How Far Along Can You Get an Abortion?
- Abortion regulations differ from area to area. While some countries or states prohibit abortion, most governments limit abortions to the first trimester or until the baby is viable outside the womb (24 weeks). Some regions have no gestational limit. For detailed information on your country, see below.
- While the abortion pill is usually restricted to the first nine weeks (LMP), in-clinic abortions are medically possible throughout the pregnancy.
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What Is the Time Limit for Having an Abortion? - International Overview
Threshold restrictions for abortions vary from country to country and state to state. Here is an overview of the gestational limit for each country:
The weeks of pregnancy are counted from the last menstrual period (LMP). This is the same as gestational age (GA). The actual fetal age (Conceptional Age - CA) would be two weeks less.
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USA:
- Alabama
- Abortion has been prohibited in Alabama since 2022. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.
- Alaska
- There is no gestational limit for abortion in Alaska.
- Arizona
- Abortion is permitted in Arizona until the 15th week of pregnancy.
- Arkansas
- Abortion has been prohibited in Arkansas since 2022. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.
- California
- Abortion is permitted in California until the fetus reaches viability outside the womb (24 weeks).
- Colorado
- There is no gestational limit for abortion in Colorado.
- Connecticut
- Abortion is permitted in Connecticut until the 24th week of pregnancy (viability).
- Delaware
- Abortion is permitted in Delaware until viability (24th week of)
- Florida
- Abortion is permitted in Florida until the 15th week of pregnancy.
- Georgia
- Abortion is permitted in Georgia until the 6th week of pregnancy.
- Hawaii
- Abortion is permitted in Hawaii until the fetus reaches viability (24 weeks).
- Idaho
- Abortion has been prohibited in Idaho since 2022.
- Illinois
- Abortion is permitted in Illinios until the fetus reaches viability (24 weeks).
- Indiana
- Abortion is permitted in Indiana until the 22nd week of pregnancy.
- Iowa
- Abortion is permitted in Iowa until the 22nd week of pregnancy.
- Kansas
- Abortion is permitted until the 22nd week of pregnancy in Kansas.
- Kentucky
- Abortion has been prohibited in Kentucky since 2022. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.
- Louisiana
- Abortion is prohibited in the State of Louisiana.
- Maine
- Abortion is permitted in Maine until the fetus reaches viability. (24 weeks).
- Maryland
- Abortion is permitted in Maryland until the fetus reaches viability (24 weeks).
- Massachusetts
- Abortion is permitted in Massachusetts until the 24th week of pregnancy.
- Michigan
- Abortion is permitted in Michigan until the fetus reaches viability (24 weeks).
- Minnesota
- Abortion is permitted in Minnesota until the fetus reaches viability (24 weeks).
- Mississippi
- Abortion has been prohibited in Mississippi since 2022. There is an exception for rape but not for incest.
- Missouri
- Abortion has been prohibited in Missouri since 2022. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.
- Montana
- Abortion is permitted in Montana until viability (24 weeks).
- Nebraska
- Abortion is permitted in Nebraska until the 22nd week of pregnancy.
- Nevada
- Abortion is permitted until the 24th week of pregnancy in Nevada.
- New Hampshire
- Abortion is permitted until the 24th week of pregnancy in New Hampshire.
- New Jersey
- There is no gestational limit for abortion in New Jersey.
- New Mexico
- There is no gestational limit for abortion in the state of New Mexico.
- New York
- Abortion is permitted until viability (24 weeks) in the state of New York.
- North Carolina
- Abortion is permitted in North Carolina until the 20th week of pregnancy.
- North Dakota
- Abortion is permitted in North Dakota until the 22nd week of pregnancy.
- Ohio
- Abortion is permitted in Ohio until the 22nd week of pregnancy.
- Oklahoma
- Abortion has been prohibited in Oklahoma since 2022.
- Oregon
- There is no gestational limit for abortion in Oregon.
- Pennsylvania
- Abortion is permitted until the 24th week of pregnancy in Pennsylvania.
- Rhode Island
- Abortion is permitted until viability (24 weeks) in Rhode Island.
- South Carolina
- Abortion is permitted until the 22nd week of pregnancy in South Carolina.
- South Dakota
- Abortion has been prohibited in South Dakota since 2022. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.
- Tennessee
- Abortion has been prohibited in Tennessee since 2022. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.
- Texas
- Abortion has been prohibited in Texas since 2022. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.
- Utah
- Abortion is permitted in Utah until the 18th week of pregnancy.
- Vermont
- There is no gestational limit for abortion in Vermont.
- Virginia
- Abortion is permitted in the first two trimesters (until 26 weeks +6 days) in Virginia.
- Washington
- Abortion is permitted until the fetus reaches viability (24 weeks) in Washington.
- Washington DC
- There is no gestational limit for abortion in the city of Washington DC.
- District of Columbia
- No gestational limit
- West Virginia
- Abortion has been prohibited in West Virginia since 2022.
- Wisconsin
- Abortion has been prohibited in Wisconsin since 2022.
- Wyoming
- Abortion is permitted until viability (24 weeks) in Wyoming.
- Alabama
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British Isles
- Great Britain
- Abortion is permitted in Great Britain until the 24th week of pregnancy.
