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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs about our services and abortion access in Montana

MAAP is here to help you navigate barriers to abortion care and get you the safe, compassionate, affordable abortion care you deserve.

Yes. Abortion is safe. Both in-clinic and medication abortions are safe. In fact, an in-clinic abortion is one of the safest medical procedures, with a lower complication rate than common medical procedures like a colonoscopy or getting your wisdom teeth removed. Abortion pills used in medication abortion are safer than common medicines like Tylenol, penicillin, and Viagra.

Learn more about how safe abortion is.

A procedural abortion happens at a health center, where a qualified healthcare provider uses gentle suction and/or scraping to remove the embryo or fetus. Safe and effective, the procedure itself typically takes less than 15 minutes. Learn more about procedural abortion and its safety.

With a medication abortion (also sometimes referred to as the “abortion pill”), a qualified healthcare provider gives you medication to take. The medication consists of two types of medicines, Mifepristone and Misoprostol. With an in-clinic medication abortion, you will take the Mifepristone in the clinic and then you will take the Misoprostol several hours later, at the location of your choosing. After you take the Misoprostol, your body begins to expel the pregnancy tissue as if you were having a first-trimester miscarriage. You’ll experience cramping and bleeding. With a meds-by-mail medication abortion, you will take all of the medications in the setting of your choosing. Both of these medication options involve self-management of your experience. See more resources for Self Managed Abortions here.

No. Plan B and other types of emergency contraception medicines are designed to stop your body from ovulating, so you reduce your chances of getting pregnant within a few days of having sex. You can often get emergency contraception over-the-counter at a pharmacy, no prescription needed.

If you’re already pregnant, emergency contraception is NOT an option for ending the pregnancy. A medication abortion is used to end a pregnancy up to 11 weeks. This medicine is typically available only at health centers that provide abortion services. Find specific information about access in Montana.

No. This is an abortion myth. After reviewing numerous studies conducted in the U.S. and internationally, the American Cancer Society has found no link between abortion and breast cancer.

No. This is another myth about abortion. Safe medication and procedural abortions do not affect fertility. Rare complications can have effects. Read more here.

Yes. Having an abortion will NOT keep you from getting pregnant again. Wherever you have your procedure, the qualified healthcare provider should talk to you about the best contraception options for you before you leave the health center. For more information on contraception options.

In the United States, one in four people capable of becoming pregnant* will have an abortion by age 45. Yes, abortion is that common—which means someone you care about has had one.

The stigma around abortion is one of the very real barriers to accessing abortion care. Our current culture of silence and shame surrounding abortion care prevents many of us from sharing these stories or asking for help. But it doesn’t have to be like this. Our resource section uplifts the work of others who are telling abortion stories here. If you’d like to share your story with us, please do so here.

*Not everyone who has had or will have an abortion identifies as a woman. Transgender men, two-spirit, intersex, non-binary, genderfluid, and gender nonconforming people access abortion care as well as cisgender women. The referenced study refers specifically to women in this instance.

Abortion is legal in Montana!

The below information is not intended to be legal advice.

This information was last updated by MAAP staff in July 2023.****

In Montana, we maintain legal access to abortion up to viability. However, we know the legal status of abortion and abortion methods may change and can be confusing. If you have questions about your specific situation please contact the If/When/How legal hotline at 844-868-2812 or the secure messaging option at www.reprolegalhelpline.org

In Montana, abortion is governed by Montana Code Annotated Sections 50-20-1 through 50-20-7. A 1999 case referred to as “Armstrong” found that the Montana Constitution protects the fundamental right to privacy, and thus abortion is legal through pre-viability. This is still the leading abortion case in Montana.

In Montana, viability is defined as “the ability of a fetus to live outside the mother’s womb, albeit with artificial aid.” Mont. Code Ann. Section 50-20-104(6). Clinics and doctors may have different interpretations of “viability” and an exam may be necessary to determine whether the fetus is “viable”.

In Montana, it is still legal to receive a procedural abortion until viability or a medication abortion. It is legal for non-Montana residents to travel to Montana to receive abortion services. It is legal for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), Physician Assistants (PAs), and Medical Doctors (MDs) to provide abortion care.

Currently, All Families Healthcare in Whitefish, Blue Mountain Clinic in Missoula, and Planned Parenthood of Montana in Helena, Billings, Great Falls, and Missoula provide abortion care in compliance with Montana state law. This includes providing procedural and medication abortion to Montana residents and to those who travel to Montana for care. You can contact these clinics and read more about their offerings here.

