Are you wondering if it’s possible to get an abortion in Texas after the Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade? Unfortunately, there has been a lot of confusion about what is and isn’t allowed now and whether abortion is legal in Texas.

Read this article for how this Supreme Court ruling affects abortion access in the United States and in the state of Texas.

What Is Roe v. Wade? 

Roe v. Wade was a 1973 ruling by the Supreme Court that determined that abortion was protected in the US Constitution. The primary argument was that this was included in the “right to privacy” clause in the US Constitution, so abortion became a federally-protected right. 

How Did Roe v. Wade Being Overturned Affect Abortion Access?

In the recent case Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, this argument was struck down because, it was decided, it lacked credibility and could not be proven.

This means that abortion is no longer federally protected by the US Constitution and the authority to protect or restrict abortion access is now going to be determined by each of the 50 state legislatures.

Is Abortion Legal in Texas? 

Abortion is currently banned in 9 states, and more states are preparing to pass similar legislation. Previously, Texas had a 6-week ban on abortion because around 6 weeks after conception, the fetus develops a heartbeat. 

Now that Roe has been overruled, all abortions will be banned in the state of Texas 30 days after the court ruling. This restricts abortion access even more since it is not allowed even before a heartbeat can be detected. The only exception is in cases of life endangerment. 

How Will This Affect Healthcare?

Women are worried this will affect their access to essential healthcare, such as treatment for stillbirths, high-risk pregnancies, or ectopic pregnancies, but there is currently no law or legislation written that excludes women from receiving the treatment they need.

What Next?

If you are facing an unexpected pregnancy and you’re concerned your options may now be more limited, the best practical step to take first is to schedule an ultrasound. This will confirm the viability of the pregnancy (if it’s still developing) or the age of the pregnancy (which can affect eligibility for abortion in other states).

At Hope Women’s Center, we offer no-cost ultrasounds. An ultrasound will help rule out the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Contact us today and schedule your appointment!