Iowa

How to get the abortion pill online in Iowa

Iowa allows telehealth abortion pill access. This means you can consult a medical provider in Iowa using a phone or computer and have an abortion pill kit mailed to your home. Learn more by reviewing the Where people get pills options below.

Iowa restricts abortion pill access, but there are several ways people still get abortion pills by mail in Iowa. Learn more by reviewing the Where people get pills options below.

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Abortion pill access in Iowa

(For early abortions, typically 13 weeks or less)

In-person clinics:

Online clinics:

Banned, but still available

Alternative suppliers:

⚠️ Available

Travel to another state:

Available

Learn about the potential legal risk of accessing abortion pill using this service

Iowa has a law prohibiting self-managed abortion.

Learn about the potential legal risk of accessing abortion pill using this service

Learn about the potential legal risk of accessing pills from alternative suppliers.

Pregnancy Calculator

Where people get abortion pills in Iowa

Use this guide to find a provider that meets your needs, then visit their website to request pills. Plan C does not sell pills.

Online abortion pill clinician

Online clinics that mail pills

For people who want abortion pills by mail and follow-up support from a clinician.

Abortion pill bottle and box

Websites that sell pills

For people who want abortion pills by mail without consulting a clinician.

Community support networks

Community networks that mail pills

For people who can’t afford other services and want free pills mailed by volunteers.

In-person abortion pill clinic

In-person clinics

For people who have access to transportation and would prefer to pick up abortion pills in person from an abortion clinic.

⚠️ Learn about potential legal risks of accessing pills from alternative suppliers by reading the FAQ below, "Can I get in trouble for using abortion pills?"

You can also contact the free, confidential Repro Legal Helpline (online or at 844-868-2812) to discuss your specific situation.

Can I get in trouble for using abortion pills?

The short answer is: it depends, and it’s complicated.

Legal risk can depend on:

where you live,
your identity: race, ethnicity, income level, etc.
and how far along you are in pregnancy.

Click the headings below for more information about these risks.

In the end, it’s up to each person to make their own decision about risk. You can also contact ReproLegal Helpline, a free legal resource that can help answer your questions: visit reprolegalhelpline.org or call or text 844-868-2812.

Where someone lives makes a difference.

Many states allow legal access to abortion pills through clinics or telehealth services. People who get pills in states where these services are legal should face no legal risk.

Even in states that ban clinic-based abortion care, telehealth services are still available through clinicians who live in less restrictive states. This is possible because some states have “shield laws” that protect clinicians when they provide telehealth care to someone in another state. Lawyers tell us these laws should not create legal risk for patients.

People in all states can also get abortion pills from alternate suppliers like community networks and websites that sell pills. We mark alternate suppliers with an alert icon ⚠️ in our Guide).

To understand the potential legal risks of using alternate suppliers, you can contact the ReproLegal Helpline, a free legal resource that can help answer your questions: visit reprolegalhelpline.org or call or text 844-868-2812.

What if a state totally bans abortion?

Some states have laws against abortion. These laws mean that with limited exceptions medical providers and clinics can’t do an abortion procedure or provide abortion pills.

A ban that blocks providers from offering care does not necessarily block a person from using pills on their own. But this does not mean a person who self-manages their abortion has no legal risk: people in the US are criminalized for all kinds of reasons, with outsized impact on certain identities or socioeconomic backgrounds.

People in states that ban abortion can still get abortion pills by mail from telehealth providers in “shield law” states (see above) or alternate suppliers, like websites that sell pills and community networks that mail them for free. We mark these alternate suppliers with an alert icon ⚠️ in our Guide to let you know there could be legal risk.

How big is the legal risk?

This is a really hard question to answer.

We have some information about what has happened in the past. From 2000 to 2020, at least 61 people who have self-managed an abortion or have helped someone else were arrested or prosecuted. During that same time, many people self-managed abortions (tens of thousands or more).

It is unclear how new abortion laws will affect future criminalization of people for self-managing an abortion.

Those who are already at greater risk of criminalization because of their race, gender identity, economic status, or other factors may have a higher risk of prosecution.

The Repro Legal Helpline provides free and confidential legal advice that can help people better understand the laws and legal risk they may face. Contact them online or call 844-868-2812.

