When I first heard that Carafem was launching their telehealth services in Iowa it was a huge relief. Like most states, abortion access in Iowa has become increasingly restricted over the last decade. Despite the ongoing criminalization of abortion, thousands of people need access to abortion in Iowa every year. People have always needed access to abortion and they always will.
When I needed an abortion 11 years ago I turned to the internet, like any teenager would. I was met with conflicting information, lies from anti-abortion organizations, and lots of shaming language. Navigating this as an anxious 15 year old made my abortion experience much worse. I was scared of clinics and doctors, didn’t want to face the anti-abortion protestors, and didn’t yet have my drivers liscense. It was just another barrier to accessing care. I wish Carafem was a resource I had access to when I needed it, and I’m relieved it’s available to people seeking abortion care today.
Carafem’s services are easy to use. They provide medication abortion for pregnancies that are 10 weeks gestational age or less. All you need is a mailing address in Iowa and a dated ultrasound. To schedule an appointment or get questions answered, visit carafem.org or call them at 1-855-SAY-CARA. They offer different abortion medication options, ranging from $250 – $375.
Obtain a dated ultrasound before your appointment. Carafem has a list of ultrasound providers in Iowa, but you can also check with your local provider or clinic for ultrasound options.
Please be wary of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs). These religious, privately funded, anti-abortion organizations pose as abortion clinics and often offer free ultrasounds. This is not a safe option, as CPCs have been known to lie to clients about the gestational age, use shaming language, non-consensual medical practices, and do not follow HIPAA standards. Here is a map of known CPCs in the US.
Carafem can provide abortion pills to minors. Iowa law requires that if you are under 18 years old, your guardian or a grandparent be told of your decision via certified mail 48 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement through a process called a judicial bypass. Planned Parenthood works with lawyers to help minors obtain judicial bypass. United Action for Youth in Iowa City can help as well.
Financial assistance is available. The Iowa Abortion Access Fund (IAAF) is proud to partner with Carafem to help cover the cost of abortion services. IAAF provides grants to any Iowa resident who requests one. When you schedule an appointment with Carafem, they can screen you for other national funds they partner with.
Medication abortions are extremely common and safe. After attending a 30 minute video appointment, abortion pills will arrive in discreet packaging within 1-3 business days. Carafem has a helpful page on abortion care and recovery. The Miscarriage & Abortion Hotline connects you via text or phone with doctors with years of experience helping people manage abortion and miscarriage if you need additional support.
Telehealth abortion services in Iowa are more important now than ever. Currently only 6 abortion clinics exist in Iowa. 95% of Iowa counties have no clinics that provide abortions. That means for many pregnant people in Iowa, they have to travel. Travel means the cost of missing work, childcare (59% of people getting abortions already have at least 1 child), transportation, and lodging. These extra expenses can be the difference between being able to get an abortion or not for the 75% of people getting abortions who are low income. (Shoutout to the Midwest Access Coalition for all they do to reduce these barriers!)
Abortion pills are amazing and have changed the way we are able to access abortion. They should be easily accessible to anyone who needs them free of charge. However, they are not a solution for everyone seeking abortion. They can often only be prescribed up to 10-11 weeks of pregnancy. Even during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, abortion pills aren’t the right option for everyone. A medication abortion means you need somewhere safe and private with access to a bathroom. Not everyone has that. It also means seeing and interacting with pregnancy tissue. Not everyone wants that. We need to advocate for free abortion, on demand, without apology for every single person. We need to make sure abortion procedures that happen in-clinic are just as accessible as medication abortions. We need to support every single person who needs an abortion by giving them the option to choose what method works best for them.
You can learn more about accessing medication abortion by mail at Plan C Pills. For information on how to access abortion in Iowa click here.