds defeat of anti-abortion constitutional amendment by Kansas voters

(Aug 03, 2022) Women’s Health Caucus

This victory in Kansas shows the power collective action has in defeating these minority-held, antifreedom policies. We hope this wakeup call will deter the Pennsylvania constitutional amendment from receiving a vote next session, and we can instead focus on legislation that would actually help our constituents like increasing the minimum wage, requiring paid family leave, and requiring insurance coverage for contraceptives. Read more

Policy hearing continues discussion of navigating post-Roe Pennsylvania

(Jul 26, 2022) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

PHILADELPHIA, JULY 26 – The House and Senate Democratic Policy Committees continued a series of hearings Tuesday to further discuss the impacts of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, and what the future of reproductive healthcare looks like in Pennsylvania. Tuesday’s hearing featured testimony from medical professionals and reproductive healthcare advocates. Much of the discussion focused on how lawmakers can help not only sustain abortion access in Pennsylvania, but expand access as well. “We all know that we are in an extremely difficult environment after the decision was made by the Supreme Court. On one hand, we celebrate and acknowledge that abortion access is available and accessible here in the commonwealth. But we also have to recognize that access is under threat every single day,” said Rep. Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia), who co-hosted Tuesday’s hearing. “We have to do our due diligence to understand what the climate is on the ground and better understand how we can better protect and expand that access here in the commonwealth. Dr. Aasta Mehta, a Medical Officer of Women’s Health for the Philadelphia Health Department, testified that Pennsylvania is in the midst of a maternal mortality crisis, one that’s disproportionately impacting Black and low-income people. Dr. Mehta said restricting abortion access will only exacerbate that crisis. “Evidence shows that access to reproductive health services, Read more

Policy hearing identifies facts and fiction of post-Roe Pennsylvania

(Jul 19, 2022) Women’s Health Caucus

The House and Senate Policy Committees convened a hearing Tuesday morning to explore what the future of healthcare looks like in Pennsylvania after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade. Read more

Vice President Harris joins House & Senate Democrats to protect the rights of citizens

(Jul 17, 2022) Rep. Joanna E. McClinton, Rep. Morgan B. Cephas, Rep. Mary Jo Daley

Harris traveled to Philadelphia Saturday to meet with more than three dozen state House and Senate Democrats, plus members of the state’s congressional delegation, to join the lawmakers in a call to action and to discuss the relentless effort of right-wing extremists to take away rights, starting with the right to abortion and reproductive health care. Read more

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