- Northern Ireland
- Abortion is permitted in Northern Ireland until the 24th week of pregnancy.
- Republic of Ireland
- Abortion is permitted in Ireland during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- Great Britain
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Commonwealth of Australia
- Australian Capital Territory
- There is no gestational limit for abortion in the Australian Capital Territory.
- New South Wales
- Abortion is permitted in New South Wales until the 22nd week of pregnancy and legal until birth with the approval of two doctors.
- Northern Territory
- Abortion is permitted in the Northern Territory until the 14th week with one doctor’s approval and the 22nd week with the approval of two doctors.
- Queensland
- Abortion is permitted in Queensland until the 22nd week of pregnancy and legal until birth with approval by two doctors.
- South Australia
- Abortion is lawful until 22 weeks and 6 days in South Australia.
- Tasmania
- Abortion is permitted in Tasmania until the 16th week of pregnancy.
- Victoria
- Abortion is permitted in Victoria until the 24th week of pregnancy and legal until birth with the approval of two doctors.
- Western Australia
- Abortion is permitted in Western Australia until the 20th week of pregnancy.
- Australian Capital Territory
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- Canada
- There is no gestational limit to abortion in Canada. No Canadian abortion provider performs abortions past 24 weeks. The availability differs from state to state:
- Alberta
- Abortion is available in Alberta until the 20th week of pregnancy.
- British Columbia
- Abortion is available in British Columbia until 24w+6d.
- Manitoba
- Abortion is available in Manitoba until the 16th week of pregnancy.
- New Brunswick
- Abortion is available in New Brunswick until the 16th week of pregnancy.
- Newfoundland
- Abortion is available in Newfoundland until the 16th week of pregnancy.
- Northwest Territories
- Abortion is available in the Northwest Territories until the 20th week of pregnancy.
- Nova Scotia
- Abortion is available in Nova Scotia until the 16th week of pregnancy.
- Prince Edward Island
- Abortion is available on Prince Edward Island until the 12th week of pregnancy.
- Nunavut
- Abortion is available in Nunavut until 19w+6d.
- Ontario
- Abortion is available in Ontario until 23w+6d.
- Quebec
- Abortion is available in Quebec until the 24th week of pregnancy.
- Saskatchewan
- Abortion is available in Saskatchewan until 18w+6d.
- Yukon
- Abortion is available in Yukon until 12w+6d.
- Canada
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- New Zealand
- Abortion is permitted in New Zealand until the 20th week of pregnancy.
- South Africa
- Abortion is permitted in South Africa until the 12th week of pregnancy.
- New Zealand
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- Austria
- Brazil
- Cambodia
- Abortion is permitted in Cambodia until the 12th week of pregnancy.
- Germany
- Italy
- Portugal
- Mexico
- Abortion is permitted in Mexico in certain regions until the 12th week of pregnancy: Mexico City, Oaxaca, Coahuila, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Colima, Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Guerrero.
- The Netherlands
- Abortion is permitted in the Netherlands until the 24th week of pregnancy. A five-day waiting period is required before getting an abortion.
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Abortion is permitted until the 12th week of pregnancy.
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Fetal Defect Abortion
Unbiased Coaching for Your Decision
- Exceptions for later abortions are made in most countries. For more information, go to Late-Term Abortions.
While abortions are unrestricted in some countries, many abortion clinics do not provide abortions beyond the first 13 weeks. This is because they are not equipped to perform more complicated abortion methods used in late-term abortions. Medication Abortions can be performed within the first nine weeks of gestation. Vacuum aspirations are usually not performed past the 14th week.
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- ⚠️ Remember to check wait times and ultrasound requirements for your area. These would need to take place before the time limit for abortion is reached.
I Still Have Time - What’s Next?
There are probably many unanswered questions going through your mind. You may be unsure of where to go from here while desiring to make a decision that leaves you without regrets…
Your thoughts matter because your life matters!
Go to Unplanned Pregnancy - Now What? for practical steps and advice.
This is a difficult road to travel. You probably feel overwhelmed, stuck, and abandoned. You are not alone! Allow us to walk alongside you as you determine which path is right for you. Our judgment-free resources are tailor-made for your situation. Why not give them a try?
- ⚖️ Abortion: Yes or No? - Take the Abortion Test!
- 💡 Dealing with a specific issue? Take the Solutions Finder Test!
FAQs
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Abortion regulations differ from region to region. While abortion is banned in some states, others have set deadlines such as the detection of fetal heartbeat (6 weeks), the end of the first trimester (12 weeks), or viability outside the womb (24 weeks). Some regions have no gestational limit for abortion. Here, abortion is permitted throughout pregnancy.
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Time limits depend on gestational limits as well as abortion methods. Each surgical abortion method has a different time limit: Vacuum aspirations and D&Cs are possible until the 16th week of pregnancy. D&Es are most commonly performed between weeks 10 and 20. D&X and induction abortions can be done up until birth.
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Depending on the country, the abortion pill is either limited to the 9th or 10th week of pregnancy counting from the last menstrual period. Australia, UK, Ireland, and South Africa limit the use of the abortion pill to the 9th week of pregnancy. The USA, New Zealand, and Canada limit its use to the 10th week of pregnancy. After the 10th week, risks and side effects increase drastically.