With the reversal of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v. Wade, it is challenging to navigate its implications locally and nationwide. Read this article for common questions about this historic court ruling and the facts about abortion access in the US.
What Did the Supreme Court’s Overruling Mean?
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion was not criminalized overnight. Instead, it removed federal protection of abortion as a right and handed over the authority for the states to decide for themselves.
Some states already had abortion protected in their state constitutions while others had “trigger laws” ready to restrict abortion access after a certain window of time in the event that Roe was ever overturned.
How Does the Supreme Court Overruling Impact Women’s Healthcare?
The overturning of Roe only impacted abortion access, and there is no sign that women’s access to medical care for pregnancy-related conditions (such as miscarriage or ectopic pregnancies) will be restricted.
In many, if not all, states where abortion access has been banned or more restrictive (such as Texas and Louisiana), the statutes have provisions that allow doctors to perform abortions if the mother’s life or health is in danger.
What are the Restrictions on Abortion in Illinois?
Currently, Illinois 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
What is Important to Consider Before an Abortion?
At Ridgeway Women’s Clinic, we provide evidence-based education on abortion procedures, side effects, and potential risks.
The Mayo Clinic states the following as potential risks of medical abortion:
- Possibility of an incomplete abortion
- Excessive blood loss
- Infection
- Fever
- GI upset
At our clinic, you can receive a no-cost and confidential pregnancy test, ultrasound, and options consultation where you can gain more information.
An ultrasound is especially helpful to learn how far along you are (the gestational age), if the pregnancy is viable (whether or not it is a miscarriage), and the pregnancy’s location (whether or not it is ectopic). Contact us today to schedule your appointment!
