It is possible to get an abortion after the first trimester, but the procedure becomes much more complicated. 

During the second-trimester, a procedure called Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) is typically used between 13 and 16 weeks of pregnancy. This procedure requires a woman’s cervix to be “dilated,” or opened, wider than for an abortion done during the first trimester. Some get general anesthesia, which basically means being put to sleep during the procedure. Others get local anesthesia, which numbs the pelvic area.

Third-trimester abortions, which means during the last three months of pregnancy, are very rare. Less than 1 percent of abortions are performed that late in pregnancy. They’re usually done because of serious health problems, with either the mother or the fetus.

Third-trimester abortions are controversial, even among people who support abortion rights. That’s because the fetus, at this point in a pregnancy, may be “viable,” or able to live outside the mother’s uterus. While a woman should never feel rushed into making a decision about an unintended pregnancy, waiting until the third – or even the latter part of the second trimester – is a bad idea.

If you have more questions about abortion, be sure to check out all the FAQs and our list of resources.