In June of 2022, the existing Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. This 1973 landmark case had previously established abortion as a federally protected right.
After the Supreme Court decision, abortion no longer had federal protection, and each state could protect or regulate abortion access for themselves.
What Did the Overturn of Roe v. Wade Mean for Women?
How this court case decision affects women largely depends on their state. Because it is now regulated at the state level, some have few restrictions while others ban abortion completely except for life endangerment.
The state of Illinois currently has the following abortion restrictions according to the Illinois General Assembly:
- Illegal after viability unless there is a health risk to the patient
- Illegal to terminate a pregnancy based solely on the gender of the fetus
Our state protects abortion access but other states have more restrictions.
How Does This Impact Women’s Healthcare?
This ruling applies only to elective abortions. This means women’s access to medical care for pregnancy-related conditions, including but not limited to ectopic pregnancy or miscarriages, is unchanged.
In states where abortion is restricted or banned, the laws typically have health provisions that allow exceptions if the pregnancy endangers the woman’s life or physical health.
Questions About Your Options?
After consulting state laws, speaking with a medical professional/reaching out to a reproductive health clinic is a good starting place to understand those options better.
We offer no-cost pregnancy services at Ridgeway Women’s Clinic, such as Pregnancy Confirmation and Options Consultation appointments.
Our free services, including ultrasounds and pregnancy tests, help you confirm whether or not you’re pregnant and understand how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Once you have these details, we can answer your questions, share information about local resources, and provide a safe, compassionate space to process wherever you are in your pregnancy journey. Women should be empowered to make confident, informed choices, and we are here to make that happen. Contact us today to make an appointment!
