Some states ban abortions after a certain number of weeks post-fertilization, meaning the period after a sperm has fertilized an ovum and created a zygote. Weeks of pregnancy and gestational age are both generally defined as the time since the first day of the last menstrual period before pregnancy. A limited number of abortion bans make exceptions in cases of rape or incest. A fetus that can't live independently at any stage is considered 'non-viable.'Įven under Roe, most states restricted abortion after fetal viability with some exceptions for 'fatal fetal anomalies.'Īn ectopic pregnancy is a rare but serious situation in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus and cannot survive.Īlmost all state laws banning abortion make exceptions for life-threatening pregnancies or medical emergencies, although several require that two physicians diagnose the pregnancy as life-threatening. The Supreme Court and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology consider a fetus to be viable starting at between 24 to 28 weeks, though there's no hard line. To fully comprehend the status of abortion in each state, it helps to understand frequently used terms.įetal viability is the ability of a fetus to survive outside of the uterus. For more information, visit the US Department of Health and Human Services' reproductive rights website. Read on to learn about abortion access in each state, as well as the terminology frequently used in the debate on reproductive rights. This fall, ballot initiatives in Kentucky and Montana could further restrict access to abortion, while in Vermont and California, voters will decide whether to codify abortion protections in their state constitutions. 2, Kansans rejected a constitutional amendment that would've removed state protections for abortion. Other states are bringing the debate directly to voters. Jackson Women's Health Organization on June 24, ending the constitutional right to an abortion. Legal challenges to abortion laws across the country have multiplied since the US Supreme Court issued its ruling in Dobbs v. And on Thursday, a judge temporarily blocked North Dakota's abortion ban, which the state was planning to start enforcing on Friday. The Justice Department claims Idaho's exceptions for medical emergencies conflicts with federal law.

In Idaho, however, part of the state's ban has been temporarily blocked for now, while a lawsuit by the US Department of Justice proceeds. In three states - Tennessee, Idaho and Texas - new abortion restrictions went into effect on Thursday. Wade, the legal implications continue to play out across the states of America. Months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. For more information about your reproductive health rights and related federal resources, you can visit the US government's Reproductive Rights site.

Livenow post