Abortion Cost

Since you are on this page, you may be seriously considering an abortion. Or you may be unsure of your pregnancy options or abortion options. You have come to the right place.

Abortion is a decision that can have many costs – financial (money), physical health, mental health (emotional / psychological), time away from work or school, and relational (family, friends, significant others) costs.

First Step
First take a deep breath and confirm if you are pregnant or not, by taking a pregnancy test and an ultrasound to determine how far along you are and verify that the pregnancy is viable. Try not to get ahead of yourself and worry about being pregnant before you are sure.

In this time of uncertainty, you can count on CAPS Pregnancy + Medical Clinics staff to be with you to provide a safe, private place where you can feel supported and get accurate information, so you can make confident informed decisions. While we do not perform abortions at CAPS, we would be happy to help you with your decision-making process.

How much money does an abortion cost in the San Diego area? It depends on multiple factors, as described below. Using multiple abortion cost resources¹ in southern California and nationwide, there are a wide range of abortion costs, even within the same city or region.

A first-trimester abortion cost can be up to and in the range of $1,500.

Second trimester abortion cost can be higher, as shown below, since there are other potentially complicating factors.

Surgical Abortion costs by gestational age (how far along you are in your pregnancy):

The specific cost of an abortion depends on the type of abortion procedure and the size of the baby, which are based on gestational age. The abortion cost rises as a pregnancy progresses. How much an abortion costs also varies by provider; abortion clinics and private practices are generally lower cost than hospitals.

The cost of abortion varies widely, and it is dependent on a variety of factors. These include but are not limited to:

1. Health Insurance. If you have health insurance, you can contact your provider to discuss what your insurance plan may cover regarding abortion.
2. Variations between Areas and Clinics. The cost of abortions varies depending specifically where you live and from clinic to clinic. It is important to gather all your information regarding cost (plus options, risks, and side effects) prior to deciding about your abortion.
3. Type of Abortion. There are two types of abortions – medical abortion (the abortion pill) and surgical abortion. The abortion cost is dependent upon the type of abortion which includes different procedures and required medications.
4. In Clinic vs. Outside of Clinic. In clinic is going to an abortion office/clinic/hospital. Outside of clinic is at home or other non-medical location. A clinic visit may include:
   • Ultrasound
   • In-office lab work
   • Oral or intravenous sedation
   • Follow-up visit and any needed follow-up care

Your physical health, mental health, and relational health are important. Therefore, all these potential costs listed below are important to understand, before deciding. By making a more informed decision, you may feel more in control and at peace with your overall situation.

There are many myths out there about the effects of abortion. CAPS uses evidence-based facts with the latest and best research, studies, and resources¹. Our medical team can give you accurate information about abortion options, side effects, and risks, and also help address concerns and questions you may have.

No matter what choice you make, CAPS will be there for you before, during, and after your pregnancy.

CAPS is different than some other medical clinics since we receive no financial profit from your pregnancy, because we do not perform or refer for abortions or arrange adoptions. We do refer to other organizations for adoptions if you are interested in that option.

Physical Costs – Your Body

Your physical health is very important.

Terminating a pregnancy can involve some physical risks, in the same way as any other medical or surgical procedure. For potential physical side effects and risks see the two types of abortion:

• Medical abortion (abortion pill) side effects and risks
• Surgical abortion side effects and risks

Emotional / Psychological Costs – Your Mental Health

Your mental health is very important.

Researchers for the American Psychological Association (APA) state, “it is important that women’s varied experiences of abortion be recognized, validated, and understood.” ²

Having a medical abortion is a major decision with emotional and psychological consequences. If you’re considering this procedure, make sure you understand what it entails, side effects, possible risks, complications, and alternatives.³

That is why CAPS is here for you – to help you understand the issues.

It is not unusual to experience a range of psychological and emotional responses and side effects from having an abortion. In some cases, depression can occur. Some research studies and many post abortion experiences indicate there is a risk of mental and emotional health difficulties after abortion. There are many variables that may contribute to post abortion issues, so it is important to clearly understand your current mental health and situation, before making a final decision.

Any pregnancy loss (abortion, miscarriage) can lead to an interruption in the hormone cycle. The negative feelings that occur after a planned termination (abortion) may be at least partly due to hormonal changes, like those that occur after a spontaneous pregnancy loss (miscarriage).

According to the American Pregnancy Association, common pregnancy loss feelings include:

• guilt
• anger
• shame
• remorse or regret
• loss of self-esteem or self-confidence
• feelings of isolation and loneliness
• sleep problems and bad dreams
• relationship problems
• thoughts of suicide

In addition, some people may experience grief, stress, or a sense of loss and may feel less able to cope. If suicidal thoughts or self-harm occur, you should seek urgent help.

Relational and Social Costs – Your World

Your relationships and social health are very important.

These are your people (peers), your posse, your BFF, your Fam, your significant other.

Religious beliefs, family and relationship issues, and social shame or awkwardness can make it harder to cope, especially if you have nobody to talk to about what has happened. Sometimes a sense of isolation can occur.

CAPS provides pre-abortion and post-abortion support and help. We can also provide referrals to other pregnancy professionals and resources if needed.

One frequent and important question is about abortion legality. In the State of California, a forced abortion is illegal. It is important for you to understand your legal rights, so you can decide what’s right for you.

Laws are changing rapidly from state to state and new legislation is being introduced regarding abortion options regularly. If you are a student in college or high school, here is some student pregnancy information.

Our staff and medical professionals would be happy to inform you about current abortion laws in California and discuss your pregnancy options.

No matter what choice you make, CAPS will be there for you before, during, and after your pregnancy.

CAPS is different than some other medical clinics since we receive no financial profit from your pregnancy because we do not perform or refer for abortions or arrange adoptions. We do refer to other organizations for adoptions if you are interested in that option. We will help you examine the full range of options (abortion, parenting, adoption) including the variables for each option, so you can make the best choice for your situation.

All pregnancy services are FREE, including FREE pregnancy test, FREE ultrasound, and FREE pregnancy and abortion education.

• FREE pregnancy testing – a lab grade, nurse verified test to confirm if you are actually pregnant.
• FREE pregnancy ultrasound – to determine how far along you are, location of the pregnancy in the uterus, whether there is a presence or absence of a fetal heartbeat, and assess what options you may have.
• FREE abortion education – to answer your questions and provide information so you can make an informed choice.
• FREE pregnancy ‘Decision Aid’ options worksheet – to help you think through your own preferences and help you define the information you need to make a decision.

Other Services – We also provide low to no cost STI / STD testing.

All our services to you are private – your privacy is important to us.

To get help, contact us at any of the San Diego area clinic locations, call us at 619-337-8080, or schedule an appointment.

Resources / Citations

¹Resources

Abortion Resource / Provider / Clinic – How much does an abortion cost? Web search term: San Diego, southern California (6/29/2020)
Clear Health Costs – Site search term: Abortion and southern CA zip codes – From PriceCheck journalist. (12/2021)
Clear Health Costs – How much does an abortion cost? (8/2019)
Medical News Today – multiple citations.
Kaiser Permanente – Site search term: Abortion. (6/2021)

Citations

² American Psychological Association (APA), Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion. (2008). Report of the Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved May 20, 2022 from http://www.apa.org/pi/wpo/mental-health-abortion-report.pdf

³ Mayo Clinic. (n.d). Medical Abortion. Retrieved May 20, 2022 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687