‍Why have some people gotten in legal trouble?

Taking abortion pills is not a criminal act in most states. But, some people who have used abortion pills on their own have gotten in legal trouble in the United States.

The most common ways people get in trouble are:

They seek help from a medical provider and the provider reports them to the police. This shouldn’t happen, but it does.

Everyone should be able to access medical care when they are concerned about their health. But in a few cases, medical staff have called the police on people who have taken abortion pills. This is not ethical and should not happen.

Patients are not required to report to clinicians that they have used abortion pills. The symptoms after taking abortion pills are the same as a miscarriage. Blood tests do not reveal any differences between a miscarriage and a medication abortion. Medical providers can safely and effectively care for patients who have used abortion pills without needing to know their full medical history.

People can often avoid the need for urgent care by consulting with a knowledgeable clinician by phone. The Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline offers free text and phone assistance to anyone who has medical questions.

Federal law (EMTALA) also says that clinicians must provide abortion care to address a medical emergency for all patients who present at a hospital emergency department.

They tell a friend and the friend reports them to the police.

It is reasonable to want support from friends when facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Unfortunately, some people have reported their friends to the police for self-managing an abortion. This can happen when someone confides in a partner or friend or if the friend happens to see a text message or social media post.

Reports by friends and acquaintances accounted for more than a quarter of the 61 known criminalizations between 2000 and 2020.

There is more fetal tissue than expected and they don’t know what to do with it.

Sometimes people have been reported to the police because of the way they disposed of the abortion tissue.

Most early abortion tissue is just blood and clots (like a heavy period) that can be flushed down the toilet. But sometimes when abortion pills are taken after 12 weeks there is more tissue. (Learn how to calculate pregnancy length here.)

It can be hard to know how to dispose of fetal tissue (this is true when someone has a miscarriage, too). Some people have been discovered when tissue has been found in the public sewer system or stored or buried at home.

The Repro Legal Helpline can help people understand disposal options in their state. Contact them online or at 844-868-2812.

Have Legal Questions?

Once someone decides to have an abortion, they should be able to do so safely, effectively, and with dignity. No one should be arrested or jailed for ending their own pregnancy.

If someone gets into trouble for having an abortion, it is important for them to get legal help. Organizations that offer legal help are:

Repro Legal Helpline provides free, confidential legal support online or at 844-868-2812. They also defend people who are prosecuted or threatened with prosecution for self-managing their abortion. This fact sheet also has some great information about legal issues.
Pregnancy Justice defends women who are pregnant and attempt to have abortion, actually have an abortion, or are mistaken as someone who has had an abortion.

How do I choose from these provider types?

Here are a few factors to consider when choosing a provider type:

What kind of support do you want?

Online clinics provide virtual medical support via video call, phone call, text and/or email, depending on the provider. These services are a good option for people who want medical support from a licensed clinician but do not want to (or are unable to) visit an in-person clinic.

Websites that sell pills do not provide any kind of medical support. These services are for people who are comfortable self-managing their abortion. They are also good options for people who do not want contact with a formal healthcare setting, do not want to upload their ID, or who would rather not disclose how many weeks pregnant they are.

Community support networks often provide emotional and medical support via secure texting or phone, or may refer people to the Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline for text/phone support. They are a free, volunteer-run service intended for people who can’t afford other options.

In-person clinics are a good option for people who want in-person care from a licensed clinician in a formal health care setting, and who have access to transportation.

Note: No matter what provider-type you choose, you can always get free medical support from The Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline, which provides confidential medical information and support by phone and text to anyone in any state.

How much will it cost?

Online clinics listed in our guide charge anywhere from $0-$950, depending on their services and which state a patient is accessing care from. Many providers also accept insurance, Medicaid, or offer sliding scale pricing to reduce the total cost.

Websites that sell pills charge anywhere from $47 to $470. These websites do not usually accept insurance or offer any forms of financial assistance.

Community support networks offer free abortion pills. These services are for people who cannot afford any of the other services listed in our guide.

In-person clinics are generally the most expensive option, ranging from $500-1000 for services. Many providers also accept insurance, Medicaid, or offer sliding scale pricing to reduce the total cost. You may also need to factor in the cost of taking time off of work, childcare, and travel.