FAQs about abortion

There is a lot of misinformation about abortion aimed at preventing people from accessing the care they need. We’ve put together some of the most commonly asked questions about abortion care so that you are empowered to make informed decisions for your unique situation, health, and well-being. You know what’s best for yourself; we’re here to support you.

Yes. Abortion is safe. Both in-clinic and medication abortions are safe. In fact, an in-clinic abortion is one of the safest medical procedures, with a lower complication rate than common medical procedures like a colonoscopy or getting your wisdom teeth removed. Abortion pills used in medication abortion are safer than common medicines like Tylenol, penicillin, and Viagra.

Learn more about how safe abortion is.

A procedural abortion happens at a health center, where a qualified healthcare provider uses gentle suction and/or scraping to remove the embryo or fetus. Safe and effective, the procedure itself typically takes less than 15 minutes. Learn more about procedural abortion and its safety.

With a medication abortion (also sometimes referred to as the “abortion pill”), a qualified healthcare provider gives you medication to take. The medication consists of two types of medicines, Mifepristone and Misoprostol. With an in-clinic medication abortion, you will take the Mifepristone in the clinic and then you will take the Misoprostol several hours later, at the location of your choosing. After you take the Misoprostol, your body begins to expel the pregnancy tissue as if you were having a first-trimester miscarriage. You’ll experience cramping and bleeding. With a meds-by-mail medication abortion, you will take all of the medications in the setting of your choosing. Both of these medication options involve self-management of your experience. See more resources for Self Managed Abortions here.

No. Plan B and other types of emergency contraception medicines are designed to stop your body from ovulating, so you reduce your chances of getting pregnant within a few days of having sex. You can often get emergency contraception over-the-counter at a pharmacy, no prescription needed.

If you’re already pregnant, emergency contraception is NOT an option for ending the pregnancy. A medication abortion is used to end a pregnancy up to 11 weeks. This medicine is typically available only at health centers that provide abortion services. Find specific information about access in Montana.

No. This is an abortion myth. After reviewing numerous studies conducted in the U.S. and internationally, the American Cancer Society has found no link between abortion and breast cancer.

No. This is another myth about abortion. Safe medication and procedural abortions do not affect fertility. Rare complications can have effects. Read more here.

Yes. Having an abortion will NOT keep you from getting pregnant again. Wherever you have your procedure, the qualified healthcare provider should talk to you about the best contraception options for you before you leave the health center. For more information on contraception options.

In the United States, one in four people capable of becoming pregnant* will have an abortion by age 45. Yes, abortion is that common—which means someone you care about has had one.

The stigma around abortion is one of the very real barriers to accessing abortion care. Our current culture of silence and shame surrounding abortion care prevents many of us from sharing these stories or asking for help. But it doesn’t have to be like this. Our resource section uplifts the work of others who are telling abortion stories here. If you’d like to share your story with us, please do so here.

*Not everyone who has had or will have an abortion identifies as a woman. Transgender men, two-spirit, intersex, non-binary, genderfluid, and gender nonconforming people access abortion care as well as cisgender women. The referenced study refers specifically to women in this instance.

Abortion is legal in Montana!

The below information is not intended to be legal advice.

This information was last updated by MAAP staff in July 2023.****

In Montana, we maintain legal access to abortion up to viability. However, we know the legal status of abortion and abortion methods may change and can be confusing. If you have questions about your specific situation please contact the If/When/How legal hotline at 844-868-2812 or the secure messaging option at www.reprolegalhelpline.org

In Montana, abortion is governed by Montana Code Annotated Sections 50-20-1 through 50-20-7. A 1999 case referred to as “Armstrong” found that the Montana Constitution protects the fundamental right to privacy, and thus abortion is legal through pre-viability. This is still the leading abortion case in Montana.

In Montana, viability is defined as “the ability of a fetus to live outside the mother’s womb, albeit with artificial aid.” Mont. Code Ann. Section 50-20-104(6). Clinics and doctors may have different interpretations of “viability” and an exam may be necessary to determine whether the fetus is “viable”.

In Montana, it is still legal to receive a procedural abortion until viability or a medication abortion. It is legal for non-Montana residents to travel to Montana to receive abortion services. It is legal for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), Physician Assistants (PAs), and Medical Doctors (MDs) to provide abortion care.

Currently, All Families Healthcare in Whitefish, Blue Mountain Clinic in Missoula, and Planned Parenthood of Montana in Helena, Billings, Great Falls, and Missoula provide abortion care in compliance with Montana state law. This includes providing procedural and medication abortion to Montana residents and to those who travel to Montana for care. You can contact these clinics and read more about their offerings here.