New England
Abortion Care Guide
The Reproductive Equity Now Foundation is committed to creating a world without barriers to accessing the full spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion care. Use this Guide to Abortion Care in New England as an information portal to quickly and easily connect you to compassionate abortion care and the resources needed to access that care.
Emergency Contraception
If you are within five days of having unprotected sex, or you have experienced failed birth control, such as a broken condom or missed birth control pills, emergency contraception (EC) may be an appropriate option. EC does not cause an abortion but can prevent pregnancy for up to five days after unprotected sex by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg. EC is more effective the sooner it is taken after sex.
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Emergency Contraception Pill
Also known as the morning-after pill, there are two types of EC pills. One type of EC pill, commonly known by the brand name ella, requires a prescription and is effective up to 120 hours (five days) after having unprotected sex. The other, commonly known by the brand name Plan B, is available over the counter and works best within 72 hours (three days) after unprotected sex, though you can take it up to five days after unprotected sex. Ella is a more effective form of emergency contraception for patients who weigh over 165 pounds.
If you are a college student, your campus may provide Plan B, or its generic version, at lower-than-market cost or for free with a valid student ID.
If you live in Massachusetts and your insurance is subject to Massachusetts law, a statewide standing order issued by the Department of Public Health requires your insurer to cover any type of emergency contraception that you buy from the pharmacy counter, at no cost, without a prescription. If you have any trouble accessing this benefit, please email info@reproequitynow.org.
If you live in New Hampshire, the Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire hosts 40 Plan B distribution sites across the state, where Granite Staters can get Plan B for free. Check this map for the location nearest to you.
Connecticut recently passed legislation making emergency contraception more accessible statewide. With the passage of the most recent abortion expansion bill, the state is also now looking into placing vending machines that have Plan B, or the morning-after pill, across Connecticut.
While there is no limit to the number of times you take EC, it is not considered an effective form of birth control.
Other Emergency Contraception Options
IUD insertion is another emergency contraception option. Talk to your provider about what option is right for you.
If you are already pregnant or beyond the five-day window for emergency contraception to be effective, you can use the information found in this guide to inform your decision about whether, when, and how to have an abortion.
A Word of Caution: Anti-Abortion Centers
It is important to be aware of anti-abortion centers, or so-called “crisis pregnancy centers” (CPCs) that present themselves as resources for people facing unplanned pregnancies, when they actually exist to dissuade people from accessing abortion. These centers use deceptive practices to attract patients: they say they offer free pregnancy testing or ultrasounds to draw in patients, they are often deliberately located near reproductive health clinics, they create websites that appear in online searches for legitimate abortion clinics, and they advertise online and in print media in ways that might appeal to those who are considering abortion. Anti-abortion centers are typically managed and funded by organizations that oppose abortion in any and all circumstances. As a result, a person with an unintended pregnancy seeking full options counseling or abortion referrals should be aware of the existence of such biased facilities.
Important notes
The Reproductive Equity Now Foundation supports transgender, non-binary or gender nonconforming individuals who need abortion care. Because of this, we aim to ensure that all language used in this care guide is inclusive and gender neutral. For more information on this issue, please visit glaad.org/transgender/transfaq
For the purpose of this guide, medication abortion refers to use of pills to induce abortion – specifically, mifepristone and misoprostol, or misoprostol alone, which is often available in person or via telehealth. In-clinic abortion refers to what is sometimes deemed a procedural abortion or aspiration abortion, such as a dilation and evacuation (D&E) or dilation and curettage (D&C), and is a procedure that takes place in a health care facility.
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