How long will it take to get pills?

Many of the providers listed in our guide offer abortion pill delivery in just a few days.

Online clinics usually ship pills in 1 to 5 days.
Most Websites that sell pills ship pills in 3 to 6 days.
Community support network pills arrive in 5 to 10 days.
With in-person clinics you will not have to worry about shipping times, but you may need to wait for an appointment and factor in any travel time.

If you are requesting pills from a U.S. territory or from a military address (APO, FPO, DPO), delivery times will be longer.

Other important factors

Other factors that may affect your choice include your age (since some providers do not serve minors) and how long you’ve been pregnant.

Online clinics will have specific guidelines for each of these shown in their listing. Some providers will ship abortion pills to you in advance, even if you are not pregnant.

Websites that sell pills have no limitations or requirements for ordering abortion pills.

Community support networks require a person to have a confirmed pregnancy in order to ship pills.

Online clinics that mail pills

US-based online clinics

Online clinics are US-licensed clinicians who ship pills to you after a brief online form or phone/video visit. Follow up support is available.

Online abortion pill clinician

Why are online clinics listed if my state does not allow telehealth for abortion?

How do I choose a provider?

What if I have medical questions?

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Abuzz

Price

$150 or less

Delivery

1-5 days

Ages

16+

Pills by mail with clinician support

For pregnancies up to 13 weeks

More Information

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Aid Access

Price

$150 or less

Delivery

2-5 days

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Pills by mail with clinician support

For pregnancies up to 13 weeks

More Information

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Abortion at Home by carafem

Price

$249 or less

Delivery

1-4 days

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Pills by mail with clinician support

For pregnancies up to 11 weeks

More Information

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Cambridge Reproductive Health Consultants

Price

$250 or less

Delivery

3-5 days

Ages

16+

Pills by mail with clinician support

For pregnancies up to 11 weeks

More Information

International online clinics

These services are provided by clinicians licensed in other countries who ship pills to you after a brief online or video visit. Pills provided are generic versions.

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Websites that sell pills

These websites sell abortion pills but do not include any additional support. You can still get free medical support for your abortion from the M+A Hotline.

Important: These websites may not follow strict digital security protocols. Read our digital privacy tips to learn how to protect yourself when ordering or searching for abortion pills online.

Read the FAQs below for more information on how these sites work.

Abortion pill bottle and box

What are websites that sell pills?

Are these websites legit?

How do I choose one of these websites?

What kind of kit do I order?

How many pills do I need?

What if I have medical questions?

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MTPPharmacy.com

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$42

Delivery

3 days

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Home AbortionRx

Price

$42

Delivery

12-19 days

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More Information

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Private Emma

Price

$44

Delivery

5 days

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Pills by mail

For pregnancies up to 12 weeks

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ybycmeds

Price

$46

Delivery

3-6 business days

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Pills by mail

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Community networks that mail pills

These are networks of volunteers in the US that ship generic abortion pills for free. The pills often come repackaged in plastic baggies. You will need to request pills by email.

Community support networks

What are community support networks?

What if I have medical questions?

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In-person clinics

Clinics offer abortion pill pickup and other in-person abortion care options. To find the nearest clinic to Iowa, use any of these search tools:

In-person abortion pill clinic

Abortion Finder

A comprehensive directory of trusted (and verified) abortion service providers and assistance resources in the United States.

I Need an Abortion

A comprehensive, regularly updated, and personalized resource for abortion seekers in the US.

Iowa: Abortion Clinic Guide

Information about Iowa abortion clinics, nearby clinic options, and financial assistance from local support resources.

Abortion pills (mifepristone + misoprostol)

AP1

Abortion pills (misoprostol only)

AP2

Abortion pills (mifepristone + misoprostol)

Online consultation by form

OC1

Virtual visit with provider

VV1

Abortion pills (mifepristone + misoprostol)

Includes extra misoprostol

MIS

Virtual visit with provider (by request)

VV2

Abortion pills (mifepristone + misoprostol)

Financial compensation for participation

FC1

Abortion pills (mifepristone + misoprostol)

Get pills in advance

AD1

Abortion pills (mifepristone + misoprostol)

Text-based consult available

TXT1