If you are an Ohioan seeking abortion access out of state due to restrictions or are at risk of missing your appointment because you don’t have the funds, transportation, or are experiencing other logistical issues, there are resources available to help. Those in need can complete an online application form or call (614) 300-7811, to speak to a representative of the AFO, an Ohio nonprofit providing logistical assistance for abortion services.

Abortion is legal in Ohio until approximately 6 weeks gestation. The current abortion ban in Ohio requires patients to undergo tests to detect fetal heart tones prior to an abortion. If any cardiac activity is detected, abortion is prohibited except when there is serious risk of death or substantial impairment of a major bodily function. There are no exceptions for rape or incest. You can find more information about Ohio’s restriction on abortion services on the Ohio legislature’s website.

Key things to know: If you need an abortion, time is ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL. At six weeks gestation, many folks don’t know that they’re pregnant because the timing of a menstruation cycle commonly varies based on many factors. While the length of the menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman, the average is to have periods every 28 days. Regular cycles that are longer or shorter than this, however, such as from 21 to 40 days, are normal. If you are a woman who has a 40 day cycle, and were drugged/raped without your knowledge, you only have 2 days to recognize you’re not menstruating, discern that you may have been impregnated, and to make arrangements for a legal abortion.

Information on safe, effective self-managed abortion via medication is available at the following sites:

Plan C pills. This resource includes information and resources about medication abortion, including how and where to access medication abortion pills, and other general educational information.

Miscarriage and abortion hotline. This confidential hotline of licensed healthcare providers available to answer (call or text) medical questions during your miscarriage or abortion. The hotline is available (call or text) from 5am to 11pm PST, and 8am to 2am EST, at 833-246-2632.

Repro Help Line. This resource provides free & confidential legal information and support to help folks navigate laws on in-clinic abortion, self-managed abortions, and judicial bypass (for folks under 18).

Self-Managed Abortion; Safe and Supported. This resource provides information about how to use abortion pills to end an unwanted pregnancy, with or without a clinician.

Reprocare. This is an anonymous health line that provides peer-based emotional support, medical information, and referrals to people having an abortion at home with pills. The resource is available Spanish & English to text or call.

Many employers in the Greater Cincinnati Area now include travel reimbursement for such care, including Proctor & Gamble, Kroger, Amazon, and the City of Cincinnati. The nearest states without abortion restrictions include New York, Maryland and Illinois; which represents hundreds of miles of travel, there and back, for Cincinnati-based employees seeking abortion or reproductive care.

The format and/or content of this post has been edited to fit guidelines of the Cincinnati Chapter of United Resource Connection for this rebroadcast. The original post can be found at www.abortionfundofohio.org

You can find more resources related to primary medical care by selecting the “primary medical care” option from the dropdown tab on our Social Service “Utilization Library” page.