Abortion legality and how far along one can get an abortion vary significantly by location, especially in the United States.
- In many U.S. states, abortion is legally allowed up to about 24 weeks of pregnancy, with some states having a lower limit ranging from 5 to 18 weeks. After these limits, abortions are generally permitted only if the mother's life is at risk or there are severe fetal abnormalities. For example, Florida recently restricted abortion to 6 weeks, Georgia to about 6 weeks as well (though with ongoing legal challenges), and several states have bans at 15 to 18 weeks or at 20 to 22 weeks.
- Typically, abortions can be performed as soon as pregnancy is confirmed, often around 4 to 6 weeks. Most abortions (over 90%) occur in the first trimester (up to about 13 weeks), often using medication abortion (pills), while later abortions usually require surgical procedures.
- Beyond 24 weeks, abortion is rare and generally only allowed under exceptional medical circumstances, such as severe fetal abnormalities or risks to the mother's health.
Outside the U.S., limits also vary but often range from 12 weeks up to fetal viability (around 24 weeks), with restrictions tightening later in pregnancy except for special medical cases.
If the query regards a specific country or state, please specify for more precise information. In summary, how far along one can get an abortion depends on local laws, with the general limit being up to about 20 to 24 weeks in many places, and earlier in others where stricter bans have been enacted recently.
