CARE

Abortion is still legal in Iowa, but timing is important. A near-total abortion ban is in effect that restricts care to very early in pregnancy. Abortion is only legal up until cardiac activity is detected. which is usually around six weeks into pregnancy before most people even know they are pregnant.

Iowa has had a near-total abortion ban in place since July 2024. This bans abortion around six weeks gestation, or when embryonic electrical impulses are detected by ultrasound​. This is before most people know they are pregnant. Iowa also has a 24-hour waiting period in place. This waiting period is an unnecessary barrier for people trying to access reproductive health care, forcing them to attend an additional appointment 24-hours before getting an abortion.

Planned Parenthood North Central States health centers in Des Moines and Iowa City and Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City provide abortion care as the law allows.  If you think you may need an abortion, call Planned Parenthood at 1-800-230-7526 or Emma Goldman clinic at 800-848-7684 right away to learn about your options and get connected with the care you need.

AbortionFinder is another great resource to help you find a trustworthy abortion provider in your area.

If you cannot access care in Iowa, Planned Parenthood is committed to helping patients get the care they need even if it is out of state.

The Iowa Abortion Access Fund helps Iowans access the care they need by connecting them to resources and providing financial assistance. Every year, they help hundreds of Iowans access the care they need. They are also partnered with the Chicago Access Fund to support even more Iowans as they seek abortion care out of state.

There are no laws that prevent patients from crossing state lines to access abortion care. If you need help navigating the complicated abortion care landscape, have questions about accessing care, or you’re seeking an abortion in another state, you can speak to a patient navigator at Planned Parenthood North Central States.

Medication abortion, also known as the abortion pill, is safe and effective. In fact, it’s safer than many other medicines like penicillin, Tylenol, and Viagra. Medication abortion has been used safely in the U.S. for more than 20 years and is an increasingly popular method for terminating a pregnancy.

When you’re looking for abortion care, beware of “crisis pregnancy centers.” These are places that seem like normal medical centers, but they don't provide abortion or a full range of health care. They are run by anti-abortion organizations that want to scare or shame people out of getting an abortion. They often give you false or misleading information about pregnancy, abortion, and birth control, and they usually don't have to follow privacy laws. Want to know where crisis pregnancy centers are in your community? Use the Crisis Pregnancy Center Map to see where these deceptive, anti-abortion organizations are located—and help spread the word to protect your community.

If you need care, find your nearest Planned Parenthood health center or contact the Emma Goldman Clinic. AbortionFinder is another great resource to help you find a trustworthy abortion provider in your area.

“Baby Olivia” is a computer-animated video created by Live Action, an anti-abortion organization. The video claims to depict the development of a fetus from conception to birth. While it presents itself as educational, it contains medically inaccurate information and promotes anti-abortion ideology disguised as science.

The Iowa Legislature passed a new law mandating students in grades 4-12 to watch material similar to “Meet Baby Olivia” video by Live Action, a national anti-abortion organization. Under the guise of depicting actual fetal development, the video presents personal beliefs and medically inaccurate information as scientific fact. The bill also prohibits material “produced or provided” by Planned Parenthood and other organizations connected to abortion care.

The video and related legislation is part of a broader national campaign to influence students with anti-abortion messaging. It is a dangerous politicization of Iowa’s youth. This is a clear attempt to push a one-sided political narrative into the classroom, undermining students’ right to learn the truth.

Young people deserve accurate, comprehensive education rooted in science—not propaganda.

“Fetal personhood" is a dangerous, anti-abortion legal tactic that asserts a fetus should have the same legal rights as a person from the moment of conception. Giving rights to fetuses and embryos would take away pregnant people’s freedom to make all kinds of decisions about their pregnancy. Across the country, including here in Iowa, politicians are introducing legislation to add this type of language into state law. These laws are a direct threat to abortion access and reproductive freedom. It opens the door for criminalization and prosecution of pregnant people and their doctors not just for abortion, but for ANY adverse pregnancy outcomes. It also jeopardizes fertility treatments like IVF. It was this kind of law that was used as the basis for a lawsuit in Alabama that led to IVF services being temporarily shut down throughout the state.

Giving rights to embryos and fetuses is a direct threat to reproductive freedom—and we must fight back.