In April, the Boulder Abortion Clinic, one of the few U.S. clinics providing abortions after the second trimester, announced it would close after 50 years. This closure comes amid growing demand for later abortions, creating serious health access challenges for patients who rely on these services.
Later abortions, those performed after about 20 weeks of pregnancy, are rare but crucial for many people facing complex health and personal situations. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the number of patients seeking these later procedures has risen sharply, but the availability of clinics able to provide care has not kept pace.
Patients scheduled for later abortions at Boulder were abruptly forced to find care elsewhere, often far from home. Clinic staff scrambled to coordinate new appointments, travel, and lodging—all while managing tight budgets, since over 90% of patients depend on financial assistance to afford care.
Dr. Diane Horvath, medical director at a Maryland clinic offering abortions up to 34 weeks, stresses the importance of these procedures for patients’ health and well-being. She says later abortions are performed not lightly but because the needs and health of the pregnant person must come first.
Only nine states permit abortions after fetal viability, roughly 24 weeks. Nationally, just 17 clinics provide abortions at or beyond this stage, and even fewer routinely perform them after 28 weeks. This scarcity makes it difficult for patients, especially those with late pregnancy complications or delayed pregnancy recognition, to access safe care.
According to researchers, many seeking later abortions face additional hardships, such as financial strain, lack of support, or traumatic events like the loss of a partner during pregnancy. These complex realities are often misunderstood or ignored in public debate.
The closure reflects broader political and social pressures that make it difficult to sustain later abortion services. Clinic operators face harassment, legal hurdles, and funding challenges intensified by the current political climate.
Despite these obstacles, advocates and former staff of the Boulder clinic are working to open a new facility. They emphasize that meeting the health needs of patients requiring later abortions is urgent and cannot wait.
The closure of one of the last U.S. later abortion clinics highlights a critical gap in healthcare access. For many patients, later abortions are a necessary and lifesaving medical service. Understanding and supporting this care is vital to ensuring health equity and protecting the rights of those facing complex pregnancy decisions.
