What are the options if you're pregnant in Louisiana? Abortion is banned in Louisiana with very limited exceptions. This page explains what that means in practice, what people in Louisiana are doing, and where to find current information.
Louisiana has one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the United States. The state currently bans nearly all abortions with very limited exceptions.
Key points about Louisiana's ban:
If you're seeking abortion care in Louisiana, you likely cannot access services from providers within the state. The ban has effectively eliminated nearly all in-state abortion access.
However, Louisiana residents still have options:
Abortion access in Louisiana changes faster than any single article can keep up with. Three resources are maintained continuously and are worth checking directly:
Louisiana's restrictions are written to target providers rather than the people who end their own pregnancies. We can't tell you what that means for your situation, and we're not going to try. People in states with bans have been investigated anyway, which is why free legal help exists before you need it.
Repro Legal Helpline: 844-868-2812 (If/When/How)
Despite the ban, people in Louisiana are still ending pregnancies. According to the Society of Family Planning's #WeCount report, telehealth abortions provided under shield laws to people in total ban states have increased substantially.
People in Louisiana are:
Shield laws are laws in certain states that protect healthcare providers who prescribe medication abortion to patients in restrictive states. These laws:
Shield laws protect the provider, not the patient. For what that means for you, call the Repro Legal Helpline.
Your medical information is protected by:
Searching for abortion information is not a crime, and this page does not identify you. If you share a device or an account with someone you'd rather not tell, a private browsing window and clearing your history afterwards are reasonable precautions.
For legal questions specific to your situation:
If/When/How Repro Legal Helpline: 844-868-2812
New Orleans Abortion Fund Helps Louisiana residents with abortion costs Website: neworleansabortionfund.org
National Abortion Federation Hotline 1-800-772-9100 Financial assistance nationwide
Yellowhammer Fund Serves Gulf South states including Louisiana Website: yellowhammerfund.org
If/When/How Repro Legal Helpline 844-868-2812 Free, confidential legal information
All-Options Talkline 1-888-493-0092 Non-judgmental support for all pregnancy options
Plan C plancpills.org Information about medication abortion options
AbortionFinder.org Find providers and services
Many are using telemedicine providers based in shield law states, and others travel. I Need An A (ineedana.com) and Plan C (plancpills.org) both track what is currently available.
For legal questions about your specific situation, contact If/When/How: 844-868-2812
Count from the first day of your last menstrual period. Most providers and directories will ask for this, and an ultrasound can confirm it if you're unsure.
Rules involving minors vary and change. The Repro Legal Helpline (844-868-2812) can talk through this with you confidentially and free of charge.
No. Medication abortion does not affect future fertility. You can get pregnant again within weeks.
Very safe. Mifepristone has been FDA-approved since 2000, with more than two decades of safety data behind it, and it is recommended by ACOG, the WHO, and the National Abortion Federation.
Medication abortion is medically identical to a miscarriage, and emergency treatment is the same. If you need urgent care, go and get it. You do not have to disclose that you took medication for clinicians to treat you correctly.
Take a pregnancy test 3-4 weeks after taking mifepristone. Testing sooner than that can show a positive result even when the abortion is complete, because pregnancy hormone takes time to clear.
Louisiana's abortion restrictions affect residents everywhere in the state, from the New Orleans metro area, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport-Bossier City to Lafayette and the Acadiana region, Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, Monroe and Northeast Louisiana, and rural areas throughout. I Need An A (ineedana.com) can tell you what is reachable from where you are.
No. Plan B is emergency contraception, which prevents pregnancy from starting. Medication abortion ends an established pregnancy. They are different medications used at different points.
Abortion access changes quickly. These directories are maintained continuously and list current providers and funds by location. The Repro Legal Helpline answers legal questions free and confidentially at 844-868-2812.
This is educational content only and is not medical or legal advice. Medication abortion regimens may vary, and the right plan for you depends on your specific situation. For care decisions, talk to your provider. For legal questions, contact If/When/How at 844-868-2812.